The Cosmic Citizen

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  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 read Section 5. The Modern Problem, this week we'll unpack,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. Certainly we all have thoughts about materialism. But this section starts out saying this, "Scientists have unintentionally precipitated mankind into a materialistic panic; they have started an unthinking run on the moral bank of the ages..."   Later, it dramatically states, "Materialism reduces man to a soulless automaton and constitutes him merely an arithmetical symbol finding a helpless place in the mathematical formula of an unromantic and mechanistic universe."  It goes on to say, "To say that mind "emerged" from matter explains nothing. If the universe were merely a mechanism and mind were unapart from matter, we would never have two differing interpretations of any observed phenomenon. The concepts of truth, beauty, and goodness are not inherent in either physics or chemistry. A machine cannot know, much less know truth, hunger for righteousness, and cherish goodness." This paper and this section are beyond thought provoking. Please join us for another great study of this remarkable paper!

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. Last week we read Section 4. The European Dark Ages, this week we will tackle Section 5. The Modern Problem. This has been a slow and methodical study, but Urantia Paper 195 certainly warrants that. This section reveals that "The higher a civilization climbs, the more necessitous becomes the duty to "seek first the realities of heaven" in all of man's efforts to stabilize society and facilitate the solution of its material problems."  It also states, "A lasting social system without a morality predicated on spiritual realities can no more be maintained than could the solar system without gravity."  We'll explore this question of the realities of heaven and morality and what they mean to modern people. This section dramatically states, "Be patient! be not tempted to indulge in a lawless plunge into cheap and sordid adventure. Harness your energies and bridle your passions; be calm while you await the majestic unfolding of an endless career of progressive adventure and thrilling discovery." We ponder, how might the lure of adventure drive us for good or evil? This section also states, "When there is so much good truth to publish and proclaim, why should men dwell so much upon the evil in the world just because it appears to be a fact? The beauties of the spiritual values of truth are more pleasurable and uplifting than is the phenomenon of evil." How are our modern lives poisoned by our penchant for sharing mostly the bad news and the negative events that affect our world? It is reasonable to want to stay informed but have we become so addicted to darkness that we have no desire for light? Please join us for another great study of this remarkable paper!

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. Last week we read Section 3: Under the Roman Empire, this week we will tackle Section 4: The European Dark Ages. This section reveals that "The individual was almost lost before the overshadowing authority, tradition, and dictation of the church." Why does the individual matter? It also states that "A new spiritual menace arose in the creation of a galaxy of “saints” who were assumed to have special influence at the divine courts, and who, therefore, if effectively appealed to, would be able to intercede in man’s behalf before the Gods."  We ponder where authority, tradition, and dictation exist today? Do our media and celebrities provide us with a modern-day galaxy of saints? This section tells us that, "Christianity was sufficiently socialized and paganized that, while it was impotent to stay the oncoming dark ages, it was the better prepared to survive this long period of moral darkness and spiritual stagnation." We wonder how socialization and paganization prepared Christianity to survive and how the Renaissance was able to dawn amid the authority, tradition, and dictation of the dark ages? This section also states that Christianity originated out of the unintended transformation of the religion of Jesus into the religion about Jesus, going through "Hellenization, paganization, secularization, institutionalization, intellectual deterioration, spiritual decadence, moral hibernation, threatened extinction, later rejuvenation, fragmentation, and more recent relative rehabilitation." Can we adopt a positive view that turns a “checkered past” into a pedigree? Please join us for more great study of this remarkable paper!

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 problems that has created. We invited back some of our favorite guests, Charles Olivea and Chuck Thurston. Last week we covered Sections 1 and 2 on the influence of the Greeks and the Romans. This week we'll cover the Roman Empire and the European Dark Ages. This paper reveals the struggle that Christianity faces, one more difficult than any it has known throughout history. The rise of science and materialism challenges religion. The higher a civilization evolves, the more it needs the stability of spiritual reality. Society without a morality based on spiritual reality cannot survive. True science has no conflict with true religion; but the change from an age of miracles to an age of machines has been upsetting to modern man. Religious leaders are mistaken when they try to lure people to spiritual practice with methods used in the middle ages and they must find new methods. Modern secularism sprang from two influences: atheistic science and the protest against the domination of western civilization by the medieval Christian church. For centuries Western thinking has been progressively secularized. Secularism is barren of spiritual values and satisfactions. It freed humankind from ecclesiastical slavery only to lead them into political and economic slavery. Christianity stands in need of the teachings of Jesus. Our world "is now quivering on the very brink of one of its most amazing and enthralling epochs of social readjustment, moral quickening, and spiritual enlightenment." Religion needs new leaders who will depend solely on Jesus and his teachings. The world must see Jesus living again in the experience of spirit-born mortals who reveal the Master to all people. Please join us more great study of this remarkable paper!

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 problems that has created. We will be joined by one of our favorite historians, Charles Olivea. Last week we covered only the opening section so this week we'll begin with Section 1 of that paper, Influence of the Greeks. This paper reveals that Christianity currently faces a struggle more difficult than any it has known throughout history. The rise of science and materialism challenges religion. The higher a civilization evolves, the more it needs the stability of spiritual reality. Society without a morality based on spiritual reality cannot survive. True science has no conflict with true religion; but the change from an age of miracles to an age of machines has been upsetting to modern man. Religious leaders are mistaken when they try to lure people to spiritual practice with methods that were used in the middle ages and must find new ways to approach modern people. Modern secularism sprang from two influences: atheistic science and the protest against the domination of western civilization by the medieval Christian church. For centuries Western thinking has been progressively secularized. Secularism is barren of spiritual values and satisfactions. It freed humankind from ecclesiastical slavery only to lead them into political and economic slavery. Christianity stands in need of the teachings of Jesus. Our world "is now quivering on the very brink of one of its most amazing and enthralling epochs of social readjustment, moral quickening, and spiritual enlightenment." Religion needs new leaders who will depend solely on Jesus and his teachings. The world must see Jesus living again in the experience of spirit-born mortals who reveal the Master to all people. Please join us as we undertake this great study!

This week we begin a study of Urantia Paper 195 - After Pentecost. This paper essentially sums up the spread of Christianity and touches on both its strengths and its weaknesses. This paper reveals that Christianity faces a struggle more difficult than any it has known throughout history. The rise of science and materialism challenges religion. The higher a civilization evolves, the more necessary it becomes that people seek spiritual reality to help stabilize society and solve material problems. Society without a morality based on spiritual reality cannot survive. True science has no conflict with true religion; but the change from an age of miracles to an age of machines has been upsetting to modern man. Religious leaders are mistaken when they try to lure people to spiritual practice with methods that were used in the middle ages. Religion must renew itself and find new ways to approach modern people. Modern secularism sprang from two influences: atheistic science and the protest against the domination of western civilization by the medieval Christian church. For centuries Western thinking has been progressively secularized. Secularism is barren of spiritual values and satisfactions. It freed humankind from ecclesiastical slavery only to lead them into political and economic slavery, unrest, unhappiness, and disaster. The blessings of secularism-tolerance, social service, democracy, and civil liberty-can be had without sacrificing faith in God. Christianity stands in need of the teachings of Jesus. Our world "is now quivering on the very brink of one of its most amazing and enthralling epochs of social readjustment, moral quickening, and spiritual enlightenment." Religion needs leaders who will depend solely on Jesus and his teachings. The world must see Jesus living again in the experience of spirit-born mortals who reveal the Master to all people. Please join us as we undertake this study!

This week we will return to finish exploring Paper 194 - Bestowal of the Spirit of Truth. We will read the last section of this paper, Section 4. Beginnings of the Christian Church. This section provides a fascinating, insightful and candid narrative of the beginnings of Christianity. Then, we'll go on to Paper 195: After Pentecost. This is where the Urantia Book allows us to take a bold and revealing look at Christianity in the modern world. We'll begin a study of these intriguing topics: 1.Influence of the Greeks 2.The Roman Influence 3.Under the Roman Empire 4.The European Dark Ages 5.The Modern Problem 6.Materialism 7.The Vulnerability of Materialism 8.Secular Totalitarianism 9.Christianity's Problem and 10.The Future Consider this: Wisely or unwisely, these early leaders of Christianity deliberately compromised the ideals of Jesus in an effort to save and further many of his ideas. And they were eminently successful. But mistake not! these compromised ideals of the Master are still latent in his gospel, and they will eventually assert their full power upon the world. By this paganization of Christianity the old order won many minor victories of a ritualistic nature, but the Christians gained the ascendancy in that: 1. A new and enormously higher note in human morals was struck. 2. A new and greatly enlarged concept of God was given to the world. 3. The hope of immortality became a part of the assurance of a recognized religion. 4. Jesus of Nazareth was given to man's hungry soul. Many of the great truths taught by Jesus were almost lost in these early compromises, but they yet slumber in this religion of paganized Christianity, which was in turn the Pauline version of the life and teachings of the Son of Man. And Christianity, even before it was paganized, was first thoroughly Hellenized. Christianity owes much, very much, to the Greeks. Please join us!

Easter Greetings from The Cosmic Citizen! Easter is a special time for those who love and believe in Jesus and his promises. It's a celebration of life in so many ways and even nature joins in. Easter is as sacred a promise to our hope of eternal life and renewal as springtime is a promise of the new life that springs from the soil each year. What a joy it is to see that, which to all outward appearances is dead, spring to vibrant life again. How could our eternal souls have any less assurance of renewal than the trees and flowers? How can the children of an eternal God not live on? Jesus showed us forevermore that indeed we do and so this time of year becomes a sacred remembrance of him. Our special guest this week is a longtime Cosmic Citizen friend, guest, and listener, Ms. Diane Labrecque. She is currently in Israel, taking yet another group of truth seeking pilgrims to the places where Jesus traveled and taught. She and her friends will join us live this Saturday to tell us about their amazing journey of remembrance. Says Diane, "I would like to inform everyone that a group of us Urantia students are presently in Jerusalem as part of The United Urantia Family Easter Retreat, and for that reason, we will be having our Remembrance Supper right here in Jerusalem while celebrating Easter along with all the pilgrims that come from different parts of the world to celebrate the Resurrection of our Beloved Jesus Christ Michael. I invite everyone to join us as we broadcast live from Jerusalem on The Cosmic Citizen, where every participant will share their personal thoughts and feelings about being here where Jesus worked, played, loved, laughed and delivered his remarkable and revivifying message to all humankind. We are all looking forward to sharing our personal experience with brothers and sisters who will be listening in. Blessings of Love to all from Jerusalem...Diane" We hope you'll tune in!

This week we will continue to explore Paper 194 - Bestowal of the Spirit of Truth. The Paper describes what happened at Pentecost. As the gathered believers prayed together they became filled with a new consciousness of spiritual joy and power, followed by an urge to publicly proclaim Jesus' gospel message. The Spirit of Truth, the promised new teacher, had indeed arrived. The apostles emerged from forty days in hiding and began to preach their new message in the temple. Peter delivered an appeal which won more than two thousand souls to the Kingdom. The Jewish leaders were astounded at the apostles' boldness. Jesus' followers quickly discovered that the story of his resurrection held great allure. The gospel of the Fatherhood of God quickly changed into the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. The apostles proclaimed the facts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and the fervent hope of his imminent return. Pentecost was a call to spiritual unity among believers. Jesus' Spirit of Truth girds believers with unfailing forgiveness, matchless goodwill, and boundless love and set them free from discrimination based on sex, race, culture, and social status. The life and death of Jesus eternally prove that goodness and faith will always prevail over evil and doubt. Jesus revealed God to mankind and the Spirit of Truth reveals Jesus to mankind. The mission of the Spirit is to foster and personalize truth and to destroy mortal feelings of orphanhood. The Spirit of Truth purifies the human heart and leads us to commit to the will of God and the welfare of humankind. The joy of this Spirit is a tonic for health, a stimulus for mind, and an unfailing energy for the soul. The Spirit of Truth brings a restatement of the message of Jesus to every new generation of believers, providing personal enlightenment and guidance for the spiritual difficulties of mortal life. Please join us!

This week we explore Paper 194 - Bestowal of the Spirit of Truth. The Paper describes what happened at Pentecost as many original believers in Jesus gathered in Jerusalem. As they prayed together they became filled with a new consciousness of spiritual joy and power, followed by an urge to publicly proclaim Jesus' gospel message. The Spirit of Truth, the promised new teacher, had indeed arrived. The apostles emerged from forty days in hiding and began to preach their new message in the temple. Peter delivered an appeal which won more than two thousand souls to the Kingdom. The Jewish leaders were astounded at the apostles' boldness. Jesus' followers quickly discovered that the story of his resurrection held great allure. The gospel of the Fatherhood of God quickly changed into the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. The apostles proclaimed the facts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and the fervent hope of his imminent return. Pentecost was a call to spiritual unity among believers. Jesus' Spirit of Truth girds believers with unfailing forgiveness, matchless goodwill, and boundless love and set them free from discrimination based on sex, race, culture, and social status. The life and death of Jesus eternally prove that goodness and faith will always prevail over evil and doubt. Jesus revealed God to mankind and the Spirit of Truth reveals Jesus to mankind. The mission of the Spirit is to foster and personalize truth and to destroy mortal feelings of orphanhood. The Spirit of Truth purifies the human heart and leads us to commit to the will of God and the welfare of humankind. The joy of this Spirit is a tonic for health, a stimulus for mind, and an unfailing energy for the soul. The Spirit of Truth brings a restatement of the message of Jesus to every new generation of believers, providing personal enlightenment and guidance for the spiritual difficulties of mortal life. Please join us!