Spiritual Advice and Guidance Blog: Urantia Book

Q: Do you feel there is hope, as far as the war goes?
If God is Love,why should we fear him?
How can I fight for diplomacy to rule?

A: Thank you for your note to Truthbook.com. Your assessment of the book is as ours is -- it is so superior. Reading it slowly is the best way to extract its full meaning but if you've not had the opportunity to read it clear through I would recommend that you read it front to back rapidly, not being concerned for understanding it all -- that way you have an overall picture of the teachings and then when you go back to read it slowly your comprehension will be on a different level.

Regarding the war and coming wars; they're unfortunate and bring loss, sorrow, sadness to the world but at the same time, as the angels relate, there are positive benefits as well, all is not lost. The war on terror is just more of the same -- we're told in The Urantia Book that wars will be with us until we have all absorbed Jesus' message. We can't outlaw wars or wish them away -- they will disappear when our hearts have changed and that appears to be well into the distant future; it's a one person at a time transformation. Sometimes diplomacy will prevail, other times it will take guns and bombs.

Is it wise to fear God? In the Biblical sense of the word to fear God is to honor God, not to be afraid of God, so yes, it is wise to fear God.

God is much more than the loving caress -- God is the maker and upholder of reality.

How can you fight for diplomacy? There's little you can do in regard to international politics unless that's the sphere in which your work lies. Otherwise you're fighting for something over which you have no control and that leads to frustration. You can fight to improve the things where you have personal influence, which is what we all are called to do.

Thank you for your note.

Larry Watkins
Truthbook.com

Labels: diplomacy, fear of God, God, Larry Watkins, politics, The Urantia Book, war

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Thursday, February 09, 2006

What Is The Proper Role Of Organized Religion?

Q: What Is The Proper Role Of Organized Religion?

A: Jesus came to earth to save people from bad religious organizations, not bad political organizations. He died in the attempt.

Organized religions result from socialization of persons with common religious experiences. They hold no ecclesiastical authority; yet God supports collective action in His behalf. (Matthew 18:20) They represent collective religious action.

Organized religions have been mixed blessings. They have preserved certain coals of spiritual truth which flame up from time to time, and even now may be rekindled; they have collected and saved writings, music and art reflecting the highest thoughts of mankind; they have maintained a popular awareness that there is a God to be reckoned with; and they have sheltered many saints who otherwise may have been destroyed. Yet, on the other hand, they have been fraught with hypocrisy and corruption; claimed status and authority which they did not possess, and used it to enslave millions; they have prostituted the banner of God before political and business causes; they have engaged in internecine warfare over minutiae of doctrine; they have repeatedly persecuted the saints; and--most important--they have stood in the way of individual spiritual progress by millions of truth-seekers.

There is no practical way by which the true worship of God can be expanded without some social organization behind it. Man is a social animal, and needs the company of others on all of life's journeys. Groups can always accomplish things which individuals cannot: maintain places and opportunities for group worship, provide literature and training; provide ministries and missions, etc. And, most important, they can create and support communities and environments in which the worship of God is encouraged.

It is great error for organized religion to become involved in politics. This is the evil which led to downfall of the Jewish kingdom and later, to the dark ages. God is a God of persons, not of causes. God loves each person on both sides of every controversy with equal fervor. For organized religion to become involved on either side is an unholy alliance. It stifles new-born faith and persecutes true believers.

To prepare for its proper role, organized religion should unburden itself of all ancient armor and armaments, all excess baggage, and come forth with the true soul-saving gospel of Jesus: that God is our Father, and we are his children; and that all men and women must learn to live as one spiritual family. In seeking Him to esteem Him, people also find themselves and feel good about it. And they become concerned about their neighbors.

Religion can, and should, create social communities of those with common religious experiences; to confirm the reality of their experiences, to reinforce their feelings of value, to encourage their continued efforts, to minister to the needs of the community, and to avoid feelings of isolation. Even religionists need social approval. And weaker and more timid souls need the shelter of some institution for early development.

Instead of destroying present religious organizations and forming new ones, we should focus upon the highest truths in each, thereby transforming them. We should build upon the foundations already laid. Existing religions have some good practices, talents and assets in place. All they need is proper direction. Religionists are better advised to work within responsive religious organizations to make them more fruitful rather than to abandon them and work alone.

Labels: God, gospel of Jesus, Jesus, politics, religion, society

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Thursday, October 06, 2005

How would Jesus vote?

Q: How Would Jesus Vote?

A: I think this is a great topic and it's understandable that people who love Jesus would ponder this at election time.

I have gotten some interesting insights when considering this question of how Jesus would vote. In the first place, I don't think Jesus would ever allow his political position to be known. Jesus fully understood his own power. One of the greatest powers of all is the power of influence. Knowing that humans would take the easy path of having Jesus make all of their decisions for them without thinking these things through for themselves, I think he would keep his political opinions to himself. I'm not suggesting that most of us should do that, but I think that the Pope, for instance, should keep his politics to himself. Religious leaders should never endorse political candidates; this whole election has really driven home for me the wisdom of the separation of church and state.

Clearly, Jesus calls us to learn how to think not what to think. When we all become adept at independent cosmic thinking we will naturally come to more Godlike conclusions and be able to make more Godlike decisions. That is, decisions which create the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people for the greatest amount of time.

These scientific, moral, and spiritual insights, these cosmic responses, are innate in the cosmic mind, which endows all will creatures. The experience of living never fails to develop these three cosmic intuitions; they are constitutive in the self-consciousness of reflective thinking. But it is sad to record that so few persons on Urantia take delight in cultivating these qualities of courageous and independent cosmic thinking.

The Urantia Book, P.192 - Â§5

We know from his life and teachings that Jesus deliberately avoided making pronouncements on political issues. The closest he came was "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesarâ€™s and unto God the things that are God's." We could write a novel on what he meant by that. But suffice to say, it doesn't give us much to go on at election time. However, I think we can look at his life by example and infer some definite qualities to look for in a leader. Here are some things I have thought of:

He was honest and sincere. He said what he meant and meant what he said. He spoke the truth even when the truth hurt. He was loyal to the highest principals in the highest sense of the word. He would be righteously indignant of the false and malicious political spin and negativity that we have become accustomed to.

He was courageous. He was willing to put himself on the line even to the point of direct contradiction with the powerful religious rulers of his day.

He was fair. He never would have thought only of the interest of his people (the Jews) or his nation (Israel). There was no self-interest in him. Everything he did was for the greatest good for all. From my point of view, the most powerful man in the world should also be a good world citizen. A true leader would want to lead mankind, not just America, into a new and better way of life. As Jesus said, "When you once begin to find God in your soul, presently you will begin to discover him in other men's souls and eventually in all the creatures and creations of a mighty universe. But what chance does the Father have to appear as a God of supreme loyalties and divine ideals in the souls of men who give little or no time to the thoughtful contemplation of such eternal realities?"

P.1733 - Â§1

He was wise. He understood human nature well enough to know how certain people would react in certain situations.

He was patient. He waited for the right time to act and chose his battles and his opportunities very carefully.

He was respectful and trusting. He believed in men because he knew that God is in them. He empowered men to decide and act and supported the wisdom of the group. When the group made a decision he honored it.

He was merciful. He understood the human condition and was forgiving of human frailty. However, he abhorred deliberate wickedness, he said that more was expected of the Master than of the servant, and in the end he did not tolerate the corruption of false leaders.

He was sympathetic. He had real insight into the human heart and the human condition. He had real compassion for humanity and wanted all people to "have life and have it more abundantly."

He was truly kind. I don't think he would ever have resorted to harming anyone or allowing anyone to be harmed. He once said that he would not defend himself against harm unless he discerned that God was not present in the person who sought to harm him.

Clearly, we can't expect a leader, even one with as much power as a US president, to possess all the wonderful qualities that Jesus did. There were many powerful men in Jesus day that had no respect for Jesus and thought him foolish and weak. There are many powerful people today, even those who profess to follow Jesus, who would never endorse his non resistant and non violent ways. Many who think that, although Jesus ideals are truly good, they're not practical and they won't work.

Sadly, at this point in time, we are stuck with the reality of always having to choose between the "lesser of two evils." That is, two mortal men who are anything but perfect. We can take the easy way out and vote along party lines, trusting that at least our basic political philosophies will be upheld, or we can look at each man and try to discern their true character.

I personally admire men who have had to overcome a good deal of adversity in life. I think adversity and affliction build a strong and balanced character. Therefore, in the end, I believe that Jesus would vote for the man whom he perceived had the most character.

Blessings always.....Paula

Labels: character, ideals, Jesus, politics, religion, The Urantia Book

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