Return to Bulgaria. New Direction. Science and Education

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Return to Bulgaria.

New Direction

Coming back with a high qualification in theology, Peter Dunov quickly won respect and shortly after his arrival had many proposals for pastor's posts. His reaction, however, was disappointing to many. The feelings of Yambol Methodists were hurt the worst. They offered him substantial remuneration but to no avail. Their hopes to win him failed with his response that he wished to work for God for free. He would preach but he would not accept payment! The Yambol Methodists were unwilling to offer the pulpit to such an unconventional preacher.

Peter Dunov settled in Varna, in his sister Maria's home. Local Methodists were quick to invite him to deliver a Sunday sermon and to offer him a pastor's post. Again he refused. Some people accused him that he deliberately refused to work. Maria was the only one to speak up for him; she saw in his brother's persistence a higher morality. "The future will show who Peter is," she said. She trusted in him and in the special mission he was to fulfill The Rev. Dunovski also attempted to help his son. He was afraid to leave his fate in God's hands and used his friendship with the bishop of Varna to ask for a job for Peter at the bishop's office. His son, however, again rejected the job.

Peter Dunov's refusal to commit himself was deeply honest. He would not be bound either with the orthodoxy of the Eastern Orthodox Church or the narrow views of Protestantism. His notion of the teaching of Christ transcended the limits of contemporary thinking. He felt free to act independently, relying on his own experience, and demonstrated an exceptional determination. He believed that observance and the steadfast search for Truth helped him understand many of the mysterious aspects of life.

Many representatives of the spiritual elite sought to meet with Peter Deunov. At that time, spiritism and theosophy were in vogue. Those who were curious and eager for spiritual growth were quick to fall under their influence. They believed that the spirits would reveal to them the secrets of life. Peter Dunov, however, set forth a new line of thought. According to him, the secrets of life yielded to freethinkers; he relied on observation and personal experience.

His brief encounter with the president of the Theosophical Society Sofrony Nikov resulted in another job offer, this time as a preacher with the society. Again Dunov refused. Although their views of life were similar, each walked his own spiritual path: Sofrony Nikov continued to seek his enlightenment from the masters of the East, while Dunov preserved incorrupt his devotion to Christ.

 

 

Science and Education

THE NEW TRENDS OF THOUGHT that Dunov encountered in the United States were outlined in his first book, Science and Education (1896) In it, he reflected on the issue of humanity's overall development. There was a single solution, he concluded: Truth! "When comprehended by the mind and mastered by the will, Truth becomes one of the essential elements of the revival, advancement, and progress of any society, any nation."

In Science and Education Peter Dunov first outlined the key ideas of his philosophy which he later elaborated in his teaching. That book presented his programme, marked the outset of his reform. Peter Dunov was deeply convinced that "the self-sacrificing spirit of science places itself at the service of humankind to help it establish a new order." The objective of science is to "provide the right worldview and truthful judgment about life as embodied in Being." Here Peter Dunov transcended the views of his religious environment, claiming that "in its actions, nature seeks to attain a great objective" and we should not "jump to the conclusion that it is dead, insensible and lacking reason'. Human dignity is in believing in "truth as it is", which in turn requires a "fundamental transformation and rebirth in the Spirit of Truth."

As for the role of religion in a person's development, Peter Dunov also launched a reforming idea: "Religion should reckon with scientific truths and give up its old customs and ways that used to serve its own interest. What is necessary is to study the Truth which enlightens." To avoid any misunderstanding, however, Dunov explained further: "We need to differentiate between faith and religion. Faith is a spiritual ability, part of the power of the mind, while religion is created by the soul's attitude to an object on which its inner peace depends." "Through faith, one loves the invisible Being, Creator, and Sustainer of the universe. This faith is now a driving force of science and education". To Peter Dunov, science and education were the most important factors of human development. "Science is the result of the mind's reflecting and observing natural phenomena, while education is the result of knowing and applying natural laws in spiritual life." Peter Dunov made it clear that his objective was to serve humankind: "Today we wish to create a society which will be the ideal and the embodiment of all that is good and noble." His life shows that this objective remained unchanged. To the end of his days, he believed in sustaining the truth at any cost. "Could the essence of Being and the question whether nature is intelligent or not depend on our conjectures and thoughts? No, not at all. We may consider that one opinion or another is right but it is preferable for a judicious person to side with the truth."

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