“What is human experience?  It is simply any interplay between an active and questioning self and any other active and external reality” (1123.3).  To experience TheUrantia Papers in a vital way, we approach as active and questioning selves.  The activity of the papers is a function of the communicative intentions of the authors combined with the “conspiracy” of the indwelling spirit of the Father and the Spirit of Truth of the Son to help us gain the essentials from our study.As an alert and active reader, you will formulate your own questions—and gather questions from a variety of sources–to assist in your study of the papers.  It is clear that there can be no definitive set of questions, ideally suited to each reader’s situation.             I have a double purpose in presenting these questions.  Obviously, any reader or study group may use them.  But they also have a more specific aim: one reason The Urantia Book was given well before the time of its intended splash upon the planetary mind was to prepare teachers and leaders.  If you are interested in using this site to develop such potentials, then please think of preparing for activities such as the following:

1. Grow spiritually; learn how better to express Jesus’ gospel in thought, word, and deed; and improve as a spiritual teacher.
2. Prepare to lead a study group.
3. Choose a project in which you are functioning or may function as a teacher and/or leader.  Read the book with an eye to that project.   “As a child [Jesus] accumulated a vast body of knowledge; as a youth he sorted, classified, and correlated this information; and now as a man of the realm he begins to organize these mental possessions preparatory to utilization in his subsequent teaching, ministry, and service . . . .” (1405)

 Do not let the questions or the added references in the questions become a burden. The references sometimes offer answers to the questions, but other passages may greatly augment such answers.  Some questions have definite answers; others do not.

Should you read the questions before studying the paper?  Perhaps not.  Although you may find that the questions helpfully direct your attention as you read, and some questions may require considerable re-reading to answer, reading with the questions in mind may distract you from other points that your Thought Adjuster and the Spirit of Truth are trying to get through to you.

I use the page numbers from the classic, original printing of The Urantia Book, page numbers that are still used (in parentheses) in the standard presentation by Urantia Foundation, where you can read the book at www.urantia.org  In the references, I number the paragraphs beginning with 0 if there is a partial paragraph at the top of a page.  However, there is some inconsistency in this regard, since these questions are being updated from a set done in the mid 1980s; then I counted incomplete paragraphs at the top of the page as paragraph 1.  I use “L” for the last paragraph, and sometimes find it easier to refer to a portion of the page, dividing a page into four quarters–a, b, c, and d.  The pound sign–#–indicates a section number.

Do not hesitate to contact me with about any errors you find or suggestions you may have—or if I can assist you in any way.Let’s get started.

 

Foreword

1.      What are the revelators’ purposes in the Fifth Epochal Revelation as presented here (1.2; 16.7; 17.2)?

2.      What should be our attitude and response to the fact that much of the Foreword is difficult to comprehend?  Are we expected to comprehend everything? What is the value of reading material that is somewhat over our heads?

3.      How does Deity unify and coordinate by means of divinity?  How do truth, beauty, and goodness; love, mercy, and ministry; and justice, power, and sovereignty function to unify and coordinate?  (3.1-5) 0:1.14-18

4.      From “the beginning,” a tension was introduced into reality, a tension between deified and undeified reality.  How do we experience the tension of that difference in ourselves?  In our world?  (6.1-7.8) 0:3.21-0:4.10)

5.      How does the concept of the human being given in Section V differ from alternative concepts available in our culture?

6.      In the Acknowledgement at the end, what principles of teaching are implied?  What invitation to study?  How can we read so as to facilitate the ministry of the Thought Adjuster and the Spirit of Truth as they help us grasp the reality of spiritual values and the philosophy of universe meanings and help us spiritually appropriate truth that may enhance our religious experience?

 

 

Part I.  The Central and Superuniverses

 

Paper 1: The Universal Father

 1.      The first sentence of Paper 1 performs a crucial function, without which sentence two would be premature. See  (1592.6) 141:6.4

 2.      It is possible to read The Urantia Book as a school of thinking, feeling, and doing (correlated with truth, beauty, and goodness). (551.1) 48:5.6.  A major lesson on thinking appears in the second sentence of the paper.  What do you discover as you ponder the sequence: creator, controller, and upholder? (21.1) 1:0.1

 3.      Lessons on feeling come in paragraph two (insofar as love involves feeling) and in paragraph three (our supreme ambition and consuming desire). What does it mean to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength? And (shifting toward being and doing) what does it mean to become perfect in your sphere? 143:2 (1609#2); 140:10.1 (1584.4). And what does it mean to become like God as he is in his universal sphere of righteous supremacy? 1:0.2 (21.2); 143:1.4 (1608.1); 181:2.16 (1958.3).

 4.      By paragraph four, we see our “first duty,” which might be regarded lesson as a lesson on doing) (22.1) 1:0.4. Jesus’ first “personal and wholehearted decision” led to his reception of a Thought Adjuster. What happens when you make your dutiful decisions personal and wholehearted?

 5.      How does Section 1, The Father’s Name, help us avoid dogmatism?  What is the recommended way to find one’s own name for God?  Why is it important to emphasize freedom in choosing a name for God?  Why is our name for God “of little importance” (21.4-23.3) 1:1.1-6? 

 6.      What meanings of the Father concept of God do we find in this paper?

 7.      In section 2, what relations between God and creation are revealed?  How can we relate to the Thought Adjuster so that we give to other persons the only possible proof of the existence of the living God?

 8.      What lesson about the way the authors use language to awaken our mind is implied in Section 3 when the author refers to a seer as saying “He passes by and I see him not”? (25.2) 1:3.2

 9.      What makes God mysterious? (Section 4)

10.  What are the practical implications of the teaching that “the physical bodies of mortals are ‘the temples of God'”? (26.4) 1:4.4)

11.  Does religious experience prove that God is a personality?  If not, then what are the implications of that fact? (28.7) 1:5.10

12.  How does the definition of personality given in section 5 compare with alternative definitions available in the culture?   What conception of human personality do you come up with when you take time to consider human personality as “the time-space image shadow” of the Creator personality? (29.3) 1:5.13; (29.7) 1:6.1

13.  What are the implications for the way we study in the remark that “even to approach the knowing of a divine personality, all of man’s personality endowments must be wholly consecrated to the effort; half-hearted, partial devotion will be unavailing”? (30.4) 1:6.5

14.  How does man attain divine union?  What does this teaching suggest about spiritual experience generally?  (31.2) 1:7.2

 

Paper 2: The Nature of God

 1.  Why are we personally introduced to the Father in Paper 1 before being given a lesson on the nature of God in Paper 2?

 2.  Why does the author express hesitation about presenting this paper (33.1)?  What guidelines does the author give for our study?  The master assignment on this paper is to correlate the the teachings on the qualities of the nature of God, one by one, section by section, with stories or observations that illustrate those qualities in the life of Jesus. Please note that the Divine Counselors “are the counsel of God.” (216.5) 19:2.1  In what ways do you find that Jesus exemplifies these qualities?

 3.  Note in this paper the pattern of introducing characteristics of the divine nature with a series of quotations, a mini-topical study, drawing on world religious teachings.  Note that Jesus sometimes did the same.  What are the advantages of such a teaching approach?

 4.  What are the relations between justice and mercy?

 5.  What happens when you ponder the loving nature of God?

 6.  What characteristics of the goodness of God are presented in section 6?  How can you find these characteristics in your own experience?  How can you present the goodness of God to someone else?

 7.  How does section 7 explain the idea that truth is relative?  How does this idea of the relativity of truth differ from the modern doctrine of relativism, which denies any divine standard of truth?

 8.  What happens when you seek the creative design behind some phenomenon? (42.6) 2:7.6

 9.  What ways of discerning truth are mentioned?  What experience do you have as you try to work with each of them?  (42.7) 2:7.6

10.  What is the one-sidedness of modern religion, and what will it take to rehabilitate it? (43.2) 2:7.9

11.  What suggestions for developing a philosophy of living do you derive from section 7?  Why is it helpful to have a philosophy of living?

12.  Do you find any rationale for the sequence of sections in this Paper?  What sections are identified as central?

 

Paper 3: The Attributes of God

 1.  Why does it make sense to learn of the wonderful nature of God before receiving a lesson on the awesome attributes of God?

 2.  Philosophers and theologians discuss whether it is really possible, given the extent of creature suffering, to affirm that God is all‑knowing, all‑powerful, and totally benevolent.  How does this paper contribute to that discussion?

 3.  Study section 1 to discover actual and potential aspects of God’s everywhereness on physical, mindal, and spiritual levels. 

  4.  How in section 1 does the author help us avoid getting overwhelmed by the awesome everywhereness of God?

 5.  How do we determine the degree and limitations of the Father’s influence in us?  How does the teaching on this point help us understand when someone denies having any experiential contact with God? (46.4) 3:1.12

  6.  Section 2 on God’s infinite power prepares us to wonder in some cases whether the hand of God is present in some events that we observe, and prepares us to be shocked by some of the acts of God.  How can we sustain our faith in the face of what may seem to us to be “crushing cruelty” and “utter indifference” to our happiness?

 7.  To what extent can we satisfy the quest for a friend with the Thought Adjuster (45.3)?

 8.  What factors help and hinder our experience of God’s infinite love?  What happens when we take time for that experience? (50.5‑6) 3:4.6-7

 9.  What types of challenge in life call for the development of what virtues? Can you verify some progress in these areas? (51.4-13) 3:5.5-14

10.  I once attended a study group that concluded their meetings by standing and reciting the last paragraph of this paper as a benediction.  As you read, do you find gems that would bless you and others if you learned them by heart? (1362.3) 123:5.2?

Paper 4: God’s Relation to the Universe

 1.  What does “providence” mean in the popular religious notion that the author has in mind? (54.4) 4:1.1  (Cf. “The Father as a person may at any time interpose a fatherly hand in the stream of cosmic events” [1305.1] 118:10.6)  How is that popular notion modified by emphasizing evolution?  What feelings or attitudes are appropriate responses to the teachings given in section 1?

 2.  Consider the teachings on “accidents,” 56.1-4 (cf. 556#7; 637.2; 1232.2; b, 1304#10; 1388.2; 1649.3; 1661.5; 1830#4.  How does the book avoid pantheism (1299#6)?

 3.  Give an example of an experience in which you have glimpsed the thread of perfection in nature (56.7).

 4.  In the light of section 2, what could you say in dialogue with contemporary religionists who direct worship to the earth and to nature spirits?  What ideas might you use in search of common ground?  What positive message can you offer to present an alternative to polytheistic nature worship?

 5.  Explain the teachings on the apparent defects of nature at 57.5 (cf. 1268.1‑2; 1222.2).

 6.  How is the fatherhood of God clarified in 59.1-2?

 7.  Explain the teaching on worship at 59.4 (cf. 1153.3).  What is a concept (1297.4; examples are given on 1859.11 [section 2, paragraph 1] and 2059.4.), and what might it take to form a concept (1372.6)?

 8.  What is the point of speaking about “each recurring episode of human existence”? (59.5) 4:4.9?

 9.  In what circumstances–and in what manner–is it appropriate to speak up about erroneous ideas of God (section 5), especially about the atonement doctrine?  Consider that Jesus was positive and tactful and also that he early challenged somepopular ideas of his followers (1535#8) and–in the circumstances surrounding the epochal sermon–took the offensive on a broader range of issues (1535#8) 137:8; (1708.1 and 1709#2) 153:1.2 and 143:2  Create a positive teaching about the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross.

10.  What’s your favorite selection from this paper that the previous questions overlooked (smile)?

 

Paper 5: God’s Relation to the Individual

     The complex beauty of this paper (as with each paper) awaits discovery by the student who will engage in structural analysis, seeking the creative design behind the phenomenon (42.6).

 1.  How do the teachings on spiritual experience bridge the “contradiction” in #1 (Section One) between the early remark about “the inability of the finite creature to approach the infinite Father” and the later affirmation that “God is approachable”?

 2.  What teachings in #1 help explain poor moral conduct (cf. 68.4) and lack of success in experiencing communion with God?

 3.  When you are reading along and come to a remark like “you should rejoice” (63.1) what should you do?

 4.  How can a person who knows about the importance of worship transcend self-interest in worship (65.5)?

 5.  How does working out the details of your practical life with the agencies of the Infinite Spirit differ from prayer to and communion with the Son (66.1)?

 6.  The soul “craves and initiates worship” (66.4).  How can we facilitate that process if it is the soul that “feels values” (1219.5), and if we are to “engage in worship as a natural and spontaneous reaction to the recognition of the Father’s matchless personality and because of his lovable nature and adorable attributes” (65.5; cf. papers 1-3)?

 7.  What does it mean to conceive God as “the reality of values, the substance of meanings, and the life of truth” (67.0)?

 8.  How can religions of morals, metaphysics, and ethics each lead to a religion of service (67.5)?

 9.  What changes in the God concept have occurred between the early 20th century and the present day (69.7; cf. 72.1)?  If we relate to God as our Father and refer to him as “our Father” are we basing ourselves on a philosophic concept or theologic definition or neither?  What are the current philosophic concepts and theologic definitions of God? Does the language of The Urantia Book need to change?  (cf. 908.5; 1040.5; 1091.6; 1096.7).

10.  What it like to live as a member of the universal family?

 

Paper 6: The Eternal Son

 1.  What are the differences between the Universal Father and the Eternal Son?

 2.  What is mercy (75L)?

 3.  What does it mean that the Eternal Son is called our mother (76.0)?  Compare 75.last with 79.4; 92.3.  What does it imply for the comprehension of human partnerships if men are Father-like and women Son-like (711.3) (even though the pattern for pair marriage is the relation between the Creator Son and the Mother Spirit–369.1; cf. 1471.1)?

 4.  Explain the definition of mind as “the ability to know and be known.” (78.5)

 5.  Who is the pattern of mortal personality attainment (80.2)?

 

Paper 7: Relation of the Eternal Son to the Universe

 1.  What are the implications of the verb to bestow? (81.2; 85.6; 86#5)

 2.  How clearly do you believe you recognize spiritual cohesiveness (82.5)?  Discuss.

 3.  In what way can harmonious balance on Havona serve as a model for us? (83.6)

 4.  Explain the teachings in 84#3 on praying “in the spirit.”

 5.  Explain the three divine perfection plans (85#4).  How do they complement each other?  What projects do they encompass that we can participate in? 

 6.  Compare the bestowals of the Eternal Son with those of the Creator Sons.

 7.  What comes to mind as you do the meditation proposed on 89.5?

 

Paper 8: The Infinite Spirit

 1.  What steps are suggested for us to comprehend the ministry of the Infinite Spirit? (92.5; 95.2-3)  With what aspects of the Infinite Spirit can finite morals identify?

 2.  Is it plausible to find in the first action of the Infinite Spirit (90.6) the pattern for human worship?

 3.  Is there a pattern for human action in the way the Infinite Spirit enacts the combined concept of the Universal Father and the Eternal Son?

 4.  Why can a child best relate himself to reality by first mastering the relationships of the child-parent situation (92.2)? 

 5.  What meanings and values of the concept of ministry are discernible in this paper?

 6.  What is our part in the transformation that will result in our being presented “blameless” before the Father?

 7.  How can we begin to relate to the Infinite Spirit by responding to the teachings in Section 6?

 

Paper 9: Relation of the Infinite Spirit to the Universe

 1.  In what ways can the Infinite Spirit be a pattern for human thinking and acting?

 2.  Why would a merciful being ever bring suffering to a creature (100.2; 39.2; 48.2)?

 3.  Comment on the implied definition of action at 101.5.

 4.  Comment on the “definition” of spirit given at 102.5.

 5.  How do mind and will function with respect to meanings and values? (102.6)

 6.  How do we harm our minds (103.5)?

 7.  Spirit and energy are quite divergent on the human level (104.6).  What does this fact imply for new age conceptions that seem to confuse energy and spirit?  Note, however, that there is talk about mind and spirit energies (47.3) and that the Adjuster is pure energy as well as pure spirit (1182.6).  What are the values and limitations of different ways of talking about these things?

 8.  As you consider the list of functions of mind at 106.last, consider what the distinctions might be between reason and judgment, creative imagination and idea association, decision and choice. 

 

Paper 10: The Paradise Trinity

1.  To what extent is the self-giving generosity of the First Source and Center (108.4-5) a pattern for us?

2.  What thoughts arise for you if you contemplate the cooperation of the Son and the Spirit (111.1) as a pattern for teamwork?  What does their cooperation suggest as a model for pair relationships?

3.  How have you observed the enhanced power of group association (113.3)?

4.  What implications for your understanding of love and law do you glean from Section 6?  There is a tendency to regard law as an external imposition, alien to who we are, and the opposite of love.  Revelation teaches otherwise.  (Cf. “Law is life itself and not the rules of its conduct” 555.1; the second triunity, 1148).  The First Source and Center is not only presented as the locus where law takes origin; “he is law.”  It is not hard for us to imagine Deity being the author of legislation, but to hear that the First Source and Center is law stretches our capacity to comprehend what kind of being God is.  Recall Jesus’ refusal to administer punishment as an individual (1468#1).  Note the arrangements for the presentation of evidence.  To play at probing the Paradise Trinity, try to think how you can add love, mercy, and ministry and get justice.

5.  What is the import of the facts that neither the Trinity nor the Supreme Being appear to be concerned with the individual (115.4) and that, to us in the present age, many of the acts of the Paradise Trinity will not seem considerate of the welfare of the individual mortal (116.1)?  Do we feel a little shudder, chill, fear, or anticipation in reading these lines?  What attitude do we need to mobilize in response?

6.  What attitudes will we need, given that the Universal Absolute will always “intrigue, mystify, baffle, and challenge” us (116.L [last paragraph])?

 

Paper 11: The Eternal Isle of Paradise

1.  Get a vital sense of your Paradise destiny (127.6; 1117.4).  What do you find most attractive about Paradise in this paper?

2.  What does it mean that Paradise is not in space?  (120.3‑4; 118.5; 119d; see the Foreword on pattern, p. 10)

3.  What might be the cosmic significance of the ellipse?  Cf. 125.6; 1137.5; 1152.1.

 

Paper 12: The Universe of Universes

1.  Explain how “only forward‑looking and progressive attitudes are personally real” (135c).

2.  How is stability achieved? (135d; 1209c; 1217.3)

3.  How does the section on the part and the whole illuminate the tension between the obviously loving attitude of Jesus for the individual portrayed in Part IV and the apparently callous treatment of some human groups in some passages in Part III?

4.  Synthesize the teachings from the passages on shadows‑‑29.7; 82.2; 140d‑141a; 498b; 1117.4; 1124.5 (57.5); 1266.5; 2021b.

5.  How can we create spirit goals? (141.3; 2094c; 1220‑21; 2087.1; 2088.4)

6.  How should the knowledge of our spirit nucleus transform our attitude to trouble disappointment, defeat, and death? (142.1)

7.  How can we coordinate the teaching about our “real and divine self” (139.3) with the teaching that the Adjuster is not yet ours by right of possession but is destined to become one with us if we survive?

 

Paper 13: The Sacred Spheres of Paradise

1.  What especially attracts you about your future experience here?

2.  The current tendency toward irresponsible communication makes it appropriate to do an extended topical study on secrets.  What are the different reasons for secrecy?  (79.1; 144.4,6; 145.1; 147.2,5; 148.5; 149.1,6; 208.3‑5; 219.3 221.2).  Think about the different secrets in Jesus’ life and how they were handled: his birth was an epochal event, but premature publicity was nearly fatal (Paper 122); he disclosed less about himself as he realized increasingly who he was (1391.4‑5); he dissociated the phases of his earth career (1423.5‑8); he restrained talk of the voice at his baptism (1545.4); he forbade denunciations of Caesar or his servants and told them to stay out of political, social, and economic tangles (1542.5; 1580‑81); he tried to keep his healings etc. quiet; he presented his teachings in parables (1689.3; 1692.1); he restrained the revelation of what Peter discovered in his confession (1749.4); he gave special teaching to those (e.g., Nathaniel, 1767.4) who were ready for it; he restricted meetings for counsel and planning to tried and tested disciples (1717.4); he recommended that our real prayers be in secret (1640.2); we should waste no time speculating about the mysteries of his incarnation (1317.2) and excarnation (2021.4‑9); note Jesus’ selective answering of questions in his trial (1979.3; 1982.7,9; 1983c; 1984.2; 1986.3; 1990d; 1992.5; 1996.1); and contrast legitimate secrecy with the evasion of Peter’s denial (1980#2). 

What should be our attitude and response to information that should remain secret?  To information that should have been kept secret but has been made public?  How can we direct curiosity into positive channels?  What might be the universe advantages of learning to be responsible about secrets?

 

Paper 14: The Central and Divine Universe

1.  What are the purposes of the central universe of Havona?

2.  List the aspects of beauty you find here.

3.  What lessons on attitude toward adventure are given in the last group of paragraphs in 158#5? on 159.happens to our sense of time as we pass through Havona (159.3

 

Paper 15: The Seven Superuniverses

1.  As we pass beyond the local universe, we first receive education in physical matters and administration, then in intellectual training, before entering the worlds of spirit culture.  Can you see a reason for this?  Is there a pattern here that is visible on lower levels?  Does this explain the order of information presented to the reader (cf. 164.3)?

2.  What do we learn about justice from the account of the superuniverse tribunals?

3.  At times the language used to describe physical phenomena suggests analogies to personal phenomena.  What do you make of this?  Should we try‑‑ideally‑‑to explore all possible analogies?  Can we truly grasp analogies between the material and supermaterial worlds? (1135#6, esp. 1137.4; 2078.8)  Note other occurences: 462.3, 1117.4; 1437.4.

4.  Our scientists say that entropy‑‑the tendency of energy organization to degrade‑‑is a cosmic process.  Orvonton is “apparently running down.”  Some cosmologists, however, predict an eventual total decay of universe organization.  How can a student of The Urantia Book respond to such a pessimistic cosmology?

 

Paper 16: The Seven Master Spirits

1.  Try to get a sense of the character of each Master Spirit as much as possible (186#3).  Why would they ever have to vote (188.3)?

2.  Explain the teaching on the three intuitions of cosmic mind as carefully as possible (191#6).  What questions arise for you as you study this section?  Why are they called intuitions?  Why are they also called assumptions?  How is it that these intuitions are in need of sharpening?  How can they be sharpened?  Why is the 192 list of three intuitions different from the 195#9 list of four universe-reality realizations?  Note the comments on these functions in following sections.

2.  What are the ingredients in strong character? (192.6)  Illustrate how these ingredients might be highly developed but ununified.  How can a person enhance the unification of these ingredients?  What are the ingredients of virtuous action?  How can we enhance our foresight?  Our sense of proportion? 

3.  Explain the author’s teaching about the interrelation of self‑consciousness and other‑consciousness (195‑96).

4.  How can you reason from the relationship with the Father to the recognition of brotherhood (196.7)?

5.  What are the meanings and values of the sequence of worshiping God because he is, because he is in us, and because we are in him (196.7)?

 

Paper 17: The Seven Supreme Spirit Groups

1.  How do the beings presented here seem to fit together as members in the Spirit family?

2.  What are the analogies and disanalogies between a local universe Creative Spirit and a human wife and mother? 

3.  Take this opportunity to study the offspring of the Seven Spirits of the Circuits, the tertiary seconaphim on pp. 313‑17.

 

Paper 18: The Supreme Trinity Personalities

1.  In our universe career, we are to become “administrators.”  What connotations does that term have for you?  What new connotations do you derive from this paper?

2.  Consider the importance of secrets in the universe (207#1; 79.1; 84.2; 144#1; 221a; 219b; 228L; 258b; 317.1; 351.4; 410.4; 526.4; 971.4; 992.1; 1309.4; 1317.2; 1403.6; 1454.6; 1610).  How do the teachings given here challenge the modern drive to expose every secret?  When may secrets be harmful?  What are the benefits of legitimate secrecy?

3.  Let’s take the opportunity of this paper to review our information about and our attitudes toward the Ancients of Days: 11.6; 32.2; 36#3; (178.4); 180#12; 1272.5; 1326.3.  We can each ask a number of questions.  What are my feelings as I read about justice and trial and judgment and execution?  Why do I have these feelings?  To what extent are my thoughts and feelings harmonious with those of the higher universe revealed in these papers?  Are they any adjustments that I can honestly make at this time?

 

Paper 19: The Co‑ordinate Trinity‑Origin Beings

1.  How does 215.1-9 explain the structure of The Urantia Book?  To what extent should other teachings follow this model?  How strong an argument is implicit on p. 215 for reading the Urantia Papers sequentially? 

2.  Develop and present an example of considering a problem in terms of origin, history, and destiny.

3.  If Divine Counselors are the counsel of Deity, how does underscore the counsel given in the papers they indited?

3.  What do sections 2, 3, and 4 imply about the importance of synthesizing the perspectives of different authors of the Urantia papers?

4.  If we agree that much essential spiritual knowledge must be transmitted superconsciously and that the Thought Adjusters are involved in that process, what follows?  (cf. 1206.5‑9; 1583.1‑2; 1609.4)

 

Paper 20: The Paradise Sons of God

1.  In what respect are these Sons equal?

2.  What are the tasks of ministers (as contrasted with administrators)? (224.3)

3.  What happens when an age is terminated? (226.1; cf. what Jesus did, 1905‑10)

4.  In what ways was Jesus’ life typical of bestowal lives? (288#6)

5.  How will we interact with Trinity Teacher Sons as we ascend? (231.3)

6.  What values of the Deities are revealed by the Paradise Sons of God? (232#10)

 

Paper 21: The Paradise Creator Sons

1.  What new ideas about Jesus do you derive from this paper?

2.  What ideas about family life are presented here?

3.  Comment on the remark about the human condition, 240.3.

4.  Explain the teachings on mercy and justice at 241.2.

5.  What comment does the Perfector of Wisdom offer on Jesus as “the way” (242L)?

 

Paper 22: The Trinitized Sons of God

1.  What opportunities does this paper reveal for mortal ascenders?

2.  What alignments of soul attitude are required to read this paper and keep up with it, not just intellectually, but spiritually?

3.  Suppose a future Mighty Messenger, One High in Authority, and One Without Name and Number are studying The Urantia Book.  What use of the book do you imagine they would make?

4.  Who, from the annals of planetary history, most exhibits the qualities which, if consistently developed through the ascendant career, would lead to trinitization?

5.  What concept would you most like to participate in trinitizing?

 

Paper 23: The Solitary Messengers

1.  In what ways are the Solitary Messengers important to the friendliness of the universe? (261.3, 262.2)

2.  In this paper are three passages containing implications for our attitude as mortals on an evolutionary sphere (258.5), as personalities in Orvonton (259.3), and as personnel of the grand universe facing the unrevealed adventures of the outer space levels (263.3).  What is required to identify with, or acquire, those attitudes?

3.  Consider the manifold statements acknowledging how tough life is on Urantia (100.2; 158.4; 258c; 361.1; 1621.4; 2063.1).  Why is it important to see these statements alongside idealistic exhortations?

 

Paper 24: Higher Personalities of the Infinite Spirit

1.  In what passages‑‑and how‑‑does the author bring this account to life for the reader?

2.  How is the concept of personality advanced here?

3.  What would it be like to work on Salvington next to an Associate Inspector?

4.  Try to identify with the thrill that attended Grandfanda’s arrival in Havona.

 

Paper 25: The Messenger Hosts of Space

1.  “In the spiritual world there is no such thing as menial work; all service is sacred and exhilarating” (273c).  Can we taste such experience now? (1475.1; 2049.4) 

2.  Show the presentation of a lesson on feeling through noting how the author, One High in Authority, develops paragraph 4 on p. 274.

3.  List the practical lessons about justice and adjudication that you derive from the sections on the Universal Conciliators.  Can we request a conciliating commission?

4.  What are the implications for action‑‑and for teaching‑‑of 280.6‑‑that there is a best and right way, etc.

5.  List what you learn of companionship from the closing sections in this paper.

6.  Give examples of physical, mindal, and spiritual laws. (280d)

7.  We speak of making a mental note of something.  What might a spiritual note be?

 

Paper 26: Ministering Spirits of the Central Universe

1.  As you consider the ascendant attitudes on 291.3, recall what an attitude is (1227.5) and how Jesus encouraged Fortune (1437‑38).  Could the mobilization of these ascendant attitudes function as a part of prayer (1002c, principle #1)?

2.  How does 295.2‑3 illustrate the function of a gospel on higher universe levels?

3.  Let’s begin our study of rest, recreation and diversion: 297.4‑6 (431.1, 544.2); 299#1; 505.6‑506.2; 380.7; 2.4; 125.3‑4;  316.5 (161.10; 163.1; 147.3; 151.2).  What kind of spirituality might result if we were to depend exclusively on these passages?

Paper 27: Ministry of the Primary Supernaphim

1.  What ideas can we use 299#1 about how to rest?

2.  What do you learn about ethics from section 3? (Cf. 1086.6; 1372.7; 316.6; 363.2; 388c)

3.  How does proper conduct facilitate worship? (301.4)

4.  What do you learn about philosophy from section 6?

5.  What subtle lessons on worship are implied in 303#7?

Paper 28: Ministering Spirits of the Superuniverses

1.  Does the diverse authorship of the Urantia Papers enable us to replicate in any way the coordination of higher and lower sources of wisdom of the primary and secondary seconaphim (309‑311)?  Give an example of how wisdom may be synthesized from higher‑ and lower‑origin authors.

2.  From those to whom much is given much is expected.  What do you think is expected from those who are given to read about the Joy of Existence (312.3)?  (Cf. Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast, 1894#5.)

3.  Why are origins so important (314)?

4.  Explain the mercy process on p. 315.  How can a person be just?  How does this fit with pp. 1762‑63?

5.  What is the import of time (315)?

6.  Discourse on trustworthiness (315-16).

7.  What are the main lessons in this paper on service?

Paper 29: The Universe Power Directors

1.  Notice the verbs that describe physical control.  How do these activities give an image of balance and harmony with analogies for our own work with energy?

2.  Study 1276#7 along with 323.6.

3.  Study 862#6, 864#8, and 865#9 along with 325.4.

 

Paper 30: Personalities of the Grand Universe

1.  What are the differences between the Paradise Classification of Living Beings and the Uversa Personalty Register?  How would you explain the differences?  What clue to you find to the sequence of papers in Part I?

2.  Why might an ascender want to join a courtesy colony?

3.  What are the implications of 339.7?

4.  Explore section 4 as thoroughly as possible.

5.  Let’s study what it takes to achieve the third circle: 341.1; 1209.6; 569.4; 158d; 1242.1‑5.

 

Paper 31: The Corps of the Finality

1.  What is your speculation about the future members of the Mortal Corps of the Finality whose place is now held by the Evangels of Light?  Does 1121.4‑5 refer to this kind of speculation?  Explain.

2.  What attitude do you derive from section 10?  Does 353.4‑7 foster attitude?  If so, how?

3.      What concept of your own destiny have you personally developed thus far?