Q: What does The Urantia Book say about LGBT relationships and marriage?

A: Thanks for writing to us here at Truthbook.com with this question. We are always so happy to hear from our visitors, and happy to try and answer your questions.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues are complex and much in the forefront of today’s news, as people weigh in on the subject of whether marriage should be broadened to include same-sex couples.

Marriage is a very large part of The Urantia Book, and its teachings are quite clear about what the social and evolutionary purposes of marriage are (bolding is mine):

(84:6.8) Marriage is the mother of all human institutions, for it leads directly to home founding and home maintenance, which is the structural basis of society. The family is vitally linked to the mechanism of self-maintenance; it is the sole hope of race perpetuation under the mores of civilization, while at the same time it most effectively provides certain highly satisfactory forms of self-gratification. The family is man’s greatest purely human achievement, combining as it does the evolution of the biologic relations of male and female with the social relations of husband and wife.

Please see

Paper 82,

Paper 83 , and

Paper 84

These papers are quite detailed about the evolution of marriage, the purposes of marriage, and the impact of marriage on civilized society.

While The Urantia Book does not say anything specifically about homosexuality, it does extol the value of loving relationships (“genuine friendships”) between people of the same sex:

(160:2.4) Symbolic communication between human beings predetermines the bringing into existence of social groups. The most effective of all social groups is the family, more particularly the two parents. Personal affection is the spiritual bond which holds together these material associations. Such an effective relationship is also possible between two persons of the same sex, as is so abundantly illustrated in the devotions of genuine friendships.

There is more than one way to look at this passage, and I hope when you study it, you are comforted…however, please note that in this passage, the word “marriage” is conspicuously absent.

Sexual conduct is not often addressed in The Urantia Book. However, in this section, we read about the dangers that can be associated with sexual activity. This advice about sex applies equally to hetero-and homosexual people, and I suggest that you read it carefully and prayerfully.

Jesus called us to “love our neighbor.” Pure and genuine friendship/love does not necessarily include sexual activity. This is a realm which properly belongs in the category of “social mores.” Jesus made no pronouncements regarding the mores of his day and The Urantia Book, likewise, makes no judgments about these social norms. However, one may draw conclusions that are important to their personal choices and lifestyles when they approach these teachings with sincerity and open-mindedness.

Not everyone is called to the institution of marriage, but all of us are called to demonstrate love to others and to enlarge the brotherhood of man through the realization of the Kingdom of Heaven within.

Thanks again for writing in with this timely question. I hope that this reply has been helpful…