Editing The Order of Christ Sophia (section)

==Holy books==

===Bible===
OCS views the [[New Testament]] as their primary but not only mystical text. They affirm that although the New Testament should be viewed within its historical and cultural context, Jesus’ teachings are essentially timeless and perfect. They also believe that the Gospels are written not only as description of the teachings and life of Jesus but as guidebook for the inner spiritual path. They practice Bible contemplation in which they seek to understand the multiple levels on which the gospels were written. This primarily consists of a practice of viewing each character and object in the Bible as representations of a part of themselves. In so doing, they look to understand the inner meaning of the text and therefore be led to greater consciousness.

===Tree of Life===
OCS considers the Bible to be their primary source of teachings and the basis for their practice; however they use two other texts regularly. The Tree of Life books are a series of texts used in weekly classes. The Tree of Life was originally compiled and written by Father Paul Blighton and was published in San Francisco.  The OCS has updated and revised the lessons from those original forms and uses them as a basis for the cosmology and metaphysical teachings they offer. The text is primarily concerned with the nature of human beings in relationship to God and the cosmos.

===''The Poem of the Man-God''===
''[[The Poem of the Man-God]]'' is a series of five books based on Roman Catholic themes written by [[Maria Valtorta]], an Italian nun, in the 1940s.<ref>Maria Valtorta Webring http://www.MariaValtortaWebring.com</ref> She claimed to have received direct revelations from Christ and Mother Mary about the events and teachings of their time. Each book is over 500 pages long and claims to enumerate the travels, teachings, and activities of Jesus Christ, his Mother Mary, his apostles, and the holy men and women who followed Jesus. OCS reads from this text at communion services and encourages its members to read the texts as well. OCS members believe this text to have some flaws but still be a mostly valuable revelation of Jesus and Mary for its comprehensive elucidation of their lives.