By Kaye Cooper
Note to readers: References are to THE URANTIA BOOK in two forms. 1. page: paragraph for books printed according to the format of the original printing and 2. paper: section. paragraph for translations and books formatted differently from the original.
Jesus said, “You shall love one another with a new and startling affection.”
- What does it mean to love one another? Define love.
Unselfishness. (1950:5/180:5.10)
The desire to do good to others. (648:4/56:10.21)
- Who are we to love?
Unbelievers: The love call of the spiritual family should prove to be the effective destroyer of the hate urge of the unbelieving and war-minded citizens of the earthly kingdoms. (1930:1/178:1.4)
Believers: You are all the children of light; therefore, stumble not into the misunderstanding entanglements of mortal suspicion and human intolerance. If you are ennobled by the grace of faith to love unbelievers, should you not also equally love those who are your fellow believers in the far-spreading household of faith? (2042:0/191:4.4)
- What does it mean to love “with a new and startling affection?”
Spontaneous, generous, and sincere friendliness. (1951:1/180:5.12)
Genuine compassion for your fellows. (1951:1/180:5.12)
Relate to others so they receive the highest possible good as a result of your contact with them. (1950:2/180:5.7)
Serve for their benefit with a wholehearted affection. (1945:2-3/180:1.5-6)
Have faith in one another. (2040:2/191:2.1)
Trust and confide in one another. (2055:2/193:3.2)
I want you all to be one, even as the Father and I are one. (1964:3/182:1.6)
- Why should we love one another?
“And so I give you this new commandment: That you love one another even as I have loved you. And by this will all men know that you are my disciples if you thus love one another.” (1944:4/180:1.1) ” And when people see you so love them, and when they behold how fervently you serve them, they will perceive that you have become faith-fellows of the family of God, and they will follow after the Spirit of Truth which they see in your lives.” (2044:3/191:6.2)
The Father and I will be “able to live in the souls of each one of you and also in the hearts of all other men who love us and make that love real in their experiences by loving one another, even as I am now loving you.” (1949:1/180:4.5)
- How do we learn to love?
Through the “living interpretation of the Spirit of Truth, who directs the loving contact of one human being with another.” (1951:0/180:5.1)
“This new teacher is the Spirit of Truth who will live with each one of you, in your hearts and so will all the children of light be made one and be drawn toward one another.” (1949:1/180:4.5)
If you love your fellow men, you must have discovered their values. You can best discover values in your associates by discovering their motivation. If someone irritates you, causes feelings of resentment, you should sympathetically seek to discern his viewpoint, his reasons for such objectionable conduct. If once you understand your neighbor, you will become tolerant, and this tolerance will grow into friendship and ripen into love. You cannot truly love your fellows by a mere act of the will. Love is only born of thoroughgoing understanding of your neighbor’s motives and sentiments. It is not so important to love all men today as it is that each day you learn to love one more human being.” (1098:1&3/100:4.4&6)