Regarding science and the Urantia Book, in paper 101 section 4, “The Limitations of Revelation“, the first point in the author’s list is:
1. The reduction of confusion by the authoritative elimination of error.
As someone who “takes delight in cultivating” (192.5, 16:6.9) the third cosmic intuition — the “mathematical form of the cosmic discrimination” (192.2, 16:6.6) — I’m not so much interested in the way the authors coordinated a 1930’s “frame in which to think” (see 1260.2, 115:1.1). But I’m intrigued by what errors they may be authoritatively eliminating.
For example, native physics currently has two “standard models”: a standard model of (1) cosmology, and a standard model of (2) particle physics. The foundation of the standard cosmological model is that unadjusted redshift — from both local and non-local sources — is a precise indicator of distance. This led naturally to ideas about a Big Bang, and is now the central pillar holding up (both in the sense of supporting and retarding) native cosmology. In paper 12:4.14 (134.3), the author explains that, given our electromagnetic toolkit, this idea about cosmological redshift would be a very natural assumption for us to make, but that it’s utterly erroneous.
Is this one example of “authoritative elimination of error“?
Regarding the current standard model of particle physics, its foundation involves assumptions about how something called “energy” can spontaneously configure itself into leptons and quarks… which just as spontaneously can turn back into “energy”. However, in papers 15, 29, 41, 42 and 46, the various authors describe how such particles are actually built up, by brilliant design, from clusters of huddling ultimatons. That is to say, the authors imply our current best approach (quantum field theories) is also erroneous.
Is this another example of “authoritative elimination of error“?
For me, as a scientist, the question is: if these really are instances of “authoritative elimination of error“, then I have to wonder… has the UB given us a helping hand to get past two otherwise **insurmountable** roadblocks?
For those who might be asking the good question: “if the UB ultimatonic model is valid, why were the revelators not restricted from revealing such an extraordinary fact?”, here’s another good question: if the ultimaton is not discoverable by human technique, do those “limitations of revelation” apply?
The (unreleased) part 4 of a video series found here addresses all this. And more
PS: Regarding “errors on the face of the associated cosmologies” (1109.2, 101:4.1), think about this: had the revelators given us a picture to satisfy 1940’s physics, this would have been outgrown by the 1970’s. Likewise, had they given us a picture to satisfy 1970’s physics, this would have been outgrown by 2015… So maybe their approach was best: coordinate the ideas of the day, while authoritatively eliminating certain very significant errors. My point is that our assumptions about redshift and quantum field theories have evolved into deeply significant errors. But think of the fun we students of these papers will have, when more of us get qualified to discuss such things.
Nigel