Re: Thomas Aquinas and the origin of The Urantia Book
May 2024
I enjoyed David Kantor’s article on Aquinas and the roots of the revelation. There was so much going on in that period, and Maimonides and Al Ghazzali were just two others from the religious traditions who were really helping to bring a candle to confusion, providing Guides for the Perplexed. The mystic traditions of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism were also bringing an appreciation of the importance of personal spiritual experience.
One of David’s sources, Rick Tarnas, was my teacher and dissertation advisor. His book Passion of the Western Mind has almost as many underlines as my UB. One of my favorite classes to teach at University of Nevada-Las Vegas has been The History of Philosophy with its twists and turns of personal revelation and confusion.
It would be good for our community to have a deeper appreciation of the historical development of the ideas and ideals that allowed for the revelation to proceed.
I have spent considerable time studying Personalism and its background. Like Edwin Hubble and the appreciation of the cosmos and its architecture, the revelation probably could not have left the harbor without the understanding and appreciation of personality that the Personalists provided.
Perhaps we could have a symposium on the History of Personal Revelation Leading to The Fifth Epochal Revelation.
Gard Jameson, USA
Re: Government, Politics, and The Urantia Book edition
September 2024
I opened the Urantia Association Journal today and found it refreshing and a welcome read.
The production values are excellent, including excellent graphics and a heavy bond paper for my hard copy. I think back of early periodicals, including the eleven editions of the Agondonter I edited in 1973-5. They were photocopied and filled with editing and kerning gimmicks. My how things have changed!
What struck me the most in the September 2024 Special Issue was the absence of two themes that have filled the vast majority of previous newsletters from Chicago and numerous regions. Those themes were “how to spread the teachings” and “how to be more religious, or spiritual.” Your issue, admirably, avoids these topics and addresses critical social and political issues. More significantly, the articles are not only well written, but well researched and annotated with relevant sources and supporting comments. I did not see the “go send I you” or “live the teachings” messages. We have had sixty years of those platitudes, my own essays included.
I also liked the discretionary use of quotes from The Urantia Book. Too often in the past quotes have been used to avoid original thinking by the author. You are wrong, author, the Ubook does not say it better. We can read it on our own. I want to read what you have to say! Your writers have intriguing positions, and use the Ubook to support their ideas. Your author’s quotes are supportive and flow freely in the content.
I am going to go back and read the issue in greater depth, which is rare for me. Your issue is a landmark event and will stay on my coffee table for regular reading and commentary. I congratulate you and your authors in jobs well done putting together an excellent issue.
Jim McNelly, USA