Message by James, found in, The Gospel of God’s Love, page 396.
Let me tell you a few things concerning the spirit world – specifically, the part that’s below the Celestial Heavens.
“In the several spheres are many planes, inhabited by spirits of many nations and races of humankind; and these various races have, to a certain extent, the customs and beliefs that they had when on earth. The lines of demarcation are just as strictly drawn as are those of the several nations on earth. The result of this is that many spirits who live in this exclusive manner never learn anything other than what their own leaders tell them, and what their various sacred books may teach them.
“The Mohammedan is a Mohammedan still, and so likewise the followers of Zoroaster, and also of Buddha, Confucius, and all the various founders of religious sects. Sometimes these spirits in their wanderings, will meet spirits of other sects than their own and interchange thoughts, but rarely do they discuss matters pertaining to their respective beliefs.
“There are undoubtedly truths in the sacred writings and beliefs of all these religions, and to the extent that these truths are taught and understood, these spirits are benefitted. I am now speaking of spiritual truths, because as to truths pertaining to the natural or material world, everyone has the same opportunity to investigate and understand them. There are no religious or doctrinal beliefs and teachings as to these material truths, but as I say, each of these religious sects has its own ideas and doctrines of spiritual truths, and its followers can progress no further than the limits that these supposed truths permit them to progress.
“No founder of any religious sect, prior to Jesus, ever taught of the new birth, or of the divine love; and the teachings of Jesus are the only ones that clearly reveal to humans the existence of this divine love and how to obtain it.
“So you can see the importance of this truth coming to mortals, without the possession of this love, no spirit can enter the celestial spheres. The teachings of these other founders will show humans the way to a life of happiness, and to what we may suppose is an eternal existence; but the teachings of Jesus are the only ones that declare and lead humans to a realization of the true immortality of soul.
“Your brother in Christ, James”