The Cosmic Citizen

This week on the Cosmic Citizen! We will be reflecting on The 2018 Wild Goose Festival in North Carolina that just concluded. Our Co-host Derek Samaras and regular listener, Pamela Chaddock, will be here to share their experiences. We hope to have others who were there representing The Urantia Book join us on the show. This Progressive Christian gathering is modeled after the 40+ year Greenbelt Festival in the U.K.  “Wild Goose” is Celtic for “Holy Spirit” – and WOW--was ‘Mother’ ever present there!  The outreach booth was sponsored this year by both The Urantia Book Fellowship and The Urantia Foundation.  This was Derek’s first time and he will be sharing his impressions as videographer and first-time attendee.  The crew included Thomas Orjala, local North Carolinian, Isadora Galjour, and Byron Belitsos, who presented from his book, “Your Evolving Soul.”    Among other things, we’ll be sharing our experiences in the Urantia booth, interactive Festival activities, meet-ups with leading Christian figures, the rousing evening of Beer and Hymns, and our interview on Goose Media.   A good time was had by all!  We hope you will join in and share the fun with us on Saturday, August 4th, 10am mountain time. http://tobtr.com/10914741

Let us apologise for the Technical problem we had last week with the sound variations and the lack of the Chat board. Last week GG (God’s Gumshoe) shared with us a behind-the-scenes look at the production of “THE URANTIA BOOK for DUMMYS.” (UBFD) at this address:http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cosmiccitizen/2018/07/21/gods-gumshoe-continues-the-urantia-book-for-dummys-part-2--july-21-2018 This week he will accelerate these ideas and plans further as we listen to more stories and learn more about  The Game untitled UB THE GAME. And  “HOW TO” see The Urantia Book as a set of guidelines for     Re-framing our own lives by playing the GAME- “ UB THE WAY. “ Would you be so kind and Re-POST this out.. A social group of human beings in co-ordinated working harmony stands for a force far greater than the simple sum of its parts. THX: GG [email protected] Please assist us in bring this to the world.  A LOVE OFFERING WOULD BE SOOOOO APPRECIATED               CONTRIBUTIONS AT THIS ADDRESS   http://www.urantiabookfordummies.org/contribute Always in Love GG Email: [email protected] God's Gumshoe: on the WEB:  www.godsgumshoe.org On facebook:  God's Gumshoe Twitter: @godsgumshoe YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/godsgumshoe?feature=mhee UB for Dummys: http://www.urantiabookfordummies.org/contribute

Last week GG (God’s Gumshoe) shared with us a behind-the-scenes look at the production of “THE URANTIA BOOK for DUMMYS.” (UBFD) at this address:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cosmiccitizen/2018/07/14/the-urantia-book-for-dummys-for-the-awakening-world-of-today This week he will accelerate these ideas and plans further as we listen to more stories and learn more about LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF CONSCIOUSNESS, and BREAKING THE COSMIC CODE OF REALITY, by FRAMING OUR LIFE in a different kind of (VIRTUAL) REALITY GAME, guided by the ideas, ideals, meanings and values presented in The Urantia Papers. We will also discuss the motivations and intentions for this amazing series, and “HOW TO” see The Urantia Book as a set of guidelines for     Re-framing our own lives by playing the GAME- “ UB THE WAY. “ Would you be so kind and Re-POST this out.. A social group of human beings in co-ordinated working harmony stands for a force far greater than the simple sum of its parts. THX: GG Always in Love GG God's Gumshoe: on the WEB:  www.godsgumshoe.org On facebook:  God's Gumshoe Twitter: @godsgumshoe YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/godsgumshoe?feature=mhee God's Gumshoe: Investigating the New Testament and The Urantia Book http://www.urantiabook.org/audio/gods-gumshoe/gg-index.html   Consciousness creates  culture, ..Culture creates consciousness.

Today God's Gumshoe brings forward a few audio clips, a few quotes a few ideas, and a plan for another approach to outreach; THE URANTIA BOOK FOR DUMMIES.  He asks this question, Are the authors of The Urantia Book telling us that life on this planet, and thru this Time-Space Universe is a Game, using this phrase: "(110:3.1) Adjusters are playing the sacred and superb game of the ages; they are engaged in one of the supreme adventures of time in space. And how happy they are when your co-operation permits them to lend assistance in your short struggles of time as they continue to prosecute their larger tasks of eternity. What's All the Excitement About?  A COSMIC BRIEFING We are the first generation of human beings to glimpse the full sweep of cosmic history, from the universe’s origin to the silent, stately flight of galaxies through the intergalactic night. Humankind continues its own journey into the future with a new depth of understanding and appreciation for the forces that shape our destiny.  This Cosmic research briefing format is intended to provide updating and information to teachers, leaders, program managers and policy makers on the opportunities for spiritual scientific advances in a frontier field of Spiritual Cosmology as an exciting frontier where astronomy, nuclear physics, and astrophysics meet with Spiritual and Mindal energy systems. HELP KEEP THIS PROJECT ALIVE .. Donate at www.urantiabookfordummies.org TO STRENGTHEN THE FABRIC OF GOODWILL IN THE AWAKENING WORLD God's Gumshoe YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/godsgumshoe/videos?sort=p&view=0&flow=grid

This week we complete our study of Urantia Paper 195 – “After Pentecost” by reading section 10 – “The Future” We will dive into the complexities surrounding the evolution of Christianity within society. One relevant topic, is the tendency for humans to glorify the customs of the past but in doing so, they stifle the required advancements and adaptations required for fostering new methods for meeting the mental and spiritual needs present within our current society and into the future. "The praiseworthy desire to preserve traditions of past achievement often leads to the defense of outgrown systems of worship." We will also discuss how The Urantia Book tells us that our planet needs a new and updated presentation of Jesus’ life and teachings. This new presentation of the master’s message would bring forward many new followers and strengthen the unity of current followers. "The great hope of Urantia lies in the possibility of a new revelation of Jesus with a new and enlarged presentation of his saving message which would spiritually unite in loving service the numerous families of his present-day professed followers." What would this new revelation of the life of Jesus look like? How might each of us play a significant role in this new revelation? Is there still room for Christianity to exist? How will it need to evolve in order to last? Please join us! The show airs Saturdays at 10 AM Mountain time. You can join the chat and listen to the show live www.blogtalkradio.com or call into the live show (646) 716-8158.

This week we continue our study of Urantia Paper 195 - After Pentecost, which is a succinct summation of the spread of Christianity as a religion about Jesus and some of the difficulties that Christianity has overcome since Jesus walked on earth. Also recounted is its amazing resilience and strength. Last week we completed Section 8. Secular Totalitarianism. Our regular quest caller and resident historian, Charles Olivea, provided invaluable insights to this study. Regular callers like Charles, or Chuck Thurston and Marvin Gawryn, add so much depth to our discussion, We hope that you too will call in and/or join in the lively chats with other great friends and faithful listeners. This week we take a dive into Section 9, Christianity's Problem. If you were an angel or a visitor from another world who had painstakingly studied the history of religions and civilizations on earth, what problems would you identify? Christianity is the largest religion on earth and a potent force for good, but it has fallen short in some ways and as always the authors of The Urantia Book reveal this in a masterful way, helping all who love Jesus see a new vision of where Christianity might go and how it can achieve a greater destiny. As has been said, "Old things are passing away; behold, all things are becoming new." Ponder this amazing statement: "Do not overlook the value of your spiritual heritage, the river of truth running down through the centuries, even to the barren times of a materialistic and secular age. In all your worthy efforts to rid yourselves of the superstitious creeds of past ages, make sure that you hold fast the eternal truth. But be patient! when the present superstition revolt is over, the truths of Jesus' gospel will persist gloriously to illuminate a new and better way. Please join us!

This week we continue our study of Urantia Paper 195 - After Pentecost, which is a succinct summation of the spread of Christianity as a religion about Jesus and some of the difficulties that Christianity has overcome since Jesus walked on earth. Also recounted is its amazing resilience and strength. Last week we completed Section 7. The Vulnerability of Materialism. We again enjoyed the invaluable participation of regular callers, Chuck Thurston and Charles Olivea. There is an open invitation to them this week and we also look forward to the participation of other guest callers like YOU, so please don't hesitate to call or join in the lively chat board with other great friends and faithful listeners. This week we take a dive into Section 8. Secular Totalitarianism. Considering statements like this, "Modern secularism has been fostered by two world-wide influences. The father of secularism was the narrow-minded and godless attitude of nineteenth- and twentieth-century so-called science—atheistic science. The mother of modern secularism was the totalitarian medieval Christian church. Secularism had its inception as a rising protest against the almost complete domination of Western civilization by the institutionalized Christian church." And these thought provoking statements, "Secular social and political optimism is an illusion. Without God, neither freedom and liberty, nor property and wealth will lead to peace." And, "Twentieth-century secularism tends to affirm that man does not need God. But beware! this godless philosophy of human society will lead only to unrest, animosity, unhappiness, war, and world-wide disaster. If we are lucky, we'll get into Section 9. Christianity's Problem. Wow! We hope you will join us for another fascinating study of the revelations in The Urantia Book!

We resume our study of Urantia Paper 195 - After Pentecost, which is a succinct summation of the spread of Christianity as a religion about Jesus and some of the difficulties that Christianity has overcome since Jesus walked on earth. Also recounted is its amazing resilience and strength. Before our hiatus, 3 weeks ago, week we read Section Section 6. Materialism. What an amazing blessing to have the help of scholars like Chuck Thurston and Charles Olivea with this amazing and important paper. We've invited them back this week and also look forward to the participation of our regular callers like Marvin Gawryn as well as the lively chats that occur on our chat board with great friends and faithful listeners. We now look at materialism's weakness and its relationship to totalitarianism. "Facts never quarrel with real spiritual faith; theories may. Better that science should be devoted to the destruction of superstition rather than attempting the overthrow of religious faith — human belief in spiritual realities and divine values."   And it states, "True science can have no lasting quarrel with true religion." ..."But being material and wholly intellectual, it is utterly useless in the evaluation of spiritual realities and religious experiences." Consider, "The inconsistency of the modern mechanist is:  If this were merely a material universe and man only a machine, such a man would be wholly unable to recognize himself as such a machine, and likewise would such a machine-man be wholly unconscious of the fact of the existence of such a material universe." The creation by humankind of increasingly better emulating artificial intelligence has give rise to concepts of machine consciousness. Can machines become conscious?  Brains are, aren't they?  Tune in!

Last month, we dedicated several shows to a discussion of Science and Materialism (“atheistic science”) v. Religion based on Paper 195, which is a study that we will pick back up soon.  One paragraph drew special attention: “true religion cannot become involved in any controversy with science; it is in no way concerned with material things. Religion is simply indifferent to, but sympathetic with, science, while it supremely concerns itself with the scientist.” (195:6.2)  But how can we avoid controversies with science (including “atheistic science”) yet concern ourselves with the scientist? How do we strike that balance? This week, our good friends Don and Zshonette at TheChristExperiment.org will help us to answer these questions and share with us their interesting perspectives on these matters. They believe the key is to separate atheistic-science from true science and then unravel the atheistic arguments, without delving deeply into science, leaving a pathway for the true scientist and the honest atheist to find God.  They will discuss with us several topics including atheism, the mature believer, strawman arguments of atheism, religion’s contribution to atheism, and the importance of perspective.  They will also touch on some of the hot button issues such as evolution/creation, a universe from nothing, and abiogenesis in a way that is easily understandable without resorting to complicated scientific discussions that most lay people are not interested in debating. The objective is to provide a clear path for the scientist to find God and to fortify the faith of the believer so that he or she is not persuaded by atheistic arguments. Consider this quote: "The finite universe of matter would eventually become uniform and deterministic but for the combined presence of mind and spirit." Please join us for this important and interesting discussion.

Two extraordinary expeditions were initiated in 2004 & 2006 to find what remains of the First Garden of Eden, on the bottom of the ocean near Cyprus. These expeditions, which sent sensitive probes one mile down into the eastern Mediterranean, were led by Urantian scholar Robert Sarmast with the crucial assistance of our guest, Captain Robert Bates. The results of this research were detailed in Sarmast’s book, Discovery of Atlantis. Few people are aware of important new discoveries since these earlier efforts. Bates takes a fresh look at these artifacts in his new book, Eden-Atlantis Project. The 2004 expedition was privately funded. The second was funded, filmed, and broadcast by the History Channel. Bates lead the expedition in 2004 and consulted with History Channel in 2006. After 15 years of combing through the results, Bates offers a remarkable new picture of the data acquired. The marine archeology department of Scripps Institute is "excited" by the discoveries made so far. Capt. Robert Bates has led a distinguished 60 year career as an officer in the Coast Guard and U.S. Merchant Marine. Among his many activities at sea, he has served as captain on the University of Rhode Island research vessel ENDEAVOR, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute research vessel OCEANUS, and as captain of the survey vessel USNS HARKNESS for bottom mapping in the Persian Gulf. He served on the adjunct faculty at the University of Connecticut, the United States Coast Guard Academy and the STAR Center in Dania Beach, Florida. He founded Batek Marine, a maritime consulting firm and published the book: The Authority to Sail: The History of US Maritime Licenses and Documents (www.theauthoritytosail.com). For more see http://edenatlantisproject.org.