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"Death added nothing to the intellectual possession or to the spiritual endowment, but it did add to the experiential status the consciousness of survival."1 A Personal Philosophy of Religion An idea is only a theoretical plan for action, while a positive decision is a validated plan of action. A stereotype is a plan of action accepted without validation. The materials out of which to build a personal philosophy of religion are derived from both the inner and the environmental experience of the individual. The social status, economic conditions, educational opportunities, moral trends, institutional influences, political developments, racial tendencies, and the religious teachings of one’s time and place all become factors in the formulation of a personal philosophy of religion. Even the inherent temperament and intellectual bent markedly determine the pattern of religious philosophy. Vocation, marriage, and kindred all influence the evolution of one’s personal standards of life. A philosophy of religion evolves out of a basic growth of ideas plus experimental living as both are modified by the tendency to imitate associates. The soundness of philosophic conclusions depends on keen, honest, and discriminating thinking in connection with sensitivity to meanings and accuracy of evaluation. Moral cowards never achieve high planes of philosophic thinking; it requires courage to invade new levels of experience and to attempt the exploration of unknown realms of intellectual living. Presently new systems of values come into existence; new formulations of principles and standards are achieved; habits and ideals are reshaped; some idea of a personal God is attained, followed by enlarging concepts of relationship thereto. The great difference between a religious and a nonreligious philosophy of living consists in the nature and level of recognized values and in the object of loyalties. There are four phases in the evolution of religious philosophy: Such an experience may become merely conformative, resigned to submission to tradition and authority. Or it may be satisfied with slight attainments, just enough to stabilize the daily living, and therefore becomes early arrested on such an adventitious level. Such mortals believe in letting well enough alone. A third group progress to the level of logical intellectuality but there stagnate in consequence of cultural slavery. It is indeed pitiful to behold giant intellects held so securely within the cruel grasp of cultural bondage. It is equally pathetic to observe those who trade their cultural bondage for the materialistic fetters of a science, falsely so called. The fourth level of philosophy attains freedom from all conventional and traditional handicaps and dares to think, act, and live honestly, loyally, fearlessly, and truthfully. The acid test for any religious philosophy consists in whether or not it distinguishes between the realities of the material and the spiritual worlds while at the same moment recognizing their unification in intellectual striving and in social serving. A sound religious philosophy does not confound the things of God with the things of Caesar. Neither does it recognize the aesthetic cult of pure wonder as a substitute for religion. Philosophy transforms that primitive religion which was largely a fairy tale of conscience into a living experience in the ascending values of cosmic reality.2 I would be delighted for you to share your personal philosophy of religion/living. Peace,Rev. Bill 1 From Morontia Mota [ HERE ] 2 An excerpt from The Urantia Book. See it in its original context [ HERE ]Important: The Urantia Book is in the public domain, and the original holder of the copyright, The Urantia Foundation, has granted permission to reproduce or copy the standardized English text without permission. TIN: UF-ENG-001-World-2009-0.19.SRT

Important: The Urantia Book is in the public domain, and the original holder of the copyright, The Urantia Foundation, has granted permission to reproduce or copy the standardized English text without permission. TIN: UF-ENG-001-World-2009-0.19.SRT PLEASE NOTE: This topic is not intended for skeptical criticism. There will shortly be a second topic in this section of the ULC Forum where you are welcome to constructively criticize and ask questions of a skeptical nature to your heart's content. I suggest looking [ HERE ] and [ HERE ] before making critical comments. "Knowledge is possessed only by sharing; it is safeguarded by wisdom and socialized by love." http://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-48-morontia-life#U48_7_28 The Urantia Book is the newest major Revelation provided to our world. It is a work of supreme importance, prepared with only the most sincere, loving intentions by many different people [celestial – not material flesh and blood] hailing from the headquarters of our superuniverse [center is the Milky Way], the Central Universe of Havona, and even Paradise itself who want us to find God and become like Him. They have provided this revelation to us in response to the Supreme Mandate to be perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect. [see Matthew chapter 5 of the Judeo-Christian Bible for Jesus’ comment on the meaning of this mandate – and the mandate itself (5:48).] There is not a hint of deception in this work. I do not believe an honest, truth seeking, and God loving soul can sincerely and with positive intention read this supernal work without experiencing a sense of profound awe and even excitement regarding the people, places, and things explained, as well as its revelation of the eternal, ultimate, and final destiny that awaits our attainment. One of the authors of the UB put it this way: There is in the mind of God a plan which embraces every creature of all his vast domains, and this plan is an eternal purpose of boundless opportunity, unlimited progress, and endless life. And the infinite treasures of such a matchless career are yours for the striving! The goal of eternity is ahead! The adventure of divinity attainment lies before you! The race for perfection is on! whosoever will may enter, and certain victory will crown the efforts of every human being who will run the race of faith and trust, depending every step of the way on the leading of the indwelling Adjuster and on the guidance of that good spirit of the Universe Son, which so freely has been poured out upon all flesh. [see this selection in The UB HERE] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Although a group of humans living in Chicago was involved in the reception of this book from around 1900 to 1935, no human being wrote any part of The Urantia Book. The revelation mandate insisted that whenever a human thought existed that effectively portrayed the intended meaning, that human thought was to be used. There was no intention of stealing anyone’s work without their permission. I cannot imagine how anyone can read the impeccably sincere, wonderfully beautiful, amazingly precise sections of the UB that are obviously pure revelation and for one instant think that the authors needed to STEAL anything from a human--the whole idea is absolutely ludicrous! But there are those who have argued the notion... Anyway… Although a human “subject” was involved at certain times, this book was not channeled. This book is NOT a product of “automatic writing.” This book does not claim to be inspired. This book is what it is – an unsurpassed revelation of truth, beauty, and goodness brought to us on behalf of the Infinite One; the First Source and Center; that One Uncaused Cause; the Creator, Controller, and Upholder of the Universe -- Our Universal Father -- and all His Sons and Daughters who lovingly administer the Universe of Universes and care for us, we mortal humans at the beginning of our ascendant career – the long and winding road to Paradise!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am highly qualified to discuss topics pertaining to the text of The Urantia Book. The purpose of this ULC forum topic is to post and discuss various sections of interest from The Urantia Book. If The Urantia Book is new to you, take a look at either table of contents via the links below. I am certain you will see some section related to your belief system and of great interest to you. Just copy and paste the relevant text from the UB as a post to this topic along with any of your specific questions or comments related to that text. I will do my best to respond promptly, but please understand that sometimes I am away for several days at a time. THE URANTIA BOOK The Parts of the Book PART I. The Central And Superuniverses [ HERE ] Sponsored by a Uversa Corps of Superuniverse Personalities acting by authority of the Orvonton Ancients of Days PART II. The Local Universe [ HERE ] Sponsored by a Nebadon Corps of Local Universe Personalities acting by authority of Gabriel of Salvington PART III. The History Of Urantia [ HERE ] These papers were sponsored by a Corps of Local Universe Personalities acting by authority of Gabriel of Salvington PART IV. The Life And Teachings Of Jesus [ HERE ] This group of papers was sponsored by a commission of twelve Urantia midwayers acting under the supervision of a Melchizedek revelatory director. The basis of this narrative was supplied by a secondary midwayer who was onetime assigned to the superhuman watchcare of the Apostle Andrew. To see an exhaustive table of contents including all 196 Papers and all sections within each paper click [ HERE ]. Peace, Rev. Bill Sadler