Editing Summum (section)

== <span class="plainlinks"></span>Basis of the philosophy ==

[[File:Summum nothing and possibility.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Summum sign: "The grand principle of creation is: 'Nothing and possibility come in and out of bond infinite times in a finite moment.'"]]

Summum's philosophy stems from what it considers to be principles of nature that cannot be attributed to any person.<ref name="SummumBook">
{{cite book| last =Ra| first =Summum Bonum Amen| title =SUMMUM: Sealed Except to the Open Mind| orig-year =1975| url =http://www.summum.us/philosophy/ebook/ebook.htm| access-date =May 26, 2006| year =2004| publisher =Summum| location =Salt Lake City| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20060626083953/http://www.summum.us/philosophy/ebook/ebook.htm| archive-date =June 26, 2006| df =mdy-all}}
</ref>
These principles flower in different forms and were outlined before in the writings of ''[[Kybalion|The Kybalion]]'' first published in 1908.<ref>
{{cite book
| last = Three Initiates
| title = The Kybalion
| orig-year = 1908
| url = http://www.kybalion.org/kybalion.asp
| accessdate = May 26, 2006
| year = 1940
| publisher = The Yogi Publication Society
| location = Chicago
}}
</ref>
But Summum, considering ''The Kybalion'' incomplete and antiquated, rewrote the book after it entered the [[public domain]].<ref>
{{cite web
| year = 2002–2006
| url = http://www.summum.us/philosophy/kybalion.shtml
| title = Summum and ''The Kybalion''
| publisher = Summum
| accessdate = May 26, 2006
}}
</ref>
The new [[derivative work]] utilized a more modern language and incorporated the new information said to have been presented to Ra by the Summa Individuals. Included in that information is an explanation and description of how creation came about. The rewrite resulted in a book published by Summum entitled ''SUMMUM: Sealed Except to the Open Mind'', and it provides an outline of the group's philosophy. The basis of the philosophy is the "Grand Principle of Creation" that states, "[[Nothing]] and [[Subjunctive possibility|Possibility]] come in and out of bond infinite times in a finite moment". The principle of creation generates the totality of existence which the Summum philosophy refers to as "SUMMUM", and from this master principle emanate "Seven Summum Principles" known as Psychokinesis, Correspondence, Vibration, Opposition, Rhythm, Cause and Effect, and Gender.<ref name="SummumBook" />

Summum states that its teachings are the same as the teachings of Gnostic Christianity and maintains that knowledge does not come from things such as the intellect or obedience or faith, but from revelatory experience.<ref name="GnosticChristianity">
{{cite web
| year = 2007
| url = http://www.summum.us/philosophy/gnosticism.shtml
| title = The Teachings of Summum are the Teachings of Gnostic Christianity
| publisher = Summum
| accessdate = May 11, 2007
}}
</ref>
Summum teaches the "Systematic Law of Learning" which explains that knowledge is attained through questioning and experience.<ref>
{{cite web
| year = 2007
| url = http://www.summum.us/philosophy/learning.shtml
| title = The Systematic Law of Learning
| publisher = Summum
| accessdate = May 11, 2007
}}
</ref>
According to Summum, devotion and spiritual practice leads to revelatory experience, and that was the basis of the authentic teachings of Jesus.<ref name="GnosticChristianity" />