The Cosmic Citizen

This week we feature the newly published book "The Coming Age of Personal Religion" by Paul Snider with our special guest, his daughter, Sue Sebesta. Paul Snider grew up in the back streets and alleyways of Detroit and, alternately, on an apple farm near Georgian Bay, Ontario. He moved fifteen times before he was twelve. His religious life has often been checkered, with patches of light and shadow. During the Korean War he was what has been described as "an atheist in a foxhole." Nevertheless, he survived the war with two purple hearts. Years later he learned he was not an atheist at all. What he had been denying all along was the clouded, inconsistent, man-made image of God. Today, there is a mounting spiritual hunger rising in the souls of men and women throughout the world, greater in scale than at any time in human history. The traditional sources of inspiration – the world’s formalized religions – do not always satisfy this growing hunger. Every religion is sincere and beautiful in its own way, but almost all are heavy with dogma and rituals and traditions that may seem limiting to the spiritually adventurous mind… to many, something seems to be missing; the hunger grows like an ache in the soul. Personal religion comes into being to satisfy these longings... It is the compelling stimulus to search for ever deeper and more meaningful relationships with God and fellow man. Personal religion is thus a religion of expanded relationships, of independence from dogma and confining boundaries… Personal religion is the act of man establishing a direct and personal relationship with his Maker and all that flows from the relationship. Please join us on this week's show to explore more about this amazing man, his inspiring life and what promises to be a profoundly seminal work, his new book which explains the new age of personal religion.

This week we will wrap-up our series based on the article at www.thechristexperiment.org entitled "Bringing Heaven Down: Rejecting Mediocrity & Becoming Super Mortals"  which can be accessed directly here: http://www.thechristexperiment.org/bhd-rejecting-mediocrity-becoming. We will discuss the spiritual progress work of Mansion Worlds #6 and #7.    Mansion World No. 6 (UB 47:8) is where you begin to learn about the spirit career that follows graduation from morontia life, and the technique of universe administration. Here, you will be brought up to the status of mortals who have progressed beyond the initial stage of light and life. Read Paper 55, chapter 6 for information on these stages.    Mansion World No. 7 (UB 47:9) is where you will be purged of all vestiges of the beast. You will begin a new and more spiritual worship of the unseen Father and when you complete your training, you will be a full-fledged morontia being! We have explored the pathway of soul growth and perfection with the Urantia Book's phenomenal teachings about normal mortal and planetary epochs of evolution and the mortal ascension plan. The point is, with the benefit of the information given in the book, we need not wait on death to begin our curriculum of spiritual progress. We can make progress now, while on earth, in achieving lasting spiritual growth. We will again be reading and referencing sections from The Urantia Book: Papers 47, 52 and 55. This series has been fantastic so far, we hope you will join us in wrapping it up.

Once again this week, our special guest is Don Clementin from The Christ Experiment. The first hour will be reserved for discussion with Don and regular quest contributors like Charles Olivea. We will again look at some of the questions posed by Zshonette's article on "Bringing Heaven Down: Rejecting Mediocrity & Becoming Super Mortals." The article can be found here: http://www.thechristexperiment.org/bhd-rejecting-mediocrity-becoming (Scroll down to the area on the Mansion Worlds and the Training Questions that we will be addressing in this program.) This week the discussion will focus primarily on the work of Mansion World #5. In this series, we have been exploring the pathway to becoming perfected beings. The Urantia Book has certainly revealed this pathway of soul growth with its phenomenal descriptions of the normal mortal and planetary epochs of evolution, as well as the mortal ascension plan in the afterlife. e book provides a roadmap to help us recognize the signposts of soul growth all along the way and describes the universal curriculum provided for all Ascending Sons of God. It tells usthat we human beings start out as "animal origin" beings, on a material world, but then evolve and grow towards the goal of becoming one with the "God Spark" that dwells within us. The article (linked above) describes why we, with the benefit of the information given in the Urantia Book, do not have to wait until we die to begin our curriculum of spiritual progress. We can take certain steps now, while on earth, to achieve that goal. We will again be reading from the following passages in The Urantia Book: Paper 52 Section 7;  Paper 55 Sections 1-5 and also Paper 47 - Section 5. It should be another lively and interesting discussion and we hope you can join us.

Our special guests again this week are Don Clementin and Zshonette Reed from The Christ Experiment. The first hour will be reserved for them (along with invited guest Charles Olivea) and will continue to discuss the article we mentioned previously, written by Zshonette, this week as it relates to our work on Mansion Worlds 4 and 5. We will again look at some of the questions posed by her article on "Bringing Heaven Down: Rejecting Mediocrity & Becoming Super Mortals." The article can be found here: http://www.thechristexperiment.org/bhd-rejecting-mediocrity-becoming (Scroll down to the area on Mansion World 1 and the Training Questions that we will address in this program.) We will also continue to explore the pathway of becoming perfected beings. Because The Urantia Book revealed the pathway to soul growth in it's description of normal mortal epochs in a planet's evolution, as well as the mortal ascension plan in the afterlife, it provides a roadmap to help us recognize the sign-posts of soul growth all along the way. It describes the universal curriculum provided for all Ascending Sons of God. Mortals, who start out as "animal origin" beings, on a material world like this, and grow towards the goal of becoming one with the "God Spark" that dwells within us. The article (linked above) describes why we, with the benefit of the information given in the Urantia Book, don't have to wait until we die to begin the program of spiritual progress. We can take certain steps now, while on earth, in moving toward that goal. We will refer to the following passages in The Urantia Book: Paper 52 Section 7;  Paper 55 Sections 1-5 and also Paper 47 - Sections 6 and 7. This promises to be anohter lively and interesting discussion. Please Join us.

Our special guests this week are Don Clementin and Zshonette Reed from The Christ Experiment. We'll save the first hour for them and will continue to discuss the great article written by Zshonette, this time as it relates to our work on Mansion Worlds 2 and 3. We will again look at some of the questions posed from their article on "Bringing Heaven Down: Rejecting Mediocrity & Becoming Super Mortals." The article can be found here: http://www.thechristexperiment.org/bhd-rejecting-mediocrity-becoming (Scroll down to the area on Mansion World 1 and the Training Questions that we will address in this program.) As we've stated before, there are 2 primary reasons why these issues are important: To focus on our personal destinies  - to fuse with our Thought Adjusters. (The Divine Spark of God that lives in each person.)For our planetary destiny - to draw all closer to Jesus and the goal of our planet's destiny of settling in Light and Life. We will continue to explore the pathway of becoming full-fledged spiritual beings, even perfected beings.  The Urantia Book delineates this pathway in great detail with its description of the mortal ascension plan. It describes the universal curriculum provided for all Ascending Sons of God. Beings who start out as lowly mortals, on a material world like earth, and grow to become "perfect, even as God is perfect." The article (linked above) describes why we, with the benefit of the information given in the Urantia Book, don't have to wait until we die to begin the program of spiritual progress. Perfection is the goal and we can take certain steps now, while on earth, in moving toward that goal. We will refer to The Urantia Book: Paper 52 Section 3 and also Paper 47 - Sections 4 and 5. Please join us!

This week our guest Don Clementin from The Christ Experiment will join us to discuss Paper 53 Section 3 and Paper 47, and the work of Mansion World 1. We will look at some of the questions from their article on "Bringing Heaven Down: Rejecting Mediocrity & Becoming Super Mortals." The article can be found here: http://www.thechristexperiment.org/bhd-rejecting-mediocrity-becoming (Scroll down to the area on Mansion World 1 and the Training Questions that we will address in this program.) There are 2 primary reasons why these issues are important: To focus on our personal destinies  - to fuse with our Thought Adjusters. (The Divine Spark of God that lives in each person.)For our planetary destiny - to draw all closer to Jesus and the goal of our planet's destiny of settling in Light and Life. We will continue to explore the pathway of becoming full-fledged spiritual beings, even perfected beings.  The Urantia Book delineates this pathway in great detail with its description of the mortal ascension plan. It describes the universal curriculum provided for all Ascending Sons of God. Beings who start out as lowly mortals, on a material world like earth, and grow to become "perfect, even as God is perfect." The article (linked above) describes why we, with the benefit of the information given in the Urantia Book, don't have to wait until we die to begin the program of spiritual progress. Perfection is the goal and we can take certain steps now, while on earth, in moving toward that goal. This is what we'll be discussing in this series.  We will read from The Urantia Book: Paper 52 Section 3 and begin reading from Paper 47 - Section 3 during the first hour of the program. Please join us!

For the next several shows we will explore the pathway of becoming a full fledged spiritual being, even a perfected being.  The Urantia Book deliniates this pathway in great detail with it's description of the career of mortal ascension. It describes the universal curriculum provided for all Ascending Sons of God. Beings who start out as lowly mortals, on a material world like earth, and grow to become "perfect, even as God is perfect."  As Jesus often said, we must ‘be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.’ In one instance, he said: "And this kingdom which I declare to you is not a reign of power and plenty. The kingdom of heaven is not a matter of meat and drink but rather a life of progressive righteousness and increasing joy in the perfecting service of my Father who is in heaven. For has not the Father said of his children of the world, `It is my will that they should eventually be perfect, even as I am perfect.' (UB 137:7.13) Perfection is the obvious goal but cannot be achieved by mortals. This journey continues through many long ages. We can take certain steps now, while on earth, in moving toward that goal. This is what we'll be discussing in these shows. Ideally, great progress is ahieved toward the goal of perfection when a material world achieves the status of light and life. The Mansion Worlds provide soul training for beings who come from worlds like this one. In that vein, we'll be pondering these questions: Have you learned the art of brotherhood? Have you eliminated racial prejudices? Are you peaceable? Are you ethical? Do you submit to universe sovereignty? Have you learned balance in the area of sex?  Are you loving and honorable in your family associations? Have you learned the art of parenting?  This series was inspired by articles from our friends at www.thechristexperiment.org. We've invited their participation, as they are able. Join us!

Putting an END to "THE END TIMES." SpiritQuest: TO STRENGTHEN THE FABRIC OF GOODWILL IN THE AWAKENING WORLD. Today, on the  Cosmic Citizen we put the trials and tribulations behind us with God's Gumshoe and his highly acclaimed parable of "Building the City of God,"  from the popular series "The Urantia Book for Dummies."  Followed by a SpiritQuest Service on "Strengthening the Fabric of Goodwill in the World," as we  explore the topic of "The End of End Times" and the effects this cultural meme can have on our lives, careers, relationships, families and our own spiritual growth. GG will inspire our listeners, in these tumultuous times, to be of good cheer. GG will use the many moods of music and the wisdom of philosophy and poetry to look at how faith and connection with spirit plays an often essential role in the process of "building a world that works," and strengthening the Fabric of Goodwill in the world as we investigate - ANOTHER DIMENSION. Join GG in this uplifting episode of the Cosmic Citizen.  You will be glad you did.  Tell others. Always in Love, GG Other GG sites: www.godsgumshoe.org On facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/godsgumshoe YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/godsgumshoe?feature=mhee Blog Talk Radio "SpiritQuest"     http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cosmiccitizen

This week, we will end our series about tribulation on a high note, with our insightful, friend Errol Strider. Errol has performed at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, Goodman Theater in Chicago, Café LaMama in New York and has appeared with such stars as Harv Presnell, Daryl Hickman, Rita Gardner and Lola Fisher. He has written the critically acclaimed plays, Family Baggage and the award winning Adventures to Closetmush.  A poet and author of the books Journeys to the Source, Welcome to Your Universe, Answers are Timid, and Elfbert, Santa's Reluctant Helper, he was nominated for a National Cable Emmy Award and won the Jefferson University Oral Interpretation Contest and a Urantian video contest, with Own Your Own Soul. He's taught acting, dance, creativity and spirituality at the University of Miami, Dominican University, Naropa West University in Oakland, and Mundelein College in Chicago. He is also a practicing Board Certified Hypnotherapist and he's a long time student of The Urantia Book. Errol and his wife Rochelle have devoted the last 28 years to this ministry, traveling extensively all across the United States doing performances, conducting workshops, and classes. Their latest endeavor is a radio show called, "Insight Out-The Naked Truth" which draws on a variety of teachings from various traditions of spirituality, psychology, philosophy and revelation, and makes them accessible, relevant, poignant and funny. Errol says, "So much of the troubles and suffering in our world come from limited perspectives, un-challenged beliefs and assumptions, and last but not least, taking ourselves way too seriously. Many humans struggle unnecessarily because the context in which we attempt to understand our lives, establish values, and make decisions, is conditioned by ignorance, fear and confused thinking."

This week's Cosmic Citizen continues with our series on "Dealing with Adversity and Tribulation" as we explore the topic of death, loss, and grief and the effects that a broken heart has on our lives. In doing this series, our hope is to inspire our listeners, through the heartbreak and tumult, to a place of peace and balance again. We will look at how to deal with grief and death, even the worst kind of loss, the death of a child. We'll look at what we can do to help others get through the grieving process. We'll look at the role that faith and spirit connection plays in the process of recovering from the most serious of all heartbreaks. We've invited longtime Urantia Book students, who have experienced this kind of loss. We again intend to create a SAFE SPACE to discuss this sensitive issue so that they can openly share their tender and personal stories, including tragedies and triumphs, with overcoming grief. Again, we will do our best to practice our active listening skills. Our three guests, Andrea Barnes, Beth Challis, and Susan Meyers, are all longtime students of The Urantia Book. All have experienced more than 40 years with The Urantia Book and the Urantia community and all have suffered the unbearable and senseless loss of a child. They have come through these hardships with grace and dignity and we hope to get their insights and hard-won wisdom on how they did it. What did they do that helped? What did other people do that helped? How did their faith and belief in The Urantia Book's teachings on life after death help? Some of our callers may not be familiar with the Urantia Book, so we ask that everyone remember to be respectful of their beliefs and traditions and help us to maintain this safe and sacred space on the show again this week. We would love to hear your story as well. We've all had to overcome something. Please call 646-716-8158 and press 1 if you wish to speak with the hosts.