Changes

68:2.2 While the [[level]] of [[intelligence]] has [[contributed]] considerably to the [[rate]] of [[cultural]] [[progress]], [[society]] is essentially [[designed]] to lessen the [[risk]] element in the [[individual]]'s mode of living, and it has [[progressed]] just as fast as it has succeeded in lessening [[pain]] and increasing the [[pleasure]] element in life. Thus does the whole [[social]] [[body]] push on slowly toward the goal of [[destiny]]—[[extinction]] or [[survival]]—depending on whether that goal is [[self]]-[[maintenance]] or [[self]]-[[gratification]]. Self-maintenance [[originates]] [[society]], while excessive self-[[gratification]] destroys [[civilization]].

68:2.2 While the [[level]] of [[intelligence]] has [[contributed]] considerably to the [[rate]] of [[cultural]] [[progress]], [[society]] is essentially [[designed]] to lessen the [[risk]] element in the [[individual]]'s mode of living, and it has [[progressed]] just as fast as it has succeeded in lessening [[pain]] and increasing the [[pleasure]] element in life. Thus does the whole [[social]] [[body]] push on slowly toward the goal of [[destiny]]—[[extinction]] or [[survival]]—depending on whether that goal is [[self]]-[[maintenance]] or [[self]]-[[gratification]]. Self-maintenance [[originates]] [[society]], while excessive self-[[gratification]] destroys [[civilization]].

68:2.3 Society is concerned with self-perpetuation, self-maintenance, and self-gratification, but human [[self-realization]] is [[worthy]] of becoming the [[immediate]] goal of many cultural [[groups]].[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_69#69:1._BASIC_HUMAN_INSTITUTIONS]

68:2.3 Society is concerned with self-perpetuation, self-maintenance, and self-gratification, but human [[self-realization]] is [[worthy]] of becoming the [[immediate]] goal of many cultural [[groups]].[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_69#69:1._BASIC_HUMAN_INSTITUTIONS]

68:2.4 The herd [[instinct]] in [[natural]] man is hardly sufficient to account for the [[development]] of such a [[social]] [[organization]] as now exists on [[Urantia]]. Though this innate gregarious [[propensity]] lies at the bottom of [[human]] [[society]], much of man's sociability is an acquirement. Two great [[influences]] which [[contributed]] to the early [[association]] of [[human beings]] were [[food]] [[hunger]] and [[sex]] [[love]]; these instinctive urges man [[shares]] with the [[animal]] world. Two other [[emotions]] which drove [[human]] [[beings]] together and held them [[together]] were [[vanity]] and [[fear]], more particularly [[ghost]] [[fear]].

68:2.4 The herd [[instinct]] in [[natural]] man is hardly sufficient to account for the [[development]] of such a [[social]] [[organization]] as now exists on [[Urantia]]. Though this innate gregarious [[propensity]] lies at the bottom of [[human]] [[society]], much of man's sociability is an acquirement. Two great [[influences]] which [[contributed]] to the early [[association]] of [[human beings]] were [[food]] [[hunger]] and [[sex]] [[love]]; these instinctive urges man [[shares]] with the [[animal]] world. Two other [[emotions]] which drove [[human]] [[beings]] together and held them [[together]] were [[vanity]] and [[fear]], more particularly [[ghost]] [[fear]].

68:2.5 [[History]] is but the [[record]] of man's agelong [[food]] [[struggle]]. [[Primitive]] man only [[thought]] when he was [[hungry]]; food saving was his first self-denial, [[self]]-[[discipline]]. With the [[growth]] of [[society]], [[food]] [[hunger]] ceased to be the only incentive for [[mutual]] [[association]]. Numerous other sorts of [[hunger]], the [[realization]] of various needs, all led to the closer [[association]] of [[mankind]]. But today [[society]] is top-heavy with the overgrowth of supposed human needs. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occidental civilization] of the twentieth century groans wearily under the tremendous overload of [[luxury]] and the inordinate multiplication of [[human]] [[desires]] and longings. Modern [[society]] is enduring the strain of one of its most dangerous [[phases]] of far-flung interassociation and highly [[complicated]] [[interdependence]].

68:2.5 [[History]] is but the [[record]] of man's agelong [[food]] [[struggle]]. [[Primitive]] man only [[thought]] when he was [[hungry]]; food saving was his first self-denial, [[self]]-[[discipline]]. With the [[growth]] of [[society]], [[food]] [[hunger]] ceased to be the only incentive for [[mutual]] [[association]]. Numerous other sorts of [[hunger]], the [[realization]] of various needs, all led to the closer [[association]] of [[mankind]]. But today [[society]] is top-heavy with the overgrowth of supposed human needs. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occidental civilization] of the twentieth century groans wearily under the tremendous overload of [[luxury]] and the inordinate multiplication of [[human]] [[desires]] and longings. Modern [[society]] is enduring the strain of one of its most dangerous [[phases]] of far-flung interassociation and highly [[complicated]] [[interdependence]].

68:2.6 [[Hunger]], [[vanity]], and [[ghost]] [[fear]] were continuous in their [[social]] [[pressure]], but [[sex]] [[gratification]] was transient and spasmodic. The [[sex]] urge alone did not impel [[primitive]] [[men]] and [[women]] to assume the heavy burdens of [[home]] [[maintenance]]. The early [[home]] was founded upon the [[sex]] restlessness of the [[male]] when deprived of frequent [[gratification]] and upon that [[devoted]] [[mother]] [[love]] of the [[human]] [[female]], which in [[measure]] she shares with the females of all the higher [[animals]]. The [[presence]] of a helpless baby determined the early [[differentiation]] of [[male]] and [[female]] [[activities]]; the [[woman]] had to [[maintain]] a settled [[residence]] where she could [[cultivate]] the [[soil]]. And from earliest times, where [[woman]] was has always been regarded as the [[home]].

68:2.6 [[Hunger]], [[vanity]], and [[ghost]] [[fear]] were continuous in their [[social]] [[pressure]], but [[sex]] [[gratification]] was transient and spasmodic. The [[sex]] urge alone did not impel [[primitive]] [[men]] and [[women]] to assume the heavy burdens of [[home]] [[maintenance]]. The early [[home]] was founded upon the [[sex]] restlessness of the [[male]] when deprived of frequent [[gratification]] and upon that [[devoted]] [[mother]] [[love]] of the [[human]] [[female]], which in [[measure]] she shares with the females of all the higher [[animals]]. The [[presence]] of a helpless baby determined the early [[differentiation]] of [[male]] and [[female]] [[activities]]; the [[woman]] had to [[maintain]] a settled [[residence]] where she could [[cultivate]] the [[soil]]. And from earliest times, where [[woman]] was has always been regarded as the [[home]].

68:2.11 [[Vanity]] contributed mightily to the [[birth]] of [[society]]; but at the [[time]] of these [[revelations]] the devious strivings of a vainglorious [[generation]] threaten to swamp and submerge the whole complicated [[structure]] of a highly specialized [[civilization]]. [[Pleasure]]-want has long since superseded [[hunger]]-want; the [[legitimate]] [[social]] aims of self-[[maintenance]] are rapidly translating themselves into base and threatening [[forms]] of [[self]]-[[gratification]]. [[Self]]-[[maintenance]] builds [[society]]; unbridled self-[[gratification]] unfailingly destroys [[civilization]].

68:2.11 [[Vanity]] contributed mightily to the [[birth]] of [[society]]; but at the [[time]] of these [[revelations]] the devious strivings of a vainglorious [[generation]] threaten to swamp and submerge the whole complicated [[structure]] of a highly specialized [[civilization]]. [[Pleasure]]-want has long since superseded [[hunger]]-want; the [[legitimate]] [[social]] aims of self-[[maintenance]] are rapidly translating themselves into base and threatening [[forms]] of [[self]]-[[gratification]]. [[Self]]-[[maintenance]] builds [[society]]; unbridled self-[[gratification]] unfailingly destroys [[civilization]].

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_68 Go to Paper 68]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_68 Go to Paper 68]</center>

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

[[Category:Paper 68 - The Dawn of Civilization]]

[[Category:Paper 68 - The Dawn of Civilization]]