Spiritual Advice and Guidance Blog: Urantia Book

Q: If we do not belong to any religious organisation, how can we receive the most important ordinances - baptism, sacrament partaking, priesthood, redemption of the dead (see book of Mormon) etc.? Is there any religion acording to Urantia book who bears true authority to perform these ordinances on Earth?

A: You asked if you don't belong to a religious organization how can you participate in sacrament partaking and the priesthood. You can't -- those are privileges of belonging to a religious organization. If they're important to you then you need to participate and become a member.

According to The Urantia Book, the ordinances you mention are human in design and not divine; their spiritual significance is derived through the significance we afford them. They're rituals and symbols that give meaning to us at significant events but there's nothing intrinsically spiritual about them.

Thank you for your question.

Larry Watkins
Truthbook.com

A: I hope you will not mind having another perspective on your question...I have a few additional observations regarding the development of rites and rituals which you might find useful.

I agree with you that big transitions in life, such as marriage, baptism, and funerals are important, and that they are enhanced and illuminated by having rituals and celebrations attached to them. They help us to make visible the joy and meaning we feel as a result of the Father's invisible ministry. It seems to me that we should be free to develop new and improved rites that have particular meaning to us in this modern age.

None of these rituals are of a legal nature, except for marriage, which does have to be a legal affair. The others - baptism and funerals - are not legalistic events, as Larry has pointed out, and can be performed by anyone, really.

In the past few years, several Urantia Book reader/believers have taken the trouble to become ministers - some are already ministers of particular religions, but some have just earned on-line ministry ordinations, which are easy to obtain, and which are valid in most states of the union. I myself have done this, and as a result, have performed several weddings for Urantia friends over the years.

The rituals themselves can be developed by the participants, and presided over by the ordained minister. Just because the rites are not sanctioned by an organized church does not invalidate their authority or authenticity. It is the attitude and intention of the participants that make the rites meaningful, don't you agree?

In the case of marriage, any ordained minister can perform the service, and, as I said above, even an on-line ministry certificate is valid in most states. The marriage of two iindividuals does not even HAVE TO be legal, but most people do want that, especially if they are young, and intend to have children.

As for the sacrament of communion, most Urantia Book readers adopt the re-enactment of the Last Supper as depicted in The Urantia Book, and this is a refreshing and new way to celebrate "communion."

I hope this has been helpful to you...

Sincerely,

MaryJo
Truthbook.com

Labels: Larry Watkins, Mary Jo, ministers, rites, rituals, sacraments, The Urantia Book