UrantiaUniversity, Inc. - #1008 A Study of the Foreword to The Urantia Book

Class #1008

A Study of the Foreword to The Urantia Book

Part I: March 11-April 14, 2018 || Part II: April 29-May 26, 2018

- Registration has closed for this class -

About the Class

The Foreword defines the terms that form the basis for the revealed truths contained in subsequent papers. It is an invaluable study reference of cosmological and spiritual terms and concepts. We will survey these terms closely to build an understanding and comprehension that will greatly deepen our appreciation for the subsequent papers and stimulate more profound future studies.

NOTE: The 9-week class will be offered over an 11-week period. It consists of two parts with a rest break in the middle. Part I is five weeks long, followed by a two-week break. Part II is four weeks long and immediately follows the two-week break.

Students register once for the entire 9-week class.

Detailed Description

We are told of our confusion regarding many of the terms used in The Urantia Book, and of the difficulties the revelators encountered in presenting their concepts of revealed truth. This difficulty and confusion is due in part to the limitations of mortal mind, the paucity of relevant concepts, the absence of ideas and words to adequately depict various levels of reality and personal spiritual experience, as well as personal biases - conscious and unconscious – inherent in previously established understandings of these terms.

Accepting our station as it is, the revelators nonetheless indited the book for our personal and planetary edification. And in turn, we accept the conditions that guided them in writing the papers and courageously setting them forth, doing our best to develop and expand our knowledge and understanding of these fundamental concepts.

We note that the revelators tell us that the purpose of The Urantia Book is to “expand cosmic consciousness and enhance spiritual perception.” Indeed, movement towards the achievement of these will be one of our shared goals in this course. These are the points on our compass which lead us into productive reflection on the insights and personal questions gained from diligent study of the text.

The Foreword does present many concepts that are difficult of human understanding. Nevertheless, we will valiantly take on the material, ask clarifying questions, and draw upon the assistance of our own “conspiracy of spiritual forces” to come away from each period of study with new insight and understanding. As noted, The Foreword also serves as a resource for future study, and as a reference guide when reading other papers as questions arise about the meanings of terms used in those papers.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, it is hoped that students who sincerely engaged in a study of the Foreword will be able to:

Describe the relevators and the problems they had in inditing the papers, including their use of human concepts.
Discern the need to maintain fluidity in the ongoing development of their personal universe frames.
Elucidate the basic cosmography of the master universe and state the purposes of the book.
Express clear, concise definitions of terms found in the Foreword.
Explain the difference between existential and experiential deities; give examples of deified, undeified, and interassociated realities; and identify the three main gravity circuits.
Articulate a chronology of the origin and differentiation of reality, as well as express an understanding of the roles and functions of the seven absolutes of infinity.
Identify and give examples of the four levels of universe reality from a mortal perspective.

One of the goals for any in-depth study of The Urantia Book at UUI is for students to experience expanded cosmic consciousness and enhanced spiritual perception.

FAQ

Can I audit this class?

Due to the nature of the study, this class is open only to Participants and not to Auditors.

Participants are expected to make an effort to complete the weekly reading and discussion questions and engage in the online webinars as often as possible.

Will I get a grade for this class?

At this time, no grades are given for completing UUI classes. This class has been designed chiefly for personal enrichment.

Word cloud of the Foreword

Course Format

Time frame: 9 weeks

Effort: Minimum of 5 hours/week

Level: Intermediate

Class Format:

Instructional videos

Assigned and suggested readings from The Urantia Book

Learning exercises

Discussion forums in the online classroom

Weekly webinars (live, interactive discussions in an online meeting room among the students and UUI instructor)

Language: English

Recommended Background

This course is intended for serious readers of The Urantia Book who are familiar with its advanced theology, cosmology, and conceptual framework. However, students of all levels may benefit from it.

After I enroll, what happens next?

Upon enrolling in the class you will receive aconfirmation email.
Around one week before the class starts, you will receive a reminder email about the start of class.
A third email with login information for the class will be sent to enrolled students the night before the start date of the class. This email will contain the student's user name and password and the link to Urantia University's Wikispaces classroom.

Instructor: Michael Hill

Michael has been reading and studying the Urantia Book since 1965 when he purchased his first edition off the shelf in a book store in Santa Monica. Its teachings have formed and continue to form the foundation of his life.

He was active in the Urantia movement in the 70s, 80s and early 90s and gave several presentations at ICs and regional conferences during those years. He currently attends a study group in nearby Corvallis, OR, coordinates the Fellowship’s Inmate Correspondence Program and is chair of the Urantian Communities Northwest (UCNOW), a regional group serving the Urantia brotherhood in the Pacific Northwest. He has also other online Urantia Book courses.

He was born and lived almost all of his life along Santa Monica Bay in California, where he played an active community role until he retired in 2010. He moved to Oregon where he and his partner of 32 years, Greg (also a reader), started a small, gentlemen’s farm off a gravel road, two miles outside of a town with a population of 164 (Alsea, OR), in the Coast Range of Oregon. They raise hay, berries (which they sell as jam at the local mercantile), fruits and the usual range of vegetables.

He is a retired high school teacher, licensed Marriage and Family Counselor and Educational Consultant on Land Use.

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