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Spiritual Advice and Guidance Blog: Urantia Book



Thursday, October 29, 2009

Did you read the revelations of Anne Emmerich, who stated that jesus was born on 25th November 6 BC and not on the 21st August 7 BC ...?

Q: Who wrote The Urantia Book? Was there a revelation to the author by God? Did you read the revelations of Anne Emmerich, who stated that jesus was born on 25th November 6 BC and not on the 21st August 7 BC as you are alleging?

A: Thank you for your note to Truthbook.com. We are always glad to hear from people who are interested in the revelations of The Urantia Book.

The Urantia Book was written by a group of spiritual beings, including angels, Melchizedeks, and other various orders of celestial beings. HERE is a link to the "Table of Contents" of The Urantia Book, which lists the authors. You can use our handy SEARCH feature to find out more about each of them, if you wish. Simply type in the name of the author and press "search."

The Urantia Book is totally unique in that it is a revelation given in book form. The book is, in itself, the revelation - not to the authors, but to humanity. The authors were mandated by the Ancients of Days to deliver the revelatory information in this form, and it was completed in 1934, published in 1955.

The Urantia Book is unlike Scripture, in that it is not an "inspired" document. It is, however, a revelation of epochal significance - the 5th of such revelations that have been given to our planet. Each of the five revelations of God to mankind has been an attempt to communicate spiritual truth to the races of Earth (Urantia). Among the previous revelations, you'll no doubt recognize Adam and Eve, Melchizedek, and the incarnation of Jesus as the babe of Bethlehem.

Epochal revelations are rare, and periodic; all are designed to uplift mankind into a new understanding of God, and man's relationship to God. The Urantia Book contains within its pages the newest and most replete descriptions of God and the created universes, the detailed history of our own universe and our planet, and a full third of the book contains a complete restatement of the life and teachings of Jesus, including all the "lost years" that have been heretofore unavailable anywhere else.

Part of this new revelation of the Master's life is the accurate date of Jesus' birth, which is revealed as August 21, 7BC. I am adding a link HERE so that you can read for yourself a scientific and scholarly exploration of the accuracy of that date. To me, it makes the conclusive case for the accuracy of the date given in The Urantia Book.

I did look into Anne Emmerich, and I discovered that she was an 18th century German Catholic nun who was known as a "Mystic, Visionary, Stigmatist, Prophet." I could not find the specific reference regarding the birthdate of Jesus, however, I do understand that many, many people over many, many centuries, have claimed - and still claim - to have visions of God and special knowledge of, and from him, and that many people put a lot of credence into such visions.

Persons such as Anne Emmerich have a certain appeal, simply because their lives are so extraordinary - they seem to have a direct pipeline to God; but the mental states that produce such lives are not always healthy, nor are they reliable as avenues to God. By saying this, I do not intend to demean her, or her visions; she certainly did live a life which appears to have been dedicated to God. However, I am reluctant to place any faith in the accuracy of her visions simply because they appear to be the result of extraordinary physical deprivation.

About Jesus, The Urantia Book states:

(100:5.11) However favorable may have been the conditions for mystic phenomena, it should be clearly understood that Jesus of Nazareth never resorted to such methods for communion with the Paradise Father. Jesus had no subconscious delusions or superconscious illusions.


If Jesus did not rely on such things, I question whether he means for his children to experience such things, either. That Anne Emmerich did experience them speaks more to her religious fervor than of actual communication with God. This is however, my opinion. You are of course, free to form your own opinion.

The Urantia Book reveals the nature of the indwelling God - that "spark" of Divinity that lives in the mind of every person, and which provides everyone their own "pipeline to God." The Urantia Book calls this fragment of God the Thought Adjuster. God's communion is available to all of us - not as visions and mystical experiences, but as the gentle leadings into the knowledge of God's will through the proof of individual spiritual experience in ordinary day-to-day living. We are also blessed with the ministry of the Spirit of Truth - that good Spirit who Jesus promised, and who was poured out on all flesh on the occasion of Pentecost. This Spirit of Truth gives all people the ability to discern and sort out Truth - and to find the Truth wherever it may appear. It is through the Spirit that one can discern for themselves whether The Urantia Book - or any other spiritual revelation - is true or not. With sincerity of motive and prayerful approach, the truth can be felt by the sincere seeker as an unmistakable inner resonance.

I might suggest that, while you explore this subject of visionary knowledge by mystics, that you do yourself the favor of exploring The Urantia Book as well. Line them up and see how they differ, and how they correspond with each other. Allow Jesus and the Spirit of Truth to guide you in this endeavor. And please feel free to sign up for our free Quote of the Day service, which will deliver to your inbox a daily passage from the matchless teachings of The Urantia Book.

Again, thank you for your note. Please write back any time...

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Friday, October 16, 2009

Where is Jesus' spirit now?

Where is Jesus' spirit now? Is part of it in humans also?

Thank you for your note to Truthbook.

Jesus is personally resident on Salvington, the sphere from which he rules this universe in "supreme sovereignty."

Although Jesus is no longer with us in the flesh, he did send the "promised helper" on the day of Pentecost.

You can read about this helper - The Spirit of Truth - HERE

And you can read about what happened on that day of Pentecost HERE

Jesus is very definitely a part of every human's life now, as he indwells every person and leads all believers into all truth.

Thank you for your question. I hope that you will click on the links above, and read more about this ever-present good Spirit that helps every one of us strengthen our connection to the Master.

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Sunday, July 19, 2009

Please help me understand this...

Q: Please help me understand this, Jesus said "That which you see going on about this temple is the way in which your fathers sought to symbolize the bestowal of the divine spirit upon the children of faith, and you have done well to perpetuate these symbols, even down to this day". It tells me that Jesus did not criticize their symbolising the spirit bestowal on all mankind as the gift of Father. what is the spiritual meaning therefore of their symbolising the forgiveness of sins by the sacrificing of a spotless lamb, upon which all their sins were confessed, and the blood sprinkled on them for the forgiveness of sins. Which part of Jesus' life fulfilled this ceremony of the jews?.Thank you.

A: Thank you for writing to us here at Truthbook. In the quote which you cite, Jesus is speaking to a group of believers who were with him at the Feast of Tabernacles. During the course of the harvest feast, live animal sacrifices were made and water was outpoured to symbolize the divine spirit. Just for clarity, I will quote the entire passage that you cite in your question:

At the conclusion of this early morning service Jesus continued to teach the multitude, saying: "Have you not read in the Scripture: `Behold, as the waters are poured out upon the dry ground and spread over the parched soil, so will I give the spirit of holiness to be poured out upon your children for a blessing even to your children's children'? Why will you thirst for the ministry of the spirit while you seek to water your souls with the traditions of men, poured from the broken pitchers of ceremonial service? That which you see going on about this temple is the way in which your fathers sought to symbolize the bestowal of the divine spirit upon the children of faith, and you have done well to perpetuate these symbols, even down to this day. But now has come to this generation the revelation of the Father of spirits through the bestowal of his Son, and all of this will certainly be followed by the bestowal of the spirit of the Father and the Son upon the children of men. To every one who has faith shall this bestowal of the spirit become the true teacher of the way which leads to life everlasting, to the true waters of life in the kingdom of heaven on earth and in the Father's Paradise over there."(162:6.3)

It is true that Jesus never criticized the religious practices of the sincere religionists of his day - he always respected the honest efforts of those who desired a closer walk with the Father and a deeper understanding of God.

Clearly, in the last sentences of the passage, Jesus foretells of the Spirit of Truth which was bestowed on all mankind on the day of Pentecost; this Spirit of Truth is now a fact in the inner life of all believers.

As to the second part of your question: "what is the spiritual meaning therefore of their symbolising the forgiveness of sins by the sacrificing of a spotless lamb, upon which all their sins were confessed, and the blood sprinkled on them for the forgiveness of sins:"

The people of Jesus' day were practicing their faith and religion in the best way that they knew up to that time. Their religion was evolved through centuries of civilization, and much of it was still tinged with the remnants of the primitive ideas of sacrifice as a necessary part of placating and appeasing a mysterious Deity who inspired dread and awe. The rituals of the sacrificial killing of a spotless animal satisfied this requirement of appeasement - it was the way things had been done for time out of mind, and was the religious standard for generations before Jesus arrived on the scene to proclaim a better way. For individual believers, I am sure that it may have held significant spiritual power for them, and there is no reason to think that God was displeased at the sincere devotion of an individual who believed this was the right thing to do. This belief has even persisted to our 21st century times, in the form of the atonement doctrine, which is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith - namely, that Jesus is now the embodiment of the olden ritual of blood sacrifice - by his death, he has atoned for all of the sins of mankind, and it means a lot to the people who believe it. But, it is a belief grounded in fear - fear of a punishing god. Even in our supposed superior civilization, the "traditions of men" have presumed to keep mankind in the shackles of unnecessary ritual and belief, lest they be punished by God; but this was not the teaching of Jesus. That is a religion of men - a religion of authority...

You ask: "Which part of Jesus' life fulfilled this ceremony of the jews?"

The Christian church has put Jesus in the role of atoner, the role that once was held by a lamb or a bullock. But is this what Jesus intended? The Urantia Book - and more specifically the Life and Teachings of Jesus restated within its pages - tell us a different story - a story that belongs to ALL people, and not just to the Christian church, who claims to represent him.

Jesus revealed a loving heavenly Father - a Father who does not require sacrifice to gain his love, or for the forgiveness of sins - a Father who forgives his children even before they have need of forgiveness - a Father who does not ask that an innocent child be killed to atone for another child who has sinned. Christianity has long held that man is a sinful creature, in need of redemption, but Jesus' teachings say otherwise. Jesus says that although man may have evil tendencies, he is not inherently sinful. This was a new revelation in Jesus' times, and it is still a shocking truth to modern-day mankind, who remains persistent in believing in a God of retribution and vengeance.

There is no "original sin;" there is no inherent badness in man that has to be washed away through atonement by the taking of an innocent life. And so, Jesus' life was never meant to become a fulfillment of these kinds of ceremonies. Jesus established a new kind of religion. He stated clearly that man is a child of God, and through this shared sonship with the Father, that all people are related in the spiritual sense, and part of the larger brotherhood of mankind. He elevated man to a faith-son of God. He taught that faith is the one and only requirement for entrance into the kingdom of heaven and survival into eternal life. Most importantly, Jesus taught and LIVED a new kind of religion - the religion of personal spiritual experience - which effectively liberates the spiritual captives, and frees the souls of human beings to live lives of originality and freedom before God. No more does mankind have to live in cowering fear of God, but instead, can live in joyous co-creation with God, whose will for man is only goodness. You can read more about this religion of Jesus HERE.

The teachings of The Urantia Book reveal anew that man is indwelt by a fragment of the loving heavenly Father - that this indwelling spirit is there as a guide, and - along with the Spirit of Truth - this indwelling spirit, and the religion of Jesus, can help mankind to reach a new level of spiritual understanding and a new level of spiritual development. This understanding and development is what is sorely needed in the tumultuous times of the 21st century, and is one of the reasons that this amazing revelation has been given to us at this time.

And finally, The Urantia Book states: "One of the most important things in human living is to find out what Jesus believed, to discover his ideals, and to strive for the achievement of his exalted life purpose. Of all human knowledge, that which is of greatest value is to know the religious life of Jesus and how he lived it." (196:1.3)

Through this knowledge - this amazing revelation of the Master's life - mankind can finally be delivered from the olden ideas of atonement and sacrifice into the new and progressive religion of the Spirit - the religion that Jesus himself lived while on earth.

Thank you so much for this very interesting and thoughful question...!

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Monday, July 06, 2009

Who Am I, Really?

Q: Who Am I, Really?

A: That's a good question that would have a pretty imprecise answer were it not for the teachings of The Urantia Book - The Urantia Book is all about answering that very question. So the best response would be to tell you to read the book and to decide for yourself, but instead I'll provide a condensed version.

First, you are a unique personality - there's never been nor ever will be another you. That's because personality is a divine and unique gift from the Father, yours being but one facet of a nearly infinite whole. This unique and divine personality is now being expressed in human form as yourself, but what you believe to be your personality and what others see as you aren't that unique and divine entity, what's being observed and experienced is your character interpreted as you.

Your personality is changeless, but your character will change as it becomes more in tune with your personality. It will appear that you mature and grow and develop wisdom during this life; still, this is only the bottom rung on a ladder of progress stretching to eternity. Your personality is so rich in endowment that unfathomable time is required for your character to develop its full potential in expressing that true personality.

Here on earth, you are also a product of your environment and of both biological and cultural heredity. If your biological heredity is faulty it will be pretty difficult to overcome those shortcomings in this life but you'll be provided ample opportunity to do so in what's to come after this life is over. Environmental and cultural hereditary defects can be overcome by exercising your character and another God given attribute, free will. If you choose to let the circumstances of life dominate you then you will have hardly exercised your free will at all, exhibiting instead character weakness that needs to be strengthened. If you invoke your free will in overcoming hardship and privation to build a life of accomplishment and joy character growth will result.

Your character is the result of the choices and decisions you make; how you think about and treat yourself, other individuals and the world around you; honesty, loyalty, truthfulness, responsibility; your attitude toward life and your place in the cosmos.

So, you are nearly infinite potential being expressed through a developing finite character. You have the aid and guidance of unseen spirit forces to assist and you have the influence of the Holy Spirit and of the Spirit of Truth to help you with the challenging decisions life requires you to make. You're a tadpole striving to become a frog which will eventually transform into a prince as long as you keep the goal in mind and continually strive for God-likeness. God is the home to which we all yearn to return.

Please see our topical study on Personality for a lot more information about who you are.

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Thursday, March 05, 2009

I don't have anything against the Urantia Book but how do the authors know certain things that are not even mentioned in the Bible ...?

Q: I don't have anything against the Urantia Book but how do the authors know certain things that are not even mentioned in the Bible - such as Adam and Eve were not the first ones who lived in Earth, the presence of Prince Caligastia,etc..?

A: How the authors know these things is no mystery -- the authors live in a reality different from ours and information such as you've mentioned is readily available to them, much like someone living near the Library of Congress and having ready access to its more than 18 million books compared with someone having no internet or library connection living in a rural area. They know more because they have access to more. A large part of The Urantia Book is its revelatory nature - the authors reveal things that have been heretofore either unknown, or forgotten, or misunderstood. The subjects that you mentioned are part of that revealed knowledge. The stories of Adam and Eve, and the Planetary Prince put our history into a new, understandable, and Divine perspective - they help us to gain a new worldview of ourselves - our origins and our destiny.

Maybe the question you really wanted to ask is, why should I believe this information since it's not found elsewhere?

First, you shouldn't believe anything just because someone says you should believe it. You're in possession of a rational mind that can provide you with reality and truth responses and you're the only one responsible for your own beliefs. If something doesn't seem rational, doesn't seem real, doesn't seem true to you then either you should do more investigation or you should reject it. Second, perhaps 90% of what's contained within the pages of The Urantia Book is found at least in part in other published works; they may not be well known but then that's part of the purpose of The Urantia Book, to make them known, for them to be identified and to be studied. Furthemore, you are in possession of the Spirit of Truth - the literal representation of Jesus, who he promised he would leave with us when he left our earth. This is our sure and ever-present guide into all truth.

There's only one way to know if The Urantia Book is real and if it is true and that is to read it for yourself and to decide for yourself. Is it logical? Does it make sense? Does it exhibit truth, goodness, beauty? Does it give you hope and enhance your thinking and your living? Most importantly, does its teachings help you to become closer to God, and improve your relationship with him? If you find the answers to these questions being yes, then why be confused by anything less?

May I also recommend that if you're not already signed up that you consider subscribing to the Quote of the Day. It's a free service from our site that offers a daily quote from the incomparable teachings of this marvelous book with an audio clip and a beautiful and inspiring image, a great way to start one's day as well as to begin to understand the teachings of the book.

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Saturday, February 14, 2009

Do our Thought Adjusters cooperate with each other? And if so, can they do so over vast distances?

Q: Do our Thought Adjusters cooperate with each other? And if so, can they do so over vast distances?

A: What an interesting question...it took me into some research of The Urantia Book to find the answer for you.

As you likely know, the Thought Adjusters are those fragments of God which indwell the minds of mortals. It is in this way that God is able to experience life with his creatures, and assist mortals in their search for truth, beauty and goodness. The Thought Adjusters ARE god, and collectively, constitute God. When we are told that "God is within" it is literally true.

Since the Divine fragments of God which indwell the minds of mortal man are all part and parcel of the Universal Father, I think it would be safe to say that Adjusters would always co-operate with each other. And they also co-operate with other spiritual influences, such as the Spirit of Truth and the seraphic hosts. But we are told that they act alone in our minds, although there might be instances of "possible co-ordination," as in this passage:

Apart from possible co-ordination with other Deity fragments, the Adjusters are quite alone in their sphere of activity in the mortal mind. The Mystery Monitors eloquently bespeak the fact that, though the Father may have apparently resigned the exercise of all direct personal power and authority throughout the grand universe, notwithstanding this act of abnegation in behalf of the Supreme Creator children of the Paradise Deities, the Father has certainly reserved to himself the unchallengeable right to be present in the minds and souls of his evolving creatures to the end that he may so act as to draw all creature creation to himself, co-ordinately with the spiritual gravity of the Paradise Sons. Said your Paradise bestowal Son when yet on Urantia, "I, if I am lifted up, will draw all men." This spiritual drawing power of the Paradise Sons and their creative associates we recognize and understand, but we do not so fully comprehend the methods of the all-wise Father's functioning in and through these Mystery Monitors that live and work so valiantly within the human mind. p1190:2(108:4.1)

I also found these passages which speak of the communication of Adjusters with one another (which would seem to be implicit in co-operation), and as interplanetary liaisons; this would seem to answer the question of their ability to communicate (or co-operate) over vast distances. All of these passages imply co-operation, as well as communication:

Since Adjusters can plan, work, and love, they must have powers of selfhood which are commensurate with mind. They are possessed of unlimited ability to communicate with each other, that is, all forms of Monitors above the first or virgin groups. As to the nature and purport of their intercommunications, we can reveal very little, for we do not know. And we further know that they must be minded in some manner else they could never be personalized. p1181:5(107:5.2)

When a world is isolated by rebellion, when a planet is cut off from all outside encircuited communication, as was Urantia after the Caligastia upheaval, aside from personal messengers there remains but one possibility of direct interplanetary or universe communication, and that is through the liaison of the Adjusters of the spheres. No matter what happens on a world or in a universe, the Adjusters are never directly concerned. The isolation of a planet in no way affects the Adjusters and their ability to communicate with any part of the local universe, superuniverse, or the central universe.
p1190:5(108:4.4)

Undoubtedly these higher and more experienced types of [self-acting] Adjusters can communicate with those in other realms. But while self-acting Adjusters do thus intercommunicate, they do so only on the levels of their mutual work and for the purpose of preserving custodial data essential to the Adjuster ministry of the realms of their sojourn, though on occasions they have been known to function in interplanetary matters during times of crisis. p1196:11(109:2.9)

These are isolated quotes, answering the gist of your question, but no isolated passage can take the place of actually learning about the ministry of Thought Adjusters in depth.

The following papers of The Urantia Book give us the most complete picture of the mysterious Thought Adjusters:

Paper 107:Origin and Nature of Thought Adjusters

Paper 108:Mission and Ministry of Thought Adjusters

Paper 109:Relation of Adjusters to Universe Creatures

Paper 110:Relation of Adjusters to Individual Mortals

Paper 111:The Adjuster and the Soul

Thanks for this interesting question!

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Friday, October 17, 2008

Is God a Fantasy? Is The Urantia Book?

Q: How can I be sure of God's existence and also, as a UB reader and follower, that I'm not living some kind of fantasy or mistake?

A: Probably
the best way to be assured is through sincere prayer. Ask for God's
guidance. Ask for help from the Spirit of Truth in discerning truth
from error. Ask for the peace of the Comforter.

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote that "More things are wrought by prayer than
this world dreams of."

If we had visible proof, say in the form of an Adam and Eve who had a personal
presence on this world for over 38,000 years, or a
Planetary Prince's center for world culture that had been in existence
for over 500,000 years, it would be easier to recognize truth from
error. But we don't. What we do have is the gift of a logical mind --
it's there for a purpose and one of those purposes is to help you sift
truth from error, fact from fancy.

As a UB reader you have not only the best source for factual
information relating to the origin, purpose, and destiny of your
existence but you also have access to transforming spiritual truths
that most people are still searching for. Does your logical mind
believe this to be true? If so, what does it matter what those around
you, who have less on which to base their beliefs and decisions, think
is true? It would be they who are living in a mistaken fantasy. Accept
Jesus' exhortation to "fear not!"

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Saturday, July 12, 2008

Is The Urantia Book Account of Jesus' Life True?

Q: My question is, although what I've read on the website so far about the Urantia Book seems to make a lot of sense, even the historical events attributed to the life of Jesus, how do we know for sure that these attributed historical events actually happened the way the UB says they did? It's easy to see the philosophical truths in the book, but how can we accept on blind faith that all of these events took place exactly this way? It's easy to understand how the gospels could accurately record historical events because they were supposedly written by human eye witnesses, but the humans that documented the UB, as far as my understanding thus far, were not eye witnesses and thus could only receive this information through very accurate divine revelation, which, unfortunately, is always highly suspect.

A: Thank you for your note to Truthbook.com. You ask the same question Pilate asked Jesus, "What is Truth?" Fortunately, we have a lot of help in discerning truth through spirit agencies, primarily the Spirit of Truth, an unerring guide to direct the hungry truth-seeker toward the truth most valuable, useful, meaningful specifically for them. The truth I am led to may differ from the truth you’re led to. Although there is absolute Truth, truth for an ascending mortal is relative and we have to learn to listen and to be guided when we're unsure.

Back to your question. How do you know that anything is true? What measure would you use to know whether what the UB says is true or not? Many people get around such decisions by relying on the judgment of someone else, friends, relatives, priests, ministers, anyone who professes to know something. Yet, your spiritual development is yours alone. No one else’s judgment can be a substitute for your own judgment. You’re required to use your own mind, to taste the logic and spiritual fragrance of a new idea and to decide for yourself. My choices can’t be of any spiritual benefit to you.

About Jesus, you can decide for yourself if the scant information contained in the Bible is adequate for your needs or if you prefer the rendition provided by The Urantia Book. Is it true? Does it make sense logically and spiritually as far as you can discern? If you believe it does, but you choose to reject it because no one in a position of authority whom you admire backs you up, then you’ve turned your back on your own ability to discern truth. If you believe it doesn’t make logical sense or isn't spiritually fragrant and you intend to continue your search for something more meaningful then you’ve chosen wisely. Your faith hasn’t been blind, it’s been used to guide your search. You don't have to believe The Urantia Book to be on a track of spiritual discernment.

You’ve misunderstood who the true authors of the life and teachings of Jesus portion of The Urantia Book are. The page that immediately precedes Paper 120, the first Paper of Part IV, says:

"PART IV

THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS

This group of papers was sponsored by a commission of twelve Urantia Midwayers acting under the supervision of a Melchizedek Revelatory Director. The basis of this narrative was supplied by a secondary Midwayer who was onetime assigned to the superhuman watchcare of the Apostle Andrew."

The authors of Part IV are not human beings and they actually were eye witnesses — a much better source for truth than is the fallible human mind.

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Thursday, February 14, 2008

Just What Is Your Belief? Is The Urantia Book A Reference Work?

Q: I look at parts of your site and couldn’t find any reference to the Bible. The part that I read is speaking more or less toward Jesus being who we believe he is but not being into your book any deeper that I am I wonder just what your belief is based on?

I do believe that if a person is Born Again By Jesus Blood he can pretty much understand (being led by the Holy Spirit) the ole fashion word of God.

There is nothing wrong with reference books that provide help for believers and I trust that your book is nothing more that just that (a Help) for believers.

I do like the name of your book TRUTHBOOK because we know that the truth shall set you free but in this day and age there are wolves walking about in sheep’s clothing seeking whom they may devour turning the Truth into a lie.

A: Our site is dedicated to the teachings of The Urantia Book, which does contain over a thousand references to and quotes from the Bible. The Urantia Book is not intended to substitute for the Bible, the foundation upon which Western culture rests, nor to substitute for any particular religion. What it does do is provide insight into the Bible’s unique position in history and most students of The Urantia Book come to a deeper appreciation of the Bible through their study of the UB. So if you’re comfortable with and confident in your understanding and interpretation of the Bible then there may perhaps be nothing for The Urantia Book to offer you since it speaks to those who did not find the answers afforded by science, religion, or philosophy sufficient to satisfy their inquiring nature.

One significant difference between the Bible and The Urantia Book is that the Bible contains but a brief account of the life and teachings of Jesus — although brief it has been sufficient to float the Christian religion for two thousand years and to give an understanding of Jesus to countless seekers. But, all told, there are fewer than 100 pages in the Bible relating to Jesus. The fourth section of The Urantia Book is about 700 pages in length; it recounts his matchless life and teachings from before birth through his death and resurrection — no missing years. Students of this book rely upon Jesus’ spirit, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, to lead and guide them as they follow Jesus’ admonition to "Fear not!"

Your impression that The Urantia Book is a reference book is quite accurate — it’s an unsurpassed reference to Jesus, the meaning of his life and teachings to all of humanity. It is also considered to be a reference book for cosmic citizenship since it recounts in great detail the nature of God, the nature of creation, the history of the world, and our place in it and how we fit into the grand scheme of it all. But rather than being more than "a help for believers" The Urantia Book is a help for non-believers, those who lacked belief, those who were searching for God but didn’t seem to find Him. Believers have already found God — The Urantia Book is a living handbook for those who are seeking.

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Thursday, January 24, 2008

Urantia Book Questions

Q: Who wrote the Urantia Book? How do we know what you say is true? The Bible has been re-written so many times that it becomes questionable, but how can we believe or trust the writings of The Urantia Book? Where are you getting your facts?

A: Thank you for your questions about The Urantia Book.

The authors of the Urantia Book are celestial personalities. Some are ascended mortals, some are angels, some are high Sons of God - all were mandated by The Ancients of Days to deliver the Urantia Papers to humanity. This delivery took place during the early years of the 20th century, and was completed in 1934. The final section of The Urantia Book - the Life and Teachings of Jesus - were delivered in toto a short time later, and the entire book was first published in final form in 1955 in Chicago. Many of the concepts (over 1000) in the book were already here on the planet in those days, in already published works, and the Revelators re-worded and re-worked many of these high human concepts and incorporated them into the text. So, in that sense, there was also a fair amount of worthwhile human thought involved - in a peripheral way. But the main bulk of the information in The Urantia Book is a brilliantly crafted treatise of celestial origin - completely unique.

I am not an author of the book, and I have no way to convince you that what is contained in its covers is true. The only way that one can discern the truth of The Urantia Book is by opening it up and reading it. Many people who have done just that are completely convinced of its truth, and have allowed that truth to expand their worldview, inform their spiritual lives, and improve their understanding of, and communion with, God. Others read some of it, and decide that they are not interested, or they decide to leave it alone for any number of reasons. The Truthbook.com site is dedicated to making the Urantia Book available and accessible to people on the internet. We exist for that purpose, and are not in the business of proselytising or trying to convince anyone of anything. The Urantia Book stands alone, on its own merits. Again, the only way to know of its truth is to read it for yourself and judge for yourself whether or not it is, indeed, true.

Having said that, I wish to expand a little bit on one or two things, just by way of further explanation, so you can make an informed decision about it. One of the concepts of The Urantia Book that is very attractive is the concept of the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of Truth is that "good spirit" that was promised by Jesus to take his place after his ascension into heaven, and which was delivered to humanity at Pentecost. This Spirit is in every way like Jesus, except for the fact that it is a spiritual reality, not a material reality, as Jesus was in the flesh. The Spirit of Truth indwells each person and assists us to discern truth, wherever it is found. You possess this Spirit as well as anyone else, and I invite you to keep that in mind, and keep an open mind, when you approach The Urantia Book.

The Urantia Book does parallel the Bible in many respects, and explains to us why the Bible and all ancient Scripture must also be read with discernment - just because of the human element that was involved in all of that re-writing and such...and you should also read The Urantia Book with that same discernment. Jesus himself was very selective in his use of Scripture. The Urantia Book does not claim to be inerrant, or the "word of God." It is a gift of Revelation to Earth, and is meant to fill in the gaps in our understanding of earth history, of universe cosmology, of Divinity, and of the life and teachings of Jesus. I am sure you would agree that there do exist many, many gaps in our knowledge of these things. The Urantia Book answers all of these many questions in a way that is satisfying both intellectually and spiritually. Part IV - The Life and Teachings of Jesus - is one superb example of this kind of filling in the gaps, as it narrates the life of Jesus as a whole - from his birth, through his childhood, his adolescence, and into his manhood and his mission of proclaiming the good news as we have only known it from the New Testament. The difference is that in The Urantia Book, ALL the missing years and missing events are, for the first time, given to us to enjoy and as sublime inspiration for our modern times.

You can come to trust the writings of The Urantia Book, but not because I say so, because Truthbook says so, or because IT says so. Your own Spirit within will bear witness to you if you are a sincere seeker for the truth. Doubt is the human condition, and nothing bad will happen to you if you decide not to seriously read The Urantia Book. The most important thing is to keep searching for God, to stay on the road to righteousness, follow Jesus, love God, and be a good sister to others.

Thanks again for writing. I hope this reply has been helpful to you. Please feel free to subscribe to the Quote of the Day, a free service of Truthbook.com, and also please look over our site. You might find some of the Urantia Book history helpful (click on The Urantia Book in the left hand menu, and choose a topic) and also you might like to read some of the personal stories of people who feel that The Urantia Book changed their lives for the better (on the left-side menu).

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Saturday, September 08, 2007

How May I Come To Trust The Urantia Book As Truth?

Q: How may I come to trust the Urantia way as truth? In what ways can I know this truth?

A: That's a good question and one we each have to face, whether it's in regard to The Urantia Book or any other scientific finding, philosophical ideal, or religious belief. How do you know what's real or true versus what's a figment or false? Happily God has provided all we need in this regard.

First, we're endowed with a mind and with free will. These allow us to consider the things that come into our consciousness, to think them over, try them out, see how they feel. We have an in-born conscience that helps us decipher right from wrong. We're also endowed with an ability to think logically and to make deductions from what we already know or understand. If something doesn't make logical sense then either you need more knowledge before making your decision or the thought is erroneous.

The next test is, do you believe that Jesus lived here and taught what is important for us to know? If so then you'll recall that Jesus has said for us to "fear not" -- that can also be applied to concerns about what's true and what's not. You can ask Jesus for guidance in helping you make right decisions and choices. Also recall that Jesus left us his spirit, the Comforter or the Spirit of Truth. This is an actual spirit presence for your benefit to help you know right from wrong, good from evil, truth from error. Ask for guidance -- while humans may lead you astray, Jesus won't. Trust Jesus. If you don't believe in Jesus then making right decisions and knowing the truth can be more difficult -- reading The Life and Teachings of Jesus as found in the fourth part of The Urantia Book will be a blessing to you.

Our main problem is that too many of us are timid about relying upon our own decisions. We look for authority to come from outside. We seek religions of authority, clergy of authority, traditions of authority, teachers of authority -- none of these can substitute for the authority of your own mind and your own thoughts and decisions. You ultimately answer for all of your choices and decisions and beliefs -- the responsibility for them rests with you and no one else can substitute.

It's not necessary to trust and believe The Urantia Book -- some people read it and decide it's not for them. But if you're a truth seeking person, looking for deeper answers then you owe it to yourself to read and to study this amazing book. It's a gift to humanity from deity -- if you're sensitive to truth then its teachings will ring true to you.

May I also recommend that if you're not already signed up that you consider subscribing to the Quote of the Day. It's a free service from our site that offers a daily quote from the incomparable teachings of this marvelous book with an audio clip and a beautiful and inspiring image, a great way to start one's day as well as to begin to understand the teachings of the book.

Best wishes,
Larry Watkins

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Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Can I Make Contact With My Thought Adjuster?

Q: How do I know for sure if I have made contact with my Thought Adjuster? Sometimes I feel very connected to it and other times I think I am making too many presumptions. How does one know for sure?

A: That's a good question, and I'm glad you asked. As you know, your Thought Adjuster is God within you — the Father permeates everything but even so, resides within you as your Thought Adjuster. You don't make "contact with" your Thought Adjuster; your Thought Adjuster contacts you. You can't force or promote or encourage or instigate contact; the Thought Adjuster is the pitcher that pours, you are the vessel that receives; the vessel doesn't produce the pouring.

Relax. It's a journey and a process, not a competition or a race and your thought that you may be making too many presumptions is may in fact be the Spirit of Truth acting in your mind. The best you can "do" is to open yourself to new possibilities through prayer and meditation, both of which are passive, "not doing", listening.

Jesus left by saying "My Peace I leave with you." Accept peace. Fear not -- life proceeds naturally. Perhaps a zen poem is in order:

In the landscape of nature,
There is neither better nor worse.
The flowering branches grow naturally,
Some long, some short.

Best wishes and thank you for your question.

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Thursday, May 11, 2006

Are there any other gods besides Jesus Christ who rule non-Christians?

Q: Are there any other gods besides Jesus Christ who rule non-Christians?

A: There is but one God, God the Father, who rules all of creation. Jesus is not God but he is our heavenly parent. He came to earth, not just for Christians or to establish the Christian religion, but for all people, all races, all religions to give the message that we're all spiritual brothers and sisters since God is our heavenly Father. It just ended up that Christianity decided to make Jesus their own to the exclusion of other religions. That's partly the reason we have the teachings of The Urantia Book, to help us understand history and to put religion and spirituality into perspective and to give Jesus to everyone who seeks.

Your second question was: What should be done to entrust our life in jesus and be a true believer?

That's a good question and the answer is all you need to do is at some point to sit quietly and prayerfully and talk to Jesus in your mind. Tell Jesus you want to know him better and want to entrust your life to his care. Do this meditatively and prayerfully and you will feel a connection. Trust your own understanding and reception of truth -- when Jesus left this world he left his Spirit of Truth in his place to help guide us toward truth, beauty, and goodness. Rely on that guidance, fear not, and trust Jesus.

May I also recommend that if you're not already signed up that you consider subscribing to the Quote of the Day. It's a free service that offers a daily quote from the incomparable teachings of this marvelous book along with a beautiful and inspiring image, a great way to start one's day as well as to begin to understand the teachings of the book. To subscribe go to the upper right corner of our home page, click on Quote of the Day and follow the instructions.

Thank you for your questions.
Larry Watkins
Truthbook.com

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Friday, April 07, 2006

How can people find the truth in their lives when Jesus Christ kept the truth from the common people, only to be disclosed to his direct followers?

Q: How can people find the truth in their lives when Jesus Christ kept the truth from the common people, only to be disclosed to his direct followers? (Math. 13.10 or Mark 4.33) It's been a question with me for a long time. Thanks for listening

A: While it's true that Jesus often taught by a new and challenging method, by parables, he in no way kept the truth from the common people. It was the common people he had come specifically to instruct -- but he did teach his apostles more advanced concepts because they would be the ones teaching the common people once he was gone -- however the primary focus of his message, that we are each a unique child of the Father in heaven who loves us equally, that we are therefore spiritually all brothers and sisters and should treat one another as such to bring the heavenly kingdom to earth -- that was openly taught and is as valuable for us to recognize today as it was when it was a new concept 2000 years ago. Jesus didn't tell his apostles anything more valuable to their spiritual life than what he told to the common people.

By teaching in parables Jesus didn't just say here's the way it is -- he provided meaningful stories and anecdotes that caused the listeners to think and to derive meanings of their own from the lessons contained within. And when Jesus left he bestowed upon the world his spirit, the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, which makes it possible for any truth seeker from that day to this to be guided toward progressively more meaningful truth. The message Jesus left was forceful and encompassing enough to change the course of history through the common people.

Thank you for your question. May I recommend that if you're not already signed up that you consider subscribing to the Quote of the Day. It's a free service from this site that offers a daily quote from the incomparable teachings of this marvelous book along with a beautiful and inspiring image, a great way to start one's day as well as to begin to understand the teachings of the book. To subscribe go to the upper right corner of our home page, click on Quote of the Day and follow the instructions.

Also your question is a good one which we've added it to our discussion board so that you can have the benefit of the thoughtful responses of our online Urantia Book reader community. You can visit this board and see these responses by clicking here: http://forums.truthbook.com/viewforum.php?f=11. and going to the forum titled "Questions & Answers."

Best wishes,
Larry Watkins
Truthbook.com

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Friday, December 23, 2005

Will Jesus ever return to earth again and if so when?

Q: Will Jesus ever return to earth again and if so when?

A: Here are several quotes from The Urantia Book that address your question...

The Sons of the next order to arrive on the average evolutionary world are the Trinity Teacher Sons, the divine Sons of the Paradise Trinity. Again we find Urantia out of step with its sister spheres in that your Jesus has promised to return. That promise he will certainly fulfill, but no one knows whether his second coming will precede or follow the appearances of Magisterial or Teacher Sons on Urantia.
Page 598 (52:7.1)

Urantia is the sentimental shrine of all Nebadon, the chief of ten million inhabited worlds, the mortal home of Christ Michael, sovereign of all Nebadon, a Melchizedek minister to the realms, a system savior, an Adamic redeemer, a seraphic fellow, an associate of ascending spirits, a morontia progressor, a Son of Man in the likeness of mortal flesh, and the Planetary Prince of Urantia. And your record tells the truth when it says that this same Jesus has promised some time to return to the world of his terminal bestowal, the World of the Cross. Page 1319 (119:8.8)

Although Jesus referred one phase of the kingdom to the future and did, on numerous occasions, intimate that such an event might appear as a part of a world crisis; and though he did likewise most certainly, on several occasions, definitely promise sometime to return to Urantia, it should be recorded that he never positively linked these two ideas together. He promised a new revelation of the kingdom on earth and at some future time; he also promised sometime to come back to this world in person; but he did not say that these two events were synonymous. From all we know these promises may, or may not, refer to the same event. Page 1863 (170:4.5)

On several occasions Jesus had made statements which led his hearers to infer that, while he intended presently to leave this world, he would most certainly return to consummate the work of the heavenly kingdom. As the conviction grew on his followers that he was going to leave them, and after he had departed from this world, it was only natural for all believers to lay fast hold upon these promises to return. The doctrine of the second coming of Christ thus became early incorporated into the teachings of the Christians, and almost every subsequent generation of disciples has devoutly believed this truth and has confidently looked forward to his sometime coming. Page 1914 (176:2.1)

In further answer to Peter's question, Jesus said: "Why do you still look for the Son of Man to sit upon the throne of David and expect that the material dreams of the Jews will be fulfilled? Have I not told you all these years that my kingdom is not of this world? The things which you now look down upon are coming to an end, but this will be a new beginning out of which the gospel of the kingdom will go to all the world and this salvation will spread to all peoples. And when the kingdom shall have come to its full fruition, be assured that the Father in heaven will not fail to visit you with an enlarged revelation of truth and an enhanced demonstration of righteousness, even as he has already bestowed upon this world him who became the prince of darkness, and then Adam, who was followed by Melchizedek, and in these days, the Son of Man. And so will my Father continue to manifest his mercy and show forth his love, even to this dark and evil world. So also will I, after my Father has invested me with all power and authority, continue to follow your fortunes and to guide in the affairs of the kingdom by the presence of my spirit, who shall shortly be poured out upon all flesh. Even though I shall thus be present with you in spirit, I also promise that I will sometime return to this world, where I have lived this life in the flesh and achieved the experience of simultaneously revealing God to man and leading man to God. Very soon must I leave you and take up the work the Father has intrusted to my hands, but be of good courage, for I will sometime return. In the meantime, my Spirit of the Truth of a universe shall comfort and guide you. Page 1914 (176:2.3)

Jesus promised to do two things after he had ascended to the Father, and after all power in heaven and on earth had been placed in his hands. He promised, first, to send into the world, and in his stead, another teacher, the Spirit of Truth; and this he did on the day of Pentecost. Second, he most certainly promised his followers that he would sometime personally return to this world. But he did not say how, where, or when he would revisit this planet of his bestowal experience in the flesh. On one occasion he intimated that, whereas the eye of flesh had beheld him when he lived here in the flesh, on his return (at least on one of his possible visits) he would be discerned only by the eye of spiritual faith.

Many of us are inclined to believe that Jesus will return to Urantia many times during the ages to come. We do not have his specific promise to make these plural visits, but it seems most probable that he who carries among his universe titles that of Planetary Prince of Urantia will many times visit the world whose conquest conferred such a unique title upon him. Page 1918 (187:4.3)

When the eleven had taken their seats, Jesus stood and addressed them: "As long as I am with you in the flesh, I can be but one individual in your midst or in the entire world. But when I have been delivered from this investment of mortal nature, I will be able to return as a spirit indweller of each of you and of all other believers in this gospel of the kingdom. In this way the Son of Man will become a spiritual incarnation in the souls of all true believers. Page 1953 (187:4.3)

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