The Urantia Book and Modern Education

from the foreword page 17:

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Successive planetary revelations of divine truth invariably embrace the highest existing concepts of spiritual values as a part of the new and enhanced co-ordination of planetary knowledge. Accordingly, in making these presentations about God and his universe associates, we have selected as the basis of these papers more than one thousand human concepts representing the highest and most advanced planetary knowledge of spiritual values and universe meanings. Wherein these human concepts, assembled from the God-knowing mortals of the past and the present, are inadequate to portray the truth as we are directed to reveal it, we will unhesitatingly supplement them, for this purpose drawing upon our own superior knowledge of the reality and divinity of the Paradise Deities and their transcendent residential universe.

Within the Urantia Book are these "one thousand human concepts representing the highest and most advanced planetary knowledge of spiritual values and universe meanings" clearly indicated? No type of annotation is used. One can erroneously believe that the revelators are the exclusive source of all material discussed in the UB.

The UB does indeed contain a lot of great stuff, but rarely does it contain anything new. One of the problems with the Urantia Book as cited by the debunkers and detractors is plagiarism.

Much of the wisdom and insight of the UB comes from human sources without giving due credit to the mortal source. If I were to use this method for an assignment, I could be expelled. Modern textbooks are annotated with extensive listing of sources. Both teachers and students are required to do the same. This is academic honesty and respect.

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"If you actually use the words of another and plug them into a homily as your own without (attribution) that's plagiarism," said the Rev. David M. Greenhaw, president of Eden Theological Seminary and a professor of preaching. "It has to do with being lazy and putting yourself out there in a fraudulent way. It's wrong."

quote from an article in:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)
October 17, 2005
Author: Tim Townsend and Kavita Kumar
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

For a better understanding, I invite TruthBook members who are so inclined to research "plagiarism."
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Part of the reason I've taken the time to supply a few links for TruthBook members who wish to conduct their own research, is to suggest that educators are already using wisdom and insight gained from generations of teaching to combat the spread of bureaucratic educational establishment adherence to the corporate mentality.

One label used for teachers who attempt to change the way schools educate is "social revisionist" or "social reconstructionist." An educator on campus, whose classes I've taken twice and admire greatly, considers herself to be such a teacher. Such forward thinking teachers are indeed attempting to keep up with the changing needs of society.

But there are as many teaching styles as there are teachers including the "teacher is right and students know nothing" authoritarian mentality which, in my opinion, is no longer effective. For much of our early industrialization period, where most children would grow up to work in a factory; assessment by test scores, rote memorization of facts, and unquestioning acceptance of a higher authority was enough to prepare them for their role in society. This is no longer quite as valid in the early 21st century.

It is true, at least from my perspective, that NCLB [its a law; not a theory] is of the "one size fits all" mentality which places way to much emphasis on test scores and has little tolerance for individual learning needs of students. This law is a direct result of those who embrace the profit motive.

Indeed, teachers are well aware that one size does not fit all and attempt to use, in the classrooms of today, something called "multiple intelligences." No need to google ourselves crazy as Woody puts it, but I would like to invite TruthBook members to research "multiple intelligences" or any other topic if they so desire.

Our society as a whole, especially in the U.S., is predicated upon competition. From a very young age children are taught that winning is everything and losers are nothing. People will go to great lengths to prove they're winners.

For example...all other things being equal, how many TruthBook members would trust their health to a doctor who graduated LAST in his/her class? Or how many TruthBook members would fly an airliner company with the WORST safety record? Or regarding sports, is it fun to lose? How many TruthBook members would invest in a company which hasn't shown a profit in years?

Learning by games...kids expect to be entertained and unless teachers make learning fun, students rarely become involved or retain what they've learned as boredom has become anathema to society. If students refuse to take responsibility for their own learning, there isn't much a teacher can do. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink; you can put a child in school but you can't make 'em think." I don't know who wrote this; accuse me of plagiarism if you want.

Most K-3 students have to be entertained, some teachers call this "edu-tainment", where learning activities change around four times per hour to keep them interested. In many ways teachers have become performers more than educators. Bored students will unfortunately find something to entertain themselves and this usually results in disruption of the entire class.

Since this isn't possible with older students, increasingly teachers have resorted to investigative teaching where students, usually as a group, are given an assignment with specific goals to achieve relevant to a specific topic. This topic could easily involve a worldwide event. When students have the freedom to conduct their own research, under close supervision, they tend to retain far more than if a teacher simply has them read from a textbook and then give them a test. This type of group learning activity has many advantages and a few disadvantages as well.

Poor little Zachary seems to be suffering from erroneous thinking...but he got an "A" in math...does the end justify the means? It does indeed help if you can read but comprehension is just as important. Writing is also important, such as penmanship used to be a strict requirement. But there is a growing attitude in which learning how to write with a pen or pencil is seen to be increasingly unecessary in the information age of computers. Who needs to know how to spell if you have spellcheck? Who needs to know how to do math if you have a calculator? How can teachers assess learning without pass or fail? Or some kind of performance evaluation? Teachers must prepare students for the society of today and taxpayers must see a return on their investment. NCLB is far more of an evaluation of teachers than students.

In most jobs there is always some kind of performance evaluation in which the employees' work record is documented by a supervisor and... if you pass and you get a raise; if you fail, you'll find yourself in the unemployment line. Employers can always hire someone else to do the job if you can't.

In terms of our universal career, do we not pass or fail? Even though the UB describes many ways in which various cosmic beings grade our mortal performance and give unseen help regarding our eternal career...don't our own free-will choices determine the outcome? What of sleeping survivors...are they being held back a grade? In terms of the eternal career, some of us win and some of us lose and the UB is but one source to help us get a better grade.

I have read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand and yes it does illuminate from a ficticious and symbolic level the merits and shortcomings of capitalism. In my opinion, it also has great philosophical insight into the nature of mammon and the way servants of mammon think and will unhesitatingly corrupt truth to serve their unrighteous agendas. It also shows what could happen to civilization if materialism is allowed undisputed reign of society. All of this has great spiritual value to me. The book "1984" by George Orwell has similar value in my opinion. Unfortunately, I believe that neither Ayn Rand nor George Orwell went far enough in their portrayals.

Modern education is in the grip of materialism, especially in the public school system. Of this there is no doubt, in my opinion.

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While it's true that we mortals are often required to cite our sources, to criticize the revelator's use of human knowledge as plagiarism places them at the same level as human beings, which they're not nor never have been.

I disagree as some of the revelators have been mortal. Also, I have the right to critique or criticize the UB in any manner I see fit. I seriously doubt that the revelators are insecure enough to be offended at my sincere Quest for Truth. An enlightened parent never blames a child for being immature. Although immature parents often blame their child for being enlightened.

Again from an educational or even academic standpoint the term "plagiarism" relevant to the UB has merit in my opinion. Because many assertions or direct quotes made in the UB cannot be authenticated from our mortal perspective. The revelators need no one to defend them, if they truly serve the Father by their "mandate" to bring the FER to our dark world, this truth will be made known to me by my own "inner teacher" when I'm ready to learn it. And to be perhaps too brutally honest, I don't give spit what others think of me or my motives. It isn't my problem if others are offended if I appear to challenge their belief systems, but I do not intend to challenge them personally. Spiritual unity isn't predicated upon the touchy-feely validation of belief systems.

Here's a quote from paper one and from the very first paragraph on page 21:

Quote:

The truth about the Universal Father had begun to dawn upon mankind when the prophet said: "You, God, are alone; there is none beside you. You have created the heaven and the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts; you preserve and control them. By the Sons of God were the universes made. The Creator covers himself with light as with a garment and stretches out the heavens as a curtain."

Having read the UB cover to cover twice, as well as certain papers and passages many times; I have found many such anonymous quotes which the revelators use to "prove" their point, and in my sincere Quest for Truth I must ask; who is this prophet and why doesn't the Divine Counsellor mention him or her by name? Is this a reference to the Bible or some other source? One can merely take the revelators word for it, which doesn't demonstrate responsibility, in my opinion, but from an academic standpoint I would like to verify this quote et al.

Lo and behold, I have a 1986 copy of the Paramony which the author has gone to great lengths to achieve harmony between the bible and the UB. I also have a King James Bible. Of the six biblical references to old and new testament prophets listed in the paramony concerning this specific quote, none of them say anything about "Sons of God" making the universe or "Creator covering himself with light as with a garment and stretches out the heavens as a curtain." There are of course many references to God being alone and there is none beside him, creating heaven and earth as well as the hosts of heaven.

It would appear there is no one specific prophet who uttered these exact words as "truth dawning upon mankind" as the Divine Counsellor quotes. And yet why does the Divine Counselor present this quote as such? Is this not plagiarism? Maybe word symbols belong to the individual who utters them but truly divine concepts belong to everyone...

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Only in the finite realm can "non-spiritual" make its temporarily temporal stage debut

Indeed, this is what mammon is all about and in a free-will universe, the servants of mammon have the right [but this does not make them righteous...though they believe it does] from a purely materialistic perspective to use whatever it takes to "prove" their point, because to them the end does indeed justify the means. One of their favorite ways to do this is to pretend to be servants of Our True Father when in actuality, they're anything but.

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Where oh where in an overly complex and luxury-seeking civilization, that is now obviously suicidal, can the soul of man get some spiritual exercise and spiritual nourishment?

Indeed. Or to put it another way, what does it matter to a kingdom believer if all visible things crash? Individually and globally we must answer Our True Father's call. We must must discern the difference between Our True Father [and those who truly serve Him] and the servants of mammon who seek to serve a false god, by pretending to serve the One True God.

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Anyone need even more natural phenomena for incentive?

Apparently so as "natual phenomena" is increasing at an alarming rate. Once the playing field is leveled, I believe the FER will have greater truth, meaning, and value to the survivors of these "natural phenomena." I believe the survivors will know that much of this "natural phenomena" was man-made.

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What OTHER pharmaceutical company can claim that kind of profit increase in the same timeframe?

Allthough it isn't a pharmaceutical company, Exxon/Mobil is doing pretty well in the profit department, regardless of "natural phenomena" because we've allowed ourselves to become addicted to oil. Think about that the next time you go to the gas station to get your "fix." By the way I don't drive or own a car, I walk or ride a bicycle, and it is Our True Father and those who serve Him, who have made it possible for me to give up my additions. I admit this sometimes makes life challenging...

Quote:

Exxon Mobil Profit, Sales Soar to Records
By STEVE QUINN
Associated Press Writer

DALLAS — Exxon Mobil Corp. rewrote the corporate record books Thursday as the oil company's third-quarter earnings soared to almost $10 billion and it became the first public company ever with quarterly sales topping $100 billion. Anglo-Dutch competitor Royal Dutch Shell PLC wasn't far behind, posting a profit of $9 billion for the quarter.
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/sha ... s_Oil.html

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But it is so unfair to CREATE genetic stupidity through the clastogenic potential of chemicals that break through the blood-brain barrier....

Ah yes, better life through man-made chemicals. Or so the servants of mammon teach, because they own the petro-chemical and pharmaceutical companies, and promote the use of mind altering drugs, vaccines, antibiotics, and steroids. I found this out the hard way. The creators of genetic stupidity have done so to make us "lowly mortal animals" more biddable to their "unquestioned" authority. But we have allowed it, so far. Think of all the toxic chemicals under your kitchen sink, in your bathroom, or in your garage if you want to find weapons of mass destruction.

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The truth that God the Father CREATED everything - and Evolution
is the His normal process of getting from single cell to man
is a major truth. Evolution and Creationism both are part of the cosmological picture.

Oh yes, I strongly agree!! But have you ever tried to teach something to a room full of restless students who don't want to learn? They're far more interested in their cell phone calls and text messaging which allows them to cheat, or the lastest movie, CD by their favorite band, the gossip about a teacher, etc. I don't blame them. These students are a product of our modern society which values materialism. Maybe I'm a Luddite, because I have chosen to let go of most [but not all] of my material possessions. No car, telephone, computer, TV, stereo [but I do have a portable AM/FM radio]. Without these worldly distractions I have perhaps too much time on my hands, time to listen to my "inner teacher", do my homework, and research any subject my "inner teacher" suggests. The strange thing is that even though I have lived below the poverty level for more than three years now, I don't feel poor. I feel blessed and have the liberty of being on vacation, in a manner of speaking. Ah such freedom!!! I concede this isn't possible, yet, for everyone. But I believe it will be; if our world globally decides to let go of the profit motive. Neither evolution nor creationism are based on the profit motive. But servants of the profit motive only allow those concepts to be taught which they can profit from.

While I understand that the UB teaches its own concept of evolution and creationism, in the classrooms of today evolution is mostly based on the theories of Darwin. Whereas creationism is based on bible fundamentalism, "God created the heavens and earth in six days and rested on the seventh" as taught in the book of Genesis.

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Also, UB clarifies that the concept of equality can be a falsehood when applied across the board. Individuals are certainly Not Equal in manifold ways.

While I agree with this statement in theory, I also believe that Jesus treated everyone equally across the board, and there is absolutely no way I could express such an opinion in a classroom of today. There are many laws which are designed to prevent any type of discrimination across the board. Were I to imply that any student is not equal to every other student for any reason, I could be sued...BIG TIME!!!

This is most especially true if my opinion was based on sexual, racial, religious, socio-economic or any other kind of discrimination. No matter how disabled or dysfunctional an individual student may appear, a teacher must endeavor to treat them with respect and equality without stereotyping or discriminating against them in any way.

Sure, from the revelators' lofty perspective, mortals appear unequal. But I ask TruthBook members to reflect on the times in which they may have been stereotyped, treated with prejudice, or treated as an inferior, or discriminated against due to some purported inequality...

how did it feel?

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Randy, again you let your marbles roll around the floor and they get kicked under the sofa and you lose them.

Many parents are just waiting to pounce on such a teacher who makes this kind of mistake. Just like it appears to me certain TruthBook members are just waiting to pounce on me when I make a mistake. While this quote is humorous, I cannot say such a disrespectfull thing to a student, as a parent could easily object on the grounds of calling their child stupid and sue me, neither can I picture Jesus saying it to someone.

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I do agree this enlightens me and you - but it may not assist you in the classroom since UB is a Source of Great Truth to believers only!

Rhermen, my vision and understanding of reality has been somewhat reconstructed and improved by an 18 mo study of UB, tho I am not sure what and where a teacher could use UB info in a classroom.

This is similar to a Christian saying you cannot use the New testament in Education - tho this Book may be a your most Valuable Source of Truth.

My belief is UB will make you a more confident human being - and a better teacher - tho you probably cannot use UB in specific cases.

I have faith realized that God loves me, and that He stands with me. Though it does not make me superior to those who have yet to meet Father. This faith realization comes from a personal relationship with God, and it has little to do with the Urantia Book, though reading the UB and many other spiritually uplifting books does help me to understand this love. It is Our True Father who is the First Source of confidence, truth, and enlightenment. We're all equal in His Sight.

It may be that my current training in modern education is an effort to prepare me to teach the survivors of this "leveling of the playing field", "the children of tomorrow", but perhaps not the children of today or yesterday. Or it may be that I'll leave this world behind and begin my eternal career due to death by a "natural phenomena."

Either way Let Our True Father's Will Be Done.

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