And all this clearly indicates the difference between the old religion and
the new. The old religion taught self-sacrifice; the new religion teaches
only self-forgetfulness, enhanced self-realization in conjoined social service
and universe comprehension. The old religion was motivated by
fear-consciousness;
the new gospel of the kingdom is dominated by
truth-conviction, the spirit
of eternal and universal truth. And no amount of piety or creedal loyalty
can compensate for the absence in the life experience of kingdom believers
of that spontaneous, generous, and sincere friendliness which characterizes
the spirit-born sons of the living God. Neither tradition nor a ceremonial
system of formal worship can atone for the lack of genuine compassion for
one's fellows.