Some Study Group Questions
Paper 3: The Attributes of God
1. What is the primary characteristic of the Divine nature? What are the implications of this for the way in which we relate to each other as personalities? 3:0.3
2. The introduction to this paper highlights God's creatorship. Each section of the rest of the paper can be read as articulating various aspects of his creator nature. Study this paper with this thought in mind and then consider question 14 below.
3. 3:1.6 makes a reference to God's "unchanging purpose." If we consider creatorship the primary characteristic of the Divine nature, what might this lead us to consider as his "unchanging purpose?"
4. Proceeding outward from Paradise, the Divine presence is increasingly attenuated, modified and conditioned by subordinate agencies. As mortals coming into existence on evolutionary worlds, we stand at the far distant end of this attenuated process. Yet there are two areas accessible to our own experience in which God operates directly. What are they? 3:1.6
5. These early papers often introduce themes which will be more fully developed in later sections of the book. What sort of theme can we imagine might be developed from 3:1.7?
6. What determines the degree of God's divine influence within our own individual minds and souls? 3:1.9,10,11,12
7. Another major structural element of the cosmos is introduced in 3:1.12--God the Sevenfold. Do we have enough information at this point to have a beginning concept of who might be a part of God the Sevenfold?
7. The statement, "with God all things are possible" is conditioned by the phrase, "within the bounds of that which is consistent with the divine nature." What does this statement tell us about our prayer life? 3:2.2
8. If creatorship is the primary characteristic of the Divine nature, how does this relate to the statement that, "Creature mind...is not directly responsive to the Universal Father. God adjusts with the mind of imperfection..."? 2:2.5
9. One of the classic questions in religious discussions involves the matter of evil and suffering--if God is perfect why is there evil and suffering in the world? (Outside The Urantia Book this is widely referred to as the theodicy issue.) What light does 3:2 shed on the theodicy issue? Does the explanation given here satisfactorily answer this question in your mind?
10. In these first papers of The Urantia Book we are introduced to some very unfamiliar terms -- "the absolute level," "thought Adjuster," "the Unqualified Absolute," etc. What sort of long-term learning and reading strategies might we employ which would enable us to enhance our current understanding while simultaneously seeking to understand completely new concepts? What attitudes might we cultivate which would allow our slowly increasing insight into these new concepts to then transform our existing grasp of meanings?
11. 3:4.6 says that "Mortal man cannot possibly know the infinitude of the heavenly Father. ...But this same finite human being can actually feel--literally experience--the full and undiminished impact of such an infinite Father's love." What implications does this statement contain for individuals who would like to enrich their religious and spiritual experience?
12. In question 9 we considered the theodicy issue. How does the list of "inevitabilities" beginning at 3:5.5 affect our insight into this matter?
13. If you have spent some time with questions 9 and 12, read 3:5.16 and 3:5.17 and consider whether the life of the inhabitants of the Havona worlds sounds like something you would enjoy.
14. In what ways do the qualities listed as section titles in this paper, in addition to those listed in 3:6.7, add to our insight into the creatorship nature of Deity? In what ways are these attributes of Deity likely to influence and transform us as we continue to have experiences with universe reality?
15. In this paper (not considering the Foreword) we are quietly introduced to the three Absolutes: The Unqualified Absolute, the Universal Absolute and the Deity Absolute. Note that the introduction of each of these absolutes is conceptually and structurally related to a member of the Paradise Trinity. These relationships (and their associated dynamics and repercussions) are an important structural element of the foundations of the cosmos. They will continue to be developed almost as a separate thread as we continue through the book. At this point can you speculate as to how these relationships as outlined in 3:1.7,8,9 might work together to provide a context in which the creatorship nature of Deity might be expressed, developed and experienced in the finite cosmos?
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