676. According to what has been touched on above, terrestrial mankind can be divided into three categories according to their spiritual attitude and appearance, namely "those who believe", "those who do not believe" and "those who know".
      The beings' "state of believing" constitutes, as we have said, the remains of a previous spiritual state of consciousness; it is the remains of the "lost Paradise"; indeed, it is in reality the very "exit from this Paradise".
      The beings' "state of not believing" or materialism is the total "expulsion from Paradise". It is the prodigal son's "eating with the swine". It is the maintenance of his existence using animal methods or the killing principle.
      The terrestrial human being's "state of knowing" is the prodigal son's new meeting and being together with his father.