© 2011 Halbert Katzen J.D.
| Appendix 1. Urantia Book-based Taxonomy | Index | Appendix 3. How Are Superior(ity) and Inferior(ity) Used? |
This exploration of Urantia Book teachings was originally created for the Topical Studies page of UBannotated.com[1] as a subtopic of “Eugenics and Race.” It now also serves as Appendix 2 of the “Eugenics, Race, and The Urantia Book” paper, which was first published as part of the UBtheNEWS project in 2011.
This subtopic/Appendix 2 asks the question “Were the Alpheus twins subnormal?” because The Urantia Book says they were “the least of all the apostles”[2].
Along with reviewing commentary about these two Apostles of Jesus, the use of the terms common people (man), feeble (-mindedness), abnormal, and subhuman are also provided.
The study of how terms are used is followed by consideration of the Biblical passage that precedes the definition of subnormal and comparison to the parallel passage from The Urantia Book, recounting this teaching. Additional study questions and perspectives are included at the end.
As far as I know, I am the first person to raise this question and do this type of study. It bears mentioning that simply raising this question has elicited a very negative reaction from some long time reader-believers of The Urantia Book. In certain respects, the topic of subnormals is much more difficult to discuss than racial issues. Perhaps this is because it is an even more misunderstood issue.
I am sure that I cannot encourage open mindedness enough. This is what The Urantia Book revelation is for–to help us understand things about ourselves and our destiny that we would have a very hard time coming up with on our own. Revelation is not for affirming what we think we already know, but rather to direct us into new and better ways of thinking based on a clearer understanding of the nature of our existence and the wisdom of the creative design. Look for that in this study and you will find it.
In your reflections on this topic, consider the idea that identifying and managing a subnormal class of people is something that could be accomplished by voluntary consent. People who lack the intelligence to compete effectively in competitive, capitalistic economic arenas, generally speaking, are painfully aware of the basic nature of this challenge. If a reasonable alternative was provided, it might be preferred. Because The Urantia Book’s discussion of subnormals involves work life considerations, before providing the quotes directly related to the nature of subnormal minded people, some contextualizing passages are provided first.[3].
. . . But there was one economic abuse which [Jesus] many times condemned, and that was the unfair exploitation of the weak, unlearned, and less fortunate of men by their strong, keen, and more intelligent fellows. Jesus declared that such inhuman treatment of men, women, and children was incompatible with the ideals of the brotherhood of the kingdom of heaven.[4]
On balance, Urantia Book teachings about the relationship between working and eating also need to be kept in mind.
Labor, the efforts of design, distinguishes man from the beast, whose exertions are largely instinctive. The necessity for labor is man’s paramount blessing. The Prince’s staff all worked; they did much to ennoble physical labor on Urantia. Adam was a gardener; the God of the Hebrews labored—he was the creator and upholder of all things. The Hebrews were the first tribe to put a supreme premium on industry; they were the first people to decree that “he who does not workshall not eat.” But many of the religions of the world reverted to the early ideal of idleness. Jupiter was a reveler, and Buddha became a reflective devotee of leisure.[5]
- Doing the Father’s will. Jesus’ teaching to trust in the overcare of the heavenly Father was not a blind and passive fatalism. He quoted with approval, on this afternoon, an old Hebrew saying: “He who will not work shall not eat.” . . . [6]
While the ideal of society is universal freedom, idlenessshould never be tolerated. All able-bodied persons should be compelled to do at least a selfsustaining amount of work. [7]
- The Guardian Angels
The teaching about guardian angels is not a myth; certain groups of human beings do actually have personal angels. It was in recognition of this that Jesus, in speaking of the children of the heavenly kingdom, said: “Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones, for I say to you, their angels do always behold the presence of the spirit of my Father.”
Originally, the seraphim were definitely assigned to the separate Urantia races. But since the bestowal of Michael, they are assigned in accordance with human intelligence, spirituality, and destiny. Intellectually, mankind is divided into three classes:
The subnormal minded—those who do not exercise normal will power; those who do not make average decisions. This class embraces those who cannot comprehend God; they lack capacity for the intelligent worship of Deity. The subnormal beings of Urantia have a corps of seraphim, one company[8], with one battalion of cherubim, assigned to minister to them and to witness that justice and mercy are extended to them in the life struggles of the sphere. [9].
The average, normal type of human mind. From the standpoint of seraphic ministry, most men and women are grouped in seven classes in accordance with their status in making the circles of human progress and spiritual development.
The supernormal minded—those of great decision and undoubted potential of spiritual achievement; men and women who enjoy more or less contact with their indwelling Adjusters; members of the various reserve corps of destiny. No matter in what circle a human happens to be, if such an individual becomes enrolled in any of the several reserve corps of destiny, right then and there, personal seraphim are assigned, and from that time until the earthly career is finished, that mortal will enjoy the continuous ministry and unceasing watchcare of a guardian angel. Also, when any human being makes the supreme decision, when there is a real betrothal with the Adjuster, a personal guardian is immediately assigned to that soul.
In the ministry to so-called normal beings, seraphic assignments are made in accordance with the human attainment of the circles of intellectuality and spirituality. You start out in your mind of mortal investment in the seventh circle and journey inward in the task of self-understanding, self-conquest, and selfmastery; and circle by circle you advance until (if natural death does not terminate your career and transfer your struggles to the mansion worlds) you reach the first or inner circle of relative contact and communion with the indwelling Adjuster.
Human beings in the initial or seventh circle have one guardian angel with one company of assisting cherubim assigned to the watchcare and custody of one thousand mortals. In the sixth circle, a seraphic pair with one company of cherubim is assigned to guide these ascending mortals in groups of five hundred. When the fifth circle is attained, human beings are grouped in companies of approximately one hundred, and a pair of guardian seraphim with a group of cherubim is placed in charge. Upon attainment of the fourth circle, mortal beings are assembled in groups of ten, and again charge is given to a pair of seraphim, assisted by one company of cherubim.
When a mortal mind breaks through the inertia of animal legacy and attains the third circle of human intellectuality and acquired spirituality, a personal angel (in reality two) will henceforth be wholly and exclusively devoted to this ascending mortal. And thus these human souls, in addition to the everpresent and increasingly efficient indwelling Thought Adjusters, receive the undivided assistance of these personal guardians of destiny in all their efforts to finish the third circle, traverse the second, and attain the first.[10]
Regarding the description of subnormals at UB 113:1.3, as being unable to comprehend God or to engage in intelligent worship, also consider:
A good and noble man may be consummately in love with his wife but utterly unable to pass a satisfactory written examination on the psychology of marital love. Another man, having little or no love for his spouse, might pass such an examination most acceptably. The imperfection of the lover’s insight into the true nature of the beloved does not in the least invalidate either the reality or sincerity of his love.[11]
Managing and ministering to the subnormal population.
. . . From a world standpoint, overpopulation has never been a serious problem in the past, but if war is lessened and science increasingly controls human diseases, it may become a serious problem in the near future. At such a time the great test of the wisdom of world leadership will present itself. Will Urantia rulers have the insight and courage to foster the multiplication of the average or stabilized human being instead of the extremes of the supernormal and the enormously increasing groups of the subnormal? The normal man should be fostered; he is the backbone of civilization and the source of the mutant geniuses of the race. The subnormal man should be kept under society’s control; no more should be produced than are required to administer the lower levels of industry, those tasks requiring intelligence above the animal level but making such lowgrade demands as to prove veritable slavery and bondage for the higher types of mankind. [12]
Note how the construction of the first sentence in the paragraph below makes feeble-mindedness and subnormal synonymous. From Paper 72: Government on a Neighboring Planet.
The feeble-minded are trained only in agriculture and animal husbandry, and are committed for life to special custodial colonies where they are segregated by sex to prevent parenthood, which is denied all subnormals. These restrictive measures have been in operation for seventy-five years; the commitment decrees are handed down by the parental courts. [13]
With this in mind, now consider these other passages related to feeble-mindedness:
The advanced stages of a world settled in light and life represent the acme of evolutionary material development. On these cultured worlds, gone are the idleness and friction of the earlier primitive ages. Poverty and social inequality have all but vanished, degeneracy has disappeared, and delinquency is rarely observed. Insanity has practically ceased to exist, and feeble-mindedness is a rarity. [14]
Does the paragraph above mean that the birth of subnormals among the normal minded population has become a rarity (in contrast to subnormals who “should be produced” as is “required to administer the lower levels of industry”)? Or in light and life are the lower levels of industry somehow managed out of the culture so that a subnormal population is no longer valuable to the economic ecology of the civilization?
On no world can evil spirits possess any mortal mind subsequent to the life of a Paradise bestowal Son. But before the days of Christ Michael on Urantia—before the universal coming of the Thought Adjusters and the pouring out of the Master’s spirit upon all flesh—these rebel midwayers were actually able to influence the minds of certain inferior mortalsand somewhat to control their actions. This was accomplished in much the same way as the loyal midway creatures function when they serve as efficient contact guardians of the human minds of the Urantia reserve corps of destiny at those times when the Adjuster is, in effect, detached from the personality during a season of contact with superhuman intelligences. . . .
Even prior to Pentecost no rebel spirit could dominate a normal human mind, and since that day even the weak minds of inferior mortals are free from such possibilities. The supposed casting out of devils since the arrival of the Spirit of Truth has been a matter of confounding a belief in demoniacal possession with hysteria, insanity, and feeble-mindedness. But just because Michael’s bestowal has forever liberated all human minds on Urantia from the possibility of demoniacal possession, do not imagine that such was not a reality in former ages.
The entire group of rebel midwayers is at present held prisoner by order of the Most Highs of Edentia. No more do they roam this world on mischief bent. Regardless of the presence of the Thought Adjusters, the pouring out of the Spirit of Truth upon all flesh forever made it impossible for disloyal spirits of any sort or description ever again to invade even the most feeble of human minds. Since the day of Pentecost there never again can be such a thing as demoniacal possession. [15]
Given that prior to Pentecost “the seraphim were definitely assigned to the separate Urantia races,” and since Pentecost the seraphim are organized relative to mind types, how might this be related to the universal bestowal of Thought Adjusters? Does this imply that Thought Adjusters are now universally bestowed upon the subnormals of all races? Could this relate to why it is important to “despise not one of these little ones, for I say to you, their angels do always behold the presence of the spirit of my Father?”
The miller he taught about grinding up the grains of truth in the mill of living experience so as to render the difficult things of divine life readily receivable by even the weak and feeble among one’s fellow mortals. Said Jesus: “Give the milk of truth to those who are babes in spiritual perception. In your living and loving ministry serve spiritual food in attractive form and suited to the capacity of receptivity of each of your inquirers.” [16]
Abnormal is used six times:
The Alpheus twins are mentioned in these passages:
At UB 158:7.1 the twins are described as stolid. Definition: “(of a person) calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation.” Could this be a suggestion regarding the eugenic management of subnormal populations?
Common man is used once:
. . . Men have also made a fetish of democracy, the exaltation and adoration of the common man’s ideas when collectively called “public opinion.” One man’s opinion, when taken by itself, is not regarded as worth much, but when many men are collectively functioning as a democracy, this same mediocre judgment is held to be the arbiter of justice and the standard of righteousness.[18]
Consider how much sense the following quotes make and how easy it is to make good sense of them when common people is considered to be a way of distinguishing subnormal and normal minded people from supernormal minded people.
. . . Even common people were able to regard the matured concept of Yahweh as a Father, if not of the individual, at least of the race. [19]
. . . The common people craved promises of salvation—religious consolation for today and assurances of hope for immortality after death. [20]
These philosophies were semireligious; they were often invigorating, ethical, and ennobling but were usually above the common people. With the possible exception of Cynicism, they were philosophies for the strong and the wise, not religions of salvation for even the poor and the weak. [21]
. . . Joseph’s immediate ancestors were mechanics—builders, carpenters, masons, and smiths. Joseph himself was a carpenter and later a contractor. His family belonged to a long and illustrious line of the nobility of the common people, accentuated ever and anon by the appearance of unusual individuals who had distinguished themselves in connection with the evolution of religion on Urantia. [22]
Of all couples living in Palestine at about the time of Michael’s projected bestowal, Joseph and Mary possessed the most ideal combination of widespread racial connections and superior average of personality endowments. It was the plan of Michael to appear on earth as an average man, that the common people might understand him and receive him; wherefore Gabriel selected just such persons as Joseph and Mary to become the bestowal parents. [23]
The common people heard Jesus gladly, and they will again respond to the presentation of his sincere human life of consecrated religious motivation if such truths shall again be proclaimed to the world. The people heard him gladly because he was one of them, an unpretentious layman; the world’s greatest religious teacher was indeed a layman. [24]
The common people marveled at the teaching and ministry of Jesus and his apostles. The rabbis had long taught the Jews that the ignorant could not be pious or righteous. But Jesus’ apostles were both pious and righteous; yet they were cheerfully ignorant of much of the learning of the rabbis and the wisdom of the world. [25]
The multitudes of the common people were greatly encouraged to find two like themselves honored with places among the apostles. By their very acceptance as apostles these mediocre twins were the means of bringing a host of fainthearted believers into the kingdom. And, too, the common people took more kindly to the idea of being directed and managed by official ushers who were very much like themselves. [26]
. . . And it was chiefly because of this need for some simple petition for the common people that Jesus at this time consented, in answer to Thomas’s request, to teach them a suggestive form of prayer. . . . [27]
While, at that particular time, the fame of Jesus rested chiefly upon his reputation as a healer . . . But it was the physical cures that made the most direct and immediate appeal to the common people. . . . [28]
Jesus’ apostles, let alone the common people, could not understand the nature and attributes of this God-man. Neither has any subsequent generation been able to evaluate what took place on earth in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. . . . [29]
Subhuman is used five times in four paragraphs:
The Bible quote at UB 113:1.1, “Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones, for I say to you, their angels do always behold the presence of the spirit of my Father,” comes from Matthew 18:10. The King James Version for Matthew 18:1-11 reads:
1 In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11 For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.[30]
Notice how in the Bible it says “see the face of my Father.” The related passage in The Urantia Book reads:
While David Zebedee made ready to take them across the lake, they lingered at Simon’s house, and Jesus, looking up at Peter and the other apostles, asked: “As you walked along together this afternoon, what was it that you talked about so earnestly among yourselves?” The apostles held their peace because many of them had continued the discussion begun at Mount Hermon as to what positions they were to have in the coming kingdom; who should be the greatest, and so on. Jesus, knowing what it was that occupied their thoughts that day, beckoned to one of Peter’s little ones and, setting the child down among them, said: “Verily, verily, I say to you, except you turn about and become more like this child, you will make little progress in the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever shall humble himself and become as this little one, the same shall become greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso receives such a little one receives me. And they who receive me receive also Him who sent me. If you would be first in the kingdom, seek to minister these good truths to your brethren in the flesh. But whosoever causes one of these little ones to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the sea. If the things you do with your hands, or the things you see with your eyes give offense in the progress of the kingdom, sacrifice these cherished idols, for it is better to enter the kingdom minus many of the beloved things of life rather than to cling to these idols and find yourself shut out of the kingdom. But most of all, see that you despise not one of these little ones, for their angels do always behold the faces of the heavenly hosts.”.[31]
In The Urantia Book it is said “they see the face of the heavenly hosts”. Heavenly hosts is only used twice. Its use in the context of social order is noteworthy, given the above commentary on managing the population of subnormals.
“The Father in heaven loves his children, and therefore should you learn to love one another; the Father in heaven forgives you your sins; therefore should you learn to forgive one another. If your brother sins against you, go to him and with tact and patience show him his fault. And do all this between you and him alone. If he will listen to you, then have you won your brother. But if your brother will not hear you, if he persists in the error of his way, go again to him, taking with you one or two mutual friends that you may thus have two or even three witnesses to confirm your testimony and establish the fact that you have dealt justly and mercifully with your offending brother. Now if he refuses to hear your brethren, you may tell the whole story to the congregation, and then, if he refuses to hear the brotherhood, let them take such action as they deem wise; let such an unruly member become an outcast from the kingdom. While you cannot pretend to sit in judgment on the souls of your fellows, and while you may not forgive sins or otherwise presume to usurp the prerogatives of the supervisors of the heavenly hosts, at the same time, it has been committed to your hands that you should maintain temporal order in the kingdom on earth. While you may not meddle with the divine decrees concerning eternal life, you shall determine the issues of conduct as they concern the temporal welfare of the brotherhood on earth. And so, in all these matters connected with the discipline of the brotherhood, whatsoever you shall decree on earth, shall be recognized in heaven. Although you cannot determine the eternal fate of the individual, you may legislate regarding the conduct of the group, for, where two or three of you agree concerning any of these things and ask of me, it shall be done for you if your petition is not inconsistent with the will of my Father in heaven. And all this is ever true, for, where two or three believers are gathered together, there am I in the midst of them.”.[32]
What is the significance between using Father vs. heavenly hosts? Should our Father be included within the definition of heavenly hosts? Is this change from what Jesus originally said an inspired change, based on the universal bestowal of Thought Adjusters post Pentecost?
The US military will not take anyone with an IQ below 83 because they end up requiring more care and oversight than what they can produce for benefit. Bearing in mind that agriculture is not a military type of activity, consider the following passages.
From a world standpoint, overpopulation has never been a serious problem in the past, but if war is lessened and science increasingly controls human diseases, it may become a serious problem in the near future. At such a time the great test of the wisdom of world leadership will present itself. Will Urantia rulers have the insight and courage to foster the multiplication of the average or stabilized human being instead of the extremes of the supernormal and the enormously increasing groups of the subnormal? The normal man should be fostered; he is the backbone of civilization and the source of the mutant geniuses of the race. The subnormal man should be kept under society’s control; no more should be produced than are required to administer the lower levels of industry, those tasks requiring intelligence above the animal level but making such low- grade demands as to prove veritable slavery and bondage for the higher types of mankind. [33]
[From Government on a Neighboring Planet:] The feeble-minded are trained only in agriculture and animal husbandry, and are committed for life to special custodial colonies where they are segregated by sex to prevent parenthood, which is denied all subnormals. These restrictive measures have been in operation for seventy-five years; the commitment decrees are handed down by the parental courts. [34]
What relationship might the following paragraphs have to considerations about subnormals before and after Pentecost (and while in Jesus’ presence perhaps)?:
Culture presupposes quality of mind; culture cannot be enhanced unless mind is elevated. Superior intellect will seek a noble culture and find some way to attain such a goal. Inferior minds will spurn the highest culture even when presented to them ready-made. Much depends, also, upon the successive missions of the divine Sons and upon the extent to which enlightenment is received by the ages of their respective dispensations. [35]
The sojourn in Athens was pleasant and profitable, but it was not particularly fruitful in its human contacts. Too many of the Athenians of that day were either intellectually proud of their reputation of another day or mentally stupid and ignorant, being the offspring of the inferior slaves of those earlier periods when there was glory in Greece and wisdom in the minds of its people. Even then, there were still many keen minds to be found among the citizens of Athens. [36]
Can subnormals Father-fuse? Spirit-fuse?
What is the relationship between “poor” racial mixtures and subnormals?
What are the genetic factors related to both temperament and intelligence?
| Appendix 1. Urantia Book-based Taxonomy | Index | Appendix 3. How Are Superior(ity) and Inferior(ity) Used? |
Editor’s Note: Some quotes have added emphasis. In addition, for reasons of compactness of the report, a summarized version of the citations included in the original will be offered. For a full context of the quotes see the full paragraphs of The Urantia Book. ↩︎
UB 69:2.5. See also 2 Ts 3:6-15 ↩︎
Editor’s note: A company of seraphim is 288 seraphim. A battalion of cherubim is 3,456 cherubim, or twelve companies of cherubim. UB 38:6.1. ↩︎
Consider loving vs. comprehending God. Consider that worship may lack intelligence but nonetheless be well intended. ↩︎
Definition of mediocre: “of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance.” Note that “low” is included. ↩︎
UB 122:1.3. Emphasis expanded. ↩︎