Changes

Will: Kathy's [[performance]] was [[honest]]. It is not possible to know what the [[minister]]'s [[reaction]] to [[Urantia Book]]'s teaching will be. It is [[hoped]] that he will find the notions [[expressed]] there provocative, and even though he may profess outward [[rejection]], he will return again and again to the uplifting [[message]] expressed therein.

Will: Kathy's [[performance]] was [[honest]]. It is not possible to know what the [[minister]]'s [[reaction]] to [[Urantia Book]]'s teaching will be. It is [[hoped]] that he will find the notions [[expressed]] there provocative, and even though he may profess outward [[rejection]], he will return again and again to the uplifting [[message]] expressed therein.

While the [[concept]] of [[atonement]] is rationally and emotionally [[satisfying]], you who have benefitted from a more advanced teaching can see that [[atonement]] is a rather [[primitive]] [[explanation]] for the significance of the [[death]] of [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]]. [[Early religions]] were based primarily on [[death]] and [[fear]], as [[organizational]] features which caused men to rally to an otherwise-[[difficult]] conceptual flag. The people of your [[planet]], even only [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000_AD 1000 years ago], were unable to mentally grasp the true [[story]] of [[the man]], no matter how [[inspiring]]. They lacked not only the [[mental]] [[capacity]], but also the necessary [[social]] capacity, for nothing like the man's life existed in the [[huts]] and stone halls of the high- and low-born of [[the West]]. Therefore the gift became an [[icon]] -- an item impossible of [[understanding]], revered for the very [[quality]] which made it inaccessible to the lives of the [[humans]] who were intended to be the chief beneficiaries. For the man [[Jesus]] lived and died as a man not only for the people of your world, but also for the [[other worlds]], both light and dim, in [[this universe]].

While the [[concept]] of [[atonement]] is rationally and emotionally [[satisfying]], you who have benefitted from a more advanced teaching can see that [[atonement]] is a rather [[primitive]] [[explanation]] for the significance of the [[death]] of [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]]. [[Early religions]] were based primarily on [[death]] and [[fear]], as [[organizational]] features which caused men to rally to an otherwise-[[difficult]] conceptual flag. The people of your [[planet]], even only [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000_AD 1000 years ago], were unable to mentally grasp the true [[story]] of [[the man]], no matter how [[inspiring]]. They lacked not only the [[mental]] [[capacity]], but also the necessary [[social]] capacity, for nothing like the man's life existed in the [[huts]] and stone halls of the high- and low-born of [[the West]]. Therefore the gift became an [[icon]] -- an item impossible of [[understanding]], revered for the very [[quality]] which made it inaccessible to the lives of the [[humans]] who were intended to be the chief beneficiaries. For the man [[Jesus]] lived and died as a man not only for the people of your world, but also for the [[other worlds]], both light and dim, in [[this universe]].

The [[doctrine]] of [[atonement]] is a [[trivialization]] of the [[events]] which took place on your world. This may be [[difficult]] for some of your people to grasp, for [[atonement]] has a neatness to it that is mightily [[appealing]] to your people. The primary lure is its [[inherent]] [[ability]] to keep [[God]] remote and safely distant in [[Ancient|historic times]] -- not applicable or relevant to your daily lives.

The [[doctrine]] of [[atonement]] is a [[trivialization]] of the [[events]] which took place on your world. This may be [[difficult]] for some of your people to grasp, for [[atonement]] has a neatness to it that is mightily [[appealing]] to your people. The primary lure is its [[inherent]] [[ability]] to keep [[God]] remote and safely distant in [[Ancient|historic times]] -- not applicable or relevant to your daily lives.

This is [[error]]. [[God]] lives in you, through you, with you. His [[presence]] is all-pervasive throughout [[Creation]]. [[Atonement]] leads [[immediately]] to the [[deduction]] that [[God]] cares only so much, and otherwise the [[human]] is on his own. This is untrue. [[The Father]] participates on a momentary basis. There is no [[reflective]] time lag in [[the Father]]'s [[presence]]. He does not hitchhike on your [[perceptions]], He is on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_art cutting edge] -- where life can be most fearsome, and also most [[exhilarating]]. That is where the [[growth]] takes place. This is why we have asked you in your [[group]] exercise to take [[risks]], so that you can feel the [[presence]] of [[the Father]] in the [[vitality]] of the immediate presence of [[humanity]] at its finest -- [[spontaneous]], unguarded, [[truthful]], [[brave]] . .. and cowardly. That is where the [[progress]] takes place.

This is [[error]]. [[God]] lives in you, through you, with you. His [[presence]] is all-pervasive throughout [[Creation]]. [[Atonement]] leads [[immediately]] to the [[deduction]] that [[God]] cares only so much, and otherwise the [[human]] is on his own. This is untrue. [[The Father]] participates on a momentary basis. There is no [[reflective]] time lag in [[the Father]]'s [[presence]]. He does not hitchhike on your [[perceptions]], He is on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_art cutting edge] -- where life can be most fearsome, and also most [[exhilarating]]. That is where the [[growth]] takes place. This is why we have asked you in your [[group]] exercise to take [[risks]], so that you can feel the [[presence]] of [[the Father]] in the [[vitality]] of the immediate presence of [[humanity]] at its finest -- [[spontaneous]], unguarded, [[truthful]], [[brave]] . .. and cowardly. That is where the [[progress]] takes place.

Enough for the [[moment]]. I will leave you to [[work]] with this. [[God]] bless you and keep you.

Enough for the [[moment]]. I will leave you to [[work]] with this. [[God]] bless you and keep you.