BTW - nice to see you here again, Jim...
Quote:
Having consciously engaged this process many years ago, I am curious what motivates one to be so inclined as to create a theology; an intellectual understanding of such a revelation as The Urantia papers, as a necessary basis upon which to build one's character. In fact it seems counterproductive and counterintuitive and the constant confrontations exhibited here on Truthbook reveal mostly the character of theological persuasion versus the revelation of spirit embrace.
I think you have hit on something good to consider here.
Words on a page are just that - words on a page . It is not always easy to translate the truth that we find in the UB into reality for our own lives. We may agree in principle, but putting truth into personal practice takes time and effort - sorrow and joy - tearing down and building back up. This process can take a very long time, but it does not mean we don't believe. It just may mean that we're doing the best we can where we are right now.
I remember having the experience of rebirth in the Spirit. It was pretty much an instant decision, but it took many, many years before I felt that I was firmly rooted in the Kingdom. Years of back-and-forth - one foot in and one foot out. My material life had to catch up with my new spiritual ideals. And in that in-between time, I was a mess a lot of the time. The spiritual life is hard work! especially if one has a lot of tearing-down to do.
Sometimes here on this forum,
some of us have the tendency to browbeat others for not being able to totally embrace every truth that the book offers. Example:
Quote:
Why do you keep denying the FACTS as written in the Fifth Epochal Revelation?
Facts have to be translated into truth through experience. And just because we don't all manage to do it RIGHT NOW, or even "right" doesn't make those of us who lag behind any less valuable or any less beloved by God. We just never know
the trials that a person my be going through...
Quote:
Maryjo...you may parse and parcel this Revelation like Stephen as you wish and claim some parts more and less important than other parts and no reader or believer here should take any part too seriously if you dare to...but what a grave error and profound evil in my opinion. At this place, a study group of the Revelation you declare we should not take too seriously or too literally the teachings of this Epocal Revelation??!!
I have no idea what you're talking about. I offered my experience with anxiety.
And the Adam and Eve response was simply an attempt to lighten the tone here, as nosophist points out.
Maybe you might try to lighten up a little bit yourself, fanofvan...