"
The Life and Teachings of Joshua ben Joseph" may be the promotion of the UB
that attracts today's youth. A simple introductory explanation that this was Jesus' name
during his life on earth should suffice; a name that maintains his pre-Christ humanity
for better comprehension and appreciation of his life and teachings. It won't be necessary
to always substitute "Joshua" for "Jesus" (and never in UB quotes), but frequent reference
to "Joshua" will be subtle reminder that this perspective is Jesus' pre-Christ humanity.
Interestingly, this Joshua focus permits non-Christianity to take the lead
in promoting Jesus' life and teachings, since "Joshua ben Joseph" is pre-Christianity!
UB quote supporting more recognition of "
Joshua ben Joseph":
"Nevertheless, man has been profoundly influenced, not only by his concepts of Deity, but also by the character
of the heroes whom he has chosen to honor. It is most unfortunate that those who have come to venerate
the divine and risen Christ should have overlooked the man - the valiant and courageous hero —
Joshua ben Joseph." (92:7.12)
https://www.theub.org/part-iii.html#P092_7_12
Ultimately, the significance is that "
Joshua ben Joseph" represents pre-Christianity Jesus,
with the human Joshua being that life and that teacher ... before Christianity existed
These facts provide the psychological opportunity to separate the historical Jesus
from the Jesus revealed in the Urantia Book, especially important to those
who are less willing to identify as the historical Christian.
We find that the two Jesus are the same but different!
Re:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/200 ... alive.html
"Christ’s given name, commonly Romanized as Yeshua, was quite common in first-century Galilee.
(Jesus comes from the transliteration of Yeshua into Greek and then English.)"
Technically, "Jesus" vs "Joshua" relates to Bible translations over the centuries.
Since pre-Christianity Joshua was that life and that teacher (who became Jesus the Christ),
these two names provide a convenient contrast when Jesus' humanity is the focus;
a focus long forgotten by church history, according to these UB quotes:
"It is most unfortunate that those who have come to venerate the divine and risen Christ
should have overlooked the man — the valiant and courageous hero —
Joshua ben Joseph." (92:7.12)
"The historic fact of the human life of
Joshua ben Joseph,
the reality of Jesus of Nazareth as the glorified Christ" (98:7.8 )
Summary footnote ...
That the revelators chose to write "Jesus" throughout Part IV suggests this was the best way
to gift the Papers to Urantia and have them accepted by Christianity in particular. However,
to maintain the Church's historical perspective that Jesus' divinity was the greater importance
of his life on earth effectively constrains the UB to a "sacred book".
Rod