Moderator: Moderators
Bro Dave has put forward theBro Dave wrote:Yes, there is the eye witness account [to Jesus' resurrection] given in the Urantia Book.
Book as eyewitness testimony to support the allegation that Jesus was raised from the dead. Is the Urantia Book a reliable source of information? Does it meet the criterion used by historians or scientists or theologians?You are not alone! Jesus, like you and me, was indeed a Son of God. He was also much more, in that he is a “Creator Son”, and participates in bringing a Universe of his own into existence, and then by personal interaction with it on several levels, become a Master Son.CJK wrote:We took Jesus' message to "Love one another", and ignored the magnificent model he offered us on how to live well, and instead of following the religion he practiced, went ahead and created a religion about him instead!
This is an awesome illustration of the christian dogma. There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus was an enlightened man. There are however, quite a few doubts in my mind as to whether or not he was the 'son of God'. That is where the mind-numbing mythology begins.
No one makes any claim that the Urantia Book is “hard evidence”. It offers a highly detailed, very consistent explanation for who we are, how we got where we are, and our relationship with God and the rest of the Universe. It is self validating, or not… your choice.There is no evidence or eye-witness accounts of the folkloric tales of Jesus, and never will be. The Urantia Book is far from hard evidence;
The Urantia Book, first published by the Urantia Foundation in 1955, was authored by celestial beings as a special revelation to our planet, Urantia.
Authored by celestial beings? I don't think so.
Yes, that seems to be the universal failing of religions in general. They misuse whatever insight to truth they are given, to justify whatever they want to do.It seems to me the Religious authorities have misconstrued the tale of Jesus and used him as a mouthpiece to sway the masses.
Why would you want to do that?!?!(or for that matter, how would that even be possible…?)I've always found it hard not to think twice when someone tells me I must 'surrender my soul'
Good questions! Religions have so muddied the waters, that instead of providing reassuring answers, they serve up self serving boiler plate. God, the father of our very existence, made us to be imperfect, but with infinite potential, to become perfected. By giving us free will to choose, we take the raw materials of living, and the experiences we gain, and convert them into wisdom. God, being already perfect, experiences our growth from imperfection to perfection, so He is our partner. Can you “opt-out?” Sure, but not until you fully understand the depth of that decision. God, like you and me, would never turn His back on one of his kids. So, does God “need” you? Yes, the universe is technically incomplete without any of us. Still, ultimately it’s our choice.Surrender my soul? To Jesus? How do I know I've given it to him? Why does He want my soul? What did you put in this Holy Water?
Sounds to me like you are doing fine. Just try not to limit what is possible…I would rather build upon my soul with the words of this enlightened man, rather than live in complete fear and loathing for it.
The masses are rather gullible, to not be able to see this truth. Group thought is a horrible thing.
Think for yourself, question authority.
You are not alone!
Jesus, like you and me, was indeed a Son of God. He was also much more, in that he is a “Creator Son”, and participates in bringing a Universe of his own into existence, and then by personal interaction with it on several levels, become a Master Son.
No one makes any claim that the Urantia Book is “hard evidence”. It offers a highly detailed, very consistent explanation for who we are, how we got where we are, and our relationship with God and the rest of the Universe. It is self validating, or not… your choice.
Am I surprised?
Its not at all important who authored it, IF it is true!
Quote: CJK
It seems to me the Religious authorities have misconstrued the tale of
Jesus and used him as a mouthpiece to sway the masses.
Quote: Bro Dave
Yes, that seems to be the universal failing of religions in general. They misuse whatever insight to truth they are given, to justify whatever they want to do.
Quote: CJK
I've always found it hard not to think twice when someone tells me I must 'surrender my soul'
Quote: Bro Dave
Why would you want to do that?!?!
(or for that matter, how would that even be possible…?)
Quote: CJK
Surrender my soul? To Jesus? How do I know I've given it to him? Why does He want my soul? What did you put in this Holy Water?
Quote: Bro Dave
Good questions! Religions have so muddied the waters, that instead of providing reassuring answers, they serve up self serving boiler plate. God, the father of our very existence, made us to be imperfect, but with infinite potential, to become perfected.
Quote: Bro Dave
By giving us free will to choose, we take the raw materials of living, and the experiences we gain, and convert them into wisdom.
God, being already perfect, experiences our growth from imperfection to perfection, so He is our partner.
Quote: CJK
I would rather build upon my soul with the words of this enlightened man, rather than live in complete fear and loathing for it.
The masses are rather gullible, to not be able to see this truth. Group thought is a horrible thing.
Think for yourself, question authority.
Quote: Bro Dave
Sounds to me like you are doing fine. Just try not to limit what is possible…
Uhhh, are we "knotching out" the scientific community here?QED wrote:I think it's pretty clear that the UB was written in the tradition of all other myths created to bring the fuzziness of universal origins into sharp focus. Arguing here I often forget my own position that mankind is too intellectually immature to answer such questions. If we were really honest about this I think we all should find our reactions to this situation rather amusing. The trouble is everybody in the religion business is just too dead-pan serious.
While I agree with a part of your premise, that religion often brings an unrealistic "clarity", this is also true of scienctists. None of us knows anything with great certainty, that is commuicatable to anyone else... Period! And yes, we are indeed too intellectually immature to answer such questions. But, religion, like science has found the progresive approximation is a valuble tool in assumtotically(sp) approaching the final value. Come to think of it, God may be considered the vertical assumtote, which science approaches from on direction, and religion from the other! 
Welcome WoodyWoody wrote:Hi guys,
Wanted to chime in. New to the site. Thanks to Bro Dave for the tip. I have had the UB for 24 years now and fully believe that it is what it says it is.
It makes sense.
I look forward to joining in on the discussions here.
Woody in Georgia
When someone recommends to me that I read a particular book, not for entertainment but for factual information, I can usually assess the reliability of the book in a number of ways. One way is to check out the credentials of the author. Is he or she recognized by his or her peers as a reliable source of information on the subject? Another is to check the sources of information, is the author building on reliable authentic data or is the author going off on some wild tangent? One other way is to read reviews of the work by others whose opinion I trust. Sometimes I seek negative review and try to assess if the reviewer's negative opinions appear to be rational or ranting.Woody wrote:The UB is replete with much proof and evidence of things both scientific and historic; otherwise the UB contains new revelation. Revelatory material is self evident, self expalanitory and self sufficient.
McCulloch wrote:Perhaps, if it is not too much trouble, you could provide just one or two examples of the "much proof and evidence of things both scientific and historic".
I didn't think you would cite any of the "much proof and evidence of things both scientific and historic."Woody wrote:... The UB has been brought to us as the 5th in the continuing series of revelations of truth from "God", (our Creator-appointed Local Universe supervisor Sons), to us, His children here on Earth. ...
The entire book was authored by a variety of superplantary personalities. Those of whom who have personally served on this planet in some appointed functioned are mentioned by personal name. Other authors who havn't served here are listed by their function-title only.
How about evidence of superplantary personalities.
A book who's publishers claim extraterrestrial authorship. I hate to burst your bubble, but it has been done before:Woody wrote:So, I'm frankly stating that this book was not written by human beings and yet it is here among us. So, needless to add, it is the only written material on Earth of its kind. That is a starting and highly remarkable incidence in itself and one would think warrants checking into. ...
So the only evidence to the book's authenticity is "I've read it and believe it." Would you mind offering the credentials of yourself or someone else who has read the book, testifying to their expertise in evaluating the truth claims of such things.Woody wrote:As to content.....I have already stated that I have read this book, actually read it all more than a dozen times and continue to refer back to it for reference and continuing study purposes frequently....and I believe that it is what it says it is and claims to be.
