Planet Urantia

Jesus: Light Of The World

In him there is life, and his life shall become the light of mankind.  Enjoy this flash video about Jesus, the Light of the World, produced by Truthbook.

Produced by Truthbook.com

Urantia Book Study Outline Paper 3: The Attributes of God

Urantia Book - Paper 3 – The Attributes of God: (A partial synopsis from The Story of Everything by Michelle Klimesh) God is omnipresent; he alone can be in numberless places simultaneously. He rules in the local universes through his Creator Sons who are discernible to lower orders of beings and can compensate for God's invisibility. God is greater than all of his combined creations. Although he exists throughout the universes, the universes can never encompass his infinity. God pervades the physical universes of the past, present, and future. He is the primordial foundation of material creation.

Individually, humans are indwelt by Father fragments, and the effective presence of God within each person is conditioned by the degree of cooperation provided. Fluctuations of God's presence are not due to whims of the Father but are directly determined by the mortal's choice to receive him. God has freely bestowed himself without limit or favor.

God is energy. He is the cause of all physical phenomena; he controls all power. The power of God does not function blindly, but it is nearly impossible to explain the nature of his laws. From the limitations of our mortal perspective, many actions of the Creator may seem arbitrary and cruel, but God's actions are always purposeful, intelligent, kind, and wise.

(...finish reading synopsis here) (Read the entire paper directly from the Urantia Book here)

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Selected Questions for Discussion on Paper 3 – The Attributes of God

Meredith Sprunger Synopsis & Discussion Questions - entire list here)

1. Is the prologue of the Gospel of John designating Christ as the creator of our universe compatible with the idea of God the Father as creator?

2. How do we harmonize the concept of an all-good, all-wise, all-powerful God with the evil and suffering in the world?

3. What comfort do some people get from believing in the doctrine of foreordination—God determines everything?

4. If our "nearest and dearest approach to God is by and through love," how do we help people who are angry & bitter about life?

5. Are the "inevitabilities" of evil necessary in our world?

6. What do you think of the distinction between evil (mistaken judgment) and sin (knowingly disobeying the will of God)?

7. What are the advantages of beings who grow toward perfection by conscious choice over those who are created perfect?

Planet Urantia - Urantia Books & Related Books

This is the Way

Having started out on the way of life everlasting, having accepted the assignment and received your orders to advance, do not fear the dangers of human forgetfulness and mortal inconstancy, do not be troubled with doubts of failure or by perplexing confusion, do not falter and question your status and standing, for in every dark hour, at every crossroad in the forward struggle, the Spirit of Truth will always speak, saying, "This is the way."

Urantia Book - Paper 34:7.8

The Nature of God - A Prayer

A Prayer based on Paper 2 of the Urantia Book.  Paper 2 is entitled 'The Nature of God'. 

~ ~ ~

Spiritual Father,

in your infinite and eternal wisdom,

which we seek a glimpse of,

embrace us, your children,

in your loving ways.

In your changeless and eternal purpose,

in the goodness of your divine nature,

teach us your ways of mercy and justice,

teach us to love others as you love us.

God, you are love,

therefore,we know that your attitude toward us

can only be one of love.

Your love follows us now and throughout eternity,

may we never lose sight of the reality of this love.

Amen

Urantia Book Study Outline Paper 2: The Nature of God

Urantia Book - Paper 2 - The Nature of God:  (A partial synopsis from The Story of Everything by Michelle Klimesh)

Our understanding of God is handicapped because our minds are limited. Humans can best understand the nature of God as it has been revealed through the life and teachings of Jesus.

God the Father unfailingly meets the ever-changing demand for himself all over the universe. He knows everything. Universe Sovereigns may engage in adventure; the Constellation Fathers may experiment; the system heads may practice; but the Universal Father sees the end from the beginning. To God, all time is present, there is no past or future. He is infinite in all of his attributes.

God is perfect. In the universes, perfection is relative, but on Paradise, perfection is undiluted. He is perfect in beauty and goodness; there is nothing lacking in his divine character. His justice is tempered with mercy. God is inherently kind, compassionate and merciful. It is never necessary to persuade him to love us; our need is wholly sufficient to insure the flow of his grace.         (...finish reading synopsis here)

(Read the entire paper directly from the Urantia Book here.)

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Selected Questions for Discussion on Paper 2 – The Nature of God:  

(Meredith Sprunger Synopsis & Discussion Questions - entire list here)

1. Can we imagine a being who perceives the past, present and future at once? What is the fallacy of abstraction?

2. Why do people plead for mercy when they know that God is merciful and loving beyond human comprehension?

3. Why did Biblical writers talk of God "repenting and changing his mind?"

4. Why do people try to bargain with God and ask him to change universe laws for their benefit?

5. How does the atonement doctrine view God's basic nature?

6. Is the self-destruction of iniquity a more reasonable result of dedicated sinfulness than an eternal hell?

7. Does contemporary religion overstress morality at the expense of other aspects of truth?

Planet Urantia - Urantia Books & Related Books

Famous Urantia Book Readers - Enthusiasts

UB the News:  Star Power is intended to provide visitors with an appreciation of the famous people who have become associated with The Urantia Book over the years.

See the list of famous Urantia Book Readers - Enthusiasts - from UB the News Star Power Page:

Authors

Adventurers

Movies/Television

Musicians

Visual Artists

Urantia Book Study Outline Paper 1: The Universal Father

Urantia Book - Paper 1:  The Universal Father

Typically defined, the Universal Father is God.   

See Urantia Book Synopsis from the book:  ‘The Story of Everything’ by Michelle Klimesh, an introduction to, and summary of, The Urantia Book. 

God is an eternal, infinite, true, good, and beautiful personality beyond the imagination of the human mind.  He delights in his children.   (Page 1)

See notes from ‘The Fifth Revelation’ (a book by Kelly Elstrodt) – See reference to the Universal Father in the Index.  Pg  51: In keeping with the infinitely wise plan of the Universal Father, a Creator Son (Jesus/Michael) must experience all levels of life before he is declared sovereign of his creation – a task Jesus completed while he was on earth.

Universal Father	Eternal Son/Universal Mother	Infinite Spirit
Thought God (Spirit)	Word God (Jesus)	God of Action (Holy Spirit)
Religion	Philosophy(Jesus)	Science
Faith	Wisdom	Knowledge
Values	Meanings	Things
Spirit	Soul	Mind
Personality

These three are the Paradise Trinity and reside in Paradise along with their divine coordinates and associates.

We are on the path to Pure Spirit – we get there by building our soul through right thinking, right living – righteousness.

We have emerged from a dark cave of superstition (Pg 236) and have come into the light.  From ‘The Fifth Revelation’ (by Kelly Elstrodt):

See Pg 281 – There is in the mind of God, a plan which embraces every creature of all his vast domains, and this plan is an eternal purpose of boundless opportunity, unlimited progress, and endless life.  And the infinite treasures of such a matchless career are yours for the striving! 

The goal of eternity if ahead!  The adventure of divinity attainment lies before you!  The race for perfection is on!  Whosoever will may enter, and certain victory will crown the efforts of every human being who will run the race of faith and trust, depending every step of the way on the leading of the indwelling Adjuster and on the guidance of that good spirit of the Universe Son, which so freely has been poured out upon all flesh. 

Per the UB Foreword – Read or listen to the Urantia Book online here) The Universal Father is God (see all definitions of God in the Forward of the Urantia Book – Section 2).  God the Father – Creator, Controller & Upholder, the First Person of Deity.  God is the first source and center.  No-thing, nothing, exists without God.  God as the Universal Father is the personality of God, the First Source and Center.  God is the one un-caused and correlates to the term ‘I AM’. 

Paradise Trinity (From Foreword 0.12) is the Universal Father, Eternal Son (Universal Mother) and Infinite Spirit.  Commonly known as ‘Father, Son and Holy Spirit’. 

See Urantia Book – Paper 1:4.3 ‘When you are through down here….’

See Urantia Book, Paper 1:5.16 – It is literally true, in all your afflictions, He is afflicted.  In all your triumphs, He triumphs with you. 

See Urantia Paper 1:6.2 – God is to science a cause, to philosophy an idea, to religion a person….

Our concept of God is improved by our spiritual progress.

Discussion Topic – Read:  Joyful News!  Paper 1:7.2 Man does not achieve union with God as a drop of water might find unity with the ocean.       

Developing an Interfaith Spiritual Urantia Study Group or Society

The purpose of studying the Urantia Book is to empower ourselves to change our lives, our communities and our world - change for the better, a transformation, really.  A Urantia study group or society should assist individuals in their efforts to become majestic and well-balanced personalities. 

In the Appleton - Fox Valley area of Wisconsin, we have developed an Interfaith Spiritual Urantia Study Group that provides opportunities for:

Deepening our connection with God
Creating meaningful connections with each other
Experiencing Love, Truth, Beauty & Goodness
Discovering new ideas
Finding new meanings
Intellectual challenge
Spiritual growth and personal development
Studying difficult concepts
Experiencing a variety of viewpoints
Practicing our ability to adapt
Empowering ourselves
Attaining Goals
Love and acceptance
Listening and sharing
Ministering to others
Experiencing freedom
Freedom of self-expression
Experiencing Spiritual Enthusiasm and Joy
Critical thinking
Meeting new people

Live by the Diamond Rule:  Love others as God loves us.

We empower ourselves when we take the initiative, when we act, when we develop confidence in our own capacities and abilities.  We find value and new meanings in our spiritual pursuits when we study deeper, when we try to personally experience the spiritual.  We practice freedom of expression when we allow others the freedom of speaking from their heart.  True freedom comes from having no spiritual boundaries, boundaries keep you from experiencing God.  We experience truth when we develop a deeper, closer connection with God and each other.  We experience beauty when we give and receive kindness, mercy and grace.  We experience goodness when we minister in loving service to humanity and creation.   We can do all this because of God, because this is part of his purpose and plan for our lives.

Developing a worldwide personal/virtual 'Interfaith Spiritual Urantia Society'

The Urantia community needs an Interfaith Spiritual Urantia Society.  Planet Urantia would like to be the sponsor of just such a society, therefore, we are now communicating this desire and beginning to take steps to contact individuals from diverse spiritual and/or religious backgrounds from around the world to see if they might be interested in joining an Interfaith Spiritual Urantia Society.

Why do we need another society - and especially an 'Interfaith Spiritual' society? 

1. It is important to develop spiritual societies within the Urantia community of Readers/Students because there exists within the community of Urantia Readers/Students a block of individuals who are deeply spiritual and desire to connect with other like-minded spiritual individuals.
2. Bringing people from diverse spiritual/religious backgrounds together improves our understanding of and relations with each other.  We can learn so much from each other.
3. It facilitates the goals of the founders of the Urantia movement - to foster and develop study groups (and/or societies) around the world.  
4. It will enable us to create ministry and service opportunities around the world through the shared resources and wealth of knowledge that a worldwide Urantia community embodies.
5. It gives people an opportunity to spread the teachings of the Urantia Book by encouraging the creation of local study groups and/or cosmic cafes - such as the one we've created - Interfaith Spirit Quest. - See our meetup site here:  Meetup.com/Interfaith.
6. Many people around the world do not have a local study group or society, this Interfaith Spiritual Urantia Society would be both a personal and virtual society.  Personal in the sense that it would be based in a particular geographical location, with opportunities for conducting local study groups and occasional conferences for the 'Interfaith' community of Urantia readers/students.  Virtual in the sense that anyone, anywhere in the world can join as long as they accept the terms of our constitution. 
7. During national and international Urantia conferences, we would expect that members of an Interfaith Spiritual Urantia Society who are able to attend such conferences would have a joyful reunion and time of unique fellowship.
8. It will enable more people from more parts of the world to have a voice in the administration of the Urantia Fellowship organization through the election of officers and members of the General Council.

The following is noted from the Constitution of the Urantia Fellowship Organization (UrantiaBook.org): 

The purposes of THE FELLOWSHIP are the study and dissemination of the teachings of The Urantia Book; the promotion, improvement, and expansion among the peoples of the world of the comprehension and understanding of Cosmology and the relation of the planet on which we live to the Universe, of the genesis and destiny of Man and his relation to God, and of the life and teachings of Jesus; and the inculcation and encouragement of the realization and appreciation of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man ‑‑ in order to increase and enhance the comfort, happiness, and well‑being of Man, as an individual and as a member of society, by fostering a religion, a philosophy, and a cosmology which are commensurate with Man's intellectual and cultural development, through the medium of fraternal association, ever obedient and subservient to the laws of this country and of all countries wherein THE FELLOWSHIP may extend.

INTERESTED?  If you are interested in joining an Interfaith Spiritual Urantia Society and you have read the entire Urantia Book all the way through at least once, please contact us through Planet Urantia by leaving a comment on this blog post and we will contact you in short order. 

Comments should include:

• Your name
• Email and/or phone number
• Best time to contact you - please specify time zone
• Any other pertinent information you would like us to know

This post will be revised as new information develops.

October 1, 2009

S. Hansen, Interfaith Minister

Appleton, Wisconsin 

A new Revelation of Love from Jesus - Smile

My heart fills with joy when I think about the day Jesus was born, revealing once again God's love for his creation and creating a new way for us to reach that pure spirit within.  According to the Urantia Book, Jesus was born on August 21, 7 B.C.   Christmas in August?  That's right.  

    From 'When is Jesus' Birthday':  "The Urantia Book says that Jesus was born “at noon, August 21, 7 B.C.” (122:8.1, Paper:section.paragraph). However, the authors do not say if this is a Julian Calendar date or a proleptic Gregorian Calendar date. That is, does the date refer to the calendar that was in use at that time; or does it refer to the current calendar, extended backward in time? More to the point, if Jesus’ birthday is celebrated on August 21 of the current calendar, is that really the anniversary of his birth?"

For more information about this date - see Truthbook.com's essay When is Jesus' Birthday?

On this very special and momentous occasion, may I speak this wish for you:

May his love overshadow us, may his spirit dwell within us, and may his peace abide upon us.  (paraphrasing the Urantia Book - Paper 193.5.2) .... and may we seek to love and nurture each other in the same way that he loves and nurtures us still, for he speaks still. 

The Urantia (Earth) Chorus sings... in one voice:

We Love You Jesus 

        Happy Birthday to You and Merry Christmas to all. :)

There is a song called 'The Millenium Prayer", sung by Cliff Richard - and whenever I listen to it I visualize the entire population of Urantia (Earth) singing one song in one voice to God, even the angels join in. ...and God, Jesus and the entire host of celestial beings ...smile.  Of course I like the "Drummer Boy" Christmas song too, because the message it gives is that it's not really about what you do, it's about where your heart is.   

Some of the lyrics from "'The Millenium Prayer" (link to the song on YouTube).  The song starts out with the Lord's Prayer and then adds to it. 

Let all the people say Amen
In every tribe and tongue
Let every heart's desire be joined
To see the kingdom come
Let every hope and every dream
Be born in love again
Let all the world sing with one voice
Let the people say Amen

We will be celebrating Jesus' birthday this Saturday in Sheboygan Falls, WI with our fellow First Wisconsin Society of Urantia Book Readers - Our program for Saturday is entitled 'The Urantia Comedy'.  We will be discussing the "Lucifer Rebellion and the Caligastia Betrayal", the "Adamic Default and Aftermath", and the "Long Rehabilitation Process".  Most importantly, we will be enjoying a time of fellowship and celebration at this special time.   I'm not quite sure what's so funny or comedic about all of this, but it will be fun, I do know that. 

Smiles & Joy.

  ....Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum

About the 'Come to Jesus' image above.  Bruce Marchiano played the role of Jesus in a very special film series created by The Visual Bible, called "Matthew".  This film was based on the Gospel of Matthew, following the book word for word. 

In my humble opinion, Bruce Marchiano played the part of Jesus better and more true to form than any other actor I've seen to date.  Why?  Because in this film, Jesus smiles.  A lot.  It's as if Jesus is speaking directly to you through the actor.  It's quite possible the actor was 'coming to Jesus' or being born again in love, on the movie set and this shone through his performance!  The ending shows a victorious Jesus - Jesus came to establish his Kingdom on Earth, to reveal God to man - and His mission was accomplished!  The rest is up to us! 

You can watch the last 10 minutes of the movie here - (it's the very, very end I like, and it's where you see the image above) don't worry, it won't spoil anything - we all know how it ends anyway, right? 

The Urantia Book 

Is God real? Thoughts to consider....

After facilitating one of our Cosmic Cafe - Interfaith Spirit Quest discussions recently, I thought about an interesting fellow who attended the discussion and who also happens to be a very science-minded (materialist) atheist.  We asked him if we could call him Spock, he didn't seem to mind.  I give him a lot of credit for being open-minded and attending a spiritual discussion group, this is his 2nd visit to our group - and of course we welcome people of all faiths or no faith at all for the purpose of having meaningful and fruitful conversations, and becoming more understanding of each other.

I asked our 'Mr Spock' to consider what I had been thinking earlier:

There is no beginning.  Creation, as the Bible teaches, is only the beginning of their knowledge.  The beginning of evolution is only the beginning of evolution.  Intelligent Design seems to me to be the most logical way of looking at things. 

Matter and energy has always existed and will continue to exist eternally.  The only thing that is changing is the form of matter and energy.   Creation is the act of creating something out of matter and energy.  We do it all the time, and when we do, it is thought that initially causes our mind's creation to manifest itself.

It is said that God created man in His image.  A new female member of the group who was very spiritually minded and just happened to be eavesdropping on our conversation while reading a copy of the Urantia Book in the cafe cafe area of the bookshop we were meeting in (what are the odds?), said last night - 'that God created a mirror image of Himself when He created the universe'.  Of course we know that we can create many things, not just babies.  So just because God created the universe, does not mean the universe looks like Him.  I think it is the personality that is like God.  The pure spirit that is us is the mirror image of God, we look like God when we manifest this pure spirit.  Our purpose is to make progress in this life toward the manifestation or growth and development of our awareness of this pure spirit.  When we look at our parents or our children, we see the likeness, it is automatic/genetic.  Our personality can reflect God in the same way if we allow it to (our free will).

So.... we have evidence that the universe has existed for a very long time, if not forever.  We can either say it existed forever, or we can say it began at a certain time - we're not quite certain on that point, but it doesn't matter, the point is that we know it's there and that it can be manipulated into different forms.  We can fathom the idea of creating something new out of matter and energy.  It is not so crazy to believe that someone or something formed us out of eternally existent matter and energy when one thinks about it this way.