First Thoughts and Invitation
Echos of Eden
“Think what it would mean on your worId if somewhere in the Levant there were a world Center of civilization, a great planetary university of culture, which had functioned uninterruptedly for 37,000 years. And again, pause to consider how the authority of even such an ancient center would be reinforced were there situated not far-distant still another and older headquarters of celestial ministry whose traditions would exert a cumulative force of 500,000 years of integrated evolutionary influence. It is custom which eventually spreads the ideals of Eden to a whole world.” [Paper 51:6.3, page 587.1]
What would it mean if superhumans and giants featured in Urantian politics and education? What if the concepts of Eden and ideals of Dalamatia were the traditional beliefs of all people on our world? What if all humanity took for granted that Jerusem was their next stop, and that soul growth was the accepted indicator of temporal success?
It would likely mean that humankind would be sharing a frame of reference. The inner worlds of children would be consistent and decorated with interplanetary wonders and desires to emulate the doings of celestial heroes. The inner worlds of their parents would be studded with gleaming opportunities, not hedged about by anxieties and pain. Their personal arenas of choice would be warmed by meaning and lit by bright values. From page 1220,
“Meanings and values are only perceived in the inner or supermaterial spheres of human experience. The advances of true civilization are all born in this inner world of mankind”.
Given the cultural momentum imparted by Eden and Dalamatia, it is not hard to imagine that planet-fulls of evolutionary mortals DO arrive at Light and Life. But Urantia is not Pike this, and cultures take ages to change.
However, when viewed from our personal arena of choice, as art individual experience, what’s really so different about a life lived on Urantia? Is it not so much the absence of Eden and Dalamatia, but the absence of their framework of belief and motivation? If so, what would it take to restore such a planetary mindscape?
Adam and Eve had a slim chance at restoring a celestial worldview to the planet. This could have been as valuable as their material donation. But while their biologic mission met with partial success, their priceless perspective, their shared personal frame of reference, was utterly lost.
Which brings us to the Urantia Papers. While our world may have lost so much in the way of cultural foundations and conceptual vocabulary, the Urantia Papers make available a potential replacement. And this time it is being planted in the inner worlds of agondonters, rather than being imposed by superhumans or giants.
The sight of these souls, breathing across our world echoes of Eden, Edentia, and beyond, must hold the interest of many an observer!
All readers who would like to explore these themes more deeply, while enjoying a few days with wonderful friends, are warmly invited to join us in a beautiful resort setting 10 minutes north of Canberra:
ANZURA Conference 2004
Canberra, October 8-11
Goolabri Country Resort
http ://www.goolabri.com.au