© 1991 Ernest Moyer, Ken Glasziou, Trevor Swadling
© 1991 ANZURA, Australia & New Zealand Urantia Association
2 Salisbury Crt, Glen Waverley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 3150.
¶ In This Issue…
SIX-0-SIX
PO BOX 616, Sunnybank, Queensland, AUSTRALLA 4109
Six O-Six is a bi-monthly publication dedicated to the promotion of International goodwill and understanding among readers of The URANTIA Book.
- So They Say — interesting comments found in leading publications
- Letters to the Editor — your thoughts on issues raised by Six-O-Six
- Anton & Fanta — Cartoon.
- News Around the World — Australian and overseas news on the changing world, and changing the world
- Articles
- Origin of The URANTIA Book
- Consistency in The URANTIA Book
- Another View of the Kristeen Maaherra Case
- Morality is a Law Unto Itself
- Transpersonal Psychology
- The Book, Study and Discussion
- Helping develop an understanding of the contents of The URANTIA Book
- Contacting your Thought Adjuster
- Canberra Conference
- The Forum
- Is it important?
- Divine Antidotes — interspersing our elevated thinking with levity and brevity
- The Six-O-Six Crossword
- On Reflection
- Literacy Crisis
- Why Now?
- When all is said and done a great way to finish
¶ Editor’s Notebook
A mixture of stories have highlighted our recent weeks at Six-O-Six.
After twenty-five years, a mother-daughter reunion. Each of them was heavily reliant on the ‘co-ordinator’ who aligned their thinking and their expectations, reasoned their associated elation and grief.
The nobility of reward was shared in its various ways.
There has also been a family at war. Business disagreements have spilled over into personal issues, distancing children, and therefore grandchildren. Unexpectedly, a business associate and URANTIA Book reader was asked to ‘listen’ to the patriarch.
Tough practical advice, unrelated directly to the book, was offered. The art of self-respect was engendered in fiery discussion.
And a good friend and URANTIA Book reader received a warning to slow down by way of a heart attack. For high pressure jobs check the Concordex under headings such as anxiety, strife, rest, and relaxation.
Nice to know our book is superbly relevant as usual. Not to mention the love bestowed for a speedy recovery.
Then there are the group meetings, a natural part of life it seems. Sad little agendas can emerge. A political leaning can upset a community project. Lack of a public thank you can harbour a resentment.
All of these unrelated incidents come together, because two or more were gathered in His name. Each occasion, as a result, was progressive in as much as we are learning to love.
Does the development of spiritual insight, from whatever source, fine tune our sensibilities? Enhance our capacity for problem solving? It shows as an attitude of love towards those around us, a forgetfulness of self.
¶ Isolation
In our very first issue of Six-O-Six, mention was made of the isolation experienced by readers of the book.
This has been largely overcome in the major cities. But a phone call from North Queensland showed the problem continues for so many. Fellowship with readers is indeed deserving of thanksgiving.
¶ Peace & Goodwill To All
Before we close our notebook on another year, there’s one more very important item to mention.
At this time of peace and goodwill, from everyone at Six-O-Six, the compliments of the season to all.
We look forward to our reunion in 1992, and discovering God’s plans, one day at a time.
¶ So They Say
Quadrant
Let Bishops stick more to prayer and fasting and less to politics. For if they were to help bring down our free economic institutions, they risk bringing themselves down to the cellars from which the Church in Eastern Europe is only now hesitatingly emerging.
New Scientist
Spending on family planning programs must double in the next nine years, or by 2025 the world will be unable to support its population.
Time
Ruined lives. Lost fortunes. Federal crimes. Scientology poses as a religion but is really a ruthless global scam — and aiming for the mainstream.
The Australian
Now that attempts to put socialism and fascism into practice have largely discredited coercive Utopias, impending disaster has become the pretext to restrict liberty.
A Study of the Master Universe (by William S. Sadler Jr.)
The effective and constructive giver is engaged in a ministry of positive action. He is becoming responsive and understanding in his giving; he is becoming an active and beneficial force among his fellow men; he is a bringer of good will; he is an ameliorater of difficulties and a reconciler of contentions. He is actively ‘waging peace’ among his fellows.
Six-O-Six is published sir times a year, and editorial contributions are welcomed. Subscription rates: Australia - $ 10 per year. Other countries - US $17 per year The material contained in this publication is of general comment only, and not advice on any particular matter. The publisher, authors and editors expressly disclaim all liability in respect of this information and of the consequences of any actions resulting therefrom. Interpretations and opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent those of Six-O-Sir or Urantia Foundation. All quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are front The URANTIA Book © 1955 and used by permission. This publication is copyright with the exception of fair dealings under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without and permission from the publisher.
¶ Letters To The Editor
¶ Zambian Connection
Chilufya M K Thompson
Greetings!! I am a fellow URANTIA Book Reader, a Zambian based in Kitwe-Zambia. I have been studying The URANTIA Book for nearly 10 years now, having been introduced to it by a friend in New York in February 1982.
I was recently impressed by the Study Group Herald Magazine recently launched by “The Fellowship” in Chicago, which I have no doubt you have already had a chance to read. It was after reading it that I wrote a letter to the Editor, Mr Martin Greenhut, suggesting that the magazine carry an International Readers Page. He in turn contacted me and suggested that I pioneer it from Zambia and therefore give it the international flavour it will carry.
We are therefore appealing to your study group to help this cause by sharing with us your inspirations, ideas, studies, and socials. Send us also a photograph of your study group. Write to:
International Editor
Chilufya M K Thompson
Po Box 22620
Kitwe
Zambia
Best wishes to your group. We look forward to your letters in the magazine.
¶ Does Not Compute!
by Kathleen Swadling, Sydney
One of the delights I experience while reading your newsletter is the lively expression of personal opinion. I find an opinion has meaning when there is a personality attached to that opinion. I find an article written by a “friendly computer” a bit hollow and devoid of personality.
The article I refer to in your last issue was obviously written by a person who expressed opinions and interpretations that could only have originated in the mind of a person. I would appreciate it if the person reveals his or her identity — it would give the article more substance and meaning. Instead of implying “ it is my opinion …”, the writer says “my computer logic says…” I find this a little off-putting as computer logic is not opinionated. A computer is only a machine or tool for personalities to work with. Let’s not get carried away by material technology to the point where we substitute personal identity for that of a machine!
¶ News Around The World
¶ Spanish Translation
Andite Corporation, an affiliate of URANTIA Foundation, has made considerable progress toward completing El Libro de URANTIA, the Spanish translation of The URANTIA Book. Copy editing is nearly finished, and typesetting began some time ago. In order to expedite production, Andite has hired a technical editor who will help format the text for direct electronic input to the printing press. This technique simplifies the type setting, reduces errors, and makes it possible for the Spanish text to correspond page for page with the original English. El Libro de URANTIA should be available in 1993/4. Copy editing is also under way for the Finnish translation, a project of URANTIA Foundation.
¶ Scientist Discovers Two New Planets
From The Independent
An astronomer in Puerto Rico is believed to have discovered two planets in orbit around a distant star.
This raises the chances that Earth-like planets — and life — exist elsewhere.
These are only the second and third planets to be found outside our own solar system.
The discovery comes just three months after radio astronomers found what they believed to be the first planet outside the solar system, named PSR1829-10.
Professor Andrew Lyne, professor of radio astronomy at the University of Manchester, who headed the group that made the first discovery, said: “This raises the chances that other stars out there have planetary systems around them.”
The discovery of a planet in July, and two more within a space of a few months, improves the chances of finding one with the right environment to sustain life.The two new planets appear to be roughly the same size.
Initial calculations suggest they are about four to five times Earth’s mass with diameters roughly 1.5 times as large. One of them seems to be orbiting a pulsar — a super dense star — about 2,000 light years from us once every two months, and the other once every three.
The two planets appeared to be causing their star to drift by up to 900 kilometres over a few months.
Astronomers have long speculated about the possibility that life might be found on planets outside our own solar system.
¶ Popular Publications
In an IPA Review of school text books on the environment many claims have been questioned.
The most popular book, The Battle for Earth: Today’s Key Environmental Issues, tells children that development inevitably causes a population explosion by destroying culturally inbuilt population-control strategies. And the market system is increasing the incidence of famine.
The second most popular, The Gaia Atlas of Planetary Management, claims China has largely succeeded in eliminating malnutrition due in part to its political ideology.
And yet another, Blueprint for a Green Planet, gives an indication to the thinking behind such statements. It tells the children and their teachers that ‘our immediate task is to do everything we can to bring our present life-destroying culture to a halt.’
Reasons and facts to support these ‘life-destroying’ fears are not obvious.
¶ Temples Of Stone
Almost $40 million is being expended on the new St Mary’s Cathedral presbytery and Christian Brother’s school in Sydney.
While in Brisbane, work continues, at an estimated cost of $25 million, on completing St John’s gothic Cathedral in accordance with the original design.
¶ Anton & Fanta
¶ Articles
from “Birth of a Divine Revelation” by Ernest Moyer
¶ Origin Of The Urantia Book. From God, From Man, Or From The Devil?
Three choices exist for the origin of The URANTIA Book. It is human, it comes from God, or it comes from the Devil.
When I first met the Book I had trouble with it. I did not know how to place it within my conceptual framework or Universe frame, as The URANTIA Book refers to it. The Book seemed too far outside my understanding of the world; it was difficult to reconcile with my previous religious views. However, the Book was instrumental in bringing me back to God. That key was in Papers 20 and 21, The Paradise Sons of God, and The Paradise Creator Sons. Suddenly I had a view of a real, living God — not some mystical notion, not some superstitious religious view, not some intellectual abstraction — but a real, living God.
He came from eternity; he worked in space; he designed a universe and all of its occupants; he administered his creation with care and purpose. Those two Papers were enough to prevent me from throwing the Book away.
Then, as I began to read the Book more seriously, I recognized important attributes.
¶ Consistency In The Urantia Book
by Ken Glasziou, Maleny, Qld.
The previous article by Ernest Moyer on the authorship of The URANTIA Book commented on the significance of consistency for helping to validate the claim of the book to be a divine revelation. After reading Ernest’s article, I came across this quotation from Jesus’ conference on Mount Gerizim:
“The strain of living — the time tension of personality — should be relaxed by the restfulness of worship. The feelings of insecurity arising from the fear of personality isolation in the universe should be antidoted by the faith contemplation of the Father and by the attempted realization of the Supreme.” (UB 143:7.3)
How does one realize the Supreme? I switched on my computer and learned that this phrase occurs just four times in the whole of The URANTIA Book. The first quote comes from the Foreword in a paragraph describing experiential-Deity actualization:
¶ Another View Of The Kristen Maaherra Case
By Trevor Swadling, Sydney
Lately, a lot of material has been circulated concerning the current legal struggle between The URANTIA Foundation and Kristen Maaherra. I am amazed that most of this material portrays Ms Maaherra as an innocent victim or a “fall guy”, caught between the “super powers” of the URANTIA movement. Some like to think of her as an innocent pawn in the game, and are even soliciting funds from readers for her defence. However, as with any dispute, there is often more than meets the eye. One very strong point of view in favour of Ms Maaherra appeared in the August/September issue of Six-0-Six titled “An Analysis of the Kristen Maaherra Case” by Ken Glasziou. I would like to attempt to analyse this further in the light of considering its possible repercussions for the revelation.
As we all know, one of the functions of the URANTIA Foundation is to protect the text of The URANTIA Book. Article 3.1 of the Declaration of Trust Creating URANTIA Foundation provides that: “It shall be the primary duty of the Trustees to perpetually preserve inviolate the text of the URANTIA Book …” Article 3.3 emphasizes that: “It shall be the duty of the Trustees to retain absolute and unconditional control of all plates and other media for the printing and reproduction of The URANTIA Book and any translation thereof…”
¶ Morality Is A Law Unto Itself
By John Hyde, The Institute Of Public Affairs
For whatever reasons, even the church has largely given the ‘morality’ game away, adopting the language and values of the social sciences rather than those of ethics. And no other body of thinkers and teachers has filled the gap.
There has been a drift towards nihilism — scepticism about moral principles. This has contributed our present social (including economic) woes.
The advice people receive tends to come from governments — which are ill-suited to moral instruction and to concentrate on legalities that do not distinguish between right and wrong personal behaviour. Indeed, far from being challenged to accept personal responsibility, we are offered a litany of excuses for our own failures and opportunities to avoid their consequences. Words which I admit defy precise definition, such as honour, truth, courage, charity and justice have become passe.
¶ Transpersonal Pyschology
by Ann Bendall, Nambour, Qld.
Members of a group tend to share common assumptions, both because they attract like-minded people and because they provide powerful selective reinforcement for their preferred assumptions. Any questioning of these assumptions is usually discouraged, or at best, not supported. Assumptions therefore function as beliefs that determine what will enter awareness and what will remain unconscious, hence determining cultural reality.
Seeing through one’s cultural belief systems is extraordinarily difficult but may be helped by exposure to other cultures and beliefs. Transpersonal psychology represents a paradigm shift in Western psychology, resulting in part from exposure to cross cultural beliefs about the nature of consciousness and reality.
Psychology as a science is continuing to break the ties with its “father” Freud, a man who opted to link his theories with science, rather than philosophy and/or religion. Freud realized that the great legitimizer of his era was science, not religion, and therefore opted to create an elaborate pseudo science, which, because he stood as a consistent and determined minority, enabled psychoanalysis to be successfully legitimized as a real science. Many theorists have come and gone, attempting to swing the image of the individual from Freud’s fundamentalistic image of being fallen children of Eve (although Freud gave a delightfully secular reason for us all being so — heaven forbid that he would mention the old testament, despite the fact that his theories are based on its tenets) and the current 'perspective of psychology, which, in seeking to understand the domain known as consciousness, builds on Rogers belief that folks are innately good ( substantiated by research on the morals of children, who in their pre-school years put their parents to shame).
¶ The Book, Study And Discussion
Article adapted from a computer-interactive program in the Brotherhood of Man Library.
¶ What Does The Urantia Book Say About Contacting Your Thought Adjuster?
by Your Friendly Computer
A well-known Urantian, now residing on the mansion worlds, once said that if you hear voices, a visit to your psychiatrist is suggested — or words to that effect. My computer-analysis of my memory banks would tend to confirm the diagnosis. Here is some of the evidence:
“You must not regard co-operation with your Adjuster as a particularly conscious process for it is not; but your motives and your decisions, your faithful determinations, and your supreme desires, do constitute real and effective co-operation.” (UB 110:3.6)
“The fact that such Adjuster activity may be unconscious to the human partner does not in the least detract from its value and reality.” (UB 108:5.9)
Without doubt it is true that you are unconscious of your Thought Adjuster’s activity for most of the time, but there is no need to be unconscious of it all the time. In reality it is quite easy to identify Thought Adjuster activity.
Firstly though, you should be aware that your Thought Adjuster is not just ‘the ghost in the machine.’ Becoming aware that the Adjuster is an actual real and living part of the mind is an important step to better mutual cooperation. Here is the authoritative statement:
“Thought Adjusters are definite individualizations of the prepersonal reality of the Universal Father, actually indwelling the mortal mind as a very part of that mind…” (UB 34:5.6)
Having surmounted that hurdle, let us now discover the proof that it is true — that the Thought Adjuster and its activity in the mind is unequivocally identifiable. In replying to a voice from the crowd, Jesus once said, “Why do you call me good? None is good but God.” (UB 196:2.2) These words are also recorded in the gospels of Matthew (19;17), Mark (10:18), and Luke (18:19).
The URANTIA Book states quite unambiguously that, “all goodness takes its origin in God” (UB 8:2.7). It also tells you that you can contact the Father only through his “fragmented entities” (UB 1:3.6), that is, your Thought Adjuster. It is simple algebra to work out that any good thought you ever had must have come from God via your Thought Adjuster.
So, provided you can identify just one good thought in your whole life, you will know that it signalled that the Thought Adjuster has become a living, active part of your mind. All subsequent good thoughts provide the evidence for its continuing presence, and consciousness of that presence can vastly improve your mutual interrelationships. Conversation with your Thought Adjuster might appear to be one-way, but the origin of those thoughts that come into your mind is always identifiable by their content of truth, beauty, and goodness. Particularly when it comes to conflicts “between what really is right or wrong (not merely what you may call right and wrong), you can depend upon it that the Adjuster will always participate in some definite and active manner in such experiences.” (UB 108:5.9) Always remember that you are never alone.
“Man goes forth searching for a friend while that very friend lives within his own heart.” (UB 3:1.4)
Bye now and God bless.
If one tells the truth, one is sure,
sooner or later, to be found out.Oscar Wilde
¶ Canberra Conference
By Will Wentworth For The Canberra Study Group
Feedback from the October Conference has been mostly favourable, providing Vern Verass and his Canberra Study Group with the requisite “warm inner glow.” We note that people came from Queensland, Victoria, New Zealand, and Hawaii as well as from the Canberra region, and together with the large Sydney contingent everyone guaranteed enough variety to keep things interesting. Thank you all for making our debut such a success.
Comments have been particularly favourable about Nigel Nunn’s presentation in which a high standard of clear thought was matched by imaginative presentation. Ken Glasziou’s impromptu scientific input seems, as usual, to have been very favourably received. And Vern’s own presentation struck exactly the right note.
The “Hot Gossip” session, which initially seemed to us a bit risky, allowed readers to be magnanimous in the face of opposing viewpoints.
There have also been a few murmurs of appreciation about the pre-conference information. People like to have some idea of what they are in for.
But it does seem as though our experiment with a venue which did not provide exclusive use has been a failure.
To date there have been absolutely no reports that any of the non-readers who traipsed through the middle of the conference proceedings has either bought a book or joined a study group!
¶ The Forum
¶ Is It Important?
by Ken Glasziou, Maleny, Qld.
Are the textual, punctuation, and spelling changes made to the original, first printing of The URANTIA Book of any importance? The Trustees of the Foundation do not think so. At least that is the answer I recently received to my protests concerning this matter. I was informed that my protest was placed on the agenda but was allocated such a low priority that it did not come up during a recent meeting of the Trustees. However it did receive some discussion during lunch. My major concern was with the textual changes. I was informed that since all of these had occurred long ago, during the second and third printing, the current Trustees accept no responsibility, and those who made the changes will have to answer to the Ancients of Days.
Why should these changes be of concern? Here is one reason. Assume that you are involved in translating The URANTIA Book into a foreign language. Which version of the book will you use? The problem is messy because most of us believed that there had only ever been one change, a change that had been corrected at the very next printing. That was the story I was told when I asked a member of the general council of the former Brotherhood some few years ago. This appears to have been the official line at the time, as I received exactly the same story when I asked a former Trustee who had also been an ex-president of the Brotherhood.
¶ A Prayer
Jesus, go through the power of your spint, go back into my nemon, Every hurt that has ever been done to me, heal that hut. Every hut that I have ever caused to another person, heal that hurt. All. the relationships that have been damaged in whole life that In not aware of, heal those. relationships. But, Jesus, if there is anything I need to do, if I need to go to a person because he is suffering from my hand, bring that person to my awareness. I choose to forgive, and l ask to be forgiven. Renove any bitterness that may be in my heart, and fill the empty spaces with your love.
by Oswald Astor, Sydney
¶ Divine Antidotes
God was a woman — until she changed her mind.
Frankincense and myrrh. Last year alone, these two words sold thousands of dictionaries. What will The URANTIA Book do to sales? And dictionaries!
God is not dead. But alive and well and working on a much less ambitious project.
Wish I’d invented the phrase:
“The answer’s in the next paragraph.”
I’d retire collecting royalties from study groups.
Wisdom is knowing what to do next.
And the angel said unto the shepherds: “Shove off. This is cattle country.”
Love is found in that intelligence which forever reveals itself as understanding.
Graffiti
Prophet 1: And the meek shall inherit the earth.
Prophet 2: If that’s OK?
By various faction groups it is rumoured that The Club non-members are a secret society. If they could be bothered to protest, they would refute the claim outright on the grounds that: a) They know who they are; and b) God knows who they are.
¶ Crosswords
by Audrey Morris, Tewantin, Queensland
Across
5. Places of Worship
7. Sit at his…
8. The Seraphic Voice in the Garden
9. Human Being
10. Universe (pertaining to)
13. Urantia
15. Closeby
16. Body
Down
1. Gone beyond
2. Fanatic
3. Soon
4. Feast at Beginning of Summer
6. Assigned
9. Magdalene
11. Jewish Creed of Faith
12. Father of Cain
13. Age
14. Caring Embrace
Solution to previous crossword
Across: 2. Apostle 4. Chosen 6. Memory 8. Open 10. Turn 12. Dozen 13. Armor 15. Aware 17. Kingdom 18. Mother 19. Adored 20. Ang
Down: 1. Love 2. Andreas 3. Time 5. Noting 7. Red 9. Nazareth 10. Joined 13. Rome 15. Ezra
¶ On Reflection
¶ Literacy Crisis
By Jane Wilson, Brisbane
“We have many Christians who cannot read their Bibles, who shy away from study groups for fear of embarrassment, and who do not grow in the Lord as a direct result of their being illiterate.”
Moody Monthly
A recent survey says nearly 60% of Americans never read books and most of the others only read one book a year. Books have become commercial property with a short shelf-life, more a source of material for movies and television shows.
Degrees in English literature in the US have decreased by 33% in the past two decades, and English courses in many universities consist mainly of remedial reading.
¶ What Now?
by Ann Bendall, Nambour, Qld.
The reason as to why The URANTIA Book was given to us was at first of no concern to me. I was so glad to be living now and a recipient of the beautiful book.
As I mixed with other readers the question was often raised and I wondered if we were so far out of line with normal planetary evolution, that Michael’s Spirit of Truth was being rarely requested by individuals. So as an eleventh hour measure, similar to the third epochal revelation, permission was granted for us to have the book.
But this did not seem an acceptable reason to me. Why did Michael waive his authority? Why was the permission given from Uversa? This is Michael’s very special planet, he has total power and need not rely on precedent where Urantia is concerned.
¶ When All Is Said And Done…
“No being in all the universe has the rightful liberty to deprive any other being of true liberty, the right to love and be loved, the privilege of worshiping God and of serving his fellows.” (UB 54:2.5)