Editing The Order of Christ Sophia (section)

==Doctrine==

===Reincarnation===
OCS teaches that all human souls were created at one time and that each soul was made perfect and in total harmony and unity with the creator God. Doctrine states that God gave human souls an immutable freedom of will. By use of free-will, human beings chose to enter into the experiences of life and death and all that is learned through trial and error. In contrast to the Roman Catholic Church, OCS defines the problem of human tendency to separate from the Love, that is God, as being a developmental stage that all people will eventually pass beyond. Jesus Christ and Mother Mary are considered to be souls much like those of the rest of humanity who from early on in their development chose a path of return to God and were the first to reestablish complete unity with the Creator God. OCS affirms that Jesus Christ was the son of God, but does not assert this state of divinity as a singular event.  Rather, they assert that it is one for which every human being is designed. It is understood that through reincarnation, every soul can eventually return to the level of divinity that Jesus Christ and Mother Mary demonstrated.

OCS uses the term [[karma]] to describe the accumulation of positive or negative choices [[On the Soul|on the soul]]. They assert that Jesus’ taking on the sins of the world was a removal of the accumulated negative karma of the human race. OCS doctrine stresses the importance of the development of inner work and spiritual experiences as the means by which negative patterns can be transformed. They also affirm Jesus’ continuous role as a vehicle through which sin/karma is forgiven and the great blessings that can be obtained by means taking in his body and blood in the form of communion.

===Prayer===
OCS defines prayer as a God given tool with which to actively create one’s life and experiences, as well as the most powerful means to come into relationship with God. OCS doctrine asserts that due to the unhindered nature of free will, and the process of karma, human beings are completely responsible for the circumstances in which they live. They teach that through the development of a focused mind, uncluttered desire, and connection with God, one can positively affect and change one’s financial, physical, emotional, relational and spiritual conditions.

In contrast to some New Thought movements, prayer is also used as a devotional tool and is described as a method (along with meditation) by which an aspirant is able to not only speak to God but receive direct [[revelation]]s and direction from God within. The process called "guidance", by which a person can ask questions in prayer and meditation and receive an answer from God within, is a practice within OCS which is taught to all who want to learn how to open to God's direction in their lives.

===Student-teacher relationship===
The student-teacher relationship is one of the defining characteristics of OCS as it is in other major mystical practices, including [[Sufism]] and [[Zen]]. People attend the Centers at various levels of involvement and are free to choose to come and go as they desire. Those who choose the higher levels of training attend classes and services on a regular basis and also tithe and strive for personal integrity. Students who choose higher involvement are also expected to complete daily spiritual exercises, attend [[Eucharist|communion]] daily or as often as possible, fast once a month for world peace, and be willing to learn. In the early years of OCS, all affiliated members took part in the intensive training associated with being a student, but in recent years OCS changed their policy and now invites members to be associated with OCS at various levels of commitment.

OCS suggests that through the process of being counseled and guided by teachers of the spiritual path a person can be helped to raise their consciousness, heal some of their wounds of the past and find their purpose in life. OCS cites the relationship between Jesus and his [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] as the model for the practice of having those who have more experience and knowledge guide those who are less experienced and knowledgeable.