My Experience with Online Facebook Study Groups
When I first began reading The Urantia Book, I noticed how difficult it was for me to read fluently and without interruption. Understanding completely new concepts and words was very challenging, so at times I would set the book aside. However, that was never a reason for me to give up on reading it, because I had come to it searching for answers, and what I had read and understood up to that point showed me that, after such a long search, I had reached the right place. That is why I wanted to continue understanding it. I committed myself to studying and analyzing it, but I was aware that I would not be able to do it alone. I needed support. I needed people who thought as I did—readers like me, from whom I could learn and to whom I could ask questions.
I was grateful to have found the book in the Digital Age, where social media encourages all kinds of searches. I had Facebook and decided to start there. The first group I found was the study group “Deciphering Urantia” (Descifrando Urantia, in Spanish), administered by Javier Martínez (from Spain). I really enjoyed the texts written by him, based on The Urantia Book. His reflections and posts about history, astronomy, and philosophy, among other topics, created the perfect combination to spark curiosity in the search for truth and to encourage reading The Urantia Book.
Later, a reader I met told me about another study group that was also on Facebook: “The Urantia Book – Revealed Truths” (El Libro de Urantia – Verdades Reveladas, in Spanish), administered by Jeannie Vázquez. For someone like me, who was trying to understand and study the book, this was the right group. The administrator shared several passages from the book every day and explained them with great knowledge whenever members asked questions. Not only that, but she also defended what was true with extensive arguments, which gave me a sense of confidence, because over time, as my search expanded through different corners of the internet, I realized that not everyone who considered themselves a reader or student of The Urantia Book defended the truth; sadly, some distorted it and used it for their own benefit. That is when I decided to be careful when joining a group.
For this reason, “The Urantia Book – Revealed Truths” by Jeannie Vázquez became—and remains to this day—my trusted group. I also began attending on Sundays a Zoom videoconference group that includes participants from different countries. Anyone who wished could participate, regardless of whether they were new readers or had limited knowledge of the various topics. The meetings did not follow a monotonous format of simply reading passages from the book; rather, every question was discussed and properly supported by more experienced readers with extensive knowledge. I found all of this wonderful. Over time, I learned a great deal. Little by little, I became familiar with what at first seemed like confusing words and complex concepts. The respectful atmosphere, a touch of humor, shared ideals, and the love that everyone expressed toward the Father made me feel comfortable and part of a family.
Meanwhile, I became a member of other Facebook groups, as I mentioned earlier, being careful not to fall into misleading networks. Through the Sunday Zoom videoconference group, I met some group administrators, readers, and students whom I also began to follow on Facebook. I joined other groups that I discovered along the way, but some were barely active, while others limited themselves to sharing only a short passage from the Book.
My process of reading and understanding The Urantia Book has been slow, but I have been able to count on the help of active and genuine Facebook groups online that share the great purpose of guiding humanity toward a better understanding of the fifth epochal revelation.