reality checks......
reality checks......
I have no interest in plagiarized fiction novels, so the ub wouldn't be worth my time.
You cant judge something you haven't read and honestly considered, - a reading of at least the
first 12 papers is essential to laying down a fundamental cosmology of the nature of God, existence, creation and the plan of eternal progression and immortality for evolutionary mortals. You cant properly evaluate or judge a collection of papers without knowing/understanding/intuiting the 'heart' of it, its terms, meanings, purpose, vision and greater cosmic context as it directly relates to human experience, in every field of knowledge. - its more important details are where it confirms, yet enhances/expands the parameters of the biblical record, taking our minds to the precipice of cosmic consciousness, to see more of the great universal plan and eternal destiny born in the heart of 'God'. Such appreciation can only be had by a mind receptive to the higher leadings of the Spirit, the 'divine adjuster' that indwells the soul.
Honest criticisms of the UB have been treated
here (and thru-out the entire thread). If the Urantia papers are truly inspired and illumined transmissions enhancing man's understanding and knowledge of his existence and the potentials/purpose of that existence relative to creation and eternity, then the content ought to speak for itself to those who read it, by the inner witness of the spirit, edifying the soul, nourishing the spirit, empowering one to do God's will, and uphold only the highest values and ideals,...which is what the papers do.
It is a prefigured, pre-concluded mind-set, that is not open to new truths, insights or revelation, since that kind of 'mind' already
assumes it knows. Such a 'mentality' retards spiritual progress and enlightenment. All things ought to be honestly examined, as the living truth is ever alive and present as the primal light ever shining behind consciousness, the 'witness' who can 'see' what has 'absolute' or 'relative' value,...discerning between what is real and what is not. Conceptual frames and language are but steps, pointers, directive symbols, figures, descriptions....so we have to use 'language'. - to understand any book or value system, we have to 'learn' the 'language'.
Caino wrote:
No interest in so called plagiarized material? Then throw out many parts of the OT books that used unsourced historic material and concepts from older religions as well as spiritual concepts from Egypt.
The Hebrews formulated their theology using parts and pieces of many Gentile religious and historical truths be they ever so misunderstood.
Yes, much could be said about what the Jews borrowed from neighboring cults and the peoples that ruled over them in their various captivities, whether those be mythologies, occult teachings, religious ideas, beliefs, etc. Ironically for Christians,....their 'Bible' includes the OT with their compartmentalized collection of books added to form a '2nd part', so its a synthesis of 2 traditions or cults stemming from a primary root-source, with various foreign branches grafted in.
There is one Universal Tree of Life, the Infinite Spirit itself, the Universal Father and Mother of all beings, the Originator and Sustainer of all that
is and ever
will be. That Infinite
I AM is the center and nucleus of all creation,....that and that Alone is the
One primal reality. - the UB and other religious writings offer conceptual frames in which to perceive, intuit and relate to, the spirit of life in all its
relationships, assocations and inter-actions. This is what creation is (movement, space-time relativity, sharing information, evolution, experiencing all potentials of consciousness). Life, God, Truth, Reality, Spirit, Consciousness, Light....is what IS. - all 'else' is a play of consciousness relating to the whole and its various parts,...this is all that is going on....moment to moment.
Nothing but a closed mind, dogmatic assumption of 'orthodoxy', idolized exaltation of one's own 'belief-system' or 'theology' (or worship of a particular book) as the
only right one, to the ridicule and exclusion of all others, is the epitome of narcissism, the negative and self-absorbing side of a 'cult' mentality.
pj