The Late Great Urantia Revelation

[Damian]

The UB does not come from that premise alone, as does Advaita Vedanta and other forms of non-duality, which is a path that one can take based more in jnana-yoga, the direct-path approach to Self-realization(knowledge), where there is no seperation between the 'Self' and 'God' for 'God' is the Only Infinite Self, 'Brahman' and 'atman' being of one qualitative substance, and identity. We of course pursue the pure non-dual path in our Non-Duality thread. The UB presents a cosmology of the totality of reality, both from the infinite and finite perspectives,..but mostly from the latter...for our benefit...so everything shared expands the maximum language capacities for explaining the cosmos 'relationally'. The spaceless, timeless, absolute, eternal, infinite Being of 'God' Itself, cannot be comprehended by finite man, apart from the fragment of infinite in his own soul (the Thought-Adjuster) and what may be acquired when the soul fuses with the Father-fragment in future eternity.

The Papers are consonant with a traditional Christian theology (using the terms of popular theology and human knowledge) and conception of 'God' yet expand and augment such with-in a greater cosmic comprehension and infinite perspective, correcting some misperceptions in traditional Christian theology, being what the celestials call the Fifth Epochal Revelation (EFR) to our planet (Urantia)...Jesus' ministry (bestowal) was the 4th, if my memory serves me.

The Papers are great for expanding the mortal finite view to cosmic proportions, expanding its vision of the timeless, absolute, eternal infinite Deity, the divine purpose of creation, the orders of angels or 'divine Sons', the ascension-plan of the mortals of space and time (us), and most importantly the ministry of Jesus, who is our Creator-Son, the actual sovereign Lord and Creator of this local universe, who incarnated here. We've already shared in our 2 Urantia threads resource links covering the similarities and differences that UB theology has with traditional/orthodox Christianity.

Dr. Meredith J. Sprunger has many excellent articles on the subject -

UB deviations from traditional christian doctrine

Okay. But what exactly does all this have to do with "gnosis" (experiential knowledge of God)?

 

[freelight]

Okay. But what exactly does all this have to do with "gnosis" (experiential knowledge of God)?

Since we live, move and have our being in God,....everything. Not sure how anyone who has read any significant portion of the Papers could conclude that it has nothing to do with having experiential knowledge of God. This is what life is all about. - it just so describes and explains all aspects of 'relating'...... as souls evolve along the path toward God-perfection or God-realization. - its an ever-evolving relational experience...the soul's eternal journey.


pj

 

[Damian]

Since we live, move and have our being in God,....everything. Not sure how anyone who has read any significant portion of the Papers could conclude that it has nothing to do with having experiential knowledge of God. This is what life is all about. - it just so describes and explains all aspects of 'relating'...... as souls evolve along the path toward God-perfection or God-realization. - its an ever-evolving relational experience...the soul's eternal journey.

I haven't read it. But from what you are telling me, the UB doesn't appear to focus on "gnosis" (spiritual enlightenment).

 

[freelight]

appropriated knowledge.....

appropriated knowledge.....

I haven't read it. But from what you are telling me, the UB doesn't appear to focus on "gnosis" (spiritual enlightenment).

Remember, if/when you ever have time,...the first 12 Papers are fundamental. - then Part 4 is an extensive compilation on Jesus life (every year of it) and teachings...which extend and amplify the knowledge shared in previous Papers, they laying down the cosmological foundation.

But to touch on your observation above,...correct...in the sense that 'gnosis' is not its primary focus as in schools of mysticism, occult science, or metaphysics....but such lays down a knowledge synthesizing science, philosophy and religion, giving instruction about the souls evolutionary ascent towards Paradise, and its relationship to God along the path towards spirit-perfection.

The UB is very different than ACIM, providing a whole cosmology, foundation, universe-ascension plan for the mortals of time and space. We are all ascending or moving towards the center of all reality, the First Source and Center, the Universal Father, as our ultimate destiny and eternity-goal.


pj

 

[Damian]

Remember, if/when you ever have time,...the first 12 Papers are fundamental. - then Part 4 is an extensive compilation on Jesus life (every year of it) and teachings...which extend and amplify the knowledge shared in previous Papers, they laying down the cosmological foundation.

But to touch on your observation above,...correct...in the sense that 'gnosis' is not its primary focus as in schools of mysticism, occult science, or metaphysics....but such lays down a knowledge synthesizing science, philosophy and religion, giving instruction about the souls evolutionary ascent towards Paradise, and its relationship to God along the path towards spirit-perfection.

The UB is very different than ACIM, providing a whole cosmology, foundation, universe-ascension plan for the mortals of time and space. We are all ascending or moving towards the center of all reality, the First Source and Center, the Universal Father, as our ultimate destiny and eternity-goal.

Okay. That's what I thought. They really have two different goals.

 

[freelight]

personality-plus..........

personality-plus..........

Okay. That's what I thought. They really have two different goals.

I've gleaned from both, recognizing that each have their 'offerings'. For those more vested in a space/time matterial universe and ever-evolving cosmos (progressive/process oriented) theology,..the UB is tops. It has all the scaffolding that is needed, with detailed content, aids and explanations to assist the fellow traveller in his journey Godward and to fulfill his purpose of being (personal-potential). Exquisite actually, once you delve into it.

The celestials give a most amazing revelation on the essence and function of 'personality'.

The goal is maintaining an eternal personality within a living soul-unit that has fused with the fragment of God within.

112:0.1 The evolutionary planets are the spheres of human origin, the initial worlds of the ascending mortal career. Urantia is your starting point; here you and your divine Thought Adjuster are joined in temporary union. You have been endowed with a perfect guide; therefore, if you will sincerely run the race of time and gain the final goal of faith, the reward of the ages shall be yours; you will be eternally united with your indwelling Adjuster. Then will begin your real life, the ascending life, to which your present mortal state is but the vestibule. Then will begin your exalted and progressive mission as finaliters in the eternity which stretches out before you. And throughout all of these successive ages and stages of evolutionary growth, there is one part of you that remains absolutely unaltered, and that is personality—permanence in the presence of change.

-UB, Paper 112, Personality Survival

So, according to this teaching-source,...the soul is ever in relationship with God, unfoldng, evolving, experiencing, expanding, co-creating with God. - as far as cosmic consciousness goes,.. its activity is infinite.


pj

 

[Damian]

So, according to this teaching-source,...the soul is ever in relationship with God, unfoldng, evolving, experiencing, expanding, co-creating with God. - as far as cosmic consciousness goes,.. its activity is infinite.

I've read that it does not teach reincarnation. So, what happens after this life?

 

[freelight]

taste and see.......

taste and see.......

I've read that it does not teach reincarnation. So, what happens after this life?

Unending universe progress, exploration, adventure! - that is if the evolving soul chooses Life,...to do the will of God, to ascend, unfold its potential, partner with its thought-adjuster, ensure its survival by choosing the divine way. Details are given thru-out the Papers on the ascension of mortals, who become 'finaliters'. - there is an eternity/infinity of potential and universe-service open to these survivors that only the Spirit can ultimately disclose.

Its all in the Book.


pj

 

[Damian]

Unending universe progress, exploration, adventure! - that is if the evolving soul chooses Life,...to do the will of God, to ascend, unfold its potential, partner with its thought-adjuster, ensure its survival by choosing the divine way. Details are given thru-out the Papers on the ascension of mortals, who become 'finaliters'. - there is an eternity/infinity of potentials and universe-service open to these survivors that only the Spirit can ultimately disclose.

Is the "thought adjuster" comparable to what many in metaphysical circles refer to as their "spirit guides" or what Catholics call their "guardian angels?"

 

[freelight]

TA's

TA's

Is the "thought adjuster" comparable to what many in metaphysical circles refer to as their "spirit guides" or what Catholics call their "guardian angels?"

Its an actual fragment of the 'God' Himself, a fragment of infinity, being 'pre-personal', but becomes 'personalized' if you will, when the soul fuses with it, they becoming one. It is a divine-spirit reality, an actual gift from the Father that indwells a soul. It is a 'guide' in the sense that such a 'presence' helps to guide when the soul is receptive to its influence. It would not be an 'angel' as an outward messenger of some sort.

5:0.1 If the finite mind of man is unable to comprehend how so great and so majestic a God as the Universal Father can descend from his eternal abode in infinite perfection to fraternize with the individual human creature, then must such a finite intellect rest assurance of divine fellowship upon the truth of the fact that an actual fragment of the living God resides within the intellect of every normal-minded and morally conscious Urantia mortal. The indwelling Thought Adjusters are a part of the eternal Deity of the Paradise Father. Man does not have to go farther than his own inner experience of the soul' s contemplation of this spiritual-reality presence to find God and attempt communion with him.

107:0.1 Although the Universal Father is personally resident on Paradise, at the very center of the universes, he is also actually present on the worlds of space in the minds of his countless children of time, for he indwells them as the Mystery Monitors. The eternal Father is at one and the same time farthest removed from, and most intimately associated with, his planetary mortal sons.

107:0.2 The Adjusters are the actuality of the Father's love incarnate in the souls of men; they are the veritable promise of man's eternal career imprisoned within the mortal mind; they are the essence of man's perfected finaliter personality, which he can foretaste in time as he progressively masters the divine technique of achieving the living of the Father's will, step by step, through the ascension of universe upon universe until he actually attains the divine presence of his Paradise Father.

All thru-out the papers, the 'TA' is mentioned. Papers 107 - 111 are devoted exclusively to it. Index-portal


pj

 

[Lost Comet]

Final Word on ACIM

Final Word on ACIM

ACIM It fosters the belief that man’s inner life is separate from its physical environment; that individual mind is the cause of all we see and experience. This encourages readers to ignore facts and disregard reality and, apparently, is the cause of my discomfort with it. It sets the stage for ignoring facts and disregarding reality.

Damian's emphasis and the importance on "gnosis" and "mysticism" is evidence of this avoidance of reality. For example, experiments in sensory deprivation make it painfully obvious that the human mind cannot function without physical stimuli. The same thing with drugs. Man’s mind, therefore, is more a product of the material or outside world than vice versa. Something real is "out there": it is either matter or Berkelian idealism is right, at least in some sense, in which case there is no practical difference. If the latter is the case, we would still need what we perceive as "physical" stimuli from God and would still break a toe if we kicked a rock.

There is nothing wrong with gnosis or mysticism as such. IMO, the world would be better if they had an even bigger role in the world. But at the same time, it is foolish to encourage their pursuit to the extent of using them as a means of escaping our current estate. And that is exactly what ACIM does.

 

[Aimiel]

Is the "thought adjuster" comparable to what many in metaphysical circles refer to as their "spirit guides" or what Catholics call their "guardian angels?"

I would have to say that it's a familiar spirit. :duh:

 

[Damian]

I would have to say that it's a familiar spirit. :duh:

The "guardian angel" or the "thought adjuster?"

 

[Aimiel]

The "guardian angel" or the "thought adjuster?"

Uh... yeah... hello! McFly!!!

 

[Damian]

ACIM It fosters the belief that man’s inner life is separate from its physical environment; that mind is the cause of all we see and experience. This encourages readers to ignore facts and disregard reality and, apparently, is the cause of my discomfort with it. It sets the stage for ignoring facts and disregarding reality.

Damian's emphasis and the importance on "gnosis" and "mysticism" is evidence of this avoidance of reality. For example, experiments in sensory deprivation make it painfully obvious that the human mind cannot function without physical stimuli. The same thing with drugs. Man’s mind, therefore, is more a product of the material or outside world than vice versa. Something real is "out there": it is either matter or Berkelian idealism is right, at least in some sense, in which case there is no practical difference: we would still need what we perceive as physical stimuli from God and would still break a toe if we kicked a rock.

There is nothing wrong with gnosis or mysticism as such. IMO, the world would be better if they had an even bigger role in the world. But at the same time, it is foolish to encourage their pursuit to the extent of using them as a means of escaping our current estate. And that is exactly what ACIM does.

"All beliefs that lead to progress should be honoured." - "A Course in Miracles"

 

[Damian]

Uh... yeah... hello! McFly!!!

Whatever.

 

[Aimiel]

That's a rather cavalier attitude to have towards something which may just lead your soul astray for eternity.

 

[Damian]

That's a rather cavalier attitude to have towards something which may just lead your soul astray for eternity.

I don't consider your response of "Uh... yeah... hello! McFly!!!" to be a matter of eternal concern.

 

[Lost Comet]

As the result of recent events in this thread, I am rereading Paper 112 more slowly and carefully than in the past.

Wow! I'm amazed by how much information it imparts!

 

[freelight]

some more brass tacks.....

some more brass tacks.....

I don't consider your response of "Uh... yeah... hello! McFly!!!" to be a matter of eternal concern.

Whatever Aimiel is tooting about, isnt worth attending, since his horn blows the same ole tune, stuck on 'auto-reverse'.

He'd first need an elementary education about what the UB even teaches for starters...let alone the TA(thought-adjuster) which is what the subject currently is, with all the papers on the subject provided. A dialogue with such an individual would be futile, since a dialogue could not be had with such a 'mentality'. - as 'time' has obviously proved. Ignorance and presumption prevents a true education.

Anyone interested in the UB, has full access and resources shared in these threads about the subject,...so ignorance and presumption are inexusable. If one after researching enough to really know what its all about, has no interest in the material,...they are free to move on.......


pj