The Urantia Book

[Arcturus]

Hello to all just joined up

Having read some of your thoughts on religion and philosophy and atheism this last week it's clear that free speech and difference are aired frequently and with passion. We all want some degree of being heard that's normal in the human condition.

I thought I'd start off with something a bit different that you may or may not of heard of named 'The Urantia Book.'

Very briefly it is postulated as the latest book of revelation. First published in 1955 and twice as long as the Bible (Old and New Testaments combined) 1,200,000 words approx. Written in modern English.

I've read it and found it incredible, especially the life of Jesus Christ from early childhood to adult. Level of detail is astonishing as is the rest of the texts some very complicated in parts.

It goes far beyond our Earth (named Urantia) covering the universe or universes. The book states life is saturated throughout the universe. In our galaxy alone there are 10,000,000 inhabited worlds with intelligent life like our own or nearly like us in physical make up.

It even covers how religion started way back in early mans time and how humans have universe progressive attainment in line with mans intellectual development.

They have a web site 'The Urantia Foundation' which will explain more if you are curious enough. I can only give a brief synopsis here and I'm not a expert of the book by any means.

Check it out let me know your comments.

Arcturus

[notthecheatr]

Sounds like the latest follower in the footsteps of Mormonism and Scientology in the quest to "make lots of money and fame by inventing a religious myth in modern times when people should know better yet amazingly do not."

[Angry Citizen]

You'd like us to read a million words -- why? Please offer some evidence for the validity of the book. I've read religious texts. I think they're a waste of time, since they inevitably offer no evidence whatsoever to back up their claim.

[barts]

Hello to all just joined up

Having read some of your thoughts on religion and philosophy and atheism this last week it's clear that free speech and difference are aired frequently and with passion. We all want some degree of being heard that's normal in the human condition.

I thought I'd start off with something a bit different that you may or may not of heard of named 'The Urantia Book.'

Very briefly it is postulated as the latest book of revelation. First published in 1955 and twice as long as the Bible (Old and New Testaments combined) 1,200,000 words approx. Written in modern English.

I've read it and found it incredible, especially the life of Jesus Christ from early childhood to adult. Level of detail is astonishing as is the rest of the texts some very complicated in parts.

It goes far beyond our Earth (named Urantia) covering the universe or universes. The book states life is saturated throughout the universe. In our galaxy alone there are 10,000,000 inhabited worlds with intelligent life like our own or nearly like us in physical make up.

It even covers how religion started way back in early mans time and how humans have universe progressive attainment in line with mans intellectual development.

They have a web site 'The Urantia Foundation' which will explain more if you are curious enough. I can only give a brief synopsis here and I'm not a expert of the book by any means.

Check it out let me know your comments.

Arcturus

Perhaps you could precis the book's teachings for us in 250 words or less.

[Arcturus]

Thanks for your thoughts

The Urantia Book is a non profit organisation and sells the book retail with little mark up. Any money it gathers from donations or the sale of the book goes back into disseminating more books and also for interpreters to translate into other languages. Quite a few language versions at present.

The book comes under the Christian umbrella but the teachings differ in that Jesus is a Creator Son of God from the central universe (unseen from here).
He is not God but in the image of God. His message was one of showing Gods love to mankind not as a sacrifice for the worlds sins or using his spirit as an insurance policy to be saved by grace. Original sin is claimed to be false.

The book is in 4 parts -

1. The Central and Divine Universe (outside our universe of time and space.
2. Our universe in time and space (or local universe).
3. History of Earth (named Urantia).
4. Life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

It goes into great detail describing celestial entities (angels and various orders that govern the universe). Trillions of beings exist and it appears to be very well structured. The nature of God is covered in detail.

How the book came about.

A Doctor W.Sadler (psychiatrist in the 1930's) was trying to debunk spiritual fraud in general and came across
a patient who was speaking in their sleep and had no recall of the nights events and couldn't offer a medical explanation why this was happening. Over a period of time these messages were compiled and the Urantia book came about. The contact person was never identified as they (a small group of people by then) didn't want any veneration of the person.

Basically it's teachings are of the Christian tradition (although different) with the spiritual union of the Spirit of Truth (given after Christ's departure from Earth) so as to become like a Son or Daughter of God or progressing towards being God like.

Doctrines of Hell have no place in the writings as is any fear of retribution for not living or adhering to a particular faith. All religions have purpose.

There is no Satan making us do evil. Evil comes out of the heart of the person. Satan however is mentioned as being a high angelic being who lead a local uprising in our section of the galaxy and is now held on a celestial prison world for the time being). Events have complicated Earth and it is sort of quarantined off from the other worlds. The writings state that it is normal for God to interact with highly developed worlds Earth is the exception for the time being.

The foundation has no churches no priests or high positions of divine authority. All people are equal and people can form their own groups to discuss how they want to talk about the book and philosophy in general.
I do not attend a group I just read the book (or have read it) and do not belong to any religious group. But was reborn at 16 from an atheist to having cognition of God through the Spirit of Truth without any human intervention or church.

Having said that I believe there is a higher Truth than religion which I'm not a fan off having bad experiences. If you cannot live your life without a book that you have to depend on then you don't get it. Religious texts are guides only you have to have faith in yourself and relate to others as you would yourself. However I believe that God is real and we have a wonderful future ahead for all of us.

Hope that answers some of your questions.

Arcturus

[quarterback]

I'll stick with my Faith not in to religion at all, this one sounds like another money making spin and rubbish...

[Angry Citizen]

A Doctor W.Sadler (psychiatrist in the 1930's) was trying to debunk spiritual fraud in general and came across
a patient who was speaking in their sleep and had no recall of the nights events and couldn't offer a medical explanation why this was happening.

So, a psychiatric patient babbles in his sleep and presto! instant religious text? Man, and I thought the story of Mohammed was bad.

Sorry buddy, but you've been duped by nonsense. I hope you reclaim your atheistic past.

[Arcturus]

I have put forward a postulation about a book and I agree it is only a book albeit postulated as a divine one.

A few salient points.

1. Why would anyone go to the trouble of making up such a huge treatise in the first place? To make money? Who would buy such a gigantic novel no publisher would take it. No profit for any individual has ever happened?

2.It would have taken someone 10-20 years or longer to write and compile it again for what?

3.Check it out first and find out what it is about then make a measured proper opinion rather than a quick draw. Check the web site out at least get some facts.

4.It's impossible to go back and be an atheist. Having been on both sides I wouldn't reject my belief for the world. It''s not like changing houses or changing to another political party it doesn't work like that. It's like a whale changing to an apple it can't be done or if it was it would be illogical and spiritual suicide.

I'm very happy and at peace with my belief because I know it is part of the truth. However to play devils advocate if I had still been an atheist I would probable think as one.

If I remember long time back to my days as one. I thought it was all nonsense until the spirit changed me. That is a miracle in itself.

I know you will think it's some kind of mental delusion then it must effect millions more like me?

One thing though I kind of miss is the sharp cognitive reality that is real and only real to atheists. Thats why they enjoy nature and the world so much because that is their only reality there is no more, thats it. With connection to God you see everything and people differently you become a higher spiritual being. You are in the World but not of the World.

Again it doesn't compute with atheists they can't comprehend it, I didn't either. It's because you do not want to believe or comprehend a higher power or dimension it's a choice.

When you have cognition/belief of God the spirit lives inside you. You can FEEL God as real and you wouldn't change it for anything that I can think of.

Finally I've had a lot of hard life experience and no one can dupe me. I can think on my own terms and use wisdom and rationalism to critique what I'm getting into. I'm not into organised religion as mentioned before.

Still I'll probable get another ear bashing from someone. That's o.k this is what this forum is about and I'm enjoying it already.

Hear from you soon (maybe a believer please if there is one out there)

Arcturus

[Slakemoth]

Hey man.. you can believe and get into whatever you want.. not gonna bash you. If the writings "speak" to you, so be it... but I think you need to be a bit more honest about the "divine" inspiration of the book....

anyway, here is the link to the Urantia Book section of the Skeptic's Dictionary **
Urantia Book - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com

**( Angry Citizen, you would love this site. I have this guy's book and its great reading)

[freefallife]

Would this be considered a new branch of Christianity?

[Slakemoth]

more like an "older branch of a Seventh Day Adventist cult"...

[freefallife]

Seems this book is far more specific. More like YEC though. Easily disproven as it doesn't fit the evidence.

From Paper 74- Adam and Eve:

ADAM AND EVE arrived on Urantia, from the year A.D. 1934, 37,848 years ago

Well, at least it's more than 6000, but still way off the mark. I don't think I have to say much more than that insofar as this book's credibility.

[freefallife]

Also wondering, Arcturius, how one would get around the whole "there will be no other religions" thing in the bible.

Galatians 1:8 (New International Version, ©2011)
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!

I find it rather humerous that a Christian website is already pointing out contradictions in the text. Sounds like a familiar argument. Check it out:

DISSENTING VOICES

[Arcturus]

Thanks for your comments and your interest in this subject.

Have some people actually gone to the website. Have you? It would help greatly just to have a peak out of interest. There's nothing threatening.

To be fair I did have a look at the Skeptics Dictionary that I was told about here on the sight and there was some good information in general about various things and it is a good resource to balance things out. One thing I think is important is that you try and see both sides and attempt to come to common ground if possible, our egos can get in the way (including mine).

Things I did like about the Urantia Book was the non judgement side of it's teachings, its intellectual structure, and it's wide scope.

Is it Revelation? Only to someone who believes in at the end of the day. I'm slanting towards its truths but as I said earlier if you cannot live your life without a book then there is something askew. Truth is higher than any book.

I can perfectly live with or without reading religious texts they are only a guide and are not ABSOLUTES. The Sun is an absolute that cannot be argued with it's self evident (although some will even fight over that philosophy, get real). Religion is not a absolute, whatever people believe its dangerous to say this is the Truth or this is the Last or Final Revelation or whatever. Even the Urantia Book disclaims itself as being only a guide and is not the whole picture (only what we can comprehend in line with man's intellectual development). What is the rest like then?

Even Christians especially fundamentalists of the right think the Bible is somehow infallible. It was written by men inspired by God not all directly written by God or an Angel as say 'The Book of Morman'' or the ''Koran'' is claimed to be. Also religion changes in line with mans progressive social and political development. It's not immutably set in stone, change is an important part of our existence and Gods plan (in my opinion).

Thanks for spending time sharing your thoughts I can see why the internet has revolutionized the world coming together that is good change.

Arcturus


Footnote:

One point that I personally think God seekers should consider is how the actual Revelation came about in regard to spiritual forces. If what I've read about some revelations is true a terrible forces came upon the contact persons? Really that should be a RED FLAG don't go further!

IF the Revelation was from God it would have been the opposite absolute peace and joy? Something to keep in mind.

I will continue to believe in God because I know it's real to me.

Arcturus

[loser]

freefallife said:

Seems this book is far more specific. More like YEC though. Easily disproven as it doesn't fit the evidence.

Quote:
From Paper 74- Adam and Eve:

ADAM AND EVE arrived on Urantia, from the year A.D. 1934, 37,848 years ago

Well, at least it's more than 6000, but still way off the mark. I don't think I have to say much more than that insofar as this book's credibility.

So you are saying that the 'evidence' shows that mankind has been on the earth way more than 37,000 years?

What you are calling evidence is not evidence at all by any stretch of the imagination. The truth of the matter is this: we can't trace man's development any further back than about 12,000 years...and even those figures are subjective. People base their evidence on false assumptions, errant data, and skewed scientific measurements. For a human species that strains to live a hundred years, claiming to know about life thousands of years ago is rather foolish. It's okay to imagine and wonder but let's not get carried away with calling 'faith' proof. You BELIEVE what you are taught in books and schools but there is NO evidence, get that silly notion out of your head.

[Cruella]

Please stick to debating the OP- there are dozens of other threads more suited to those points.

[do not respond]

[minorwork]

Thanks for your comments and your interest in this subject.

One point that I personally think God seekers should consider is how the actual Revelation came about in regard to spiritual forces. If what I've read about some revelations is true a terrible forces came upon the contact persons? Really that should be a RED FLAG don't go further!

But by then it's too late and the condition must be ridden to completion.

IF the Revelation was from God it would have been the opposite absolute peace and joy? Something to keep in mind.

IF??? You are reading and getting the info second hand. The Flame that turns every way, the Bush that burns and is not consumed, a great gulf fixed. Testifying to their reality then is a RED FLAG? Don't you imagine the reality of the experience will be red flag enough? Or is there value of some sort in enduring this anguish? Love and Power. And Love can barely push into the physical which is dominated by Power. Of the two aspects avoidance of which causes imbalance?

The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. Better to be blind in the Kingdom of God if your eyes offend. Urantia describes the Kingdom of God quite succinctly by saying, what the Creator Son desires, and the Father wills, IS. What result would an offense in the Creator Son's eyes become when the Father wills it?

freefallife said:

So you are saying that the 'evidence' shows that mankind has been on the earth way more than 37,000 years?

What you are calling evidence is not evidence at all by any stretch of the imagination. The truth of the matter is this: we can't trace man's development any further back than about 12,000 years...and even those figures are subjective. People base their evidence on false assumptions, errant data, and skewed scientific measurements. For a human species that strains to live a hundred years, claiming to know about life thousands of years ago is rather foolish. It's okay to imagine and wonder but let's not get carried away with calling 'faith' proof. You BELIEVE what you are taught in books and schools but there is NO evidence, get that silly notion out of your head.

What would it take to get you to pay $10 for your being wrong about tracing man's development further back than 12,000 years? Just donate it to Volconvo. A 35,000-Year-Old ‘Venus’ Sculpture Is Found - NYTimes.com
Venus figurines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Prehistory of Homo Sapiens - Part IV
Gives new meaning to older than dirt, eh?
New Women of the Ice Age | Prehistoric Culture | DISCOVER Magazine

[freefallife]

Couldn't have done it better myself. Thanks Minorwork.