The Principle of Equal Abundance

By Steven S. Coughlin Ph.D.

This book has explored what a divine principle of equal abundance might look like and what implications it might have for human beings including our connectedness to a loving and benevolent God, our connectedness to each other, our personal growth, health, and well-being, and our place in the natural world. Although these issues have great importance for our survival and well-being as individuals and as a species, divine principles such as Gods love and equal abundance do not allow us to predict with precision what is in store for human beings in the future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 4, 2007
• ISBN: 9781465331915

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Copyright © 2007 by Steven S. Coughlin, Ph.D.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission

in writing from the copyright owner.

Excerpts from Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg,

copyright © 2001 by Marcus Borg, reprinted with the kind permission of

HarperCollins Publishers.

Excerpts from The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck, MD, copyright © 1978

by M. Scott Peck, MD, reprinted with the kind permission of Simon & Schuster

Adult Publishing Group.

Excerpts from articles published in the Journal of Religion and Health [Journal

of Religion and Health 16(1): pp.58-68, 1977, (Stark & Washburn); Journal of

Religion and Health 21(3): pp.179-183, 1982, (Meserve); Journal of Religion and

Health 21(3): pp.219-227, 1982, (Lacocque); Journal of Religion and Health

21(4): pp.280-289, 1982, (Studer); Journal of Religion and Health 31(3): pp181-

185, 1992, (Meserve); Journal of Religion and Health 36(3): pp.205-219, 1997,

(Parker); Journal of Religion and Health 37(3): pp.265-272, 1998, (Wagenseller)]

published with the kind permission of Springer Science and Business Media.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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43470

Contents

Foreword

Chapter 1

Introduction and Background

Chapter 2

Identifying a Principle of Equal Abundance

Chapter 3

The Principle of Equal Abundance and Our Connectedness to God

Chapter 4

The Principle of Equal Abundance and Connectedness to Others

Chapter 5

The Principle of Equal Abundance and Human Growth and Potential

Chapter 6

The Principle of Equal Abundance and the Maintenance and Restoration of Health and Well-being and Amelioration of Suffering

Chapter 7

Summary and Conclusions

References

Foreword

Every generation discovers or rediscovers certain eternal truths. The more people, communities, and nations change or develop, the more we realize our similarities and common destiny. As an example of both change and constancy, consider the 1960s. During that decade, the Vietnam War was on many people’s mind, and environmentalists held Earth Day to draw attention to the deterioration of the ecosystem. Many people were vaccinated against polio and smallpox, fought for civil rights, and learned to take cover under school desks in the event of an earthquake or nuclear war. Today, four decades later, the war in Iraq and nuclear disarmament are on the evening news every day; there is international concern about climate change due to global warming, and millions of people are dying from preventable conditions such as AIDS, malnutrition and starvation, and interpersonal violence. These and other social concerns have prompted important developments in theology, ethics, psychology, and other disciplines. Thus, it has become increasingly evident that the health and well-being of everyone is dependent on what happens elsewhere in the world, and our survival is dependent on what we do with the gifts that God has given us.

People who grew up in the 1960s were often taught humanist values that mankind’s destiny was in our hands and that our future looked bright—thanks to a benevolent and loving God. It was, after all, the generation that celebrated man’s landing on the moon and the development of remarkable medical breakthroughs such as cardiac transplantation. These technological and medical triumphs have not yet affected most of those who live in third world countries, many of whom live in profound poverty or in oppressive societies.

Like previous generations, many people living today are affected by sectarian strife and wars with religious undertones. Yet many are unaware of similarities and commonalities across religious traditions. With the sectarian violence that rages across parts of the world today, it is important to recall that the Jewish, Christian, and Moslem religious faiths are all the beneficiaries of Abraham’s patriarchy and wisdom. There are similar or identical accounts—for example, the story of Noah and the great flood—in the Holy Koran, the Hebrew Bible, and the Old Testament. The religious practices of many faiths (Hindu, Jewish, Christian, and so forth) involve seeking awareness of God.

People who travel to different parts of the globe, including Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America, often develop a keen appreciation for our multicultural heritage, for the beauty and mystery of the world, and for the importance of looking out for the human family and for the fragile