The Cosmic Citizen

This week, our good friend and regular caller, Marvin Gawryn, will lead us in a study of The Nature of Cultism, Section 7 of Urantia Paper 87, The Ghost Cults. The authors of The Urantia Book state that we have just entered a massive societal transition that will carry us from the current materialistic and nationalist cultures (that have developed over the past 500 years) to the beginnings of a higher stage of civilization which entails the end of war, the establishment of a global government, a global language, and a unified culture that primarily values spiritual goals. This stage of our evolution is predicted to last for 1,000 years. They warn us that this next 1000 years will be a whirlwind of non-stop change and turbulence — both for societies and the individuals within them. Far from utopian, this period in human evolution may be one of confusion, dislocation and even regression. Indeed, it is precisely in preparation for this stormy millennium of danger and opportunity that the authors brought a revelation to fortify and prepare us.  It is in Paper 87, Section 7, The Nature of Cultism, that they urge us to evolve a new spiritual culture from the up-stepped truths contained in the revelation to create a more meaningful, compelling, and higher symbolism, as well as an idealistic vision for ourselves and our society that will help provide the guidance, solace and stability greatly needed by humanity during this oncoming hurricane of transition. Consider this quote: "Modern man must find some adequate symbolism for his new and expanding ideas, ideals, and loyalties. This enhanced symbol must arise out of religious living, spiritual experience." Marvin has painstakingly created and cross-referenced the study of this intriguing section with many other quotes and sections within The Urantia Book. We expect to spend a few weeks on this study and it will surely be fascinating.

Recently, a group of dedicated seekers of truth, inspired by revelation and sponsored by The Urantia Book Fellowship, went on a pilgrimage to The Wildgoose Festival in North Carolina. They went to share their own understanding of truth and to be a part of the emerging truths that are blossoming in the lives of all who ask sincere questions, seek honest answers, and have meaningful conversations about traditional Christian beliefs. A few of these dedicated souls and pioneers on the new human frontier will join us this week on The Cosmic Citizen. We will be discussing the Wildgoose experience with Pamela Chaddock, Geoff Taylor, Susan Meyer, Ann Biggs and hopefully Cristian Seaborn. The Wild Goose is another term for the Holy Spirit or as we call it, The Spirit of Truth. It awakens the hearts of all who participate in God’s love and transforming power. This is the love that is revealed to us by Jesus and that leads us to God. The Wildgoose Festival is an art, music, and story-driven transformational experience grounded in faith-inspired social justice. It’s a place where all kinds of people come together to dive into lively conversations with progressive leaders, writers, dreamers, artists, visionaries, social justice activists and peace-makers. It’s also a place where all can affirm the creativity in every person, and to express this creativity with stories, art and music that tell a tale of spiritual transformation. The Urantia Book Fellowship actively participates in, and explore ways in which to interact with events where fearless religionists venture into the great expanses of unexplored religious territories. These are the places where true seekers find the real meaning, purpose and value of life, guided ever by Jesus' Spirit of Truth and loved and watched over by The Holy Spirit, also known as The Wild Goose. Please join us for a great recap of their wonderful adventures.

This week, we continue our study of Urantia Paper 44, The Celestial Artisans. So far we've explored the following Artisans: Celestial Musicians - who manipulate spiritual forces of sound, light, energy, color, thought, music, and orders of beings to produce celestial harmony. Heavenly Reproducers - who can present dramas that re-enact an entire age. Divine Builders - who create homes, industrial buildings, recreational facilities, temples of worship, schools, and public building. Thought Recorders - who preserve thoughts, idea patterns, oratory, broadcasts, rhythm, poetry and much more. Energy Manipulators - who work with physical, mind, and spiritual energy. This week we will explore Designers and Embellishers - who work with color, sound, emotion, odor, and taste, and finally,Harmony Workers - who deal with forces and energies that are unrecognized by mortals. We won't rush though, because Celetial Artisans are too amazing, interesting and diverse for us to do that. Consider this: "Nevertheless, those things which you so earnestly longed to do on earth and which circumstances so persistently denied you, if, after acquiring true mota insight in the morontia career, you still desire to do, then will you most certainly be granted every opportunity fully to satisfy your long-cherished desires." Please join us as once again we contemplate the myriad creative possibilities of the universe on The Cosmic Citizen!

This week, we continue our study of the fascinating and intriguing Urantia Paper on Celestial Artisans, Paper 44. In the first two weeks of this series, we've learned the basics about Celestial Artisans and then specifically covered Celestial Musicians - who manipulate spiritual forces of sound, light, energy, color, thought, music, and orders of beings to produce celestial harmony. Heavenly Reproducers - who can present dramas using one million actors and one thousand scenes and are able to re-enact an entire age, or portray the eternal values of the spirit world. And Divine Builders - who create homes, industrial buildings, recreational facilities, temples of worship, schools, and public buildings. This week, we hope to learn about Thought Recorders - who preserve thoughts, idea patterns, oratory, broadcasts, rhythm, poetry, and something like group photographs, and Energy Manipulators - including physical energy manipulators, mind energy manipulators, and spiritual energy manipulators. We may get to Designers and Embellishers - who work with color, sound, emotion, odor, and taste, and hopefully Harmony Workers - who deal with forces and energies that are unrecognized by mortals. We won't rush though, because Celetial Artisans are too amazing, interesting and diverse for us to do that. Here's what the Archangel author of Paper 44 states about cosmic poetry: "I only wish you might be privileged to hear some of the poetic broadcasts of the Edentia assemblies and to enjoy the richness of the color and tone of the constellation geniuses who are masters of this exquisite form of self-expression and social harmonization." Please join to romance the Universe on again, on Cosmic Citizen

This week, we continue our study of one of the most fascinating and intriguing parts of the Urantia Papers, Paper 44 - The Celestial Artisans. Last week we discussed the concept of Celestial Artisans and then specifically covered Section 1, The Celestial Musicians. We read, "Forever, music will remain the universal language of men, angels, and spirits." And that "Harmony is the speech of Havona." We marveled to ponder this amazing statement, "...someday a real musician may appear on Urantia, and whole peoples will be enthralled by the magnificent strains of his melodies. One such human being could forever change the course of a whole nation, even the entire civilized world." Have you ever heard music that beautiful? Celestial Musicians manipulate spiritual forces of sound, light, energy, color, thought, music, and orders of beings to produce celestial harmony. (Covered last week.) Heavenly Reproducers can present dramas using one million actors and one thousand scenes and are able to re-enact an entire age, or portray the eternal values of the spirit world. (Hope to cover this week.) Divine Builders create homes, industrial buildings, recreational facilities, temples of worship, schools, and public buildings. (This week.) Thought Recorders preserve thoughts, idea patterns, oratory, broadcasts, rhythm, poetry, and something like group photographs. Energy Manipulators include physical energy manipulators, mind energy manipulators, and spiritual energy manipulators. Designers and Embellishers work with color, sound, emotion, odor, and taste. Harmony Workers deal with forces and energies that are unrecognized by mortals. Please join to romance the Universe on again, on Cosmic Citizen

One of the most intriguing of the Urantia Papers is Paper 44 - The Celestial Artisans. These amazing beings devote themselves to embellishment and beautification throughout the grand universe. Celestial artisans are selected from various celestial groups. They work with all levels of spiritual reality, and there are seven divisions of celestial artisans. Celestial Musicians manipulate spiritual forces of sound, light, energy, color, thought, music, and orders of beings to produce celestial harmony. Harmony is the universal code of spirit communication; it is the universal language of men, angels and spirits. Heavenly Reproducers work in areas that are mostly unknown to us. They can present dramas using one million actors and one thousand scenes. They are able to re-enact an entire age, or portray the eternal values of the spirit world. Divine Builders create homes, industrial buildings, recreational facilities, temples of worship, schools, and public buildings. Thought Recorders preserve thoughts, idea patterns, oratory, broadcasts, rhythm, poetry, and something like group photographs. Energy Manipulators include physical energy manipulators, mind energy manipulators, and spiritual energy manipulators. Compound manipulators work with all three energies in their attempt to discover God the Supreme, in whom occurs the unification of divine energy. Designers and Embellishers work with color, sound, emotion, odor, and taste. Harmony Workers deal with forces and energies that are unrecognized by mortals. Join us as we explore together this amazing and fascinating Urantia Paper.

We're back again this week with more from the remarkable meeting between Thomas Didymus and Nathaniel bin Bartholomew (the apostolic philosopher) and Rodan of Alexandria. After listening to all of Rodan's musings on "the art of living" and the "lures of maturity," Thomas and Nathaniel turn about and begin giving Rodan some teaching on the personality of God and the divinity of Jesus, and they scored major points with Rodan, the Greek philosopher. At least, that's what we learned last week. This week we look and the last two sections in Urantia Paper 161. Further Discussions with Rodan. This week, we'll be discussing how Nathaniel and Thomas divulge The Divine Nature of Jesus and Jesus' Human and Divine Minds. They offer Rodan nine different points as to why they believe Jesus's has a divine nature. Consider this one: "In his prayer life he appears to communicate directly with his Father. We have heard few of his prayers, but these few would indicate that he talks with God, as it were, face to face. He seems to know the future as well as the past. He simply could not be all of this and do all of these extraordinary things unless he were something more than human. We know he is human, we are sure of that, but we are almost equally sure that he is also divine. We believe that he is divine. We are convinced that he is the Son of Man and the Son of God." Please join us this Saturday for another lively discussion concerning on Jesus' divinity and other deeply thought provoking matters.

We're back, Cosmic Citizens! with more from the remarkable meeting of Thomas Didymus and Nathaniel bin Bartholomew with Rodan of Alexandria. Now, after having listened to all Rodan has had to say about philosophy which he defined dynamically as "the art of living," Thomas and Nathaniel turn about and begin giving Rodan some teaching on the personality of God and the divinity of Jesus.  Rodan, the philosopher, "contended that the Father in heaven is not, cannot be, a person as man conceives personality." "Said Rodan: 'In order to be a person, God must have symbols of spirit communication which would enable him to become fully understood by those who make contact with him. But since God is infinite and eternal, the Creator of all other beings, it follows that, as regards beings of equality, God is alone in the universe. There are none equal to him; there are none with whom he can communicate as an equal. God indeed may be the source of all personality, but as such he is transcendent to personality, even as the Creator is above and beyond the creature.'” [(1783.4) 161:1.2] A lively discussion took place which we are privileged to have had synopsized by our celestial friends, the midwayers.  Rodan came around to Thomas and Nathaniel's way of seeing God.  See what convinced Rodan. Among eight other points, in discussing Jesus' divinity, Thomas an Nathaniel said this: 2. His life association with us exemplifies the ideal of human friendship; only a divine being could possibly be such a human friend. He is the most truly unselfish person we have ever known. He is the friend even of sinners; he dares to love his enemies. He is very loyal to us. While he does not hesitate to reprove us, it is plain to all that he truly loves us.  [(1785.3) 161:2.3 2] Please join us this Saturday! http://tobtr.com/11409039

Do you have a life philosophy? Do words of wisdom thrill you to the marrow? Are you a person that loves wise old sayings? If so, you'll love our resuming of this series. This week, we continue the magnificent philosophy offered by The Urantia Papers in Paper 160, Rodan of Alexandria and then we move on to Paper 161, Further Discussions with Rodan. A splendid example of Urantian philosophy, it contains words that stay with you forever and come back to you in times of need. These are words that you can base your life on. This week we'll start with Secion 5, of Paper 160, The Religion of the Ideal. Which is the final section in Paper 160, then it's on to Paper 161, Section 1. The Personality of God Consider this from the former: 160:5.12.The religion of Jesus demands living and spiritual experience. Other religions may consist in traditional beliefs, emotional feelings, philosophic consciousness, and all of that, but the teaching of the Master requires the attainment of actual levels of real spirit progression. And this from the latter: 161:1.11.When Rodan heard these arguments, he said: "I am convinced. I will confess God as a person if you will permit me to qualify my confession of such a belief by attaching to the meaning of personality a group of extended values, such as superhuman, transcendent, supreme, infinite, eternal, final, and universal. I am now convinced that, while God must be infinitely more than a personality, he cannot be anything less. I am satisfied to end the argument and to accept Jesus as the personal revelation of the Father and the satisfaction of all unsatisfied factors in logic, reason, and philosophy." The Urantia Book tells us that, "Philosophy is man's attempt at the unification of human experience."  Come and listen in this week as we take a deep dive into Urantia Book philosophy.

Do you have a life philosophy? Do words of wisdom thrill you to the marrow? Are you a person that loves wise old sayings? If so, you'll love our resuming of this series. This week, we continue the magnificent philosophy offered by The Urantia Papers in Paper 160, Rodan of Alexandria. A splendid example of Urantian philosophy, it contains words that stay with you forever and come back to you in times of need. These are words that you can base your life on. "The essentials of the temporal life, as I see them, are: 1. Good physical health. 2. Clear and clean thinking. 3. Ability and skill. 4. Wealth — the goods of life. 5. Ability to withstand defeat. 6. Culture — education and wisdom." (1778.5) 160:4.2-8 The Urantia Book tells us that, "Philosophy is man's attempt at the unification of human experience."  Listen in this week as we take a deep dive into Urantia Book philosophy.  http://tobtr.com/11373379