Online Class: Angels 101 — History, Religion, Spiritualism and You

The existence of celestial beings, whose job it is to provide comfort, safety, and guidance for mortals, is an idea that stretches far back into antiquity. In Greek, the origin of the word "angel" means, simply, "messenger."

The oldest evidence of Angels is found in artifacts of the Sumerians in their artistic renditions of winged humans. The Sumerian culture (located in present-day Iraq) thrived during 3,000 B.C.E. Their rather complex religious beliefs included winged beings whose job it was to run errands for the Gods. They are depicted in the oldest hieroglyphs and etchings.

It is not clear from historical artifacts whether the concept of Angels was accepted or even acknowledged in Europe before the second century, A.D. This is curious, given the many Angel-related stories in the Bible. Still, based on the documented history available, we can assume that the Western belief in Angels is a product of Christian and, perhaps, Hebrew theology. The popularity of Angels seems to have gained momentum with the advent of the printing press, and, since that time, has remained a constant in religious thinking throughout the centuries.

Of course, many people do not believe that Angels exist. Some assume they are simply a product of our wishful thinking, and that they provide us with a simple explanation for unexplained coincidences. However, for every doubter, there is someone who has reported a very compelling Angelic experience.

Do Angels Discriminate?

Although many Americans declare some belief in Angels, there are those who would like to claim Angels exclusively for their own religion. For instance, scores of books currently in publication in the U.S., caution us that any invocation of Angels by those other than Christians is an invitation to trouble. The suggestion is that Angels contacted through unconventional means, such as automatic writing or channeling, are likely to be evil or demonic, and potentially harmful. Unfortunately, beliefs such as this are often stated as facts by those with a very narrow spiritual orientation. Nonetheless, much of our knowledge of Angels and the history of their existence do have their origins in theology.

Although a plethora of Angelic anecdotes have been expressed by practicing Christians, in this course, we will proceed on the assumption that Angels are available to everyone, regardless of any religious or cultural orientation.

There is a growing consensus that Angels

play an integral part in the universal order of life and are, as such,

accessible to all humans, particularly those who request their presence.

and…

  There is evidence of the belief in Angels found in virtually every religion.

As beings in spirit form, Angels are messengers of God whose job it is, through their loving presence, to help those of us who struggle on earth while living in human bodies. Their tasks, strictly associated with love, include teaching, illustrating, guiding, and otherwise helping us align with the perfection of the universe. They have been thought to have the ability to take physical form, many times appearing through the most unlikely human bodies, and even through the bodies of pets and wildlife.

 Angels are not bound by the constrictions of space or time, since they exist primarily in dimensions that do not encompass physical properties as we know them. It is, therefore, impossible to assign specific locations to them. According to some, Angels hover about and surround us at all times, and are always available to us, ready and willing to be asked or invited into our lives. An exception is the Archangels, who are powerful energies that reside in specific areas around the Earth. Archangels will be discussed in more detail later in this lesson.

Angels have varying degrees of power and responsibility. However, they are united in one quest, which is helping us individually and collectively.

Like humans, Angels themselves are also in the process of divine evolution, although it is said to be slower in their realm than in ours. Their evolutionary work, therefore, involves not only the spiritual evolution of humanity, but has an impact on their own spiritual progress, as well.

The different functions are assigned to various angels; however, the primary job of Angels involves their responsibilities toward humanity, as directed by a hierarchy of forces, which all fall under the supreme guidance of a god head.