© 2020 Kathleen Swadling
© 2020 International Urantia Association (IUA)
| The Urantia Book in the Philippines | Tidings — June 2020 — Index | Meditation Mantras for Adjuster Attunement |
The era of virtual study groups and conferences is upon us! With the entire world in lockdown due to the Covid-19 Coronavirus, unexpected opportunities have been arising in Urantia Book reader communities. Students are discovering how easy it is to meet with other readers from all over the world from the comfort of their own homes! Thanks to conference calling programs such as Zoom, study groups and conferences are happening with very little organization at virtually no cost.
¶ Urantiathons – 24-Hour Online Conference Events
“Urantiathon” is a new phrase that’s been coined to describe events like the two recent online 24-hour conferences that were held via Zoom and sponsored by Urantia Association International—one on 21st March (A Reward of Isolation) and the other on 2nd May (We’re in this Together).
Various volunteers around the world took shifts in hosting different segments of the meeting according to their time zones. Each host acted as an MC where they introduced the speakers, facilitated discussion times, and basically kept things running smoothly.
Those who were able to check in during their “awake” hours would have seen how they operate; 24 hourly presentations were scheduled where the presenters would share their material just as they would in a face-to-face meeting. They were able to present graphics, videos, and Power Point presentations just as they would in a physical meeting, as well as conducting interactive discussions. For those who chose to keep their videos turned on meant that people could see and talk to each other. So many marveled at being able to see and catch up with old friends they hadn’t seen in years.
The presentations were recorded and most have been uploaded (or are in the process of being uploaded) to Urantia Association’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_a2gwYGKpctnii4_nx8_vA/
Check them out in the Play Lists titled:
¶ A Reward of Isolation – 24-Hour Online Urantia Event
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp48Rw-vwF0&list=PLQYC6XW8Ev1dt58G6KnPvnclxLEF5XIXa
Description: A Reward of Isolation! Urantia Association International held an extraordinary 24-hour online, global Urantia event. With people around the world being asked to practice social isolation to help slow the effects of the Coronavirus, Urantia Association offered this extraordinary online event to help bring people together.
¶ Another 24-Hour Online Urantia Event
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kXtq8PYxy0&list=PLQYC6XW8Ev1d502uaOa3gq-sY_Us_5Nlj
Description: Another 24-hour online Urantia event: We’re in this Together! As the world continues to practice social isolation to help slow the effects of Covid-19, the Urantia Community offered another extraordinary online event to help bring people together. For this 24-hour online Urantia event, Urantia Association was joined by the Education Committees of Urantia Foundation, the Urantia Book Fellowship, and Urantia University Institute to bring 24 unique presentations from around the world.
Personality cannot very well perform in isolation. Man is innately a social creature; he is dominated by the craving of belongingness. It is literally true, “No man lives unto himself.” [UB 112:1.16]
Short seasons of retreat from the busy scenes of life may not be seriously dangerous, but prolonged isolation of personality is most undesirable. [UB 100:5.8]
¶ References
| The Urantia Book in the Philippines | Tidings — June 2020 — Index | Meditation Mantras for Adjuster Attunement |