By Meredith Sprunger Fort Wayne, Indiana
Editors’ note: This article was first printed in the September 1981 issue of YOU-BE, a magazine of opinion published by The Tortoise, 1306 34th Avenue, San Francisco, California It was reprinted in The Circles by permission from the author and the YOU-BE
The growing edge of evolutionary religion today has arrived at basically the same religious philosophy as we find in The URANTIA Book. Many religious leaders are presenting views almost identical with Urantia Book teachings. So it is philosophically appropriate to ask, “Why was The Urantia Book given to our planet when evolution is accomplishing the same goals?”
There are probably many more reasons for this action than any of us know; but, fundamentally, revelation is given because it is an effective expediter of evolution and saves aeons of time. A second and related question is, “Why does God lead individuals to become missionaries of new and enlarged truth when this action causes opposition and persecution in their own families, among their friends, and in society?” The preponderance of rational thought and “sensible” human wisdom cautions against such controversial ministry. A committee of contemporary friends would have almost certainly advised Moses against his mission to revitalize a group of Hebrew former slaves and with this unlikely group spearhead a new religious awakening. They would have told Jonah that it was absurd that he should attempt to reform Ninevah. Paul was told that he was mad to assume the Christian gospel was the wave of the future and that he deserved death for going about stirring up religious and social unrest. The ways of God often do appear to be absurd, or even evil to a great many people
Many of these missionaries of the past have been reluctant messengers. Moses tried to escape by pleading inability. People would not listen to him. He was not a public speaker. Jonah fled to the sea. Paul suffered blindness and intense mental anguish; but eventually he followed God’s inner leading in his life. Doing so does not usually lead to a life of ease or popularity.
I have long felt a calling to bring a knowledge of The URANTIA Book to the religious and educational leaders of our culture. I have tried to examine this sense of calling critically, to question it, even to ignore it. But, if I am to keep my integrity of soul, I cannot deny it. As Paul Tillich points out, we must have the courage to be, to actualize our authentic selves. I have tried, therefore, to follow this inner guidance. I believe an outreach ministry of The URANTIA Book should be activated now; indeed, that it is past due. If this is the Father’s will for me (which I believe), why? I am not sure that I know. It is relatively easy to give “rational” reasons on both sides of this or any controversial issue. I am happy to share some of the insights which seem self-evident to me as to why The URANTIA Book is needed in our culture now.
After twenty-five years of thought and experimentation, I am convinced that only The URANTIA Book itself can bring about a spiritual renaissance. Evolutionary bootlegging the teachings of the book merely adds, on the same level, to that which many religious teachers are now doing. Only the integrated message of The Urantia Book, in my judgment, can transform our society in time to save our world from much evolutionary disaster and suffering.
The growing edge of religious development in our society has already arrived at the essential truths of The URANTIA Book. It is evolutionarily important that this vanguard of religious leaders know about The URANTIA Book. Fundamentalists are even now denouncing the book and it is wise to acquaint mainline religious leaders with the book before reactionary zealots distort information about it. The angels of the churches are in charge of supervising developments in the first one hundred years of the URANTIA movement.
This illustrates the importance which the revelators place on the Christian Church being introduced to the fifth epochal revelation. One fourth of this critical period has already passed with no serious, systematic ministry of outreach to church leaders. It would be tragic to default in this crucially significant missionary responsibility.
It may be later than we think.
Demoralization and crime are commonplace. Much of our world is experiencing chaotic conditions. Terrorism threatens the social order in many areas. Nuclear holocaust is an ever-present possibility. Our world is in critical need of spiritual foundations which are large enough, solid enough, and have the spiritual power to both prevent catastrophe and give guidance and stability to the new age which is struggling to be born. I believe The URANTIA Book has the greatest potential for serving in this capacity of any philosophical – religious resource now available to man. It may be crucially important to the future of this planet. In such a situation, to be primarily concerned with individualistic pursuits and cultish, ingroup, preoccupations may be analogous to Nero’s fiddling while Rome burned. To have spiritual resources which the world desperately needs and fail to share them is difficult to understand or justify. Do not misinterpret my concern. I am not trying to persuade anyone else to engage in outreach ministry. These observations are simply some of the reasons for explaining objective aspects of my own subjective sense of calling. You must follow your own inner guidance.