… At first only the spirit of intuition could function in the instinctive and reflex behavior of the primordial animal life. With the differentiation of higher types, the spirit of understanding was able to endow such creatures with the gift of spontaneous association of ideas. Later on we observed the spirit of courage in operation; evolving animals really developed a crude form of protective self-consciousness. Subsequent to the appearance of the mammalian groups, we beheld the spirit of knowledge manifesting itself in increased measure. And the evolution of the higher mammals brought the function of the spirit of counsel, with the resulting growth of the herd instinct and the beginnings of primitive social development. 62:6:3
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Essay on the Alter Ego Approach to Prayer
52 posts · 4 participants · started Aug 15, 2014, 4:08 PM
Animals cannot do any of this, even with the help of magic.
Andon and Fonta did. They were animals for their childhood and became human beings. The same process happens in humans. I am sure Andon and Fonta did many things that we call “human” as animals.
TUB wrote: A personal self starts to develop around age 6, Around the age of 6 the child begins to develop a SOUL. The soul is not a personal self, as you call it. The soul is not personal at all. In order to use the word personal, there must be the presence of personality. The soul is not a personality (0:5.11).
The soul is a copy of our personal self it is a morontia duplicate of our higher self. But that is a different topic…
A crude form of protective self-consciousness is not indicative of the presence of personality, not even primitive. If it were so, then all animals in contact with the 3rd adjutant would be considered primitive men according to Jesus. Nothing jives there. Self-protection does not indicated the awareness of self existence. Self-protection is an animal instinct. Even the trilobites would curl up in self-protection. Does that mean that trilobites had a crude form of self-consciousness? Possibly, but it does not mean that they had personality nor could they be considered primitive men.
- TUB wrote: Andon and Fonta did. They were animals for their childhood and became human beings.
On the contrary. We are told that Andon and Fonta were born as human beings. Even before the spirit of wisdom made contact with their minds, they are referred to as “These first two humans.” They very early learned vocal language. Animals do not have vocal language skills. Then, the Life Carriers and associates conspired to “lead the human twins northward.” Andon and Fonta are referred to as humans long before they entered the 7th psychic circles. I’m sure, with their exact and precise use of language, the revelators would have referred to them as pre-humans or potential humans, if they were not already human.
For heaven’s sake, Bonita, how could you imply I was arguing for personality in sub-human animals?
I was only allowing that egoistic motives could be a factor in the behavior of higher animals. It’s your definition of ego which prevents you from admiting some easily verified things about animal behavior.
And I don’t remember equating ego with evil – only with material identity, body-identification, animal tendencies, etc.
-Reader
On the contrary. We are told that Andon and Fonta were born as human beings. Even before the spirit of wisdom made contact with their minds, they are referred to as “These first two humans.” They very early learned vocal language. Animals do not have vocal language skills. Then, the Life Carriers and associates conspired to “lead the human twins northward.” Andon and Fonta are referred to as humans long before they entered the 7th psychic circles. I’m sure, with their exact and precise use of language, the revelators would have referred to them as pre-humans or potential humans, if they were not already human.
Spornagia have language skills. And according to TUB Fandors could speak as well.
(709.2) 62:6.1 We, the Life Carriers on Urantia, had passed through the long vigil of watchful waiting since the day we first planted the life plasm in the planetary waters, and naturally the appearance of the first really intelligent and volitional beings brought to us great joy and supreme satisfaction.
(709.3) 62:6.2 We had been watching the twins develop mentally through our observation of the functioning of the seven adjutant mind-spirits assigned to Urantia at the time of our arrival on the planet. Throughout the long evolutionary development of planetary life, these tireless mind ministers had ever registered their increasing ability to contact with the successively expanding brain capacities of the progressively superior animal creatures.
(709.4) 62:6.3 At first only the spirit of intuition could function in the instinctive and reflex behavior of the primordial animal life. With the differentiation of higher types, the spirit of understanding was able to endow such creatures with the gift of spontaneous association of ideas. Later on we observed the spirit of courage in operation; evolving animals really developed a crude form of protective self-consciousness. Subsequent to the appearance of the mammalian groups, we beheld the spirit of knowledge manifesting itself in increased measure. And the evolution of the higher mammals brought the function of the spirit of counsel, with the resulting growth of the herd instinct and the beginnings of primitive social development.
(709.5) 62:6.4 Increasingly, on down through the dawn mammals, the mid-mammals, and the Primates, we had observed the augmented service of the first five adjutants. But never had the remaining two, the highest mind ministers, been able to function in the Urantia type of evolutionary mind.
(709.6) 62:6.5 Imagine our joy one day — the twins were about ten years old — when the spirit of worship made its first contact with the mind of the female twin and shortly thereafter with the male. We knew that something closely akin to human mind was approaching culmination; and when, about a year later, they finally resolved, as a result of meditative thought and purposeful decision, to flee from home and journey north, then did the spirit of wisdom begin to function on Urantia and in these two now recognized human minds.
(709.7) 62:6.6 There was an immediate and new order of mobilization of the seven adjutant mind-spirits. We were alive with expectation; we realized that the long-waited-for hour was approaching; we knew we were upon the threshold of the realization of our protracted effort to evolve will creatures on Urantia.
(709.8) 62:7.1 We did not have to wait long. At noon, the day after the runaway of the twins, there occurred the initial test flash of the universe circuit signals at the planetary reception-focus of Urantia. We were, of course, all astir with the realization that a great event was impending; but since this world was a life-experiment station, we had not the slightest idea of just how we would be apprised of the recognition of intelligent life on the planet. But we were not long in suspense. On the third day after the elopement of the twins, and before the Life Carrier corps departed, there arrived the Nebadon archangel of initial planetary circuit establishment.
(710.1) 62:7.2 It was an eventful day on Urantia when our small group gathered about the planetary pole of space communication and received the first message from Salvington over the newly established mind circuit of the planet. And this first message, dictated by the chief of the archangel corps, said:
(710.2) 62:7.3 “To the Life Carriers on Urantia — Greetings! We transmit assurance of great pleasure on Salvington, Edentia, and Jerusem in honor of the registration on the headquarters of Nebadon of the signal of the existence on Urantia of mind of will dignity. The purposeful decision of the twins to flee northward and segregate their offspring from their inferior ancestors has been noted. This is the first decision of mind — the human type of mind — on Urantia and automatically establishes the circuit of communication over which this initial message of acknowledgment is transmitting.”
(710.6) 62:7.7 It is just 993,408 years ago (from the year A.D. 1934) that Urantia was formally recognized as a planet of human habitation in the universe of Nebadon. Biologic evolution had once again achieved the human levels of will dignity; man had arrived on planet 606 of Satania.
We are not even recognized as a inhabited world until these twins became human beings. The moment there was a mind of will dignity our planet became recognized. In truth I suppose you could call them humans at birth but factually they didn’t become humans until this moment.
I was only allowing that egoistic motives could be a factor in the behavior of higher animals. It’s your definition of ego which prevents you from admiting some easily verified things about animal behavior.
I’m sorry. I have no problem with the notion that egoistic motives are factors in animal behavior. My problem lies in equating the higher animals with human beings.
And I don’t remember equating ego with evil
As I recall, you stated that when mentioned in the UB, the word ego is predominately associated with negative things. Negative things tend to be evil in that they are partial or lacking in something positive.
We are not even recognized as a inhabited world until these twins became human beings. The moment there was a mind of will dignity our planet became recognized. In truth I suppose you could call them humans at birth but factually they didn’t become humans until this moment.
This world was recognized as an inhabited world when their minds arrived at a level commensurate with forming a soul. They had will for ten years before they had will dignity. Dignity means worthy of honor and respect.
This world was recognized as an inhabited world when their minds arrived at a level commensurate with forming a soul. They had will for ten years before they had will dignity. Dignity means worthy of honor and respect.
It was recognized as an inhabited world as soon as human mind arrived….
This is the first decision of mind — the human type of mind — on Urantia..710.2) 62:7.
This may also be off topic, but I was wondering about this alter ego approach to prayer as it might relate to hero worship and ghost fear. Both of those also seem to be more primitive or primal forms of the mind’s preparatory “equipment” or process for higher forms of religious experience that can be transformed or transcended to serve in God worship and spirit identity. What is the source of these evolutionary and preliminary “urges” or beliefs? Does material mind conjur them up? Do they come by way of the Adjutants? Again, animals do not share this mind ability. Do all three of these come by the same source and for the same purpose?
"Live loyally today—grow—and tomorrow will attend to itself. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live loyally each moment as a tadpole."
- Bradly wrote: What is the source of these evolutionary and preliminary “urges” or beliefs? Does material mind conjur them up? Do they come by way of the Adjutants? Again, animals do not share this mind ability. Do all three of these come by the same source and for the same purpose?Brad, I feel an essay coming on . . . the way Nigel feels a diagram coming on.But I’m wondering, is it better to answer these questions briefly? If so, yes, it’s the adjutants. Yes, animals share the lower adjutants but the lower adjutants are manifested differently in will creatures. Yes, evolution of mind occurs for the same purpose as any other kind of evolution.
