Thursday, March 22, 2007
Questions Regarding Death
Q: I had a good friend pass away at 41 unexpectedly. How does God decide when is your time to pass away? When she died, did she go to sleep right away? Do their souls stay around for awhile?
A: Thank you for your question. According to The Urantia Book God is the infinite controller and sustainer of all creation but God does not micromanage. God loves us so much he has conferred free will which means how we live, the choices we make and consequences we receive, and how and when we die are not decisions God takes part in -- we can always ask for guidance, but we are the captains of our souls.
One of the consequences of living on an imperfect material world is that each of us has challenges to face that are imposed by our heredity, the family environment we grow up in, the decisions we make as we grow, and the just plain accidents that occur when living in such an unpredictable environment. We tend to become so wrapped up in our daily drama that we lose sight of the bigger picture -- that we're here for only a short while and then we begin in the less material realms right where we leave off here and that there is a grand spiritual adventure before us -- this life is a stepping stone for what's to come.
Losing someone near and dear is always a shock and is cause for reflecting on the lives we live and the meaning of it all. Peace be with you as you confront your friend's unexpected death but it was not God's doing, it's part of the normal process of material existence.
When she died she lost consciousness just like happens in deep, dreamless sleep. When she is awakened on the mansion worlds she will remember who she was and will begin the new life there. The sadness of losing a loved one is experienced by those left behind -- the joy and freedom of experiencing the continuation of life after earthly death is transcendent for the one awakening.
At times you may experience your friend's presence even though she is no longer here -- her life has affected the world around us to some degree -- but the real "she" is in a better place and is not present here and does not return or visit.
Peace be with you.
Larry Watkins
Truthbook.comLabels: death, free will, God, Larry Watkins, soul, The Urantia Book
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Friday, March 09, 2007
A Position On Abortion?
Q: The position on abortion please.
A: Thank you for your succinct question to Truthbook.com.
There is only one paragraph in The Urantia Book that mentions abortion which is found in the paper titled "The Dawn of Civilization" and that is:
"Many races learned the technique of abortion, and this practice became very common after the establishment of the taboo on childbirth among the unmarried. It was long the custom for a maiden to kill her offspring, but among more civilized groups these illegitimate children became the wards of the girl's mother. Many primitive clans were virtually exterminated by the practice of both abortion and infanticide. But regardless of the dictates of the mores, very few children were ever destroyed after having once been suckled--maternal affection is too strong. "(68:6.9)
However there is considerable material in the book describing the spiritual foundation of life and we know, for example, that when the life of a human being ends here they begin on the mansion worlds where they left off relative to spiritual development. Explanation regarding the mind circuits we use during our life here indicates that at conception a fertilized egg is connected with the mind circuits of both parents and remains so until about the age of 16 when the youth becomes a full-fledged individual separate and apart from their parents and no longer attached to their parents mind circuits. That leads one to believe that any aborted eggs or potential infants will again become the responsibility of the parents once both are on the mansion worlds where they can resume their parenting responsibilities.
In the overall scheme of things God has provided for the full development of every personality despite whatever the vicissitudes of life on a material world may bring. However, the guilt associated with an abortion will more than likely color the thoughts and dreams for the lifetime of those involved here.
Thank you again,
Larry Watkins
Truthbook.comLabels: abortion, God, mind circuits, parenting, personality
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