-Caveat Lector-
In a message dated 5/12/99 10:47:56 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> what about the origins of the book?
Hi there..
Here is an excerpt from some court documents about the origins of the Urantia
Book...
http://www.ubook.org/UBOrigin.html
J.2 HOW WERE THE URANTIA PAPERS MATERIALIZED?
Sources used for this section:
HISTORY OF THE URANTIA MOVEMENT - A short historical narrative was "prepared
by a group of Urantia pioneers, assisted by members of the contact commission
- 1960"
HISTORY OF THE URANTIA MOVEMENT - [Anonymous] "History Two" is an enlarged
version of the above history, and is not dated. The added material includes
writings that are probably from a member of the Contact Commission who also
performed stenographic duties throughout the nearly fifty-year process. [Note
#4]
A HISTORICITY OF THE URANTIA PAPERS - Written by the only living colleague of
the Chicago Physician. A video taped interview with this colleague was also
used.
A recently discovered cassette tape commentary on the origins of the Urantia
Papers by a member of the Contact Commission.
The appendix of Mind at Mischief, published in 1929. This book was written by
the doctor involved in the case.
It is certain that no mortal being knows, or ever knew, the complete story of
how the Urantia Papers came to be. We do know that circa 1911, a prominent
Chicago physician, psychiatrist, and debunker of psychic phenomena began
treating a case of psychic activities that he was unable to explain. His
involvement, bafflement, and intellectual struggle with these activities
culminated in the publication of The Urantia Book in 1955. The identity of
the patient will never be known.
Some confusion exists about how the text of the Urantia Papers was
materialized - it was a different process than the early activities of the
contact personality. These early activities seemed - at first - typical of
"channeling" activities. The patient spoke while in a trance. He also
produced what were apparently "automatic" writings. Yet, there is no record -
whatever - of any individual having seen him write. In fact, "History Two"
states that: "During those early years, all of our observations and
investigations utterly failed to reveal the . . . technique of reducing the
messages to writing."
Perhaps the most baffling thing about the early messages that were produced
by the Contact Personality was their astounding content. The doctor involved
could not explain the unique material, nor how the patient seemed to be able
to produce it. The physician retained scientific objectivity, and was
especially skeptical in the early years of the process. History Two states:
"Those of us who early attended the nocturnal vigils never suspected that we
were in contact with anything supernatural."
Eventually, the doctor provisionally accepted the validity of the material
that was being recorded. His unqualified conviction developed over many
years, and was based upon the quality of the content of the Urantia Papers -
and the precise philosophic consistency of the complex and voluminous
material - not upon the puzzling and unexplained technique by which the
Papers were materialized. Throughout his life, the doctor urged others to
study and evaluate the Urantia Papers solely upon their content - not upon
any phenomena that may have been associated with their appearance.
The doctor, in the appendix of his 1929 book, describes the material as ". .
. essentially Christian, and is, on the whole, entirely harmonious with the
known scientific facts and truths of this age." He also stated that:
"Eighteen years of study and careful investigation have failed to reveal the
psychic origin of these messages. . . Its philosophic content is quite new,
and we have been unable to find where very much of it has ever found human
expression."
A CLEAR LINE OF DEMARCATION
It is important to establish a distinction between the early communications
and the remarkable events that eventually produced the actual text of the
Urantia Papers. After the Forum [originally 30 people] was brought into the
process [circa 1924], they submitted questions to the "celestial beings"
through the Contact Commission. According to the histories, the answers to
the questions were written out - it was never understood precisely how - and
formed a kind of first working draft for the Urantia Papers. The written
materials were subsequently typed, the typed papers verified, and finally,
the original written material destroyed. Eventually the typed copies were
also destroyed, per instructions by the Revelators.
It is clear that all of the text of the Urantia Papers was materialized in
written form. The puzzling aspects of how this was done completely baffled
the doctor and several other experts in psychic phenomena who were called in.
In addition, at some point handwriting experts were asked to examine the
written material. They verified that the handwritten material was not the
patient's handwriting. [Note #5] The writing of the Contact Commission was
tested, and none had the characteristics of the writing being received. On
occasion, great amounts of material would materialize overnight - yet the
patient's wife swore he had not left the bed. After an especially amazing
amount of material had been produced one night, the doctor tested the
patient's forearm, and found no evidence of fatigue. During this early period
the doctor remained cautious, yet he conceded that he could not discover the
technique of the materialization method of the text of the Papers themselves.
There is no testimony that any part of the TEXT of the Papers was ever spoken
and recorded by a stenographer.
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE METHOD
The editors are convinced that no one witnessed the complete materialization
method of the Urantia Papers. Many unexplained things occurred, but not a
single member of the Contact Commission or the Forum ever claimed to have
seen the patient writing or typing anything. As previously noted, even in the
very early days of the process, extensive investigation "utterly failed" to
determine the method of "reducing the messages to writing." [History Two] The
doctor was an expert in psychic phenomena, and he witnessed as much about the
materialization as anyone. He flatly ruled out channeling, automatic writing,
automatic speaking, or any known form of psychic technique.
A great deal of information about the materialization technique can be found
in the Papers themselves. Though the subject was certainly involved,
apparently his role was completely passive. His mind was not used (according
to the Papers,) but his Thought Adjuster (the indwelling fragment of God that
indwells normal minds) was evidently quite active in the process. Perhaps the
most feasible speculation that has been documented is that the actual text of
the Papers was received by the Thought Adjuster, relayed to a Primary
Midwayer, (a planetary order of celestial intelligence that can penetrate the
mind circuits of a mortal to communicate with a Thought Adjuster,) and then
sent to a waiting Secondary Midwayer, a type of superhuman intelligence that
can manipulate matter. The Secondary Midwayer, assisted by Cherubim and
Seraphim, performed the final process of translation of the information (when
necessary) and their actual materialization. [Note #6] But why such a complex
arrangement? Probably because certain laws, procedures and protocols seem to
prevail in Epochal Revelation-as well as in how the spirit realms may
communicate without harming us.
A final aspect of this materialization method must be considered. We know
that, through the ages, many inspired people have claimed to have special
information. In a minority of these cases, individuals have produced some
inspiring material. The quality of such material varies widely. The Urantia
Papers defines such activity as autorevelation, and make a distinction
between this and Epochal Revelation. [1109] Autorevelation (at its best)
involves the individual and his or her Thought Adjuster. Epochal Revelation
involves superhuman agencies, groups or personalities. Epochal Revelations
are very rare - only five have taken place in the long history of our planet.
The Fifth Epochal Revelation is the Urantia Papers themselves.
The editors of these Appendixes believe that once the Urantia Papers were
materialized, they became part of the evolutionary mainstream. The original
materialized written text was destroyed, and even the first link to the
evolutionary process - the intermediary typed text - was also routinely
destroyed as the Papers were set into type, proofed, plates cast, and final
page proofs made - all well in advance of publication.
There were other communications, including special directives, informal
dialogue and such, that took place between the various orders of Celestial
Beings who interfaced with the mortals of the Contact Commission. Thus,
written materials, not part of the text of the Papers, were produced. All of
this additional material, written - or spoken and recorded by a stenographer
- was also destroyed. Certainly there is no credible evidence that the
Celestial Beings continued any direct involvement with mortals after the book
was published. The final message in 1955 was purported to be: "Now you are on
your own."
There is no evidence of any special spiritual status enjoyed, or any unique
powers possessed by the human protagonists who took part in the long and
arduous processes. The Urantia Papers themselves urge readers to avoid
psychic activities, as well as dependence upon spiritual "authority figures."
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
