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The URANTIA Movement

53 posts · 7 participants · started Aug 20, 2014, 5:06 PM

  1. I wonder if we shouldn’t acknowledge the universal pattern Mara?  And give it the old college try?  Surely it is better than any attempt at a new churchification of religion?  What might happen if some future generation actually aspired to a great knowledge of this great text?  This has nothing in common with priests or creeds or dogmas….it’s just knowledge.  Such knowledge does not assure any spiritual progress or measure any life value of such students.  I love acquiring knowledge and even like taking tests of knowledge.  I hope some day that what has taken me 40 years of study to acquire my body of knowledge of the text might be accelerated and how that acceleration in the mind of a younger truth seeker and religionist might bring forth great progress in the individual and the community.  I’m ready to write the exam for the primary while I would nominate Bonita for the Doctorate exam!!  Think of all the specialties in the Bachelors and Masters – science, history, astronomy, particle and light physics, etc.  Just thinking out loud……

    ;-)

     

    (412.2) 37:6.2 This training of mind and education of spirit is carried on from the worlds of human origin up through the system mansion worlds and the other spheres of progress associated with Jerusem, on the seventy socializing realms attached to Edentia, and on the four hundred and ninety spheres of spirit progress encircling Salvington. On the universe headquarters itself are numerous Melchizedek schools, the colleges of the Universe Sons, the seraphic universities, and the schools of the Teacher Sons and the Union of Days. Every possible provision is made to qualify the various personalities of the universe for advancing service and improving function. The entire universe is one vast school.

    (449.1) 40:7.3 The details of the Adjuster career of indwelling ministry on a probationary and evolutionary planet are not a part of my assignment; the elaboration of this great truth embraces your whole career. I include the mention of certain Adjuster functions in order to make a replete statement regarding Adjuster-fused mortals. These indwelling fragments of God are with your order of being from the early days of physical existence through all of the ascending career in Nebadon and Orvonton and on through Havona to Paradise itself. Thereafter, in the eternal adventure, this same Adjuster is one with you and of you.

    (449.2) 40:7.4 These are the mortals who have been commanded by the Universal Father, “Be you perfect, even as I am perfect.” The Father has bestowed himself upon you, placed his own spirit within you; therefore does he demand ultimate perfection of you. The narrative of human ascent from the mortal spheres of time to the divine realms of eternity constitutes an intriguing recital not included in my assignment, but this supernal adventure should be the supreme study of mortal man.

    (449.3) 40:7.5 Fusion with a fragment of the Universal Father is equivalent to a divine validation of eventual Paradise attainment, and such Adjuster-fused mortals are the only class of human beings who all traverse the Havona circuits and find God on Paradise. To the Adjuster-fused mortal the career of universal service is wide open. What dignity of destiny and glory of attainment await every one of you! Do you fully appreciate what has been done for you? Do you comprehend the grandeur of the heights of eternal achievement which are spread out before you? — even you who now trudge on in the lowly path of life through your so-called “vale of tears”?

    (279.13) 25:4.12 Those mortals and midwayers who serve transiently with the advisers are chosen for such work because of their expertness in the concept of universal law and supreme justice. As you journey toward your Paradise goal, constantly acquiring added knowledge and enhanced skill, you are continuously afforded the opportunity to give out to others the wisdom and experience you have already accumulated; all the way in to Havona you enact the role of a pupil-teacher. You will work your way through the ascending levels of this vast experiential university by imparting to those just below you the new-found knowledge of your advancing career. In the universal regime you are not reckoned as having possessed yourself of knowledge and truth until you have demonstrated your ability and your willingness to impart this knowledge and truth to others.

    (587.1) 51:6.3 Think what it would mean on your world if somewhere in the Levant there were a world center of civilization, a great planetary university of culture, which had functioned uninterruptedly for 37,000 years. And again, pause to consider how the moral authority of even such an ancient center would be reinforced were there situated not far-distant still another and older headquarters of celestial ministry whose traditions would exert a cumulative force of 500,000 years of integrated evolutionary influence. It is custom which eventually spreads the ideals of Eden to a whole world.

    (587.2) 51:6.4 The schools of the Planetary Prince are primarily concerned with philosophy, religion, morals, and the higher intellectual and artistic achievements. The garden schools of Adam and Eve are usually devoted to practical arts, fundamental intellectual training, social culture, economic development, trade relations, physical efficiency, and civil government. Eventually these world centers amalgamate, but this actual affiliation sometimes does not occur until the times of the first Magisterial Son.

    "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."

  2. I wonder if we shouldn’t acknowledge the universal pattern Mara? And give it the old college try?

    Thanks for the references.  I acknowledge the pattern.  Education is a life endeavor both before and beyond college.  And already people are giving it the old college try.  But to my mind knowledge of the UB does not necessarily indicate wisdom or spiritual insight.  How would you test wisdom and spiritual insight?  I do not have the educator gene in me.

     

  3. I wonder if we shouldn’t acknowledge the universal pattern Mara? And give it the old college try?

    Thanks for the references. I acknowledge the pattern. Education is a life endeavor both before and beyond college. And already people are giving it the old college try. But to my mind knowledge of the UB does not necessarily indicate wisdom or spiritual insight. How would you test wisdom and spiritual insight?

    I do not have the educator gene in me.

  4. Such knowledge does not assure any spiritual progress or measure any life value of such students.

     

    How would you test wisdom and spiritual insight?

     

    Me here:  Well….that’s done off campus, in a darkened room, by those who know how to operate a tadpole meter and they would have the usual accoutrements – pyramid hats, crystals, a rack, some probes, and ……perhaps we shouldn’t attempt such tests until we get to the mansion worlds?  I believe such assessment might be considered judgment rather than testing?  Let me take tongue from cheek here:  no such test exists, as you know.  It remains best, as always, to hope an education grounded in fact and truth combined with the spirit ministry within will come to bear fruit and good citizens….cosmic citizens who feel they belong to something grand that lasts forever.

    An old saying goes – information is not knowledge and knowledge is not experience and there’s no substitute for experience.  Education is quite important but it does not build character nor impart wisdom unless the student wills it and builds it with curiosity, passion, determination, wonder, and awe.  A good school with a good curriculum and good teachers should recognize the opportunity within education to build such character.  As Bonita points out….this will be hard.  I just think it a noble endeavor and one we have a clear pattern presented for recognizing this opportunity for the Movement.

    From the core curriculum of the UB itself, one might envision all the arts and sciences becoming integrated eventually, as they were in Dalmatia and the Garden.   The point is, to me, that education of the supernal adventure we live within is a straightforward form of pure dissemination….not conversion or spiritizing.  We can measure knowledge but only acknowledge the fruits that come from its application by the individual student.

    I also know it will indeed be difficult and it will take lots of time and money…..and many have already begun this generations long quest.  We shall see what the movement does as more and more students gain more and more knowledge in the text and experience with the truth and what doors our unseen friends might open along the way.  I won’t be at this taxi stand long enough myself….but one dreams of what might be.

    ;-)

    "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."

  5. lol!  I’m glad you and others have a vision of what could be.  But the haywire they use on that tadpole-meter could be a problem.

     

     

     

     

  6. Indeed….and you’d have to be careful about those “false positives” too.  Thanks for the banter.  Seriously though, there are some celestials and divinity that can truly measure spirit progress, wisdom, and loyalty in some pretty interesting ways during our ascension.   Doubt anyone can hide anything within….now or ever, from such scrutiny and examination.  Thanks Mara.  Humor….a relief from so many forms of distress and confusion.

    ;-)

     

    "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."

  7. . . . there are some celestials . . . .

    Here is a reference about the celestial assistance of Secondary Seconaphim.  It points to one of the most important lessons we have to learn.

    28:5:14 [#1]
    These are the angels who foster and promote the teamwork of all Orvonton. One of the most important lessons to be learned during your mortal career is teamwork. The spheres of perfection are manned by those who have mastered this art of working with other beings. Few are the duties in the universe for the lone servant. The higher you ascend, the more lonely you become when temporarily without the association of your fellows.
    Few are the duties of the lone servant.  The effectiveness of teamwork depends on everyone working cooperatively and in harmony.  The force of teamwork is far greater than the simple sum of its parts.  (133:5:6)
  8. Mara wrote:The effectiveness of teamwork depends on everyone working cooperatively and in harmony.
    I agree that teamwork is essential to progress.  But even on the mansion worlds the angels work to facilitate certain groupings of people (the Mind Planners).  I would think that they choose people who have the capacity to compliment one another on some level.  Plus, they always provide for leadership of teams.  I think that teamwork is dependent upon quality leadership.  Besides quality leadership, I think team members must desire to cooperate and progress.  Uncooperative types tend to retard the progress of the group.  Sometimes that’s not a bad thing though.  Sometimes it’s good to take a second look at things and discern why there’s a lack of cooperation.  And that’s where I think some of the modern UB movement problems are snagged, trying to understand why there’s a lack of cooperation, or perhaps, learning to how to progress despite a lack of cooperation . . . just thinking out loud here.
    That being said, how important do you think honesty is to teamwork?  Loyalty? Is harmony really necessary?  And finally, what makes a good leader?
  9. As to Leadership, I think many good examples are provided us in text, especially so the Master in Part IV.  A discussion here about the qualities of leadership is quite appropriate.  I would refer all readers to this link to a topic with good participation at the prior, archived Forum:

    https://urassoc.arko.nyc/social/threads/leadership.50981/

    Earlier on this topic thread about the Movement, I also listed some definitions of collaboration and consensus which are also helpful when considering Mara and Bonita’s points above.  The movement is moving a thousand directions with a thousand different agendas around the dissemination of the Revelation.  Only 2 have thousands of supporting members, several have hundreds, many have dozens, and the social media sites are exploding with hits, likes, and comments….some friendly, some enlightening, some from crazy town.  I do not foresee herding these cats into some singular formation, direction, agenda, or outcome.  I certainly have no such agenda or fantasy.  But perhaps, given sufficient time and teamwork and leadership, most of these disparate groups might find many reasons for cooperation, joint ventures, mutual support, networking, access and promotion to each other’s mission, and working personal relationships between members and leaders that the angels will find useful to their purposes.  I can personally testify to a great cross-pollination among many, many such disseminating groups today.  The internet provides a launch pad for these many different approaches and agendas and it also provides a powerful networking potential for them as well.

    I think the Book was given and the movement born to allow barely enough time for its infancy and toddler time before this world changing communication system became an evolutionary, even perhaps, an epochal transitionary force.  The movement was slow, laborious, clumsy, and painful in its infancy.  Now it runs with the wind.  Leaping high over obstacles and in hopes of great aspirations!  I find it a simply glorious moment to savor now, having been witness and participant in the infancy stage, often tripping over the most simple of obstacles, landing on face or butt.  The exuberance and confidence of this now formative youth phase hardly means things are suddenly made easy nor does it demonstrate particular wisdom or great skills yet perhaps.  But effort + sincerity does deliver “cause” and provide leverage and the fulcrum for those non-mortals with more skills and experience in such matters to work with for the long term “effect” today’s “cause” may potentiate.

    Bonita:  thank you for this prior post – so many important points for consideration.  It is taught that if we only like those who like us and can only work with those who agree with us, we have not made much progress.  Each person in a team or committee or board must manage ego assertion, self love, prejudice, impatience, angry retort, disgruntled expression, competition of ideas, etc.  And they must work.  There are many who “join” a cause but far fewer who show up, take up the load, and carry the work forward.  I am so glad to report I have known and know still many great servants and servant leaders who live the teachings and are most diligent and able in the fields and vineyard of dissemination of the Revelation and its teachings.  Peace and thanks to all.

    :good:

    "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."

  10. Bradly wrote:  I do not foresee herding these cats into some singular formation, direction, agenda, or outcome.  I certainly have no such agenda or fantasy.  But perhaps, given sufficient time and teamwork and leadership, most of these disparate groups might find many reasons for cooperation, joint ventures, mutual support, networking, access and promotion to each other’s mission, and working personal relationships between members and leaders that the angels will find useful to their purposes.

    Should we leave it up to the angels then?  My feeling is that if you have a group of spiritually fragrant individuals with an equally fragrant leader, others would be attracted and desire to work with them. Of course, I don’t think that it is possible to attract others unless you’re among them socializing on some level, spreading the fragrance around.  Essentially, that’s what I mean by education.  It wouldn’t hurt to have pedagogic education as well, but that doesn’t  necessarily create a fragrance.

  11. Should we leave it up to the angels then?

    And they must work. There are many who “join” a cause but far fewer who show up, take up the load, and carry the work forward.

     

    Nope.  Waiting is not an option.  Not for me, or you, or many, many others.  I have heard it argued that doing anything defies evolution and patience and we should all just “wait”.  Don’t get it.  I’m the lemon and lemonade guy.  I think the angels and midwayers are rather helpless to do anything without mortal activity – even really bad activities.  This because, the love response to evil and sin and the shadows of evil which darken most also provide the greatest contrast for recognition by mortal mind.  Good things come from bad things….eventually.  Better things do come from good things it is true.  But like the 1000 times more good resulting from rebellion than bad, so it is also on the material level.  Just takes time.  And choice and activity and will by mortals.  We are not built to do nothing anyway….its just not normal.  We are learners and yearners, builders and growers, inventors and innovators, this is our inherent nature.  We do stuff.  And if we do stuff with pure intent and sincerity of heart and loyalty to spirit, then especially do we provide raw materials and opportunities for our unseen friends.  Our problem is impatience for results.  That’s our problem, not theirs.  Like prayer, sincerity is always responded to….sooner or later, one way or another, the best way for all and each.

    Yes…the socializing aspect.  Some would say that’s the real purpose of study groups, conferences, organizations, and forums – to interact, build teams, strive in purpose, and learn one from another.  This is what is most important to the each in such a brief life…..but by the each acting so, the all progresses as well.  Or so I think.

    "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."

  12. The “movement” (Some don’t care for that word, because of its normal association with the body’s intestinal function. I like Urantia community.) Whatever we call it, it’s quite dynamic and rapidly picking up speed. Ten years ago reader activity was patchy, chaotic, and projects advanced by fits and starts. Now organizations are streamlining and mainlining. Gigantic projects are coming to fruition, and like Brad alluded to, there are hundreds if not thousands of projects in the works. Believers in this revelation are not sitting, they can’t, it’s too inspiring to just sit with.

    It boils down to this I think: Some readers want/need a team, some don’t. Some projects require teams (like creating a reader conference), some don’t. The fact is we readers/believers are a highly diverse group that usually  works simultaneously on teams (perhaps several teams), and by ourselves on personal projects. Our common bond is God, the goal perfection. One thing is obvious, our creativity is rampant, raging and riotous, but it is gradually coalescing into broad streams of cooperation and coordination, forming a new river of knowledge, facts and truth that is drawing many seekers to its banks and into its waters. We can’t stop the river but we can change its course by inspired leadership, from within and without.

    Thanks for stepping up all who love and live truth, and want it better known on poor sick Urantia.

     

    Richard E Warren

  13. Some readers want/need a team, some don’t.

    Me here:  well….according to text we must learn teamwork whether we enjoy it or not, whether its clumsy or not, and regardless of the outcome.  No one works alone, or not much or long, in this universe.  Not normal, not effective, not ideal.  But, if not in this life then in the one to come, eh?  Collaboration and consensus are not easy….for the egotist.  It is one tool for self forgetting rather than self assertion.  The secular and authoritarian religious worlds are not amenable to either consensus or collaboration…that border and nationalism thing I suppose reduced to the group level.

    While individual effort is often more efficient and more productive….it is not the end that matters but, rather, the means and the process and all the intersections of relationship truth that are discovered by the effort to unify in will and work to a shared activity, process, project, and desired outcome.  This is key I think.  The results of teamwork upon the individual members as an educational method of personal progression and the very evolutionary results this delivers over time in result.  I think the student-teacher aspect is another example of teamwork and the value of relationships with a shared progression or result.  Thanks all for your reflections and quotes.  Very interesting.

    ;-)

    "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."

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