What went wrong with the world’s business model? Why aren’t ethics and morality an intrinsic part of business behavior in the 21st century? Is profit and morality mutually exclusive?
In this workshop we will look at current business models and the reason for their failure (in Urantia Book terms); investigate the business models of Light and Life; and find a way to apply those higher methods in our present time and make a profit.
Self-mastery: Jesus' unconventional approach
Vicki Arkens
Conventional wisdom tells us to take control, motivate, apply will power, and self-monitor. But, Jesus shows us a new and better way to alleviate the intense conflicts between our material and spiritual natures. We’ll take a close look at his teachings in the effort to understand how this is accomplished.
If you wish to study before the workshop, I suggest the following:
The Spirit and the Flesh 34:7 Sermon on the Kingdom 137:8 Conditions of Effective Prayer 91:9 The Lesson on Self-mastery 143:2 Jesus’ Teaching at Tyre 156:5.3-5
My interest in the topic of self-mastery stretches back many years. Using what I learned from The Urantia Book, I wrote and published a book titled Transcending the Everyday Temptations of Overeating. My husband Bob and I reside in Wisconsin and have three grown children. We were introduced to The Urantia Book in 1972 and have been exceedingly grateful for it’s guidance.
Leaving a Spiritual Footprint
Bill and Share Beasley
URGENT! URGENT! Our Urantia sojourn is short! What is the desired impact of our Spiritual Footprint? How do we secure it? This workshop will focus on recognition of the factors and exponential effects in this foremost opportunity of eternity.
Upon bestowal of personality we receive the dignity of Cosmic Citizenship as well as the morality and responsibility that come with it. As our insight of this gift develops we begin to recognize our interdependence with the Supreme and our duties as potential Finaliters.
One Factor:
P.1950 - §3 But the highest realization and the truest interpretation of the golden rule consists in the consciousness of the spirit of the truth of the enduring and living reality of such a divine declaration. The true cosmic meaning of this rule of universal relationship is revealed only in its spiritual realization, in the interpretation of the law of conduct by the spirit of the Son to the spirit of the Father that indwells the soul of mortal man. And when such spirit-led mortals realize the true meaning of this golden rule, they are filled to overflowing with the assurance of citizenship in a friendly universe, and their ideals of spirit reality are satisfied only when they love their fellows as Jesus loved us all, and that is the reality of the realization of the love of God.
Guardian Angels
Katharina Becker & Charles Laurence Olivea
Prerequisites: This seminar has required reading and study. All participants must read and study paper 113, The Seraphic Guardians of Destiny,before the Study conference in July, 2010. They will also need to bring their copies of The Urantia Book to the seminar for the purpose of referencing it during the conversation about Guardian Angels and Cosmic Morality.
Participation in the seminar is limited to fourteen on a first come,first served basis. Should the seminar become filled a second one will be opened up with a fourteen person limit as well.
You must register for this workshop prior to the summer study session. Please contact Charles Laurence Olivea; 3320 Camino Prado Vista;Santa Fe, NM87507. (505) 438-7746.colivea@cs.com
An Inquiry Into True Worship: Bridging God Consciousness to Cosmic Morality
Bob Debold
One of the spiritual disciplines articulated in the Urantia Book is that of worship integrated with service. In paper 170 entitled “The Kingdom Of Heaven,” in discussing righteousness, the Midwayers tell us that rather than concerning his teaching with issues of morals or ethics, Jesus was “…wholly concerned with that inward and spiritual fellowship with God the Father which so certainly and directly manifests itself as outward and loving service for man,” i.e. the worship experience. It can be inferred that Jesus knew worship, specifically true worship, would motivate individuals to direct their lives to kingdom building, and this would yield inspiring new spiritual realities that will uplift human life and society on our nativity planet, Urantia. After a short presentation regarding some ideas and ideals of true worship, attendees will engage in a facilitated discussion followed by small group breakouts related to the idea that true worship functions as a functional bridge between God-consciousness and cosmic morality: integrating our bestowed existential fragment-gift with mankind’s emerging sensitivity to, and acceptance of, our experiential obligation to the Supreme. A paper entitled “An Inquiry Into True Worship: Meditative, Resonant Thinking for Creating Lasting Value in the Supreme” will be made available for reference and download prior to the study session.
A Divine Counselor of Uversa tells us: “When the mind believes God and the soul knows God, and when, with the fostering Adjuster, they all desire God, then is survival assured.” (5.5.13). If that is the case, why, then, trouble ourselves with issues of morality – cosmic or otherwise?
We will examine the relationship among the will of God, evolutionary morality, cosmic morality, the soul, The Supreme and the religious life of Jesus. Advance reading related to all these topics is highly recommended. Books would be very useful at the session.
Cosmic Citizenship
Steve Dreier
The information revealed in The Urantia Papers provides new opportunities for meaningful living. In this workshop we will explore various concepts of cosmic citizenship through reflection on selected passages from The Urantia Book, along with some creative imagining and universe romancing.. Among the questions we will consider are these: What does it mean to be a cosmic citizen? What are some of the principles of cosmic citizenship? How can a person begin the practice of cosmic citizenship while still living on Urantia?
Soul: The Birth Place of Morality and Where The Gospel Grows
Tony Finstad
Let's explore the meaning of the word 'soul' as it's defined within The Urantia Papers. What is the meaning of soul-consciousness and how does it differ from self-consciousness and God-consciousness? Recommended reading here would be Paper 5: God's Relationship to the Individual. I'd like to direct some focus on morality and the living gospel. I have some selected readings for those who bring their books. We'll close with the second to the last paragraph of the book......what does this mean to you?
The Ascender's Emulation of Divine Goodness
David Glass
David will explore the ways and means that mortals and then ascenders respond to the Thought Adjuster-induced "hunger and thirst for righteousness," as it begins with simple moral discrimination and grows exponentially through the Paradise Ascension Career to the achievement of divine perfection in response to the Father's supreme mandate to all creature beings: "Be you perfect, even as I am perfect." The workshop will include an initial address delivered by David to be followed by questions and answers and then a general discussion period.
I have done considerable research and begun work on the actual presentation to introduce this study in the workshop and am most enthused about what I have been finding in terms of the relationships of: good and evil, ethics and morality, duty, love, service, and perfection attainment.
How the Law of Attraction can contribute to the evolution of the Supreme
John Lambo
The The basic premise of the law of attraction states that, "that which I give thought to and that which I believe or expect is."
The workshop will explore how we can purposefully use the Law of Attraction to contribute to the evolution of the Supreme.
The workshop will:
Define the Law of Attraction
Explore the potential and flaws of the Law of Attraction
Discuss the similarities and differences of the Law of Attraction to other universal laws
Look at where we are in our planetary and personal evolution in relation to implementing the Law of Attraction
Use examples to illustrate how we create our own reality
Relate how our individual realities can affect the evolution of the Supreme
Discuss how to influence and quicken the evolution of the Supreme by design rather than default
The Urantia Book tells us that every thought and deed promotes or limits the evolution of the Supreme, and that, "There is however, a real and emerging providence in the finite realm of universe existence, a true and actualizing correlation of the energies of space, motions of time, thoughts of intellect , ideals of character, the desires of spiritual natures, and the purposeful volitional acts of evolving personalities." (118.10.3).
Cosmic Morality and Cosmic Mind
Barbara Newsom
This workshop will explore God-conscious decision-making in the lives of mortals who share the faith of Jesus. After a brief presentation and readings, we will work individually and in small groups to expand our understanding of how cosmic mind functions in human experience to enhance God-consciousness and cosmic morality in our decision-action process. All types of decisions will be considered from the major, life-changing the mundane. We will explore how Jesus made decisions in doing our Father’s will in the triumph of love on Urantia.
Please bring your books and your own favorite references on these topics
The Urantia Book states, Man's true destiny consists in the creation of new and spirit goals and then in responding to the cosmic allurements of such supernal goals of nonmaterial value.
This workshop will be a facilitated discussion of the following:
What is a supernal goal, and how do we set and work toward achieving such goals during our lives on Urantia?
How does setting supernal goals relate to attaining cosmic morality?
How do we reconcile our conflicting urges, the material nature versus the infinite spark, to harness our potentials on this planet?
How do we actively, positively, and cooperatively follow our Thought Adjusters leading especially when such leading is different from the desires and impulses of our mortal minds?
To prepare:
Please bring a goal to work on, one you believe to have spirit value, and that you're willing to share. We will talk about our own achievements and setbacks in pursuit of these goals. Please join us even if you don't have a goal in mind; you can create one in the workshop!
The Role of Education in the Development of God-Consciousness and Cosmic Morality
UrantiaUniversity
One of the fascinating revelations in The Urantia Book is that the universe is one vast and intricate training school for developing God-conscious cosmic citizens. The methodology favored by Deity seems to be Continuous Divine Education + Wise and Loving Service = Universal Progress.
Education plays a large role in personal spiritual growth in terms of stimulating the growth of values and progress in meanings and realizing their cosmic inter-relatedness. If we were to adopt the educational methodology of the grand universe to the best of our abilities and discernment, what would it look like? What would be its mission? How would it be organized? What would be its educational philosophy? What would you find in its curriculum?
This workshop is an introduction to UrantiaUniversity, a newly formed global center of study and service, based on the truths in The Urantia Book, dedicated to training farseeing leaders and fostering spiritual community. Engage a panel of UrantiaUniversity founding members in discussing its dual mission of study and service. Learn more about how you can participate as a student, instructor or active community member.
Fostering the Progressive Growth of Human Society & Civilization: The Unceasing Campaign of the Master Seraphim (hands-on-role playing)
Neal Waldrop
In section 6 of Paper 114, the Chief of Seraphim describes how the master seraphim promote the progressive growth and development of human society. Since each of the twelve corps of master seraphim focuses on specific aspects of human civilization, workshop participants will divide into small groups. The members of each group will then play the roles of a particular corps of master seraphim, doing their best to agree on appropriate goals and strategies for improving human life on our planet Urantia.
Relationship to the study session theme: In section II of the Foreword, the Divine Counselor posits seven meanings for the word “God,” including meaning number 3, God the Spirit, and meaning number 4, God the Supreme. The work of the master seraphim is closely related to both, but it is important to bear in mind that we are not talking about the ordinary, house-and-garden variety guardian seraphim who do their best to promote the personal growth and development of individual human beings. To the contrary, the workshop will focus on the systematic efforts of the industrial-strength master seraphim who triumphed over many perplexing challenges during their exhilarating ascent to Seraphington, and who were subsequently assigned to one of the superuniverses so they could apply their accumulated wisdom to the situation of an inhabited world (in this case, ours). Their task is to promote the progressive growth and development of human society on Urantia, and it is reasonable to infer that a substantial part of their current work is closely associated with helping human beings overcome the disastrous consequences of the Lucifer rebellion and the Adamic default. Participants in the workshop will grapple with these challenges, acquiring a better understanding of the need to approach the many defects of contemporary civilization from a spiritual perspective.
First Among Equals: Challenges and responsibilities confronting U.S. Readers of The Urantia Book
Neal Waldrop
The Urantia Book, the fifth epochal revelation, was presented to human beings who were living in the United States of America. Ever since the original text was published in English in 1955, residents of the United States have constituted the largest share of readers of the revelation, although they probably are no longer a majority of the readers of The Urantia Book and its translations who are dispersed in many countries of the world. Nonetheless, there are persuasive reasons for suggesting that readers who live in the United States deserve to be considered “first” (i.e., chronologically, numerically, and perhaps also in the sense of integrating and synthesizing many overtones and implications of the revelatory teachings). On the other hand, readers who live in other countries most certainly are “equals” who are fully entitled to relate to the teachings from their own perspectives and to participate in the most inspiring of all possible pursuits — the personal quest for truth, the exhilaration of intellectual discovery, and the determination to explore the realities of personal religious experience.
Readers of The Urantia Book all across the world have been challenged to bring forth inspiring new spiritual realities that will uplift human life and society on our planet Urantia. Each of us has important personal responsibilities as an integral part of God’s plan, but none of us — no individual and no group of readers — is entitled to lecture or instruct others, or to seek to impose our interpretations or preferences upon them. With all these factors in mind, the speaker will explore the phrase “First among equals,” explaining why it appears to be closely associated with key aspects of the spiritual challenges that currently confront readers of The Urantia Book who live in the United States.
Relationship to the study session theme: The concept “God consciousness” cannot be limited to philosophic or spiritual awareness of the identities of the deity persons whom we can quite correctly refer to as God. To the contrary, true consciousness of God also entails attunement to and understanding of God’s actions and plans. The fifth epochal revelation is closely associated with the actions and plans of God the Sevenfold and God the Supreme, both for individual human beings and for humanity as a whole. In effect, the workshop will explore important emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of our human responses.
Workshop with UrantiaUniversity Board Members
PANEL: Tim Hobbs (President of UrantiaUniversity) and UrantiaUniversity Board members Elisabeth and John Callahan, Merritt Horn, Andre Radatus, Bill Rocap, Benet Rutenberg and Paula Thompson
One of the fascinating revelations in The Urantia Book is that the universe is one vast and intricate training school for developing God-conscious cosmic citizens. These perfecting beings demonstrate sublime insight, skill and love in how they serve and work with other beings throughout the grand universe. They are engaged in the ceaseless activity of attaining ever-expanding levels of God-consciousness while simultaneously demonstrating ever-perfecting alignment with the Father’s Will, or cosmic morality in relationship with other beings.
The methodology favored by Deity seems to be Continuous Divine Education + Wise and Loving Service = Universal Progress. Education plays a large role in personal spiritual growth in terms of growth of values and progress in meanings and realizing their cosmic inter-relatedness. If we who have embraced The Urantia Book were to adopt the educational methodology of the grand universe to the best of our abilities and discernment, what would it look like? What would be its educational philosophy? How would it be organized? What would be its mission? What would you find in its curriculum? What are the advantages of fostering Urantia Book scholarship? How would education take place? What is the relationship of study and service, of knowledge and application? How might such a model of realization and actualization result in expanding God-consciousness?
This workshop is an introduction to UrantiaUniversity, a newly formed global center of study and service, based on the truths in The Urantia Book, dedicated to training farseeing leaders and fostering spiritual community. You are invited to join a panel of UrantiaUniversity founding members in discussing its dual mission of study and service and some of the emerging responses to these questions. Learn more about the methods that are being considered to foster higher learning and how you can participate as a student, instructor or active community member.
