The Urantia Book

[Yoder777]

Has anyone on this forum read the Urantia Book?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urantia_Book

I have been reading it for two years and I am willing to help answer questions about it. It's very suited to liberal or unorthodox interpretations of the Christian faith.

I was raised in the Catholic faith. As a result, I've always had an interest in mysticism and also in finding a middle way between religion and science. I believe the Urantia Book is a very mystical text and its harmony of religion and science is something that was foreshadowed by the Catholic priest Teilhard de Chardin.

I started reading the Urantia Book at a time when I had strong doubts in my Christian faith. I was reading books by historical Jesus scholars like Shelby Spong and Dom Crossan who left me questioning whether Jesus really was the Son of God or whether he rose from the dead. I discovered the Urantia Book by accident by looking up "the religion of Jesus vs. religion about Jesus" on Google.

I started reading the Urantia Book at its Jesus section and was amazed of how it brought Jesus to life as a flesh and blood historical person but also as the loving Savior of the world. Since then, I've read the Jesus section almost in its entirety, and I no longer doubt that Jesus is the Son of God or that he rose from the dead, albeit in a morontial form.

The Urantia Book gives me comfort and assurance about the afterlife and I'm simply amazed by the detail it gives for the morontial existence and for the future age of light and life on earth. I previously believed that the afterlife was a time of spiritual progress and that the ultimate goal of human evolution is the Kingdom of God on earth but the Urantia Book confirmed and gave detail to these beliefs.

The first chapters on the nature of God give the most clear explanation of God's love and care for all beings that I've ever read from any source. The book's explanation of there being life on other worlds confirmed what I had read in the writings of Erik Von Daniken and had believed since I was a small child. I appreciate the fairness and tolerance it gives to the various world religions in trying to see the truth and common ground shared between them.

Basically, what I am trying to say is that the Urantia Book enhanced my Christian faith, rather than replacing it, and has answered more spiritual questions than any source I've ever seen. If God wanted to update the Bible with modern science and learning, the Urantia Book would have to be that new revelation. I don't believe the Urantia Book is infallible and it never claims to be, yet I must say it is perhaps the most important spiritual book of the 20th century.

 

[dana b]

Has anyone on this forum read the Urantia Book?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urantia_Book

I have been reading it for two years and I am willing to help answer questions about it. It's very suited to liberal or unorthodox interpretations of the Christian faith.

I've read parts of the Urantian book when i was searching for the meaning of life. I hadn't yet been shown that the Holy Bible contained the message of most importance. Now, i remember some of it. What can you say are the primary statements made in the Urantia book about the purpose of human life? What does the Urantia book tell us to do here on earth? Why should we believe that it is telling us something of importance?

 

[Yoder777]

I've read parts of the Urantian book when i was searching for the meaning of life. I hadn't yet been shown that the Holy Bible contained the message of most importance. Now, i remember some of it. What can you say are the primary statements made in the Urantia book about the purpose of human life? What does the Urantia book tell us to do here on earth? Why should we believe that it is telling us something of importance?

The Urantia Book says that we are here for the evolution of our souls. Our survival to the next world and the future peace of this world is dependent upon the decisions we make on a day to day basis.

 

[motherprayer]

The Urantia Book says that we are here for the evolution of our souls. Our survival to the next world and the future peace of this world is dependent upon the decisions we make on a day to day basis.

What about Jesus?

 

[dana b]

What about Jesus?

I don't think that the Urantia considers Jesus to be the "only" begotten son of God. Jn.3;16 Does it? (bet you knew we'd start asking you this one)

 

[Yoder777]

I don't think that the Urantia considers Jesus to be the "only" begotten son of God. Jn.3;16 Does it? (bet you knew we'd start asking you this one)

The Urantia Book teaches that Jesus is the Creator and Savior of our universe. It also teaches that there are other universes with intelligent life, each with its own Son of God.

 

[Yoder777]

This is a very well written article of Byron Belitsos for the purpose of introducing the Urantia Book to persons interested in finding an integral spirituality that honors both faith and science:

A Revelation of Cosmic Evolution : EnlightenNext: The Magazine for Evolutionaries

 

[timewerx]

If I'm not mistaken, "channeling" is a term used for occult vs anointment for Christians.

I've been reading the wiki link and seems to have a tone for divination.

 

[Yoder777]

If I'm not mistaken, "channeling" is a term used for occult vs anointment for Christians.

I've been reading the wiki link and seems to have a tone for divination.

What do you mean by divinization?

 

[timewerx]

I mean there's a hint of divination (foresee by occult rituals) due to possible use of channeling.

Also because of similarities in afterlife picture when compared against other New Age concepts.

The problem with New Age concepts is it only teases you about eternal life and there can be an element of truth in it.... But it doesn't tell you how to get there or assume everyone will achieve eternal life without any pain aside from death of the physical body!

The Gospels are different in that it tells you a lot about the details on how to live to eternal life which is a painful process and does little of that teasing part...

New Age - glitters and glamour... Gospel - pain! I really advise caution in these teachings as often, the devil deceives with all the glitters and nice things!

 

[Yoder777]

I mean there's a hint of divination (foresee by occult rituals) due to possible use of channeling.

The Urantia Book is claimed to have angelic authorship. The angels spoke through the sleeping subject, much in the same way that Edgar Cayce received his messages. The sleeping subject preferred to remain anonymous and, unlike Cayce, did not self-induce the trance state in which the messages were received.

William S. Sadler, the main promoter of the Urantia Book, was a well respected psychiatrist and former Adventist minister who had written several books debunking spiritualist phenomena. He didn't believe the revelations to be true until after closely studying the sleeping subject for a number of years. One wonders why Sadler would risk his reputation if he didn't believe the revelations to be true.

Also because of similarities in afterlife picture when compared against other New Age concepts.

How is the Urantia Book's view of the afterlife similar to new age concepts?

The Gospels are different in that it tells you a lot about the details on how to live to eternal life which is a painful process and does little of that teasing part...

The Urantia Book teaches that we are saved by grace through a faith lived out in following the teachings of Jesus. There's nothing radical about the Urantia Book's teachings on salvation.

 

[motherprayer]

The Urantia Book teaches that Jesus is the Creator and Savior of our universe. It also teaches that there are other universes with intelligent life, each with its own Son of God.

Only of "our" universe?

You mentioned that the book says our eternity will be decided based upon decisions we make day to day. Can you give me an example of one of the guidelines set forth?

 

[Yoder777]

Only of "our" universe?

According to the Urantia Book, there are multiple universes, each with millions of planets inhabited by intelligent life. Each universe has a Divine Son who is the Creator and Savior of that universe.

You mentioned that the book says our eternity will be decided based upon decisions we make day to day. Can you give me an example of one of the guidelines set forth?

"When men and women ask what shall we do to be saved, you shall answer, Believe this gospel of the kingdom; accept divine forgiveness. By faith recognize the indwelling spirit of God, whose acceptance makes you a son of God. Have you not read in the Scriptures where it says, `In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.' Also where the Father says, `My righteousness is near; my salvation has gone forth, and my arms shall enfold my people.' `My soul shall be joyful in the love of my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation and has covered me with the robe of his righteousness.'
"Salvation is the gift of the Father and is revealed by his Sons. Acceptance by faith on your part makes you a partaker of the divine nature, a son or a daughter of God. By faith you are justified; by faith are you saved; and by this same faith are you eternally advanced in the way of progressive and divine perfection. By faith was Abraham justified and made aware of salvation by the teachings of Melchizedek. All down through the ages has this same faith saved the sons of men, but now has a Son come forth from the Father to make salvation more real and acceptable." ~ Jesus, The Urantia Book, (150:5.2)
"You cannot buy salvation; you cannot earn righteousness. Salvation is the gift of God, and righteousness is the natural fruit of the spirit-born life of sonship in the kingdom. You are not to be saved because you live a righteous life; rather is it that you live a righteous life because you have already been saved, have recognized sonship as the gift of God and service in the kingdom as the supreme delight of life on earth. When men believe this gospel, which is a revelation of the goodness of God, they will be led to voluntary repentance of all known sin. Realization of sonship is incompatible with the desire to sin. Kingdom believers hunger for righteousness and thirst for divine perfection." ~ Jesus, The Urantia Book, (150:5.5)
Salvation - The Urantia Book

The Urantia Book teaches that our survival to the next world is dependent upon our obedient faith in this world. What God demands of us in this life is progress, not perfection. After death, we are reborn into higher and higher worlds, each more spiritual and perfect than the last, until we are morally and spiritually prepared for seeing God "face to face" in Paradise.

 

[timewerx]

The Urantia Book teaches that we are saved by grace through a faith lived out in following the teachings of Jesus. There's nothing radical about the Urantia Book's teachings on salvation.

To follow the teachings of Jesus is radical enough!

My observations of Christianity is that only very few actually live it.

Jesus made some persistent and piercing speeches on that matter which drove most of his disciples away (He used to have way more than twelve!).

The core theme of Christianity is not actually heaven, the eternal paradise/bliss whatever.

The core theme of Christianity is actually the rough and narrow road you must endure to get to your destination. That's how Jesus told the truth by bringing more emphasis to the 'blood' 'food that never spoils' than to 'eternal riches'

It's not the destination that matters but the journey.

If a revelation tells more, makes greater emphasis of the spectacular destination than how to get there, I'll be a little bit suspicious about it... It's probably a deception.

 

[Yoder777]

To follow the teachings of Jesus is radical enough!

My observations of Christianity is that only very few actually live it.

That's why progress, not perfection, is the most that we can attain in this lifetime. The Urantia Book gives a very detailed explanation of how to find God and follow Him.

 

[timewerx]

That's why progress, not perfection, is the most that we can attain in this lifetime.

As the false god of this world demands....

Most religions also go by the same theme except for one, the Gospel of Christ.

Matthew 5:48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

To be perfect in God's sight is to be severely flawed in the ways of the world so most people have no idea what this sort of perfection is!

All improvement to perfection must be done in this life, else you'll only get worse in a better state of existence - power and riches corrupt! Seen it so many times!! It's a fact

Higher and higher worlds? I'm afraid the system resembles structures of New Age groups like degrees, rank, order.

The Gospels only state you're either in or out. To be 'in' is a very very very good thing, to be 'out' is a terrible terrible thing...

That's why the Gospels made such great emphasis on how to get 'in'. It doesn't bother very much, even tells in parables what to find 'inside'.

The Gospels doesn't make it a habit of making you drool for such method can easily corrupt our motives which makes it very distinct from that of false teachings.

 

[Yoder777]

No one is without sin. Perfection is a goal that we strive towards, but for most is unattainable in this lifetime. Our honest effort at progress toward perfection is what matters.

 

[RisingSpirit]

Has anyone on this forum read the Urantia Book?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urantia_Book

I have been reading it for two years and I am willing to help answer questions about it. It's very suited to liberal or unorthodox interpretations of the Christian faith.

Who really wrote the books? Are the writers offsprings from a certain denomination? What other new age language have this type of writing?

 

[timewerx]

but for most is unattainable in this lifetime.

That is the sad truth.

Matthew 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Our honest effort at progress toward perfection is what matters.

Honest effort will not get you there.

But passion will.

Love does not give up so easily. It is the most powerful force in the Universe aside from God, in fact, God is Love! If you set your heart on something that is the Will of God, then you will get it, despite impossible odds!

Among the most important commandments, you'll find the word 'love'. "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind';"(Luke 10:27)

Now that's a very passionate command don't you think?

Anything you love to do is no work, no effort. You may come across great challenges and difficulties but they only serve to fan the flames of passion!

 

[wordsoflife]

Has anyone on this forum read the Urantia Book?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urantia_Book

I have been reading it for two years and I am willing to help answer questions about it. It's very suited to liberal or unorthodox interpretations of the Christian faith.

You've been reading it for 2 years? It took me 5 minutes to know that it was heresy and put it down.