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Our Mission

Universal Constitution of the Temple of Advanced Enlightenment

Declaration of Universal Truths

We the children, of the nations and religions of the universe, do hereby decree by the Divine Inheritance of our united Faiths these Universal Truths to be self evident, that all people are in endowed with a unique belief, which must be protected on an individual level towards to pursuit of, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Thought, Freedom of Speech, and Freedom of Peaceable Assembly. That these Truths; are an affirmation of our pursuit of, happiness, world peace and the freedoms of all individual people. Let all that grows natural and pure of this realm be the declared as our Sacred Divine Inheritance.

Divine Law and Universal Truth transcend the laws of government, because the laws of mankind are inherently based on the faiths and beliefs of the leaders contained within. That all people, united by the differences of Universal Truth will hold themselves, at all times, in all realms of this or any other universe, to a higher spiritual and moral standard of personal conduct that will lead all people to the worldwide peace, harmony and tranquility of it’s peoples and invoke within us the Divine Ascension into an era of Enlightenment.

We the children, Guardians of Truth and Freedom, do hereby swear our oath to incorporate the Universal Truths into the very fiber of our indestructible souls. It is our Divine Duty, to stand against those who would refuse another the undeniable Universal Truths, to actively engage in acts of Divine Random Kindness and to hold as Sacred for all time the Universal Truths and the pathways of Enlightenment.

We the children, with unwavering devotion, do pledge our uncompromising compassion to all those who would cry out in pain. It is our Divine Responsibility to create a better tomorrow, to tend the sick, and to promote community service at every level. Only through Divine Acts can we hope to achieve the common goals of all peoples and provide Sanctuary for those less fortunate.

We the children do solemnly swear to uphold the principles set forth by the Universal Constitution and as proof of our conviction, step forward, with open hearts, open minds, and in accordance with our sincerely held Spiritual Beliefs to ordain and ratify this Holy Document as Divine.

Drafted July 23rd 2008, Ratified by the High Temple Council August 1st 2008

High Temple Priest Kevin A. Loring - View Affidavit Signed August 1st, 2008
High Temple Priest Garret "Woz" Wozneak View Affidavit Signed August 1st, 2008
 

TEMPLE GOALS

DEA SPIRITUAL USE EXEMPTION: We are in the planning stages of petitioning the Federal DEA for a religious use exemption similar to the one already granted the Native American Church for the use of peyote. The 35 year old NAC exemption is for "Religious and other use". It is a very broad exemption typically used by the government to exclude all other religions from attaining a similar exemption, stating that they have a vested interest in protecting Native American cultures. It proves exemptions can be made without the sky falling or society crumbling. It also proves a governmental preference of one denomination over all others.

ATTORNEY GENERAL WAIVER OF REGISTRATION: The Attorney General can grant a 3 year waiver from registration requirements for certain establishments. We have sent an email but have received no response. We will continue to contact them until a response is made. This may be a much more suitable solution.

DRUG ABUSE INTERVENTION AND MENTORING: Increase awareness of drug abuse while maintaining the sacred nature of spiritual use. Help victims of abuse and intolerance to recognize and make better life choices. Act as mentors and friends, being aware that many drug abusers must completely disconnect from their friends and sometimes families in order to be away from the circumstances and situations that initiate and perpetuate drug abuse. Addiction is a disease, not a crime. Harm reduction techniques can save lives and provide measurable success in the individual lives of the addicts.

CANNABIS AS A NARCOTIC REPLACEMENT THERAPY: Methadone has become a scar upon our great State, increasing the crime AND drug abuse rates. Methadone also brings an influx of drug abusers from other states, whose influence on illegal drug markets and typically docile abusers is very evident on the streets. Reports, of addicts who have been abusing 6 months or less, that are being placed on 3 year methadone programs, are astounding and increasingly common.

Cannabis is much safer than methadone, acts as an upper AND a downer simultaneously, increases appetite, induces sleep, calms cravings for harder substances and if given a proper chance, could potentially save more people from drug abuse than any other method known to this planet. Opponents call it a gateway drug, well I assure you, that gate swings both ways and can in fact be used to save our children from ending up in the methadone clinics. This kind of therapy would be coupled with prayer and responsibility to ensure correct lifestyle choices are maintained.

FREE MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR PATIENTS WITHIN THE STATE OF MAINE: Most of our great nation is caught in a silent civil war on marijuana. The ones who need it most urgently for medicinal purposes are failed again and again by state programs that are ineffectual because of federal regulations. We propose that once we have attained our own exemption or waiver, that we begin dispensing medicinal quality cannabis to qualified Maine medical marijuana patients, absolutely free of charge. These people go through enough hassles and expenses just trying to buy the latest government approved doctors and fancy pills, many of whom are simply too sick to grow and maintain their own supply. We have a responsibility to show the compassion that our sick friends and family deserve and require.

SPIRITUAL USE PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM: Public education is necessary to help rid our communities of intolerance towards members of our Temple. Help educate the public on how to properly identify and verify Temple Members so we can avoid costly court & legal fees and entanglements that perpetuate the excessive waste of governmental resources.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM & CIVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION PROGRAM: Every single man, woman and child on this Earth are afforded the EXACT SAME PROTECTIONS of religious freedom and basic civil rights. We will do our part to promote these essential tools and values for all.

ADD 500 MEMBERS TO OUR TEMPLE: We will work to increase our membership by 500 members.

ADD 1000 EMAIL ADDRESSES TO OUR MAILING LIST: We will work to add 1000 email addresses to our mailing list. This will aid in keeping contact with potential members, supporters and others.

SEND ONE PRESS RELEASE EACH MONTH: Thus far many of our local newspapers are simply ignoring our press releases, maybe hoping that we will just go away. We will continue to submit press releases to all local newspapers, the associated press and various radio stations throughout Maine.

WORK TO OBTAIN MPP GRANT: The MPP offers grants of up to $60,000, three times a year. These grants are for programs that help further the religious use of cannabis. Grants funds would be used to set up a trust fund for the temple, that would effectively provide for our needs indefinitely by spending only the accrued interest and not the principle balance.

FIND AND PARTNER WITH LAWYERS, COLLEGES, CHURCHES/TEMPLES AND OTHERS: It is essential that we stand together, united by our uncommon differences as a community to create and promote positive change.

Definitions

Religion: What is the definition of religion? Throughout history it has defined both nations and the principles of moral values. In many religions throughout the world, many of the inspirations and founding principles are brought forth by a single person or deity who has a vastly contrasting opinion to popular beliefs, hope for a better future, and a plan. Popular Religion and governments are usually structured in much the same way and are much more organized than ever before in history but does this change the way in which a religion or theology is born? Do the beliefs of the one, constitute a religion if they are held sincerely? Should we aid growing religions that may have drastically different ideas about the world just because our ideas and ways of life conflict?

The definition of religion is not easy to find. There are many interpretations of what defines a religion but not one that can be said to be the most accurate.

Some of them are:

• A strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny.
• An institution to express belief in a divine power.
• A belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the practices and institutions associated with such belief.
• The sum total of answers given to explain humankind’s relationship with the universe.

In dictionaries, religion is defined as “any specific system of belief, worship, or conduct that prescribes certain responses to the existence (or non-existence) and character of God.” Also, “a set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices pertaining to supernatural power.”

NOTE: The problem lies when the definition includes a deity or superhuman power. For example, atheism is called a religion but the belief denies any power other than man.

Commonly, “religion” is referred to in its most basic sense as a way of life, does this by virtue make the “American” way of life a religion? Can a government inject its agenda (Laws made by people who are often highly motivated by their own personal and religious beliefs) into the daily practices, thoughts and worship of religions and religious followers? The United States is arguably dominated by its history as a Christian based society, seen again and again in battles of separation of church and state (such as the removal of the ten commandments from courthouses), and the battle for International Religious Freedom, which can be argued that (1) If the “American Way of Life” were to be defined as a religion, then it’s liberation or persecution of Religious Freedoms worldwide would clearly be viewed as a “Holy Crusade” possibly infringing on the basic civil rights of mankind. Either way it is clear that before we persecute those we BELIEVE to be wrong or unlawful, we must first look at ourselves and our own beliefs, prejudices and intents, however complex, as they will undeniably bias our opinions, actions and hearts.

The terms “spiritual” and “sacred” add to the complexity of defining religion. Unless there are supreme beings or deities, most beliefs would not fall into this religious category.

Native Americans believe their spiritual beliefs are a necessary part of their existence and cannot be separated from their life experience. Natives Americans can be defined as a Government, Religion, Culture, Way of Life, and philosophy.

The beliefs of atheists and agnostics are that there is or is not a God and ethics do not necessarily matter. So are they a religion?

What about Satanists, Wiccans, Pagans, and the Jedi Knights? What about peoples and entities that may be from other planets? What if it turned out that animals, fish or birds had a secret religion, culture or way of life?

Belief: –noun 1. something believed; an opinion or conviction: a belief that the earth is flat. 

2. confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof: a statement unworthy of belief. 

3. confidence; faith; trust: a child's belief in his parents. 

4. a religious tenet or tenets; religious creed or faith: the Christian belief. 

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[Origin: 1125–75; earlier bile(e)ve (n. use of v.); r. ME bileave, equiv. to bi- be- + leave; cf. OE geléafa (c. D geloof, G Glaube; akin to Goth galaubeins)]

 —Synonyms 1. view, tenet, conclusion, persuasion. 2. assurance. Belief, certainty, conviction refer to acceptance of, or confidence in, an alleged fact or body of facts as true or right without positive knowledge or proof. Belief is such acceptance in general: belief in astrology. Certainty indicates unquestioning belief and positiveness in one's own mind that something is true: I know this for a certainty. Conviction is settled, profound, or earnest belief that something is right: a conviction that a decision is just. 4. doctrine, dogma.

Spiritual: –adjective

1. of, pertaining to, or consisting of spirit; incorporeal. 

2. of or pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature: a spiritual approach to life. 

3. closely akin in interests, attitude, outlook, etc.: the professor's spiritual heir in linguistics. 

4. of or pertaining to spirits or to spiritualists; supernatural or spiritualistic. 

5. characterized by or suggesting predominance of the spirit; ethereal or delicately refined: She is more of a spiritual type than her rowdy brother. 

6. of or pertaining to the spirit as the seat of the moral or religious nature. 

7. of or pertaining to sacred things or matters; religious; devotional; sacred. 

8. of or belonging to the church; ecclesiastical: lords spiritual and temporal. 

9. of or relating to the mind or intellect. 

–noun 10. a spiritual or religious song: authentic folk spirituals. 

11. spirituals, affairs of the church. 

12. a spiritual thing or matter. 

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[Origin: 1275–1325; ME < ML spīrituālis, equiv. to L spīritu- (s. of spīritus spirit) + -ālis -al1]

—Related forms

spir·it·u·al·ly, adverb

spir·it·u·al·ness, noun

Divine: –adjective

1. of or pertaining to a god, esp. the Supreme Being. 

2. addressed, appropriated, or devoted to God or a god; religious; sacred: divine worship. 

3. proceeding from God or a god: divine laws. 

4. godlike; characteristic of or befitting a deity: divine magnanimity. 

5. heavenly; celestial: the divine kingdom. 

6. Informal. extremely good; unusually lovely: He has the most divine tenor voice. 

7. being a god; being God: a divine person. 

8. of superhuman or surpassing excellence: Beauty is divine. 

9. Obsolete. of or pertaining to divinity or theology. 

–noun

10. a theologian; scholar in religion. 

11. a priest or member of the clergy. 

12. the Divine, a. God. 

b. (sometimes lowercase) the spiritual aspect of humans; the group of attributes and qualities of humankind regarded as godly or godlike. 

–verb (used with object) 13. to discover or declare (something obscure or in the future) by divination; prophesy. 

14. to discover (water, metal, etc.) by means of a Divine method such as a divining rod. 

15. to perceive by intuition or insight; conjecture. 

16. Archaic. to portend. 

–verb (used without object) 17. to use or practice divination; prophesy. 

18. to have perception by intuition or insight; conjecture.   

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[Origin: 1275–1325; ME < L dīvīnus, equiv. to dīv(us) god + -īnus -ine1; r. ME devin(e) < OF devin < L, as above]

—Related forms

di·vin·a·ble, adjective

Enlightenment: –noun

1. the act of enlightening. 

2. the state of being enlightened: to live in spiritual enlightenment. 

3. (usually initial capital letter) Buddhism, Hinduism. prajna. 

4. the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement of the 18th century, characterized by belief in the power of human reason and by innovations in political, religious, and educational doctrine. 

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 [Origin: 1660–70; enlighten + -ment]