During a phone conversation with a new reader an inquiry was made that caught me in one of those modes where the synapses weren't firing quite up to par - I think they call it a "senior moment". The question related to those pusillanimous individuals who are afraid to move up from complacency, and perhaps even some of those who are just stuck in their ways. The question being:  Why do you think there are so many people that are so undesirous of pursuing the Urantia papers? Why do they fail to grasp the significance of something so enlightening?

As a retired psychologist I'm certainly aware of the ideas regarding cultural conditioning, intellectual comfort levels, ego defense mechanisms (embracing denial, repression, etc.), and not to mention just plain complacency. Yet somehow I blurted out, off the top of my head, something possibly having to do with the lack of Thought Adjuster contact on a primitive subconscious level. Now, even though I've given much thought to the above question and we have been exposed to this question with a plausible rationale given in the Urantia book - nothing eye-opening came to mind at the time. This perplexing question has baffled many of us from time to time. After all, who in their right mind wouldn't want to read the Urantia revelation. Of course there are many who have vested interests in what they believe to be the answers to what satisfies their spiritual needs, irrespective of truth or reasoning. Many examples come to mind: the Scientologist is searching for a personal efficiency paradigm to facilitate daily living, Muslims desire an autocratic religion of dictum and rules, the phony cults just want any sort of recognition (witch cults, etc.), and there are those that play with serpents in church, and those that chant away the day praising Lord Krishna, and on and on it goes even to Christian fundamentalist who have discovered a panacea in the many false realities of scripture.

But all have one thing in common, a conscious suppression to acquire a higher expansion and understanding of truth. Jesus admonished us to "follow the truth wherever it may lead" The importance of this truth pursuit is amply discussed on in the Urantia book (pgs. 2062-2065) and relates to an acquirement apart from general intellectualization - that acquirement being the reception of the bestowal of the Spirit of Truth. And not to accept this spiritual variable bestowal has to be considered the quintessential affront to all higher spiritual entities residing in our universe, for it is actually a conscious denial of those factors that bring us closer to God, to an understanding of Deity and the acceptance of the brotherhood of mankind. Perhaps our problem towards truth rejection relates to a missing ingridient in human nature - a genetic mishap due to the Adamic default, for the revelation plainly states that: "It was the divine plan that the mortal races of Urantia should have had physical natures more naturally spirit responsive." (pg.382) Our ancestry was not "fully Adamized by the Edenic bestowal." It further states that: "... as the Urantia races were in a measure advanced by the bestowal of Adam, then is the way better prepared for the Spirit of Truth to co-operate with the indwelling Adjuster to bring forth the beautiful harvest of the character fruits of the Spirit." This then is the crux of our thesis - "If you do not reject this spirit, even though eternity may be required to fulfill the commission, 'He will guide you into all truth'." (pg.382)

The most relevant aspect to the question is that the Spirit of Truth poured out upon all humanity is a variable pour. If you're already drunk with the love of truth you actually receive a greater pour even receiving more as one pursues the truth (seemingly there's no saturation level), and concomitantly those who have little regard for the truth receive less (pg. 2063-4). "This new teacher (Spirit of Truth) was bestowed upon mankind, and every soul received him in accordance with the love of truth and the capacity to grasp and comprehend spiritual realities..."

Could it be that individuals who fail to pursue truth in life (a genuine love for truth) are not endowed with a greater capacity for truth? If this is the case it is, in part, due to their own choosing. Perhaps they have been too complacent in ferreting out truth and now either can't recognize it or have only a moderate regard for it. Decency and fair play are the cornerstones of a civilized society; it is truly disturbing to genuine truth seekers to perceive the blatant injustices manifesting throughout the world today, but it is especially problematic to discern the stagnation of spiritual advancement in this the 21st century, when so much progress has been made materially. The Book tells us that never before in the history of the world have we been so confused, caught up in such a frustrating philosophical era. The Book also informs us that the spiritual values have to catch up with material values or our very civilization is in peril. Let's rid ourselves of the philosophic confusion and seriously submerse ourselves in the soothing waters of the Urantia revelation. Let's give the Spirit of Truth (a teacher) the chance to operate; we will all feel much better in the long run for having truly advanced the spiritual status of mankind. We in the Urantia Readers International believe this (the failure to search for truth) has to be at least part of the answer as to why so many people reject what many of us believe to represent the highest truths ever presented to our world.

"Do not overlook the fact that the Spirit of Truth was bestowed upon all sincere believers; this gift of the spirit did not come only to the apostles. The one hundred and twenty men and women assembled in the upper chamber all received the new teacher as did all the honest of heart throughout the whole world."

The greatest contrast in mainstream religious orders today is perceived in the relationship of Muslims to Christians. Muslims, no matter how much they profess to advocate peace, strictly adhere to the militancy contained in Islam and all the while are working to displace Christianity - they simply refuse to accept the teachings of Jesus and his peaceful message of the beneficence of the Father and His relationship to the brotherhood of man.

"The religion of Jesus fosters the highest type of human civilization in that it creates the highest type of spiritual personality and proclaims the sacredness of that person."

The Book goes on to mention that: "The coming of the Spirit of Truth on Pentecost made possible a religion which is neither radical nor conservative; it is neither the old nor the new; it is to be dominated neither by the old nor the young. The fact of Jesus' earthly life provides a fixed point for the anchor of time, while the bestowal of the Spirit of Truth provides for the everlasting and endless growth of the religion which he lived and the gospel he proclaimed. The spirit guides into all truth; he is the teacher of an expanding and always growing religion of endless progress and divine unfolding. This new teacher will be forever unfolding to the truth seeking believer that which was so divinely folded up in the person and nature of the Son of Man."(2063-L)

"Mankind can be unified only by the spiritual approach, and the Spirit of Truth is a world influence which is universal." (2065-6)

"Many queer and strange teachings became associated with the early narratives of the day of Pentecost. In subsequent times the events of this day, on which the Spirit of Truth, the new teacher, came to dwell with mankind, have become confused with the foolish outbreaks of rampant emotionalism. The chief mission of this outpouring spirit of the Father and the Son is to teach men about the truths of the Father's love and the Son's mercy. These are the truths of divinity which men can comprehend more fully than all the other divine traits of character. The Spirit of Truth is concerned primarily with the revelation of the Father's spirit nature and the Son's moral character. The Creator Son, in the flesh revealed God to men; the Spirit of Truth, in the heart, reveals the Creator Son to men. When man yields the "fruits of the spirit" in his life, he is simply showing forth the traits which the Master manifested in his own earthly life." (2062)

All these people guilty of the intentional rejection of higher reality, cosmic truths, and the real teachings of Jesus are apparently caught up in a web of intellectual dishonesty and unrighteousness, but truth prevails throughout the universe and ultimately triumphs over the shadow of evil. Intentional rejection of the Urantia truths, merely reveals a pattern of perpetual evil - that evil persists as long as the truth is suppressed, and unfortunately some people have made that a life-long commitment. The ultimate truth suppression on our world was the condemnation of Jesus' message. Islam has tried to erase his messages by supplanting their own and discrediting Christianity whenever and wherever it can. But to their ultimate dismay, Jesus will return to straighten things out. We can count on it.

And I will end with a passage from the book (Pg. 383) that appears on the book markers of the Pensacola Bay study group established by Arnie Ondis. "Having started out on the way of life everlasting, having accepted the assignment and received your orders to advance, do not fear the dangers of human forgetfulness and mortal inconstancy, do not be troubled with doubts of failure or by perplexing confusion, do not falter and question your status and standing, for in every dark hour, at every crossroad in the forward struggle, the Spirit of Truth will always speak, saying, "This is the way."