Spiritual Advice and Guidance Blog: Urantia Book

Q: Why do people struggle to believe the noble and enlightening truths in these revealed papers? The Bible says that in the end times, the earth shall be filled with knowlegde and the glory of the Lord. I believe that this revelation is just the begining of a series of revelations to flood the world for the sake of the salvation of the souls of men. Our generation must desist from stiff-neckedness and unnecessary prejudice. Otherwise, they will miss Jesus again like the Jews missed him during the Masters sojourn on earth.

A: Why do people struggle with Urantia Book truths? It could be that some people are just not spiritually hungry - it could be that some are frightened by the idea of spiritual freedom - but for many, it is hard to accept a new revelation of a loving God who does not have it in for them. Jesus' message of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man is such a simple and uplifting truth, but it is hard for many to accept that they are ennobled sons of God and not sinful wretches. What if this revelation is wrong, and hell is real? To accept the teachings of The Urantia Book requires faith, and a willingness to hear the truth in one's innermost being, and to trust in the revelation of God that Jesus embodied - a God of love and mercy; it requires a willingness to accept the spiritual mandates of Jesus to "love one another;" a willingness to actually live the religion OF Jesus. AND it requires the willingness to question all the "sacred cows" of the religions of authority. For some, this is more than they can do; they lack the "ears to hear."

Remember the Parables of the Sower? These parables were a powerful truth in Jesus time, and they are true in our times, too.

This revelation has been on the planet for a little over 50 years, and is only now being disseminated over the internet. It is meant to minister to this planet for a long time, but I hope it does not take centuries before we realize as a planet what a gift we have been given. As you say, the Jews missed him - and he ended up losing his life prematurely as a result of fear and suspicion. (As you so aptly put it: "stiff-neckedness and unnecessary prejudice.") As a result, the original message of Jesus became contaminated and adulterated, to everyone's detriment.

The good news about this revelation is that it is in book form, and cannot be killed, so it is up to us who understand what it is to put it into practice in our lives, and spread the good news as we are called to do. It will take time, but I pray that those who are seeking will find these truths before long, so that the kingdom is enlarged, and we begin to see more of the effects of these truths on our tired old world.

Thanks again for writing - great question, and a thoughtful subject...

Labels: Jesus, parables, revelation, struggle, The Urantia Book

Permalink

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Why do so many people feelingly experience re-incarnation as a spiritual reality?

Q. Why do so many people feelingly experience re-incarnation as a spiritual reality?

A. Buddhists and Hindus experience reincarnation as a spiritual reality because it is an integral part to their view of the life and death cycle and most believers in any one particular religion tend to accept all the doctrines of that religion. Others accept reincarnation as valid because it seems to provide a logical answer to the age-old questions of why do some people seem to be blessed while others face lives of struggle. And still others accept reincarnation because they believe they've been given proof through past life regression, deja-vu, or psychic experiences that appear to point to its validity as a belief system.

Perhaps one of the main reasons people accept the theory of reincarnation is because deep down they realize that there's more to existence than this one short life can provide and because they have not been given another satisfying or more complete explanation of the breadth and scope of the adventure that awaits upon departure from this life in the flesh while a belief in reincarnation seems to answer that call. As you may be aware, The Urantia Book makes it clear that this is the first and only physical experience required to cause the soul to be born and that from this point onward our existence will be one of increasing spiritual awareness and development. The Urantia Book describes in exquisite detail the universe career we embark upon after physical death, what we will experience as heaven and beyond. This ascension plan is so full and all-encompassing that what the theory of reincarnation offers pales and seems dull and tedious in its wake. So until the time comes that there's a more complete understanding of God's plan for us the theory of reincarnation will continue to hold a place in the beliefs of many.

Thank you again,
Larry Watkins

Labels: Buddhism, Hinduism, Larry Watkins, reincarnation, spiritual growth, struggle, The Urantia Book