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Home , The Urantia Book

SpiritualPerspectives for a NewAge by MEREDIT}IJ. SPRI,JNGER.Ph.D.

JESUSONIAN F'OUNDANOIV'

AW$UT OF MINISTRY THE CHRISNAN FEII.OWSHIP OF STUDENTSOF THE URAI{TIABOOK 620LZth Sftet, BouldesColorado 80302 SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVES A New Vlalon of Reallty for Thereis a searchfor spiritualreality today which is un- A precedentedin moderntimes. What is the meaningof all this yearningfor spiritual verities?If we can learn from history,it meansthat is at work in our world prepar- We are living in one of the great pivotal periods of ing us for a new spiritual age. Many influences are history. Societyhas undergonemore changein the last at work training us for creativeapproaches to the future. one hundredy€ars than the world hasexperienced in the We should like to invite your attention to one of previoustwo thousandyears. Information is exploding. these sourc€s- a book which may play an important role in Somefields of knowledgeare doubling everyfive to ten this newspiritual age. It is The UrsntiaBoo&published in years.Ninety percentofthe scientistswho haveever lived 1955by the Urantia Foundationof Chicago,lllinois. Ttre areliving in our times.We areunlocking the secretsof thc Urontia Book is one of the most promising sources microcosmosand beginningto travelin outer space.Dur- of creativ€thought in ,, and culture in our ing this century we have evolveda new physics,a new contemporaryworld. Without promotion or publicity this astronomy,a new psychology,and the beginningsof a unusualbook hassold more than 175,0fi) new philosophicalage. copies.The over- whelming consensusamong those who haveread the book The planet is traveling so fast contcmporary is that it rcceiveuniversal recognition. societyis experiencingfuture shock. There is a senseof ln its two-thousand pagesThe Urontio Boot presents alienationfrom our traditional cultural values.Our rela- an integratedpicture of thc universewhich has tion to life has becomeambiguous. There is a pervasive extremely broad ramifications. The book's observationsand in- intuitive feelingof meaninglessnessin the civilizationof sights regarding the arts, the social sciences,and the twentiethcentury. We havelost our spiritualorienta- the physical scienceshave relevant problem solving implica- tion. The great religioussyst€ms of the past no longer tions. Its overarchinggrasp of the dynamicsof civilization command the total commitmentof humanity or fulfill and culture shcd wisdom in aknost €very area of their ultimateneeds. We are passingthrough a collective human endeavor. psychologicaland spiritual reorientationequivalent in Modern day scientists,philosophers, and theologians magnitude to the emergenceof Christianity from the havetried to accommodate growing ruins of the Greco-Romancivilization. our understandingof to traditional ways A form ofsearchingunderlies the erosionofinstitutional of looking at thc universc.The factual world of religionin our day.The deterioration ofthe credibilityoftradi- scientific knowledgecan no longer be ex- plained or understood tional social,economic, political, and moral valuesamong by thc scientific theories which seemedadequate years our most perceptiveyouth is building a hungerfor a new only a few sgo. London Universi- ty physicist, Davld Bohm, sees rcality in a relational spiritualvision. The groning lack ofrelevance elicited I an- wholeness.Our cient spiritual framesof referencewhich havetheir roots in world of experience,he believes,has its roots in a deeper prescientificthought and culturc has triggered an explosion level of reality which he views as a holographic of cults, new ,and psychomystical movements. .In a similar manncr, Carl Saganin his book, Cosmos,attempts to updateour knowledgeof physicalphenomena and expandour conceptualization Just as in past philosophical-culturaltransitions, there of the universein which we live. is a proliferationof phenomenaand movements.In this "Age Paul Tillich, the most widely read theologian so called of Aquarius', we havethousands of , of the mid-twcntieth century, tries to restructurc astrologers, Tarot Card readers, numerologists, the way we perceivespiritual reality. His descriptionof God asthe in- graphologists,and prophets of every sort. Millions of "ground escapable of being" adds a new dimension people are pursuing ESP, phenomena,Zen, to the religiousaspect of life. The Britishmathematician Yoga, I Ching, Theosophy,Spiritualism, Scientology, and philosopher,Alfred North Whitehead,enlarges TranscendentalMeditation, UFO's, and mind altering our tradi- tional Deity conceptsin his viewof the primordial drugs.Among the dozensof newsects which havesprung and the consequentnatures of God which havebeen amplified up are The Unification Church, The Divine Light Mis- by ProcessTheology into one of the major sion, The International Society of Krishna Con- theological developmentsof the twentieth century. sciousness,The Childrenof God, The Way International, Buckminster Fuller, and manyothers. one of the most creativeminds of our generation, seesGod functioningin the evolutionaryprocess of the world. is maintained. The nature and attributes of God are Harvard psychologist,Henry A. Murray, observesthe discussedas th€y relate to the universe and to the in- distress,confusion, and alienation experiencedby so dividual. The is conceptualizedwith greater in- many membersof our contemporafysociety. He, along tellectual and spiritual clarity than any other description with the Swisspsychiatrist, Carl Jung, believesthe root in theological literature. The material and gravitational causeof this dispiritedcondition of modernman is an in- centerof the universe,thc Isle of Paradise,is referredto adequatereligious orientation to life. Dr. Murray conjec- as the nuclear sourceof all energy,, life, and per- turesthat we needa new universemythology, a vision of sonality. A marvelouslyorganized hierarchical universe is ultimates,which will "claim the headand heart" of twen- describedwhich includes millions of inhabited planetsin tieth c€nturyman. Britishauthors, C.S. Lewisand J.R.R. all stagesof physical, mental, and . Tolkein, recognizethis same need and in their writings Mechanistic and vitalistic interpretations of natural have attemptedto prepareour minds for suchan enlarged phenomena are integrated. Science, philosophy, and and inspiringvision of spiritual reality. religion are seen as partial aspectsof e larger holistic The Uranlis Book integratesand structuresall of these universe. contemporaryprophetic views in science,philosophy, and The Ursnlia Book presentsone of the most realistic religion in a uniqueholistic cosmos.The book is divided and inclusivematerial-mindal-rpiritual cosmologies in the into four parts. The first section describesthe nature of entire lield of philosophy and religion, It portrays an Ultimate Reality and the astronomical or cosmological eminentlyreasonable picture of the conditions and nature nature and organizationof the universe.This picture is . of immortality. Survival is seen as dependent on the essentiallyin harmony with our present astronomical . spiritual reality status of the individual. This, in turn, is knowledge and parallels the Swedish astronomer i determined by the decisionsof the individual Charlier'sconcept of a hierarchicaluniverse. i toward God, by our loyalty to truth, beauty, and The secondsection of The Ursntia 8oolr relatesto our ' goodnes as thesevalues are sincerelyunderstood. Never- local or local universe and its intenelationships theless, evil, , and judgrnent are stern and sober where the loving and effective ministry of Christ is the realitiesin the universe.lts intriguing picture of life after central universe reality through which everything else death, an area which theologiansrefer to as eschatology, finds meaning and purpose. The third section of The is not only appealingto rational intelligencebut hasa ring Urqntiq Boot narrates the story of the orlgin and of authentic spiritual reality. The interrelationships of development of our world whose universename, we are body, mind, , and spirit are treated with much insight told, is "LJrantia." The interesting material in this ac- and originality. The central challengeto modernman is to count coincides with the best of our scientific and make a well-balancedand sane effort to achieve God- historical knowledge. The fourth section of The Urontio .Growth toward perfection is presentedas Boolr contains a sevenhundred page version of the life thc fundamentalmotivation of life. This grofih is evolu- and teachingsof Jesuswhich is solidly rooted in the tionary, culminating, and virtually endless. historicalNew Testamentstory. This superbpresentation of Erich Fromm observesthat our technologicalciviliza- the life of Jesusbrings vibrant coherenceto the sketchyNew tion is experiencinga revolution of hope. The editorial Testamentpicture and with it a newauthenticity. It is basical- board of World Percpectivesdeclares that we are in the ly acceptableto all religions, emphasizingthe religion o/ processof developinga new consciousness.There is an Jesuswhich is unifying rather than the religion aboal ecumenicalpower of mind and heart which is enabling which tendsto be divisive. man to re-createhis life and becomeaware of this divine new The The Excepllonal Quallly of IDc Uranlla Book destiny. Many are contributing to this age. American psychologist, Abraham Maslow, has directed A more detaileddescription of the different sectionsof "meta-needs" "Be- The Urantia Book may be helpful. Part I, The Central our attentionto the importanc€of or and Superuniverses,and Part lI, The Local Universe, ing Values" which make up the spiritual foundationsof psychiatrist, would be philosophically classified as metaphysical in human nature. The ltalian Roberto significance of nature.That is, thesesections portray the ultimatenature Assagioli, speaks of the fundamental qualities Spirit Center of human of things. The Urantia Eook presentsan integratedand transpersonal and the The philosopher,Martin Buber, masterful view of Ultimate Reality. Conceptsof Deity consciousness, Jewish modern man to rediscover the all important rangingfrom that of a personalUniversal Father to im- calls "I-Thou" relationship Psychology personalabsolutes are so well unified the holisticpicture of life. Humanistic and Holistic Medicinesee human nature as an integration story in the , enlargeand enhanceour knowledge of body, mind, and spirit which is distinctivelyshaped by concerningthe missionof Jesusto our world. This ex- the higher human values.The writings of the French pandedversion of the life and teachingsof Jesushas a priest, Teilhard de Chardin, discoverand illuminatethe universalappeal even when it is viewedonly asa historical hand of God in the entireevolutionary process. Teilhard novel for it is unsurpassedin theistic philosophical believeswe haveentered the greatestperiod of changethe reasonableness,spiritual insight, and personalityappeal. world has ever known. Humanity, he says,is moving This life of Jesusnot only fills in the "hidden years" from "Omega toward the Point" of mental-spiritual twelve to thirty but The Urantia Book givesa picture of awareness. his pre-bestowaland post-bestowalexperience. The British churchmen,Leslie D. Weatherheadand John gospelof John closeswith the comment,"There are also A.T. Robinson,have eloquently described the decadent many other things which Jesusdid; were every one of theological formulations of current day Christianity them to be written, I supposethat the world itself could which havetheir roots in the prescientificthinking of the not contain the books that would be written," Middle Ages and have called for a new spiritual In its seven hundred page biography of Jesus, Ifte renaissance.The American Academy of Political and Urantia Book gives an account of many of the things Social Sciencein one volume of their Annals have which Jesusdid during his life on earth. One is strongly documentedthe radical changeswhich havetaken place temptedto relateengaging childhood experiences, events in American religion since the 1960's.Public opinion in his heroic struggle to overcome family adversity as a researchscientist, Daniel Yankelovich, says there is a teen-ageyouth, travels and adventure through which he form of searchingunderlying all of Americanlife today. gaineda thoroughknowledge of how life is lived on our And George Gallop reports in a talk at Princeton world, fascinatingvignettes of personalministry, and "Americans TheologicalSeminary that today appearto thrilling episodesof his public ministry. To do so, be on a spiritualquest of major proportions. . . the final however,would be a disservice.Not only becauseabridg- two decadesof this centurycould, in fact, represenla uni- ment summariestake away from the pleasureof readinga que chapter in the history of religion in the United biography, but such episodesisolated from context often States." give inaccurate impressions and contribute ro Pafi III ol The UrontiaBook, The History of Urantia, misunderstandings.You will enjoy reading this cap- confirms, summarizes,and builds upon theseand many tivatingstory in its entirety.For thosewho haveChristian other contemporary concerns and developments.It backgrounds,this may be the bestplacc to start reading describesthe origin and evolution ofevents on our planet.ln The Urantis Book, You will find that The Urantia Book additionto man'sbiological evolution, it tracesthe develop- will give you a much greaterunderstanding and apprecia- mentof civilization,culture, government, religion, the fami- tion of the Bible. fy, andother social institutions. The Urantia Boot exhibitsa superiorunderstanding of planetaryhistory, dynamics, and The Ouestlon of Odgln destiny. Probably the most difficult question-toanswer about "Who The sectiondiscussing marriage and the family has a The Urantia Bookis wroteit?" It claimsto be writ- rich and realistichistorical appreciation of the relation- ten by numerous supermortal beings as a special revela- shipsof men and women and a balancedassessment of tion to mankindliving on this world, Urantia. It purports the contributionsof both naturc and nurture in shaping to be the first major divine revelationsince the comingof humanlife. Papersdealing with the natureand function Christ to our planet.Such a claim certainlyraises doubts of religion,the purposeand practiceof prayerand wor- in the minds of rational and responsiblepeople. Almost ship, and the placeof personaland institutionalreligion everygeneration produces a numberof peoplewho pose in life and societyare among the bestdiscussions of these asthe bearersof newrevelation. What is surprisingabout. subjectsin print. Chapterswhich describethe loving nur- The Urontia Book is that it has almost nothing in com- ture of the indwellingSpirit of God in the mind of man mon with radicalor fanaticalmovements. lt doesnot ad- are of exceptionalquality and parallelthe world's finest vocatea newreligion but seeksto undergirdthe bestin all insightsderived from a first hand experienceof God religions.Its viewpointbuilds upon the religiousheritage found in devotionalliterature. of the pastand present;yet it is fresh,expansive, and pro- Part IV of The UrantiaBook,The Life and Teachings found. The superiorquality of the philosophical-religious of Jesus,although faithful and confirmativeof the gospel insights of The Urontia Book is clear to anyone of discriminatingmind who readsit. After a judicious and reflectivereading of the book, one is impressedby the power of its own authenticity. Nevertheless,The UrantiaBoolr shouldbe readcritical- ly like any other book. It shouldbe judgedby its content, not by any claimsof authorship.Only after a thorough readingof the book and carefulevaluation of its message is one in a position to speculateabout authorship. Even though The Urantia Book is among the most significant sourcesof spiritual guidanceavailable [o con- temporary man, it is not an end in itself; nor is it a necessarymeans to spiritualenlightenment. Its potentials for individualand socialgrofih, however,are so greatit should be highly recommendedto all who are interested in the creativepossibilities of a spiritualrenaissance in our society. Its messageis balancedand profound. Its ap- proachis open and benign.There are no threatsor co€r- "believe." cions to It seeksto work in and through the evolutionaryprocess and within the socialinstitutions of our world. The Urantia Foundationwho publishesthe book and the Urantia Brotherhoodwhich is a fraternalorganization engagedin disseminatingthe teachingsof Tfte lJrantis Book are not interested in starting a new religion, organizinga church, or promoting any kind of religious institution. Thoseof us who arc studentsof The IJrqntio Book arc primarily interestedin the spiritual stimulation and grofih of people of all faiths and religions. We believca study of The Urantia Book wrll make church or synagoguemembers better participants in thesereligious institutions. The Urontio Book has much to contribute to all of the religionsof the world. Kenneth Boulding n The Meoning of the Twentieth Century, Alvin Toffler in The Third Wsve, lohnNaisbitt in Metotrends, Fritjof Capra n The Turning point, and many other propheticvoices have pointed out that we are entering a major transitional change in the history of man. We despcratelyneed spiritual foundstions which are largeenough, solid enough, and havcthe visionarypoten- tial to give stability and guidanceto the new agewhich is struggling to be born. We believe The IJrantia Bookhas the greatestpotential for servingin this capacityof any philosophical-religiousresource now availableto man. All in all, TheUrantio Book isone of themost exciting books of the twentiethcentury. lt is a seminalsource of enlighten- ingspiritual truth. Weinvite you to discoverthis resource for yourself.

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