I introduced The Urantia Book to a friend of mine. I talked about the book, I gave him a copy and I waited a while before asking his opinion. Now, he’s really intelligent, a great theologian in his own right, and he is an original thinker. So, I was hopeful that he would get something out of it. When I talked with him he said that the book seemed like science fiction. He didn’t like it at all, and I haven’t had any luck with him since. What was really disappointing was hearing that phrase, science fiction, used about our book. It was really tough to stomach.
On the other hand, he’s got a point. There are some passages that sound a little science fictionee. For example, the description of those beings called The Inspired Spirits tells us they are invisible to everyone in the entire cosmos except for Solitary Messengers (219.6). The description comes off sounding like some sort of cosmic poltergeist. The Solitary Messengers are like ghost hunters who are the only ones who can see the ghost in the grainy, out of focus, over-exposed photograph. The Urantia Book requires a certain amount of imagination as well as suspended disbelief.
But I don’t love the book because of its out-of-body content. I love it because there are so many passages that sing to my spirit. When I read something that makes me cringe, I always find that the book moves on to something that makes my spirit soar. The challenge is how to help others see the book in the same light. How do I help my friend see past the science fiction elements to the light shining within?
I have developed several answers that I hope will help address this problem. The first is this – new always sounds weird. If God really has something new to say to humanity, it will not sound like the same old stuff. Seems like common sense, but in the world of religion common sense is a rare commodity. Most religious people spend their lifetimes defending the ideas of the past. New ideas are only embraced after many years of debate and strife. The best argument is to say that God blesses us with new revealed truth from time to time and if a person wants to become aware of it, he/she should approach new writings with an open mind. Revelation is always going to sound strange at first.
Second, people and problems go together. In order to understand God, people need to make huge leaps of intellectual, emotional and spiritual understanding. These leaps are possible because of revelation, but we also make leaps that are confused, chaotic, and more often than not miss the mark. Every sacred book on the planet says something that comes close to true understanding of the Father, as well as many things that down right banal. I am an expert in the Bible, and so I’ll briefly pick on that book. The story of the Levite’s concubine in the 19th chapter of Judges is nothing short of a literary catastrophe. A mob of the tribe of Benjamin kills the Levite’s woman and he Fed Ex’s her body parts to all of the other tribes to show how much they offended him. The combined tribes wipe out Benjamin and then worry that God might get mad because there is no longer a tribe of Benjamin. Mel Gibson should consider making this into a movie. As you can see, the Bible is far from perfect. In a similar way The Urantia Book is far from perfect as well. The revelation contained within is limited by human understanding and human involvement. It’s a really good book, but it’s just a book. Books can never take the place of God.
With these ideas in hand I will soon be meeting with my friend and facing the daunting prospect of defending The Urantia Book. Basket weaving would be an easier sell. Most of us are hoping our arguments will win our friends and family over. But in the end, it’s the willingness to listen to God’s inner voice that really counts. Even the best arguments pale in comparison.
God bless you,
William Whitehead
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