Paper 160 Overview: Rodan of Alexandria

This paper tells about a Greek philosopher named Rodan who came to learn about Jesus' teachings. Rodan shared his own philosophy with Nathaniel and Thomas for ten days while Jesus was away. His ideas focused on the art of living, finding meaning in life, and balancing material needs with spiritual growth.

Rodan's philosophy had much in common with Jesus' teachings, but Rodan recognized that Jesus' gospel gave him something his philosophy was missing. By the end of these discussions, Rodan became a believer and declared that he would follow Jesus in his eternal journey.

While Jesus enjoyed some rest, Nathaniel and Thomas met with a Greek philosopher named Rodan from Alexandria. Rodan had become a follower of Jesus through one of Abner's associates. He wanted to speak with Jesus about harmonizing his philosophy with Jesus' teachings, but instead got to speak with the apostles since Jesus declined to meet with him.

Rodan began a series of ten talks that focused on how to live a good life. He said that humans have three drives: urges, desires, and lures. A strong character develops when natural urges become social skills, desires transform into higher goals, and everyday interests shift to undiscovered ideals.

Rodan taught that problem-solving requires courage and honesty. He admired Jesus' habit of going off alone to pray, saying this was the best way to solve problems. Rodan believed that prejudice blinds people to truth and can only be removed by dedicating oneself to something greater than self.

Rodan explained that there are two ways humans can live: the animal way and the spiritual way. Animals communicate in limited ways, but humans can share ideas and ideals through symbols, which allows them to build civilizations and develop personality.

Rodan said that friendship and love relationships help people develop in four important ways: they allow self-expression, unite souls and wisdom, create enthusiasm for living, and defend against evil. He especially praised marriage as an ideal setting for personal growth, though he acknowledged that not all marriages achieve these benefits.

Rodan asked where people find the energy to grow toward maturity. He answered that spiritual communion and worship connect the mind with spirit. When these experiences are repeated, they become habits that build a mature spiritual character.

Rodan admitted that his own philosophy taught him to strive for higher goals, but Jesus' gospel gave him the certainty and direction his philosophy lacked. He also noted that mature people win cooperation rather than creating conflict, and that Jesus' new gospel provided a richer purpose for living.

Rodan said that while spirit is our goal, we must also deal with physical reality. He listed six essentials for temporal life: good health, clear thinking, skill, wealth, ability to withstand defeat, and wisdom.

He taught that intelligence is needed to secure material things, and that wealth flows in organized channels. Rodan stressed the importance of having skill and preparing for failure, saying that religion helps people face defeat. He advised that knowledge, culture, and wisdom are different, with wisdom being the most valuable.

Rodan defined religion as a person's experience of reacting to something worthy of devotion. He said true religion always seeks to convert individuals and transform the world by reaching for undiscovered ideals.

Rodan praised Jesus' religion as the highest possible concept because it portrays God as both the ideal of infinite reality and as personally attainable by mortal creatures. At the end of his talks, Rodan declared himself a believer who would join Jesus in the eternal adventure, saying that before Abraham was, Jesus is.