Man’s Search for Truth

pass this test will be rewarded with eternal Paradise, while those who fail will be rejected outright. For this test, man has been granted freedom in this world. Whatever man receives in this world is not a matter of right but only a matter of trial. Every situation here is a test; man must perform adequately in all conditions, as God requires. The proper attitude for man is not to take to the path of his desires but to try to understand the divine plan of creation, and then after being convinced of its ineluctability, build his life accordingly. Man may deviate from the divine plan by misusing the freedom given to him by God, but he cannot save himself from the consequences of this deviation. In such a state of affairs, it is in man’s interest that he remains highly cautious in determining the course of his life. Instead of being guided by his will and desires, he should make God’s will his guide. Instead of pursuing his desires, he should lead a life in conformance with God’s commands. MAN’S POSITION IN THE UNIVERSE The principle underlying the proper relationship between God and man is this: Man’s freedom ends where God’s domain begins. Social reformers and thinkers have concerned themselves with the relationship between one man and another. This relation is this: Every man is free as long as his freedom does not impinge on or interfere with the freedom of others. This concept can be conveyed through the following story: “It is said that when America won political independence from