There has been a widespread and growing tendency on the part of mankind during the past few years to formulate and accept regimentation as a way out of the complexities of human living. Contrariwise, individualism with its independence of thought and action has been put on the defensive and its value to the masses questioned.
Regimentation is based on the false premise that the individual is not capable of thinking for himself, but that he will be better guided and cared for if: he is massed into a group wherein one person, or a small group of persons, does the thinking and planning for the many. While it is true that some form of strict governmental control sometimes seems necessary, especially in times of crisis or war, yet care should be taken not to relinquish unthinkingly individual rights which have been won at great cost.
Jesus, the great friend and healer of the masses, was an individualist in the truest sense, and he advocated individualism in his teaching. He did not seek to regiment, the people after any human order, but rather did he teach each one to rely directly on God and to turn independently to God, divine Mind, for wisdom and guidance. When he was about to leave his disciples and was speaking to them of further advancing steps which he would take beyond the resurrection, he said (John 14:4), "Whither I go ye know, and the way ye 'know."
