Collected
personal comments and
fragments of purported "messages"
By Carolyn Kendall
Report
to the Judicial Committee of The Fellowship
April 1992
CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT
Author's Introductory Comments
Timing of This Revelation
Delay in Publishing The Urantia Book
Special Guidance Concerning Publication, Welfare, and Direction of The Urantia Book
Development and Inauguration of Urantia Brotherhood
Let us Create an Organization in the Image of:.Size and Complexity of Urantia Book Organizations
.Advice About Creating a Separate Organized "Church"
.What became of Jesus' "simple spiritual brotherhood"?
.Why Have Organization if there are Pitfalls?
.Recognize Value of the Old during Transition to the New
.Separation of Powers for the Fellowship?
.The Fellowship - All Things to all People?Our cult
Human Relations
.Bringing together effective, compatible team workers
.Learning to solve problems and overcome difficulties among our groups and members
.Preparation for crisisEducation and training of teachers
.Training and education in the universe
.Educational models
.Training, Teaching, Qualification and Certification
.We Teach Those Just Behind Us
.Importance of ExperienceSending forth teachers
What shall we teach?
.Avoid Identifying Jesus' Teachings with Political, Economic, Social or Industrial Systems
.Core teachings of The Urantia Book
.Your Mission: Proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven
.This Revelation, Christianity, Other Religions
Author's Introductory Comments
The ad hoc committee, which I was asked to chair was charged with "researching the teachings of The Urantia Book for the purpose of providing a comprehensive view of those principles, patterns and structures, which would seem appropriate to consider as the basis for an organization such as ours in the planet's fifth epoch of evolutionary development."
David Elders, Chairman of the Judicial Committee, approved the inclusion of material other than the book itself. (It should be emphasized that my husband, Thomas A. Kendall, former President of Urantia Foundation did not divulge any information to which he might have been privy while serving in that capacity. He has not violated any past fiduciary responsibilities.) Among other sources, which were utilized, were the following:
I had been provided a copy of a history written in 196- by William S. Sadler, Sr. covering the early days of the revelatory proceedings and the direction to be taken by the organizations. There were also partial "communications" relating to the broad picture of the times in which the revelation occurred, which were drawn upon.
A personal diary kept by a member of the Forum was also a source for accurate dates.
Marvin Gawryn provided a copy of a 373-page compilation of quotations from the book originally intended to guide him in the rounding of a new religious organization. His church never materialized due to funding problems. Although he approached religious organization from a different angle than our project, his collection was a valuable source of quotations.
Dr. Meredith J. Sprunger had researched The Urantia Book in preparation for the establishment of his outreach organization, Christian Fellowship for Students of The Urantia Book. He also wrote several papers while serving as chairman of the Education Committee and as President of Urantia Brotherhood, which he gave permission to use as needed for this study. He contributed further insights about the future of the revelation's acceptance.
David Elders provided a copy of his own presentation, "A Service Perspective of Individual and Organizational Relationships," 1988.
Several other people have offered words of advice, which have been incorporated into this report.
Between the two most destructive wars in history, on February 11, 1923, the superhuman overseers launched the fifth epochal revelation on Urantia. ".Times of great testing and threatened defeat are always times of great revelation." (2082)
There is a purpose, a plan, and a time for every epochal revelation. When human biologic evolution was nearing its apex (821) and could not progress further it was decided that the time was approaching for Urantia to receive a boost from the Adamic life plasm. The plan was to build up a family of one-half million pure-line descendents (827), and ".would require hundreds of years to consummate." (841) Adamic progeny were to blend with existing biologic stocks, gradually up stepping the races.
"When revealed truth was threatened with extinction." and "The human races were slowly losing ground spiritually." and ".the concept of God had grown very hazy in the minds of men, Machiventa Melchizedek bestowed himself " on earth as a temporary man of the realm... (1014), to ".keep alive on earth the truth of the one God and to prepare the way for the subsequent mortal bestowal of a Paradise Son of that Universal Father." (1018)
1012 - Religion will ever remain either evolutionary of revelatory, or a possible combination of both, as in the world today.
2094 - Thus it appears that all human progress is effected by a technique of conjoint revelational evolution.
The bestowal of the Creator Son was pitched a little ahead of the "best" time for revelation to grow. At the time of Jesus' birth, "Urantia was experiencing a revival in spiritual thinking and religious living." (1332) "The second century after Christ was the best time in all the world's history for a good religion to make progress." (2074) Michael's bestowal occurred in place of an Avonal on a bestowal mission.
In these times, we have passed through two world wars, seemingly avoided a third, and Godless Communism appears to be dying, although secularism and its evil fruits still linger. The day is approaching envisioned by the revelators almost 100 years ago, when they began their contacts with the human subject. For hundreds of years they had experimented with the best techniques of approach, and carefully planned what to include in the revelatory message. There is a time element hinted within the book and in extra-Urantia Book material that could be significant:
We regard The Urantia Book as a feature of the progressive evolution of human society. It is not germane to the spectacular episodes of epochal revolution, even though it may apparently be times to appear in the wake of one such revolution in human society.
Why has The Urantia Book arrived at this point in time? The book is not an emergency mission; the light of truth in the 20th century was not nearing extinction. Faith is alive and well. There was no need to establish a new religion to compete with Christianity - the best expression of the Creator Son's bestowal. The book is a composite. It combines the cultural, biological and political guidance of the first two revelation, but there are no visible superhuman or semi-humans on-site to implement such programs.
It has been suggested that the purpose of the book is to prepare the way for the next order of bestowal. No bestowal Son accompanied The Urantia Book. No dispensational adjudication occurred with the arrival of the book. That will happen at the time of the next bestowal, probably an Avonal on a judicial mission. (225) When will he arrive?
We must "be wise regarding the ripening of an age; alert to discern the coming of the signs of the times. "When the world has passed through the long winter of material-mindedness and [we] discern the coming of the spiritual springtime of a new dispensation, should [we then] know that the summertime of a new visitation draws near. (1915)
When will the "time" for this revelation arrive - when the book achieves widespread acceptance? Many people believe it is just around the corner, soon after the beginning of the 21st century. They point to an acceleration of scientific knowledge, improved communications, increased travel, environmental awareness, social responsibility, leisure, and confidently predict that a spiritual quest will soon follow. Others, notably Dr. Meredith Sprunger, believe all of these advancements are not necessarily indicative of profound spiritual striving. He does not think The Urantia Book will take hold among the great majority of people for at least 200 to 300 years. The book could indeed attain notoriety if it were promoted (or even attacked). He cited Constantine's "promotion of Christianity by the sword" in the 3rd century. However, it was not until after the reformation in the 16th century that Christianity became a significant force for spiritual regeneration among the majority of people.
911 - It is only foolish to attempt the too sudden acceleration of religious growth. A race or nation can only assimilate from any advanced religion that which is reasonably consistent and compatible with its current evolutionary status.
911 - Time is essential to all types of human adjustment - physical, social or economic. Only moral and spiritual adjustments can be made on the spur of the moment, and even these require the passing of time for the full outworking or their material and social repercussions.
1705 - It requires time for men and women to effect radical and extensive changes in their basic and fundamental concepts of social conduct, philosophic attitudes and religious convictions.
Evolution is progressing naturally to a point of readiness for this revelation. While the book suggests material solutions to many contemporary problems, its primary mission is to foster a higher level of spiritual achievement - to save souls.
The Delay in Publishing The Urantia Book
The Forum, almost from its inception, had studied the papers and asked questions, which elicited further information for incorporation into the revelation. Parts I through III of The Urantia Book were completed by 1934. Part IV of The Urantia Papers was delivered to the Contact Commissioners in 1935. Between the completion of the papers in l935 and 1939, funds were collected for publication of the book. The question phase of the Forum formally ended May 31stt, 1942, though in fact it had ended several years earlier. From that time until June 1956, the Forum functioned as a study group.
The Second World War began in the late 1930's, although the United States did not enter the war until 1941. It was assumed by the Forum members that The Urantia Book would be published when the war was over and life returned to normal.
No sooner was the war over in 1945 when a new menace arose that postponed the dream of worldwide peace and spiritual regeneration. In January 1946 the Melchizedeks declared war on Communism. They deemed the rise of Communism to be one of the three most extraordinary emergencies in planetary affairs, the other two being:
The near extinction of the Christian religion in the first half of the second century after Christ by paganism and Mithraism, and.
In the 8th century the Christian religion and civilization were threatened from both east and west by the Islamic onslaught. These people had put all of their religion, politics, economics and sociology into one concept by means of which they embarked upon a program of world conquest.
The Melchizedeks saw Communism, in 1946, as a threat to the religion of Jesus and the freedom of man. They foresaw a time, however, "when the peoples of all the world will become disillusioned regarding the deceptions and misrepresentations of Russian Communism.". . . "We hope we can prevent global war. But most of all we crave to foster a spiritual awakening of your fellow mortals."
By September 1950, the tide was beginning to turn. According to the Melchizedeks, world governments were recognizing fully the dangers inherent in Communism. The Korean war especially aroused adverse attitudes, although, "the anti-Russian forces did not have an over-all and supreme motivation; they were not unified by a positive and over-mastering devotion to a cause - a crusade or an ideal. The strongest thing which holds them together is negative - a fear of Russia." . . . "The disunity and sectarian animosity of Christian believers throughout the world is . a chief factor in the impotency of the Christian religion as a consolidating and driving influence among the non-Communist peoples."
"But mark you, nothing, which we are portraying concerning the difficulties and backwardness of the Russian people should in any marked degree prevent you from doing your full duty to enlighten and liberate the enslaved Russian masses. Do all you can to liberate them, spiritually, socially, economically, and politically." . . . "We owe the continued existence of the United Nations to Russia; it holds together and lamely functions because of fear; fear of Russian aggression."
Communism's course was watched for nine years while the Melchizedeks worked behind the scenes. Rather than delay until the downfall of the Godless, oppressive system, approval was granted for publication in 1955, with these words:
"The book belongs to the era immediately to follow the conclusion of the present ideological struggle. That will be the day when men will be willing to seek truth and righteousness. When the chaos of the present confusion has passed, it will be more readily possible to formulate the cosmos of a new and improved era of human relationships. You are in association with a revelation of truth, which is a part of the natural evolution of religion on this world. Over-rapid growth would be suicidal. The book is being given to those who are ready for it long before the day of its worldwide mission."
Special Guidance Concerning
Publication, Welfare, and Direction of The Urantia BookIt was announced to the Contact Commissioners on November 22, 1951 by the personal regent of the acting Planetary Prince that certain decisions had been made concerning the Urantia revelation:
1. For five hundred years, from February 11th, 1935, the overall welfare and direction of The Urantia Book is placed in the hands of the Seraphim of Progress.
2. The immediate fostering of the Urantia revelation - from decade to decade - (at least for the next one hundred years) will be entrusted to the Seraphim of the Churches.
3. The human aspects of The Urantia Book will be placed in the hands of the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation, subject to the advisory suggestion and veto powers of the Revelatory Commission of the United Midwayers of Urantia. When, as, and if, the Midway Commission fails to communicate with the Trustees of the Foundation for a period of three years, then shall such Trustees deem that the affairs of The Urantia Book are wholly and exclusively in their hands and under their jurisdiction.
4. For the time being, mediation between the overall and superhuman supervision of this (Revelatory) Commission and the directly human functioning of the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation shall be vested in the Midwayer Revelatory Commission. This (Midwayer) Commission shall continue to function as advisor to both the Seraphic Overseers and the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation, but their veto power shall extend only to the decisions and acts of the human Trustees.
In the absence of Midwayer intervention after February 11, 1954, the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation shall proceed in accordance with their own judgment.
On August 21st, 1952, the same personality ruled: "I, and I alone, will direct the time of the publication of The Urantia Book" .And further, "If I do not provide such instructions on or before January 1st, 1955, then the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation should proceed with plans for publication in accordance with their own judgment. (I reserve the right to intervene at any time.)"
The Contact Commissioners had been the custodians of the Urantia manuscript. The preliminary work of obtaining the copyright and arranging for the publication of The Urantia Book was the responsibility of the contact Commissioners. It was the Contact Commission that received the publication mandate, the introduction of which begins: "We regard The Urantia Book as a feature".etc. It was not until the day before the inauguration of the brotherhood - January 1st, 1955 - that the authority for these functions was assumed by the Trustees, a full five years after the founding of Urantia Foundation. In an open meeting held immediately after the formalities of organizing the Brotherhood, the Trustees declared their intention to proceed with publication of the book on February 11th, 1955.
Development and Inauguration of Urantia Brotherhood
Urantia Brotherhood was inaugurated January 2nd, 1955, at 533 Diversey Parkway, Chicago, Illinois. "It was inevitable that some sort of fraternal organization would grow out of the teachings of The Urantia Book. All interested persons could see that the Urantia teachings were opposed to the sectarianism of Christian believers. It was clear that it was not the purpose of the Urantia Revelation to start a new church.
At least eighteen years before this date, plans for a formal organization were in process. At first, the responsibility of protecting the text of the book, and the functions of a religious and social organization and dissemination of the book and its teachings were combined in one entity. However, it was foreseen that the social and disseminating arm of the organization would eventually function as a democratic group in response to the will of the majority of its members. The duty and responsibility of protecting the text would have to be retained by a group that could not be influenced by the shifting emotions of the readership, nor be subject to periodic review and popular election. Consequently, by 1939 it was recognized that there needed to be two separate organizations operating more or less independently of each other. The first drafts of the Declaration of Trust of Urantia Foundation and the Constitution of Urantia Brotherhood were formulated in 1939.
These drafts were not prepared by Trustees of the Foundation, nor by general Councilors of the Brotherhood; they were developed by certain persons who were known as Contact Commissioners, the five human members of the revelatory partnership. In consultation with outside authorities on organizations a governing structure similar to the Presbyterian Church was adopted for the Brotherhood. In November 1950, an outline of the proposed brotherhood was presented to the members of the Seventy by one of the contact commissioners. With input from the Seventy, further refinements to the emerging structure were made over the next couple of years.
On August 21st, 1952, the planetary regent announced that "the plan of organization (constitution) as it exists on this date is hereby provisionally approved for the inauguration of the Brotherhood; the plan provides for its own subsequent amendation." The actual launching of the brotherhood was to "be left to the decisions of the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation. They shall act personally - unofficially - and no records of such action shall appear on the transactions of the Urantia Foundation. They shall assume all and full responsibility for the organization and inauguration of the Urantia Brotherhood.
Thus it may be seen that the foundation did not create the Brotherhood, nor did the Trustees individually or collectively create the brotherhood; it was the Contact Commissioners. The Trustees did apparently decide the time when inauguration would occur. From a contemporary letter describing the events of January 2nd, 1955: "First, Doctor read a communication directing how it should be done. Then, William Hales, who was presiding, and who was a Trustee, called for nominations for officers of the Brotherhood. Next, the newly elected president of the Brotherhood, Bill Sadler, invited nominations from the floor for the nine committee chairmanships."
Let Us Create an Organization in the image of.?
It is not the purview of this report to suggest revisions of the Constitution. Rather, it is our assignment to think about the purpose, mission, and goals of the revelators who brought us The Urantia Book and the nature of the organizations associated with the revelation.
Size and Complexity of Urantia Book Organizations
The first issue that could be reviewed is the size and complexity of the Fellowship structure. The late E. L. Christensen (Christy) former president of Urantia Brotherhood, Trustee of Urantia Foundation and one time contact commissioner, had two comments about the Brotherhood which might be significant:
"We were told to study Jesus' organization - its simplicity; we shouldn't let ours get too big," and.
"Perhaps we went into societies too soon. There is too much jockeying for position and competition among groups and individuals instead of studying the book and spreading the teachings among our fellows."
The first item represents "advice", the second does not; it is merely the musing of one individual. Taken together, they could be viewed as a warning against allowing the size and complexity of the organization assume priority status and draw too much energy and time away from disseminating the revelatory message. Do we serve the organization, or does it serve us?
What are we told about Jesus' organization? It may be seen from the following excerpts that Jesus' organizations were appointive, functional, temporary and above all, simple.
1539 - Jesus, after each man had presented his selection for the new apostleships, asked all the others to vote upon the nomination.
1547 - The apostles early organized themselves in the following manner:
Andrew.was designated chairman and director general of the twelve.
Peter, James and John were appointed personal companions of Jesus. They were to attend him day and night.
Philip was made steward of the group. It was his duty to provide food and to see that visitors, and even the multitude of listeners had something to eat.
Nathaniel watched over the needs of the families of the twelve.
Matthew was the fiscal agent of the apostolic corps. It was his duty to see that the budget was balanced, the treasury replenished.
Thomas was the manager of the itinerary. It devolved upon him to arrange lodgings and select places for teaching and preaching.
The Alpheus twins were assigned to the management of the multitudes. It was their task to deputize a sufficient number of assistant ushers to enable them to maintain order among the crowds.
Simon Zelotes was given charge of recreation and play.
Judas Iscariot was appointed treasurer. He carried the bag. He paid all expenses and kept the books. He made budget estimates for Matthew.Judas paid out funds on Andrew's authorization.
1581 - Jesus never personally directed his followers to adopt a communal mode of life; he made no pronouncement of any sort regarding such matters.
1583 - Jesus did not teach his apostles that religion is man's only pursuit; but he did insist that religion was the exclusive business of the twelve.
1959 - Andrew, since you are the chief of your brethren by authority of my appointment, . From now on you may exercise no jurisdiction over your brethren except that which you have earned in your capacity as spiritual leader, . From this hour you may exercise no authority over your brethren unless they restore such jurisdiction to you by their definite legislative action.
2045 - From this time on, .Peter was the generally recognized head of the apostolic corps. Jesus never gave him any such authority, and his fellow apostles never formally elected him to such a position of responsibility; he naturally assumed it and held it by common consent, and also because he was their chief preacher.
1679 - Jesus authorized (the women's corps) to effect their own organization and directed Judas to provide funds for their equipment and for pack animals. The ten elected Susanna as their chief and Joanna as their treasurer.
1720 - Jesus consented to David Zebedee's continuing his countrywide messenger service, . David: "Nothing that might happen to me will interfere with this service, for I have appointed first and second leaders, even third.
Advice About Creating a Separate Organized "Church"
1330 - (Immanuel's advice to Michael) "In every possible manner seek to avoid the formal establishment of an organized cult, a crystallized religion, of a segregated ethical grouping of mortal beings. Your life and teachings are to become the common heritage of all religions and all peoples."
1865 - Jesus foresaw that a social organization, or church, would follow the progress of the true spiritual kingdom.
1864 - This brotherhood is destined to become a living organism in contrast to an institutionalized social organization. It may well utilize such social organizations, but it must not be supplanted by them.
1642 - The special instruction given by Jesus [was] .designed to make clear the differences between personal religious experience and the amities of social religious obligations. This was one of the few times the Master ever discussed the social aspects of religions.
What Became of Jesus' "simple spiritual brotherhood"?
2083 - Thinking man has always feared to be held by a religion. When a strong and moving religion threatens to dominate him, he invariably tries to rationalize it, traditionalize it, and institutionalize it, thereby hoping to gain control of it.
1089 - The formalization of religious groups many times destroys the very values for the promotion of which the group was organized.
1864 -The church, as a social outgrowth of the kingdom, would have been wholly natural and even desirable. The evil of the church was not its existence, but rather that it almost completely supplanted the Jesus concept of the kingdom.
1865 -The early Christians (and all too many of the later ones) generally lost sight of the Father-and-Son idea embodied in Jesus' teaching of the kingdom, while they substituted therefore the well-organized social fellowship of the church. The church thus became in the main a social brotherhood, which effectively displaced Jesus' concept and ideal of a spiritual brotherhood.
.fixation of beliefs and crystallization of sentiments.
.Accumulation of vested interests, with increase in secularization.
.Tendency to standardize and fossilize truth.
.Diversion of religion from the service of God to the service of the church.
.Inclination of leaders to become administrators instead of ministers.
.Tendency to form sects and competitive divisions.
.Establishment of oppressive ecclesiastical authority.
.Creation of aristocratic "chosen-people attitude.
.Fostering of false and exaggerated ideas of sacredness.
.The routinizing of religion and the petrificaiton of worship.
.Tendency to venerate the past while ignoring present demands.
.Failure to make up-to-date interpretations of religion.
.Entanglement with functions of secular institutions.
.It creates the evil discrimination of religious castes.
.It becomes an intolerant judge of orthodoxy.
.It fails to hold the interest of adventurous youth.
.Gradually loses the saving message of the gospel of eternal salvation.
1141 - When theology masters religion, religion dies; it becomes a doctrine instead of a life.
2084 - .theologians and philosophers of all time should be effectively restrained from daring to form creeds or create theological systems of spiritual bondage out of such a transcendent bestowal.
Why Have Organization If There Are So Many Pitfalls?
1083 - While it is true that the institutionalization of religion has usually detracted from its spiritual quality, it is also true that no religion has thus far succeeded in surviving without the aid of institutional organization of some degree, greater or lesser.
1076 - It is difficult for religion to survive as the private practice of isolated individuals. This has ever been the error of the religious leaders: Seeing the evils of institutionalized religion, they seek to destroy the technique of group functioning. In place of destroying all ritual, they would do better to reform it.
Meredith Sprunger, former president of Urantia Brotherhood, has written: "Although religious institutions provide greater opportunities for evil, .such institutionalization is necessary to provide continuity, cultural absorption, and control. The best solution to this problem is to be aware of the self-serving tendencies of institutions and strive to avoid or minimize them. We have expressed our intention to remain a prophetic, leavening institution devoted to the dissemination of the teachings of The Urantia Book. Our announced purpose is to avoid becoming a 'church' or conventional ministering religious institution.
David Elders, former president of the Fellowship, wrote: "Since an organization is not a person but a mechanism, it is not self-acting. In the end, all organizations are really a collection of persons acting in some agreed-upon way, together. Fear of an organization is misplaced; rather, any anxiety with regard to organization intent or action would be better directed toward the people who comprise it.
Recognize Value of the Old During Transition to the New
This guidance could be useful in many situations the Fellowship might encounter including perhaps the following:
.Restructuring and revision of the Fellowship organization and constitution.
.Addition of permanent programs or layers in organization Maintenance of the copyright and name, Urantia, and concentric circles symbol.
.Retaining longstanding policy of not publicizing The Urantia Book.
.Fellowship linkage with Christian religious groups.
1086 - The great danger to any civilization - at any one moment - is the threat of breakdown during the time of transition from the established methods of the past to those new and better, but untried, procedures of the future.
1085 - The paramount mission of religion as a social influence is to stabilize the ideals of mankind during these dangerous times of transition from one phase of civilization to another; from one level of culture to another.
1656 - Jesus: "That which is old and also true must abide. Likewise, that which is new but false must be rejected. But that which is new and also true, have the faith and courage to accept.
1859 - In choosing to utilize this concept of the kingdom of heaven, Jesus elected to appropriate the most vital and culminating heritage of both the Jewish and Persia religions.
1255 - The Religious Guardians. There are the "angels of the churches, the earnest contenders for that which is and has been. They endeavor to maintain the ideals of that which has survived for the sake of the safe transit of moral values from one epoch to another. They are the checkmates of the angels of progress, all the while seeking to translate from one generation to another the imperishable values of the old and passing forms into the new and therefore less stabilized patterns of thought and conduct.
2077 - Religious leaders are making a great mistake when they try to call modern man to spiritual battle with the trumpet blasts of the Middle Ages. Religion must provide itself with new and up-to-date slogans.
1626 - Always does the socialized religion of a new revelation pay the price of compromise with the established forms and usages of the preceding religion, which is, seeks to salvage.
Separation of Powers For the Fellowship?
There have been recommendations that the Fellowship remodel its organization into three separate departments, or powers, much as is the American government. This idea took origin in the writings of the Frenchman, Baron de Montesquieu (1689 - 1755), admired by the framers of the U. S. Constitution, who believed that "The ideal constitution from the point of view of political liberty as that where the legislature, the executive, and judiciary are mutually independent of one another." (Encycl. Britt.)
Those who advocate this restructuring believe it to be consistent with the combined functions of the local universe, constellation, and system governments, and with recommendations for planetary governments. Although Dalamatia and Eden had laws and courts, Adam found it impossible to substitute representative government in Eden in place of monarchial government. (834).
517 - The entire universe is organized and administered on the representative plan. Representative government is the divine ideal of self-government among non-perfect beings.
797 - The universe administrators have learned from experience that the evolutionary people on the inhabited worlds are best regulated by the representative type of civil government when there is maintained proper balance of power between the well-coordinated executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
806 - The only sacred feature of any human government is the division of statehood into the tree domains of executive, legislative, and judicial functions.
809 - The federal government of (the neighboring planet) embraces three coordinate divisions: executive, legislative, and judicial.
1254 - (In the unseen planetary government), there exists no formal government along the lines of universe organization, such as separate legislative, executive, and judicial departments.
It should be noted that most of the foregoing excerpts refer to civil governments of planets and to "statehood. The fellowship does not fall into this category. The universe governments are permanent and have need for such regulation. Would it be wise or even practical to burden the Fellowship with a political system inappropriate to our type of social, coordinative organization? We must weigh the idea of "simplicity against complexity and functionality.
The Fellowship - All Things To All People?
The choice for now is this: How complex should the Fellowship become? The answer depends on what we acknowledge to be the purpose of The Urantia Book revelation.
Dalamatia and Eden were established as multi-purpose, permanent settlements. The Dalamatia and Edenic missions encompassed not only religion but also biological, cultural, political, and social components because no such systems worthy of the name existed on earth at those points in time.
Melchizedek's organization was extensive: "Abraham assumed the civil and military leadership of the Salem colony, which as its height carried over one hundred thousand regular tithe payers on the rolls." (1021) Melchizedek's emergency mission was for remedial spiritual purposes; to prepare the way for the reception of the Creator Son on his bestowal mission. It did not encompass biological, social, or cultural features. From Salem, thousands of missionaries were sent out to proclaim the one God to the masses.
In Jesus' time the world was well equipped with cultural, social, and political systems, as is today's society. Jesus' organization was small and ad hoc; his disciples were trained and dispatched for outreach service. Jesus did not intend to establish a permanent church.
As we've said previously, The Urantia Book comments on the issues of biological inequities, social, cultural, and political systems, but no superhuman beings accompanied the book to administer their further development. Evolutionary refinements to existing systems will occur in time, perhaps indirectly influenced by this revelation. It will largely be left to the wisdom of the human population and its leaders to make these adjustments. It can be agreed, perhaps, that our primary mission is not to reorganize the world from scratch - in any other way than spiritually.
This revelation opens the door to what happens to each of us after we die, and in so doing, spreads the entire universe before our wondering gaze. But over all, it emphasizes the spiritual nature of the Universal Father and our son - and daughtership with him - the gospel message of Jesus. As we review the checkered history of our world, and comprehend the watch-care of the planetary overseers, we might better envision what lies ahead for our world. There are several possibilities:
.Soon, if we are on schedule, there will be a millennial resurrection, perhaps even a dispensational adjudication - always conducted by an Avonal on a judicial/technical mission. (226)
.An Avonal on a magisterial mission, commissioned to incarnate, may arrive.
.At any time, the case Gabriel vs. Lucifer will be adjudicated and the universe circuits restored to our planet.
.The Daynals, the Trinity Teacher Sons, even now visit our planet. In time they will employ Brilliant Evening Stars to contact the mortals.
.Jesus has promised to return - any day, any hour. And remember, "A Master Son may at will vary the order of the spiritual adjudication and evolutionary adjustment of the inhabited planets. And such Sons do make and carry out the plans of their own choosing.in particular regarding the worlds of their creature sojourn and still more concerning the realm of terminal bestowal." (241) Anything can happen.
In view of the significance of these staggering events, doesn't it seem frivolous to have consumed so much time with some of the issues the Brotherhood/Fellowship has dealt with in recent years? Concerns such as:
.Voting/representation for members-at-large.
.Codes of ethics for office holders.
.Senior advisory board.
.Childrens' classes (train the parents who would then train their own childrten0.
.Councilor removal amendment.
Even more trivial are the self-expression media among the readership; newsletters with "celebrity interviews, poetry, cartoons, reviews of parties and picnics; art shows; travel services; certain types of dramatic and musical presentations; T-shirts, trinkets, tracts, plaques and devotionals for sale at conferences. We must always ask: Are each of these items cheapening the revelation or enhancing it?
Will the Fellowship become a mechanism for the selfish gratification of its members and associates? Will it try to satisfy all supposed "needs" of readers no matter how short-sighted? Will it succumb to the desire of the timid among us to be a snug, sheltering refuge? Will the Fellowship become a home for "organization" types? At the Last Supper Jesus told the apostles: "Soon, very soon, you will all be scattered; you will not be permitted to enjoy the comforting and sustaining association of even one of your brethren. You will have to find new associates. You will go out alone, and to the ends of the earth, proclaiming this good news." (1957)
Keeping it simple, like Jesus' organization, means flying light, with only carry-on baggage. This could be interpreted to mean that all possible committees would be ad hoc, project-oriented; meetings arranged as needed; teachers trained and dispatched to proclaim the teachings of the book; leaders commissioned to establish and maintain study groups.
"That organization is best that organizes least, while it coordinates most. (From those who brought us the book.)
Bill Sadler once said, as the brotherhood was about to be launched, "If 'cult' is the worst thing we'll ever be called, then we'll be in good shape.
Cult is not necessarily a negative. Our goal should be to not allow our cult symbolism to become entrenched, rigid, unyielding, churchlike, and crystallized.
966 - Regardless of the drawbacks and handicaps, every new revelation of truth has given rise to a new cult, and even the restatement of the religion of Jesus must develop a new and appropriate symbolism.And this higher symbolism of a higher civilization must be pregnant with the mighty ideal of the brotherhood of man.
966 - No cult can survive unless it embodies some masterful mystery and conceals some worthwhile unattainable.
966 - .a cult - a symbolism of rituals, slogans, or goals - will not function if it is too complex.
965 - From the dawn of civilization every appealing movement in social culture or religious advancement has developed a ritual, a symbolic ceremonial.
966 - Every effective religion unerringly develops a worthy symbolism, and its devotees would do well to prevent crystallization of such a ritual into cramping, deforming, and stifling stereotyped ceremonials which can only handicap and retard all social, moral, and spiritual progress.
965 - The early Christian cult was the most effective, appealing, and enduring of any ritual ever conceived or devised.
946 - In religion, symbolism may be either good or bad just to the extent that the symbol does or does not displace the original worshipful idea.
1728 - (Jesus) never grew weary of pointing out to the twelve the great danger of accepting religious symbols and ceremonials in the place of religious experience.
1005 - Always remember, the cults are formed, not to discover truth, but rather to promulgate their creeds.
1592 - He warned his apostles against the formulation of creeds and the establishment of traditions as a means of guiding and controlling believers in the gospel of the kingdom.
1091 - Jesus did not require of his followers that they should periodically assemble and recite a form of words indicative of their common beliefs. He only ordained that they should gather together to actually do something - partake of the communal supper of the remembrance of his bestowal life on Urantia.
1941 - This (cup) shall be to you to emblem of the bestowal and ministry of the divine Spirit of Truth.
1942 - And this bread of life is the united life of the Father and Son in one gift.the bread of remembrance, the symbol of the living word of truth incarnated in the likeness of mortal flesh.
1584 - Said Jesus; "John preached a baptism of repentance, sorrow for the old way of living. You are to proclaim the baptism of fellowship with God.
1512 - When Jesus was baptized, he repented of no misdeeds; he made no confession of sin. His was the baptism of consecration to the performance of the will of the heavenly Father.
969 - (Moses) carefully directed that they should make no sort of image that might become consecrated as a fetish.
1066 - (Amos) warned that ritual must not take the place of righteousness.
53 - (Benediction:) God the Father loves men; God the Son serves men; God the Spirit inspires the children of the universe to the ever-ascending adventure of finding God the Father by the ways ordained by God the Sons through the ministry of the grace of God the Spirit. (This is the passage, which came after the end of every communication, message, and paper. It was informally adopted by the Forum and First Urantia Society, as a benediction at the end of meetings. It is still in optional use by the society.)
999 - Prayer is the technique whereby, sooner or later, every religion becomes institutionalized.
836 - The public worship hour of Eden was noon; sunset was the hour of family worship. Adam did his best to discourage the use of set prayers, teaching that effective prayer must be wholly individual, that it must be the "desire of the soul."
1620 - (Jesus) never taught a formal personal prayer, only group, family, or social petitions. And he never volunteered to do that.
1618 - He taught (the Lord's Prayer) that you might have something to teach the multitude. He did not intend that you should use such a set and formal petition as the expression of your own souls in prayer.
1640 - Jesus exhorted his believers to employ prayer as a means of leading up through thanksgiving to true worship. Jesus deplored that so little of the spirit of thanksgiving was to be found in the prayers and worship of his followers.
1640 - Let your real petitions always be in secret. Do not let men hear your personal prayers. Prayers of thanksgiving are appropriate for groups of worshippers, but the prayer of the soul is a personal matter.
1618 - The apostles very early perceived that their Master did not fully approve of the practice of uttering set and formal prayers.
1620 - Jesus was particularly averse to praying in public. Jesus taught the twelve always to pray in secret; to go off by themselves amidst the quiet surroundings of nature or to go in their rooms and shut the doors when they engaged in prayer.
1681 - Jesus: The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Let us all therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest that he send forth still more laborers into his fields.
1640 - Jesus: All believers in this gospel should pray sincerely for the extension of the kingdom of heaven.
1730 - Jesus: All of you should pray the Father to transform your emotions of mind and body into the higher loyalties of mind and the more satisfying experiences of the spirit.
Bringing Together Effective, Compatible Team Workers
Marian Rowley was the first brotherhood "official", that engaged in social engineering. For years, she labored tirelessly to place isolated readers together who could form effective study groups or develop pen pal associations. Area Coordinators presumably are carrying on this worthwhile activity.
432 - Social architects do everything within their province and power to bring together suitable individuals that they may constitute efficient and agreeable working groups on earth; and sometimes such groups have found themselves reassociated on the mansion worlds for continued fruitful service. But not always do these seraphim attain their ends; not always are they able to bring together those who would form the most ideal group to achieve a given purpose or to accomplish a certain task; under these conditions they must utilize the best of the material available.
544 - The selective assorters are also of great service in the grouping of morontia personalities for purposes of study, teaching, and other projects. They naturally indicate those who will best function in temporary association.
312 - One of the most important lessons to be learned during your mortal career is teamwork. The spheres of perfection are manned by those who have mastered this art of working with other beings.
Learning to Solve Problems and Overcome Difficulties
Among Our Groups and Members211 - Of all the problems in the universe requiring an exercise of the consummate wisdom of experience and adaptability, none are more important than those arising out of the relationships and associations of intelligent beings.There continue to arise petty frictions, minor misunderstandings too trivial even to engage the attention of conciliators but sufficiently irritating and disturbing to mar the smooth working of the universe if they were allowed to multiply and continue.
1719 - Universe difficulties must be met and planetary obstacles must be encountered as a part of the experience training provided for the growth and development.of mortal creatures. The spiritualization of the human soul requires intimate experience with the educational solving of a wide range of real universe problems.
555 - You will learn to let pressure develop stability and certainty.
839 - After more than 100 years of effort on Urantia, Adam was able to see very little progress outside the Garden.the situation seemed so desperate as to demand something for relief not embraced in the original plans.Here they were, isolated, and day by day confronted with some new and complicated tangle, some problems that seemed to be unsolvable.
1625 - (Jesus' and John's disciples) And this is the story of the first attempt of Jesus' followers to coordinate divergent efforts, compose differences of opinion, organize group undertakings, legislate on outward observances and socialize personal religious practices.
Many other minor matters were considered and their solutions unanimously agreed upon.they were compelled to face problems and compose difficulties without Jesus. They learned to differ, to debate, to contend, to pray, and to compromise, and throughout it all to remain sympathetic with the other person's viewpoint and to maintain at least some degree of tolerance for his honest opinions.
1648 - Never again were the 24 all together until a short time before the commissioning and sending forth of the 70 evangelists. But the two groups were cooperative, notwithstanding their differences of opinion, the best of feelings prevailed.
754 - Of all forms of evil, none are more destructive of personality status than betrayal of trust and disloyalty to one's confiding friends.
1762 - If your brother will not hear you, if he persists in the error of his way, go again to him, taking with you one or two mutual friends that you may thus have two or even three witnesses to confirm your testimony and establish the fact that you have dealt justly and mercifully with your offending brother. Now if he refuses to hear your brethren, you may tell the whole story to the congregation, and then, if he refuses to hear the brotherhood, let them take such action, as they deem wise; let such an unruly member become an outcast from the kingdom.
1763 - It has been committed to your hands that you should maintain temporal order in the kingdom on earth. While you may not meddle with the divine decrees concerning eternal life, you shall determine the issues of conduct as they concern the temporal welfare of the brotherhood on earth.
761 - Angels do not sit in judgment on mankind, neither should individual mortals prejudge their fellow creatures.
1666 - This supposed prophet had peculiar visions when in trance and dreamed fantastic dreams when his sleep was disturbed. He created a considerable disturbance.and Simon Zelotes was in favor of dealing rather roughly with the self-deceived pretender, but Jesus intervened and allowed him entire freedom of action for a few days. All who heard his preaching soon recognized that his teaching was not sound as judged by the gospel of the kingdom. He shortly returned to Bagdad, taking with him only a half-dozen unstable and erratic souls.
"Many strange -isms and queer groups will seek to attach themselves to The Urantia Book and its far-flung influence. Your most trying experiences may well be with such groups who will so loudly acclaim their belief in the teachings of the book and who will so persistently seek to attach themselves to the movement. Great wisdom will be required to protect the newly forming Brotherhood from the distracting and disturbing individuals, some well-intentioned and some sinister, who will strive to become a part of the authentic constituency of the Urantia Brotherhood. (From those who brought us the book.)
It can be anticipated that sooner or later The Urantia Book will attain notoriety. A public presentation of the book will generate interest in the book by all kinds of groups and individuals. Sincere people would almost always give the book a fair hearing. However, any large scale advertising attention of fundamentalists who have not already heard of the book, and of leaders of pressure groups who would object to sensitive areas of the book.
We are better prepared for controversy now than 30 years ago; we will be better prepared in 20 years than now. Unfortunately, we can't control the timetable of crisis. Withholding the book, as the Foundation appears to be doing, will not forestall controversy.
The key is preparation. Up to now, crises have been internal - among "friends. But these were merely training opportunities for future, externally caused controversies, which lurk around the corner. Past leaders tried to envision situations and imagine various scenarios for preparing for them, but new leaders have come upon the scene. As one achieves a leadership position if the Fellowship, there ought to be rehearsals in methods of crisis control and prevention. A variety of events could be anticipated which, if leaders blunder into situations unprepared, irreparable damage could occur.
Jesus suffered the attack, rejection and desertion by his followers. His experience points up the inevitability of desertion by even our half-hearted "believers under similar circumstances.
1708 - The Master knew many of his followers were preparing their minds finally to reject him. He likewise knew that many of his disciples were slowly but certainly passing through that training of mind and discipline of soul, which would enable them to triumph over doubt and courageously to assert their full-fledged faith in the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus fully understood how men prepare themselves for the decisions of a crisis and the performance of sudden deeds of courageous choosing by the slow process of the reiterated choosing between the recurring situations of good and evil. He subjected his chosen messengers to repeated rehearsals in disappointment and provided them with frequent and testing opportunities for choosing between the right and the wrong way of meeting spiritual trails. He knew he could depend on his followers, when they met the final test, to make their vital decisions in accordance with prior and habitual mental attitudes and spirit reactions.
1715 - Time and again had Jesus dashed to pieces the hopes of his apostles.and too, there was now admixed with their depression a real fear for their safety. They were all surprisingly startled by the suddenness and completeness of the desertion of the populace.
1717 - At this time there were only about one hundred disciples who had the moral courage to brave the opposition of the Pharisees and openly declare their adherence to Jesus.
1715 - Jesus: I recognize that this sifting of the kingdom distresses you, but it is unavoidable. Still, after all the training you have had, was there any good reason why you should stumble at my words? Why is it that you are filled with fear and consternation when you see the kingdom being diverted of these lukewarm multitudes and these halfhearted disciples?
1687 - This turbulent ending of the third preaching tour had a sobering effect upon all of Jesus' followers.they were awakening to the fact that the kingdom would come only through much sorrow and bitter disappointment.
1704 - Jesus was preparing for a great crisis of his life on earth, and he therefore spent much time in communion with the Father in heaven.
1928 - they all felt the certain drawing upon them of the terrible isolation, which they realized was about to descend with crashing suddenness and inescapable terror. They vaguely sensed what was coming, and none felt prepared to face the test.
Training and Education in the Universe
There is definite structure in the universe plan of perfection attainment. It is an organized program of training and education.
558 - It is the design of the Creators to afford the creatures of time a graduated opportunity to master the details of the operation and administration of the grand universe, and this long course of training is best carried forward by having the surviving mortal climb up gradually and by actual participation in every step of the ascent.
551 - In the schools of the morontia life these teachers engage in individual, group, class, and mass teaching. On the mansion worlds schools are organized in three groups; schools of thinking, schools of feeling, and schools of doing. When you reach the constellation there are the schools of ethics, schools of administration, and schools of social adjustment. On the universe headquarters worlds you will enter the schools of philosophy, divinity, and pure spirituality.
493 = These 700 constellation worlds are technical spheres of practical education in the working of the entire local universe.These [are] training schools of special skill and technical knowledge.
343 - From first to last, throughout all Havona the instruction is personal and threefold in nature; intellectual, spiritual, and experiential.
231 - The Teacher Sons compose the faculties who administer all examinations and conducts al tests for the qualification and certification of all subordinate phases of universe service.They conduct an age long course of training.Recognition indicative of effort and attainment is granted to all (mortal or cherubim) who complete these adventures in wisdom and truth.
518 - All representatives or other delegates are selected by the council of 1000 electors, and they must be graduates of the highest school of the Melchizedek College of Administration.there are many elective bodies on Jerusem.To receive nomination for representative honor a candidate must have gained requisite recognition from the Melchizedek schools of administration.
421 - Seraphim are initiated.by serving as observers on the lowest evolutionary world. After this experience they return to .the constellation to begin their advanced studies and prepare for service. Following this.they are advanced to the service of some local system.
835 - The children of Adam and Eve.were trained intellectually until they were sixteen in accordance with the methods of the Jerusem school.The entire purpose of the western school system of the garden was socialization. The forenoon periods of recess were devoted to practical horticulture and agriculture, the afternoon periods to competitive play. The evenings were employed in social intercourse and the cultivation of personal friendships. Religious and sexual training were regarded as the province of the home, the duty of parents.
1485 - (Cymboyton's Urmia School): The lectures and discussions in this school of religion began at 10:00 o'clock every morning in the week. The afternoon sessions started at 3:00 o'clock, and the evening debates opened at 8:00 o'clock. Cymboyton, or one of this three sons always presided at these sessions of teaching, discussion, and debate.Cymboyton arranged with Jesus to sojourn with them for two weeks on his return trip and give 24 lectures on "The Brotherhood of Men, and to conduct twelve evening sessions of question, discussions, and debates on his lectures in particular, and on the brotherhood of men in general.
1658 - Each of the apostolic teachers taught his own view of the gospel of the kingdom. They made no effort to teach just alike; there was no standardized or dogmatic formulation of theologic doctrines.
1657 - (The Bethsaida encampment): This tented city was under the general supervision of David Zebedee, assisted by the Alpheus twins. The encampment was a model of order and sanitation as well as in its general administration. The sick of different types were segregated and were under the supervision of a believer physician.Jesus gave a talk to this company each morning. Peter taught methods of public preaching; Nathaniel instructed them in the art of teaching; Thomas explained how to answer questions; while Matthew directed the organization of their group finances. The other apostles also participated in this training in accordance with their special experience and natural talents.
1657 - While Andrew continued in general charge of the apostolic activities, Peter was in full charge of the school of the evangelists each forenoon, and both teachers and pupils taught the people during the afternoons. After the evening meal, five nights a week, the apostles conducted question classes for the benefit of the evangelists. Once a week Jesus presided at this question hour, answering the holdover questions from previous sessions.
Training, Teaching, Qualification, and Certification
Soon after The Urantia Book was published, the brotherhood school opened with 71 students. By 1960, 17 students had received Certified Leader diplomas, and later on, many of these same students had conferred upon them the title of Ordained Teacher. These designations were expunged from the constitution in 1979, one reason being that "ordained" was too much associated with the idea of church, something we have historically wished to avoid. It has also been acknowledged that the original Brotherhood school imparted knowledge, but did not present students with the opportunity to acquire teaching experience.
All revelators receive advice, admonitions, and undergo rigorous training and certification before they embark upon bestowals to the planets. When they arrive on the bestowal planet, they institute programs of attracting potential students, and formally training these humans as teachers. Upon completion of the program the newly ordained or commissioned teachers engage in either limited or extensive missions of proclaiming truth to their fellow men.
The publication mandate in 1955 included the following: An early publication of the book has been provided so that it may be in hand for the training of leaders and teachers.
If this advice were to be taken seriously, it would be imperative to consider the reinstitution of formal schools - regionally situated - to address the matter of in-depth training and qualification of potential teachers of The Urantia Book.
575 - (The Prince's) schools of culture and training are well adapted to the needs of each planet, and there soon develops a keen and laudatory rivalry among the races of men in their efforts to gain entrance to these various institutions of learning.
751 - The pupils learned by doing, and worked their way through by the performance of useful tasks.instruction was individual and collective. Taught by both men and women, and by the two acting conjointly.
750 - After three years in the schools of the Prince (they were) ready to receive their commissions as emissaries of the Prince to the needy tribes of their respective races.
829 - Adam and Eve.went forth to their new responsibilities adequately equipped and fully instructed concerning every duty and danger to be encountered on Urantia.
850 - (Seth, the son of Adam and Eve): The Sethite priesthood was a threefold undertaking, embracing religion, health, and education. The priests of this order were trained to officiate at religious ceremonies, to serve as physicians and sanitary inspectors, and to act as teachers in the schools of the Garden.
1573 - The Sermon on the Mount.was the Master's personal commission to those who were to go on preaching the gospel, and aspiring to represent him in the world.
1571 - Jesus: Everyone who hears this charge and sincerely executes his commission to represent me before men even as I have represented my Father to you, shall find an abundant entrance into my service, and into the kingdom of the heavenly Father.
1879 -To Nathaniel: ".be true to your commission as an ambassador of the kingdom." To Phillip: ".be loyal to your oath of consecration."
1568 - Jesus to evangelists: Go now to do the work as you have been charged, and later on, when you have shown yourselves competent and faithful, I will ordain you to preach the gospel of the kingdom.
1658 - These evangelists.did not baptize believers until after they were later ordained and commissioned by Jesus.
1800 - After devoting a few days to visiting and reorganization of the camp, Jesus and the twelve began a course of intensive training for this special group of believers, and from this well-trained and experienced aggregation of disciples the Master subsequently chose the seventy teachers and sent them forth to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom.
1801 - When Jesus had thus spoken to the seventy, he began with Abner, and, as they knelt in a circle about him, laid his hands upon the head of every man.
622 - (The morontia temple).these edifices are devoted to special ceremonies of the planet,.special visualization ceremonies,.and silent contemplation. The schools of cosmic philosophy here conduct their graduation exercises, and here also do the mortals of the realm receive planetary recognition for achievements of high social service, and for other outstanding attainments.
The Urantia Book promotes a program of learning and doing, and learning and teaching. Asian Indians have sometimes practiced "I teach thee; thee teach he. This method of training in the teachings of the book has thus far not been formally employed by the brotherhood/Fellowship, other than in the transient teaching opportunities in summer seminars, and in local study groups. Eventually, an intensive, permanent teacher/leader training school might experiment with this method of teaching/learning.
279 - As you journey toward Paradise, constantly acquiring added knowledge and enhanced skill, you are continuously afforded the opportunity to give out to others, the wisdom and experience you have already accumulated; all the way to Havona you enact the role of a pupil-teacher. You will work your way through the ascending levels of this vast experiential university by imparting to those just below you the newfound knowledge of your advancing career.You are not reckoned as having possessed your self of knowledge and truth until you have demonstrated your ability and willingness to impart this knowledge and truth to others.
338 - The entire ascendant plan of mortal progression is characterized by the practice of giving out to other beings new truth and experience just as soon as acquired. You work your way through the long school of Paradise attainment by serving as teachers to those pupils just behind you in the scale of progression.
498 - As in all other phases of the ascending career, those who are most advanced inn any line of endeavor are required constantly to impart their superior knowledge and skill to their less favored fellows.
416 - From each level of achievement these advancing mortals reach back and down to extend a helping hand to their fellows who follow them in the upward climb.
835 - (The children of Adam and Eve) From sixteen to twenty they were taught in the Urantia schools at the other end of the Garden, serving there also as teachers in the lower grades.
1542 - The next week was devoted to a program of intense training. Each day the six new apostles were put in the hands of their respective nominators for a thoroughgoing review of all they had learned and experienced in preparation for the work of the kingdom. The older apostles carefully reviewed, for the benefit of the younger six, Jesus' teachings up to that hour.
1579 - Jesus knew his apostles were not fully assimilating his teachings. He decided to give some special instruction to Peter, James, and John, hoping they would be able to clarify the ideas of their associates.
1578 - Heretofore, Jesus had greeted these people, and taught them concerning the kingdom, but the Master now turned this work over to the twelve.
1658 - (The Bethsaida encampment) This school was conducted on the plan of learning and doing. What the students learned during the forenoon, they taught to the assembly by the seaside during the afternoon.
So much of what one learns in school is theoretical. What is learned by reading The Urantia Book is that actual working experience is vital to the successful performance of assigned tasks.
It is partly the responsibility of the Fellowship to encourage and foster the opportunity for its members to gain leadership experience. Part of the publication mandate stated:
An early publication has been provided so that it may be in hand for the training of leaders and teachers.Thousands of study groups must be brought into existence.
Establishing and maintaining dependable study groups takes leadership ability. Leadership training is also gained by holding office in the Fellowship and by participating in the planning and organizing of meetings.
253 - There is simply nothing in all universal existence, which can take the place of actual personal experience.
435 - It is not so much what you learn in this first life; it is the experience of living this life that is important. Even the work of this world, paramount thought it is, is not nearly so important as the way in which you do this work. (See also page 555)
348 - The glorified mortals of the.Corps of Finality are ascendant beings in possession of experiential knowledge of every step.these surviving creatures have been trained to the limits of their capacity respecting every detail of every divine principle of the just and efficient, as well as merciful and patient, administration of all the universal creation of time and space.
394 - All the way to Paradise the ascending pilgrims pursue their studies in the practical schools of applied knowledge - actual training in really doing the things they are being taught. The universe educational system sponsored by the Melchizedeks is practical, progressive, meaningful, and experiential.
1318 - Michael was born a creator, educated an administrator, trained an executive, but he was required to earn his sovereignty by experience.
1309 - A Creator Son.acquired the viewpoint of his own creatures by actual experience in the environment of their existence, and as these very creatures themselves.to know the various groups over which they rule and exercise universe authority.
1407 - He obtained knowledge, gained experience, and combined these into wisdom.
427 - .they all crave to start at the bottom, on the lowest possible level of ministry; so may they hope to achieve the highest possible level of experiential destiny.
1313 - The Creator Son.has in all points been tried and tested; even as (The Material Sons) must also be tried and tested.
1611 - The twelve apostles gained a valuable experience in this their first extensive work with exclusively gentile populations.
296 - (In Havona) a vast and diverse host of being.are permanent and transient residents of this inner ring of Havona worlds. And the commingling of these manifold types provides the superaphic complements of rest with a rich situational environment, which they effectively utilize in furthering the education of the ascending pilgrims, especially with regard to the problems of adjustment to the many groups of beings soon to be encountered on Paradise.
1677 - Of the 117 evangelists who participated in this second preaching tour of Galilee, only about 75 survived the test of actual experience, and were on hand to be assigned to service at the end of the two weeks.
Dr. Sprunger: "The training and sending forth of missionaries" has been one of the most effective extension methods on our planet. Many of Jesus' journeys with the apostles are described as "missionary" tours - (see pages 1539 and 1543) Some of what the book tells us about missionaries is negative, and there are warnings about unwise methods. But overall, the authors are quite positive. Good missionary efforts of the past are applauded. Little attention has been paid by the Brotherhood/Fellowship to the idea of disseminating the book and its teachings through a program of trained missionaries.
One naturally thinks of Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormon missionaries, and shudders at the thought of going door-to-door dispensing pamphlets, and pressuring homeowners on a Saturday afternoon. Emulating the missionaries to China and Africa doesn't inspire the imagination either.
Surely, there must be a unique way in the 20th - 21st Centuries to employ the zeal and dedication of our most committed students in person-to-person missionary work without creating offense.
1780 - Rodan: If you are not a positive and missionary evangel of your religion, you are self-deceived, in that what you call a religion is only a traditional belief, or a mere system of intellectual philosophy.
716 - From Oban (Onagar) sent out teachers to the remote settlements to spread his new doctrines of one Deity, and his concept of the hereafter, which he called the Great Beyond. These emissaries of Onagar were the world's first missionaries;.
575 - (The Planetary Prince's staff).trains adopted native children as missionaries to their people.
1009 - Urantia religion was in no small measure regenerated by the efforts of (the Melchizedek missionaries) which were commissioned by Machiventa Melchizedek when he lived and taught at Salem 2000 years ago.
1027 - Urantia has never had more enthusiastic and aggressive missionaries of any religion than these noble men and women. They were recruited from many peoples and races, and they largely spread their teachings through the medium of native converts. They established training centers in different parts of the world where they taught the natives the Salem religion, and then commissioned these pupils to function as teachers among their own people.
1447 - The missionaries of Melchizedek carried the teachings of the one God with them wherever they journeyed.
Personal Work and Service Ministry
Dr. Sprunger has outlined some basic extension principles:
.Personalities and techniques should be used which communicate most effectively with the people contacted.
.Indigenous personalities, when trained, are more effective than "outsiders."
.Relating with people on a one-to-one basis is more effective than mass communication.
.When we identify with people and become part of their in-group, they are more likely to be influenced by our lives, and to listen to our insights.
.Working together in pairs.increases effectiveness. Both masculine and feminine influences are needed in extension activities.
1538 - (Jesus) directed them to go forth, two and two, to teach the glad tidings of the kingdom. He forbade them to baptize, and advised against public preaching. He went on to explain that later he would permit them to preach in public, but that for a season, and for many reasons, he desired them to acquire practical experience in dealing personally with their fellow men. Jesus purposed to make their first tour entirely one of personal work.
1539 - They all discovered the great value of direct and personal contact with men.They began to sense how hungry were the common people to hear words of religious comfort and spiritual good cheer.Andrew was the chief supporter of Jesus' policy of utilizing the program of personal work as a means of training the twelve as messengers of the kingdom.
1580 - The Master did not say that men should never entertain their friends at meat, but he did say that his followers should make feasts for the poor and the unfortunate.
2047 - Then said Jesus: If you love me, Peter, feed my lambs. Do not neglect to minister to the weak, the poor, and the young.
Avoid Identifying Jesus' Teachings With
Political, Economic, Social, or Industrial SystemsThe following advice is specific for Jesus' bestowal, and to his followers. The Urantia Book includes many guiding principles for social, economic, and political improvement. It has always been thought wise, however, to discourage identification of the book, or the Fellowship, with any particular system. This might be seen as an endorsement, and would polarize existing and potential readers. Individual and unofficial small group activism is to be encouraged in all fields of public service, however.
1329 - (Immanuel's advice to Michael) In your relations to the social order, we advise that you confine your efforts largely to spiritual regeneration and intellectual emancipation. Avoid all entanglements with the economic structure, and the political commitments of your day.
1565 - Jesus often told Simon that it was proper to want to see the social, economic, and political orders improved, but he would always add: "That is not the business of the kingdom of heaven. We must dedicate ourselves with aught but the representation of the will and character of the divine Father.
1580 - Never make the mistake of identifying Jesus' teachings with any political or economic theory, with any social or industrial system.
2085 - There is no excuse for the involvement of the church in commerce and politics;.
Core Spiritual Teachings of The Urantia Book
1008 - Christ Michael presented for the fourth time to Urantia, the concept of God as the Universal Father, and this teaching has generally persisted ever since.
1608 - Jesus: I declare to you that my Father in Paradise does rule a universe of universes by the compelling power of his love. Love is the greatest of all spirit realities.
21 - From the Universal Father who inhabits eternity there has gone forth the supreme mandate, "Be you perfect, even as I am perfect."
365 - 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!
1007 - The religions of revelation are always characterized by belief in some Deity of final value, and in some concept of the survival of personality identity after death.
24 - He is a saving person and a loving Father to all who enjoy spiritual peace on earth, and who crave to experience personality survival in death.
159 - .death is only the beginning of an endless career of adventure, an everlasting life of anticipation, an eternal voyage of discovery.
1204 - No human being will ever be spiritized.against his will; survival is a gift of the Gods, which must be desired by the creatures of time.
69 - When the mind believes God and the soul knows God, and when, with the fostering Adjuster (the indwelling spirit of the Father), they all desire God, then is survival assured.
2017 - Salvation should be taken for granted by those who believe in the fatherhood of God.
1603 - Very plainly Jesus explained that the kingdom of heaven was an evolutionary experience, beginning here on earth and progressing up through successive life stations to Paradise.
1586 - Jesus: the kingdom of heaven consists in these three essentials: first, recognition of the fact of the sovereignty of God; second, belief in the truth of sonship with God; and third, faith in the effectiveness of the supreme human desire to do the will of God - to be like God.
Your Mission: Proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven
60 - The revelation of the truth about God is appearing, and the human race is destined to know the Universal Father in all that beauty of character and loveliness of attributes so magnificently portrayed by the Creator Son who sojourns on Urantia as the Son of Man and the Son of God.
1824 - .peace on earth will not come until all are willing to believe and enter into their glorious inheritance of sonship with God. Nevertheless, go into all the world proclaiming this gospel to all nations, to every man, woman, and child.
1951 - You should understand that, when this gospel of the kingdom shall have been proclaimed to all the world for the salvation of all peoples, and when the fullness of the age has come to pass, the Father will send you another dispensational bestowal, or else the Son of Man will return to adjust the age. (Emphasis added)
1944 - When you go out into the world to proclaim this gospel, make such provision for your support as seems best. I have come to bring peace, but it will not appear for a time.
1804 - The gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed to all the world, to gentile as well as to Jew.
1801 - Everywhere you go, preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand, and minister to all who may be sick in either mind or body.
1931 - Remember that you are commissioned to preach this gospel of the kingdom -- .and you must not let anything divert your devotion to this one duty. Let all mankind benefit from the overflow of your loving spiritual ministry, enlightening intellectual communion, and uplifting social service; but none of these humanitarian labors, nor all of them, should be permitted to take the place of proclaiming the gospel.
1593 - The Master sought to impress upon all teachers of the gospel of the kingdom that their only business was to reveal God to the individual man as his Father.
1543 - Be not sidetracked into preaching about me and about my teachings. Proclaim the gospel of the kingdom and portray my revelation of the Father in heaven.
2052 - .your mission among men is to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom - the reality of the fatherhood of God, and the truth of the sonship of man. Proclaim the whole truth of the good news, not just a part of the saving gospel..You are to go forth preaching the love of God and the service of man. That which the world needs most to know is: Men are the sons of God.
2043 - Your mission to the world is founded on the fact that I lived a God-revealing life among you; on the truth that you and all other men are the sons of God; and it shall consist in the life, which you will live among men.
2043 - For a full week have I tarried that I might appear again when you were all present to hear once more the commission to go into all the world and preach this gospel of the kingdom. Again I tell you: As the Father sent me into the world, so send I you.
2044 - As the Father sent me into this world, even so now send I you. You are all called to carry the good news to those who sit in darkness. This gospel of the kingdom belongs to all who believe it; it shall not be committed to the custody of mere priests. Soon will the Spirit of Truth come upon you, and he shall lead you into all truth. Go you, therefore, into all the world preaching this gospel, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the ages.
1808 - You have entered upon this great work of teaching mortal man that he is a son of God.To you and to all who shall follow in your steps down through the ages, let me say:.Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
1608 - No armies of the world have ever displayed more courage and bravery than will be portrayed by you and your loyal successors who shall go forth to all the world proclaiming the good news - the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of men.
1608 - And no matter what blunders your fellow men make in their world management of today, in an age to come the gospel, which I declare to you will rule this very world. The ultimate goal of human progress is the reverent recognition of the fatherhood of God, and the loving materialization of the brotherhood of man.
2061 - Sooner or later, these concealed truths of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of men will emerge to effectually transform the civilization of all mankind.
598 - The quickest way to realize the brotherhood of man on Urantia is to effect the spiritual transformation of present day humanity. The only technique for accelerating the natural trend of social evolution is that of applying spiritual pressure from above.
1861 - Jesus taught that faith, simple childlike belief, is the key to the door of the kingdom.
516 - The relationship of child and parent is fundamental to the essential concept of the universal Father and his universal children.
1776 - Rodan: I do not hesitate thus to glorify family life, for your Master has wisely chosen the father-child relationship as the very cornerstone of this new gospel of the kingdom. And such matchless community of relationship, man and woman in the fond embrace of the highest ideals of time, is so valuable and satisfying an experience that it is worth any price, any sacrifice, requisite for its possession.
1573 - From the Sermon on the Mount to the discourse of the Last Supper, Jesus taught his followers to manifest fatherly love rather than brotherly love.
2057 - By the fruits of your lives impel souls to believe the truth that man is a son of God, and that all men are brethren.
1949 - Jesus: I am going to send you my spirit, just like me except for this material body. This new teacher is the Spirit of Truth who will live with each of you, in your hearts, and so will all the children of light be made one and be drawn toward one another.
1919 - The children of light are all destined to see (Jesus), and it is of no serious concern whether we go to him or whether he should chance first to come to us.
610 - Neither Satan nor Caligastia (the devil) could ever touch or approach the faith sons of God; faith is an effective armor against sin and iniquity.
This Revelation, Christianity, and Other Religions
2086 - The great hope of Urantia lies in the possibility of a new revelation of Jesus with a new and enlarged presentation of his saving message, which would spiritually unite in loving service the numerous families of his present-day professed followers.
2000 - What a transcendent service if, through this revelation, the Son of Man should be recovered from the tomb of traditional theology and be presented as the living Jesus to the church that bears his name, and to all other religions!
1041 - All Urantia is waiting for the proclamation of the ennobling message of Michael, unencumbered by the accumulated doctrines and dogmas of nineteen centuries of contact with the religions of evolutionary origin. The hour is striking for presenting to Buddhism, to Christianity, to Hinduism, even to the people of all faiths, not the gospel about Jesus, but the living, spiritual reality of the gospel of Jesus.
1032 - Today, in India, the great need is for the portrayal of the Jesusonian gospel - the Fatherhood of God and the sonship and consequent brotherhood of all men, .In India the philosophical framework is existent, the cult structure is present; all that is needed is the vitalizing spark of the dynamic love portrayed in the original gospel of the Son of Man.
2082 - Paganized and socialized Christianity stands in need of new contact with the uncompromised teachings of Jesus; it languishes for lack of a new vision of the Master's life on earth.
1864 - But doubt not, this same kingdom of heaven which the Master taught exists within the heart of the believer, will yet be proclaimed to this Christian church, even as to all other religions, races, and nations on earth - even to every individual.
2082 - If Christianity persists in neglecting its spiritual mission while it continues to busy itself with social and material problems, the spiritual renaissance must await the coming of these new teachers of Jesus' religion who will be exclusively devoted to the spiritual regeneration of men.
2082 - A newer and fuller revelation of the religion of Jesus is destined to conquer an empire of materialistic secularism and to overthrow a world sway of mechanistic naturalism. Urantia is now quivering on the very brink on one of its most amazing and enthralling epochs of social readjustment, moral quickening, and spiritual enlightenment.
