The benefits of reading the Urantia Book

[Amigoo]

More smiles ...

New concept for UB awareness: "UB 'n Social" (sounds like "You being social"),
informal Meet 'n Greet events with mini-UB presentation and tasty goodies.

Not to proselytize but to promote awareness ... and inviting venue where
other religions/spirituality can be shared, compared, and discussed.

Rod

[Amigoo]

The new "UB 'n Social" concept will have greater longevity - worldwide -
if its purpose is to identify similarities of religions/spirituality - not differences.
And the UB, not being a religion, seems well-placed to host such events.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.thechristadventure.org/

A new UB-related site, but still in development.

The rotating spiral galaxy suggests what astronomers see with telescopes
(stars within spiral seem fixed in position but not stars outside the spiral).

"Say what?" Ask an astronomer about our Milky Way.

Rod

[Amigoo]

A review of the UB's references suggests that Paul is given significant credit for creating Christianity
and is not lamented as the apostle who distorted some of Jesus' teachings.

And it's likely that Paul was considered (from above) as a child of cosmic dissemination ability, stature, and promise:

"Paul also had a view of the ascendant-citizen corps of perfecting mortals on Jerusem, for he wrote: 'But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the grand assembly of Michael, and to the spirits of just men being made perfect.'" (47:10.3)

"Paul learned of the existence of the morontia worlds and of the reality of morontia materials, for he wrote, 'They have in heaven a better and more enduring substance.' And these morontia materials are real, literal, even as in 'the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.' And each of these marvelous spheres is 'a better country, that is, a heavenly one.'" (48:1.7)

"Paul knew of the status of these rebellious leaders following Michael’s bestowal, for he wrote of Caligastia’s chiefs as 'spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.'" (53:9.2)

See also:
http://www.theub.org/part-ii.html#P047_10_3
http://www.theub.org/part-ii.html#P048_1_7
http://www.theub.org/part-ii.html#P053_9_2

Rod

[Sandy]

I've got to admit, Paul is not one of my favourites. But I see your point, Rod.

And it's likely that Paul was considered (from above) as a child of cosmic dissemination ability, stature, and promise:

Let's hope those above have that same confidence in all of us.

xxSandy

[Amigoo]

Sandy,

I'm recently persuaded that Paul is a good example of free will in our local universe -
despite conversion and heavenly guidance he was still free to be "Paul".

Apparently, Paul's Christianity was still a significant contribution to Urantia!

Christmas insight:

If the kingdom is "the will of the heavenly Father dominant and transcendent in the heart of the believer" (170:5.19),
dominance perceived as a point of light, then the brightness of those points of light as viewed from the orbiting ISS
would reflect the degree to which "the kingdom" exists on Urantia.

See also: http://www.theub.org/part-iv.html#P170_5_19

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 638344001/

"People have this weird notion that nativity scenes are more like a scene from a child’s Charles Dickinson story, Josoma says.
But St. Francis originally put out the nativity scene in Italy to show what dire circumstances Jesus was born into.
We romanticize it as cute and cuddly and warm, but who wants to be born in an animal trough?"

Au contraire!

"The inn was overcrowded, and Joseph accordingly sought lodgings with distant relatives, but every room in Bethlehem was filled to overflowing. On returning to the courtyard of the inn, he was informed that the caravan stables, hewn out of the side of the rock and situated just below the inn, had been cleared of animals and cleaned up for the reception of lodgers. Leaving the donkey in the courtyard, Joseph shouldered their bags of clothing and provisions and with Mary descended the stone steps to their lodgings below. They found themselves located in what had been a grain storage room to the front of the stalls and mangers. Tent curtains had been hung, and they counted themselves fortunate to have such comfortable quarters." (122:7.7)

See also: http://www.theub.org/part-iv.html#P122_7

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 687060001/

"We believe in a Jesus who died and conclusively defeated every grave, holding the keys to resurrection power.
We need it for our little Olive Alayne, who stopped breathing yesterday and has been pronounced dead by doctors"

With only one human (Lazarus) ever resurrected back to human life and Jesus resurrected
back to his divine being (not human life), the resurrection efforts of this church seem predictable.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Holiday discussion topic for college-level minds:

Re: http://www.supra-id.org/about
"While religion must extend beyond science it must remain a superset of science
and not diverge wildly according to unconstrained imagination."

... and begs the subtle antithesis:
Which came first: science or imagination

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmXPLJwuZ1Q

Science evidence is accumulating about alien life ...
with these visitors' religion still an unknown.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/articl ... 944864.php

"Bolsonaro wants Brazil to be a tourism Eden, but he can't stop insulting everyone"

Actually, I thought that the Goncalves area (3 hrs NE of Sao Paulo) in the state of Minas Gerais
had great potential to be the third Garden of Eden, having visited that area 7 years ago.

Rod

[Sandy]

I think I remember when you visited Brazil, Rod. I can't believe it has been 7 years already. It was a very beautiful place.
xxSandy

[Amigoo]

Re: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29303#p204805
"Think deeply about meaninghful ideas" - Trinity Teacher Uteah

More about "deep thinking" (from the UB) ...

Paper 16 - The Seven Master Spirits
6. The Cosmic Mind

16:6.5. The cosmic mind unfailingly responds (recognizes response) on three levels of universe reality. These responses are self-evident to clear-reasoning and deep-thinking minds. These levels of reality are:

16:6.6. 1. Causation — the reality domain of the physical senses, the scientific realms of logical uniformity, the differentiation of the factual and the nonfactual, reflective conclusions based on cosmic response. This is the mathematical form of the cosmic discrimination.

16:6.7. 2. Duty — the reality domain of morals in the philosophic realm, the arena of reason, the recognition of relative right and wrong. This is the judicial form of the cosmic discrimination.

16:6.8. 3. Worship — the spiritual domain of the reality of religious experience, the personal realization of divine fellowship, the recognition of spirit values, the assurance of eternal survival, the ascent from the status of servants of God to the joy and liberty of the sons of God. This is the highest insight of the cosmic mind, the reverential and worshipful form of the cosmic discrimination.

16:6.9. These scientific, moral, and spiritual insights, these cosmic responses, are innate in the cosmic mind, which endows all will creatures. The experience of living never fails to develop these three cosmic intuitions; they are constitutive in the self-consciousness of reflective thinking. But it is sad to record that so few persons on Urantia take delight in cultivating these qualities of courageous and independent cosmic thinking.

See also: http://www.theub.org/part-i.html#P016_6

Rod

[Amigoo]

Today's meditation ...

"Sometimes the planting of a seed necessitates its death, the death of your fondest hopes,
before it can be reborn to bear the fruits of new life and new opportunity." (48:6.36)

See also: http://twominutetheology.com/on-the-death-of-a-seed/

But consider (a topic for deep thinkers) ...

If a seed dies without producing a plant, the seed remains as evidence of its death. But if a seed produces a plant and the seed is then defined as dead, what remains as evidence of the seed's death? Has not the seed simply metamorphosed into a plant? However, if a seed truly dies, leaving evidence of its death and producing no plant, then only resurrection of that seed could produce a plant.

The point? It's best to gain insight from seeds first then reflect on the seeds of life (re: sperm & egg).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Eventually, English UB readers will want to introduce the now-developing Chinese version,
so start by learnin' the radicals first (common components of most Chinese characters).

A possible FREE plan for study (but watch "sleep" videos)

Step 1. Learn the 214 Mandarin Radicals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66hsy5cPyco

Step 2. "Learn 1179 Basic Chinese Words (HSK 1-4)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqUwyaDv52E

Step 3. "Learn Chinese While You Sleep" (8 Hours)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XInxwAPkxQ

Step 4. "Learn Chinese While You Sleep" (3 Hours)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dADTBoYH6Fo

Step 5. "Learn Chinese (Phrases) While You Sleep" (8 Hours)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2rbHGeGo_U

Tips: Download videos to avoid the advertising.
View Step 2. video first to learn PinYin sounds,
then begin character study with Step 1. video.

Rod ... ...

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/30/africa/a ... index.html

"We all likely have a bit of Neanderthal in our DNA -- including Africans who had been thought
to have no genetic link to our extinct human relative, a new study finds."

So ... where did Neanderthals originate

"To the east of the Badonan peoples, in the Siwalik Hills of northern India, may be found fossils that approach nearer to transition types between man and the various prehuman groups than any others on earth." (64:3.4)

"850,000 years ago the superior Badonan tribes began a warfare of extermination directed against their inferior and animalistic neighbors. In less than one thousand years most of the borderland animal groups of these regions had been either destroyed or driven back to the southern forests. This campaign for the extermination of inferiors brought about a slight improvement in the hill tribes of that age. And the mixed descendants of this improved Badonite stock appeared on the stage of action as an apparently new people — the Neanderthal race." (64:3.5)

See also:
http://www.theub.org/part-iii.html#P064_3
http://www.theub.org/part-iii.html#P064_4

"The Neanderthalers were excellent fighters, and they traveled extensively. They gradually spread from the highland centers in northwest India to France on the west, China on the east, and even down into northern Africa. They dominated the world for almost half a million years until the times of the migration of the evolutionary races of color." (64:4.1)

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/us/texas-man-wh ... -execution

"Texas man who killed his family apologizes, thanks in-laws for their forgiveness before execution"

"He gave police a detailed written confession, saying he committed the murders because he couldn’t handle the stress anymore
and was tired of his life. He ultimately blamed his drug addiction."

Sad story with somewhat satisfying ending - at least humanity gets it justice (revenge?)
and the man's soul is given a better chance at the Pearly Gates ... where he might atone
for ending the lives of his earth family (who then await him in Heaven).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Did you know ...
that a white styrofoam egg carton is great for starting seeds

Use a paper clip to make several drainage holes in each section, place 2 tablespoons of potting soil in each, press down lightly,
top with a few vegetable seeds, fill with soil and press down lightly to create a mini well.

Place a tablespoon of warm water in each, allow to soak several minutes, then add another tablespoon of water to each.

Close cover and keep in a warm place; sunlight can filter into container, but open lid when sprouts need more room.
Sprouts may not need more water until transplant time (when sprouts are 1-2" tall).

Start a new veggie plant ... or a dozen
And grow another dozen for someone else to share!
go Eden! (re: third Garden of Eden)

Rod

[Amigoo]

go Eden!

The subtlety of such a campaign is that mankind begins conceptual preparation
for the planet's third Garden of Eden (in the not so distant future).

In millennia past, a single physical location of the Garden of Eden was practical,
but on today's well-populated globe, many regional locations will be needed
with, perhaps, one administrative location for "non-material" activities.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29393

"David Zebedee was a practical man, a rather gifted organizer, trustworthy, serious, clever and most humble.
The universe had picked him for the job . . . or perhaps the universe had ‘designed’ him for the job."

"the Teachings of Jesus would not have fared as well without David, his organizational skills and his
rather carefully selected physically fit and eager messengers keeping in touch with the believers so far away."

David Zebedee presents opportunity for a new Urantia motif: Zebedee Tradition (ZT)
as in "those who support and promote the Revelation in the Zebedee Tradition:
self-appointed, practical, gifted, trustworthy, serious, clever, humble"

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech ... frica.html

"DNA reveals ancient Africans bred with new unknown race of humans just 50,000 years ago"

"Traces of this so-called 'ghost population' were located in modern-day people and did not match
the genetic fingerprint of Homo sapiens, Denisovans or Neanderthals. "

"early indicators hint that the ghost population shared a common ancestor with Neanderthals,
modern humans and Denisovans around a million years ago. "

From the UB ...

"the orange, green, and indigo races successively gravitated to Africa over the newly elevated land bridge
which separated the westward retreating Mediterranean from the Indian Ocean." (64:7.13)

See also: http://www.theub.org/part-iii.html#P064_7

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/science/saturns ... alien-life

With life (all life) implanted on earth, it's unlikely that these celestial gardeners
planned on nearby gardens (as calculated in light years). After all, early humans
need plenty of room to fight, love, and grow (especially, spiritual).

See also: http://www.theub.org/part-ii.html#P049_5_22

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.alamy.com/medieval-byzantin ... 03810.html

"Medieval Byzantine style mosaics of the story of Adam & Eve being expelled from Eden,
the Palatine Chapel, Cappella Palatina, Palermo, Italy "

Re: https://www.christianiconography.info/adamEve.html

"The fourth picture at right portrays a Cherub in addition to the angel,
but that is much less common in the art."

"At the gate is the six-winged cherub with a fiery sword."

Often curious about many things (such as "Why did I post that?!")
I just had to know more about "six wings" ... and this is great info:
http://brbl-archive.library.yale.edu/ex ... wings.html

Rod

[Amigoo]

Speaking of new tradition (re: New Orleans' Mardi Gras) ...

The week (or month) of October 12, 1955 is worthy of annual celebration since,
on this 20th century date, epochal revelation became available to the world

A "tradition" accrues more meaning/value than birthday celebration ...
so, this cake would need ethereal design and colors (but concentric circles,
as design, might be too limiting).

To exaggerate (or not) ... October 12, 1955 (UB was first published)
is when God's extended family revealed itself (and its universes) to humanity.

Who can tell What was formally revealed in 1955
effectively announced that alien "first contact" is inevitable.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/co ... shawn-bolz

"I just felt like the tide is turning shortly -- whether it's two weeks or two months -- God cares about this"

A believable prediction ...
since viruses typically fade away after their seasonal blustering.

Rod