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Summary: Indescribable Truth
Review: "Truth is a spiritual reality value experienced only by spirit-endowed beings who function upon supermaterial levels of cosmic consciousness and who, after the realization of truth, permit it's spirit of activation to live and reign within their souls."
That is a teaching from one of the authors of this gigantic tome of truth, history, science, philosophy, and religion. They definitely do not dumb down their language for us. "Youth and brave adults are ever willing to 'take a dare.'" How about you?
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Summary: Helpful Index
Review: An earlier reviewer referred to the text as "God given," and I agree. One feels gifted by God in the reading of this book, something I can still say after 30 years of making this cherished text my companion. Many who are spiritually alive (or seeking to be so) will find their inner "truth resonators" vibrating soundly when they read this text, no matter which edition they read. A beautiful quality of this book is that no one needs to "tell" you if it is true or not. You will recognize its truth on a soul level, or not.
The same reviewer, however, referred to this text as "stolen" from the Foundation, the group which performed the valuable task of putting these revelatory pages into book form. With this, I disagree. Foundation members sought a copyright on this text, but their efforts legally failed. Many (who were equally sincere) disagreed with the Foundation's methods of distribution, and were relieved by the suit outcome so that distribution could be managed more freely, including the creation of translations. The fact is that this text was given to all of humanity for the benefit of all of humanity. It is a text which has the potential to change lives, and even nations, if sincerely applied. Book distribution by both publishers is a sincere act of service toward all those who have "eyes to see and ears to hear" what these pages have to offer. A unique aspect of these two publishers is that no one is looking to earn profit from making these books available. As non-profits, they are run by those who wish to be of service to all, and therefore any proceeds are funneled back into making the book widely available. It is exciting that people from many nations are now clamoring for translations of the book into their own languages. Serious students of the book will find that the index included with this version is invaluable. This is the first time that the index and the text have expediently appeared in one volume. Furthermore, this index is more versatile in its cross-referencing than any earlier indexes which had been published separately. Curious browsers will likewise appreciate that the index allows topics of particular interest to be quickly located. All in all, this publication is more user friendly than prior editions. However, the particular edition is not nearly as important as the content, which is the same in all editions. As a general resource, this text uplifts the paths of religionists from many perspectives. Its contents are not designed to promote or start a new religion, but rather are intended to support one's search for a life of transcendent meaning (including a personal connection to our Creator). No matter which edition is preferred, this profound book needs to be discovered (and likely will be) by those who are hungry for spiritual liberation
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Summary: One small gift in a vast Universe
Review: As a reader of C.S. Lewis, Mark Twain and other masters of the English written language I am in awe of this book. I have been reading it daily for almost 5 years never failing to find something new. The format and index of this production of the Fellowship has helped me get back to ideas and cross reference. I can't say this book changed my life yet but every day my life is changed a little by the truth and beauty contained within. It is not easy reading and is not written for the post literate mind, so it's not for all tastes. It may be for you.
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Summary: The Search for God is Everything
Review: Having read The Urantia Book through a few times: I know that the book's information (although overwhelming and challenging at times)has certainly helped with my day-to-day inner growth and in having a personal faith in God: whose mysterious and ubiquitous spirit innervates the interconnected realms of science, philosophy, and religion.
Still curious as to "What's it all about" (like big questions about our origin, existence, and destiny)? Well then, this book is a must read! Although complex at times, it has a lot of very practical advice, too...kind of like God is.
For me, this newer Uversa Press edition is more user-friendly, primarily because of the incisive indexing (referencing key ideas and patterns that are intertwined throughout the book).
Whichever edition of The Urantia Book you chose, it's probably irrelevant. The important thing is to read and attempt to assimulate the information, live life, make decisions, and see if it helps you along the journey.
Lee Smith
Soquel, California
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Summary: Uversa version of the Urantia Book
Review: If you have been searching for inspiration,this book is alive.It talks to you the individual,the message is very personal and you will find the essence is the basis for eternal survival.
I found this book in 1972,my heart always longed for this cherised treasure,and now it's become an old friend, a true guide.
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Summary: Real answers to basic questions about God and Life
Review: In my experience, this Book rests at the top of the list of those amazing books that change your life for the better. I've been studying The Urantia Book for over thirty years. It consistently raises my thinking on spiritual values, my relationship with God, our Father, and my place in the scheme of history and society. The world is in upheaval, and so is religion. I'm grateful to have found a consistently inspiring Book to base my personal religion upon, and a stepping stone to bolster my faith and my salvation. Jesus has become not only real and personal, but his story makes all life more meaningful, and our striving for a better life more uplifting. I love it!
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Summary: This world and beyond - it's more than one journey
Review: Most religions are pretty intense about how you should and should not live your life here on this planetary plane. This book goes beyond those mundane issues but does not discard them either. It explains there's a whole lot more and there are next steps in our journey toward eternal life. It maps out a grander plan beyond going to Heaven and being forever in bliss. It not only gives us reason to live a good life now, it allows us to look forward to continuing living a good life, albeit in different forms, anon. More than anything, it express religion is a personal experience. It's main theme is Truth, Beauty and Goodness which are always good things to live by.
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Summary: Gratitude
Review: Technically, this book is best due to its two column text, adherence to the first printing,and the index. But more important is the awe of relief that such a work exists which so certainly satifies my search for God with a coherent description of the universe and its diverse and numberless personalities. My appreciation of Jesus has enriched my life immeasurably. This is a book that is continuously enjoyable and never grows stale.
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Summary: A Textbook for living
Review: The Urantia Book changed my life. The truths and philosophical principals in this book are literally a textbook for living life. The works on the life of Jesus showed me a relationship with a loving Father I never knew existed. The index in the back of this particular printing is valuable in that you have the tools in one book. A lot of work went into this effort.
If you are looking for truth, read this book.
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Summary: The Christianity of the Future
Review: The Urantia Book contains the stories, the cosmology, and the theological perspectives which inevitably will be a fundamental part of the Christianity of the future.
The traditional Christian stories and classic theological perspectives are expanded and developed in this remarkable book. The story of Adam and Eve, the rebellion and fall of Lucifer, the development of the Hebrew scriptures and the Bible, the life and teachings of Jesus, the atonement doctrine, an understanding of life after death -- all of these key elements of the Christian experience are developed in remarkable detail in The Urantia Book. Not since the days of the Aquinas synthesis in the 13th century has such a comprehensive integration of Christian thought been achieved.
The Christianity of the future will embody the perspective contained in The Urantia Book. Why? Because this perspective integrates scientific insight, highly regarded philosophic viewpoints, and widely accepted Christian theologic understandings. In the normal course of intellectual evolution the integration articulated in The Urantia Book is inevitable if Christianity is to continue as a relevant influence in the 21st century. In a reading of The Urantia Book today, the results of this integration may be experienced, much to the satisfaction of sincere spiritual seekers struggling in today's post-modern environment of intellectual and theological turbulence.
For example, readers interested in theology will be intrigued by the manner in which the text integrates traditional trinitarian theology with process theology -- producing a robust platform from which additional theological and philosphical perspectives may be developed in the future.
Readers who may not have such a deep interest in theology but for whom the story of Jesus is important will find that The Urantia Book contains a spiritually compelling biography of Jesus which will help them tremendously in solving many of the practical issues which emerge in the course of their daily spiritual struggles.
Christians who already have a personal relationship with Jesus will recognize him living anew through the story in this book. Readers who are new to an understanding of Jesus will discover a meaningful chronicle of spiritual adventure -- remarkably free of contemporary religious dogma -- in the detailed narrative of the way in which Jesus lived his life.
Readers who have already become familiar with The Urantia Book will welcome this Uversa Press edition which contains a 300+ page comprehensive index complemented by a unique numbering system in which every paragraph in the text contains its own ID number. This greatly facilitates serious study of the text and will be welcomed by anyone who desires more than a superficial reading of its cosmology and teachings.
In addition, this particular edition is printed in a double column format making reading much easier than in the original text in which the sentences stretched across the entire page, leading to much quicker fatigue and frequent difficulty in finding the continuation of the sentence on the following line.
As a reader who has been exploring this text for more than 35 years, I am extremely pleased to see this much improved edition available on the market. The Uversa Press edition of The Urantia Book makes it easy for sincere truth seekers to experience today the text, the insights, and the spiritual delight which inevitably will be a fundamental part of Christian experience in the future.
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