Enclosed document copied with permission, from: http://outerdarkness.nazirene.org. Document creation date: 24 January, 2017. To open the HTML document click “Outerdarkness” 

In the Gospels, all of mankind are portrayed as the prodigal sons or daughters who have become lost in the "outer darkness" of mind and being that is personified in the in the parable as the Far Country.  The parable teaches that prior to entering into this present life, each of us dwelt in the Kingdom of our Heavenly Father -- and yet, few of us have the ability to remember our more distant past?  And the fact that the parables represent Universal Realities that are true of all of mankind, provokes a number of ultra-important questions:   Why is there evil in the world?  Why does mankind dwell in a state of confusion and dissension?  With virtually each person seeing the world from a different perspective?   And in many instances, believing that only their perception of the world is correct?   If it is true that the Bible is the Word of God, then why does nearly everyone who opens its pages see a different and often conflicting message as to what it means?   Why is there little to no agreement among religious leaders?  Why do different religious texts not only derive different and sometimes conflicting messages, but also portray God differently?   It’s as if each of the prodigal sons and daughter have been plagued by the Tower of Babel Syndrome