Changes

*1. 92:5.6 ''The Sethite period''. The [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_76#76:3._LIFE_IN_MESOPOTAMIA Sethite] [[priests]], as regenerated under the [[leadership]] of ''Amosad'', became the great post-Adamic [[teachers]]. They [[functioned]] throughout the lands of the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:4._THE_ANDITES Andites], and their [[influence]] [[persisted]] longest among the [[Greeks]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer Sumeria], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hindus]. Among the latter they have continued to the present time as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman Brahmans] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hindu] [[faith]]. The [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_76#76:3._LIFE_IN_MESOPOTAMIA Sethites] and their followers never entirely lost the [[Trinity]] concept revealed by [[Adam]].[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION]  

*1. 92:5.6 ''The Sethite period''. The [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_76#76:3._LIFE_IN_MESOPOTAMIA Sethite] [[priests]], as regenerated under the [[leadership]] of ''Amosad'', became the great post-Adamic [[teachers]]. They [[functioned]] throughout the lands of the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:4._THE_ANDITES Andites], and their [[influence]] [[persisted]] longest among the [[Greeks]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer Sumeria], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hindus]. Among the latter they have continued to the present time as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman Brahmans] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hindu] [[faith]]. The [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_76#76:3._LIFE_IN_MESOPOTAMIA Sethites] and their followers never entirely lost the [[Trinity]] concept revealed by [[Adam]].[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION]  

*2. 92:5.7 ''Era of the Melchizedek missionaries''. [[Urantia]] [[religion]] was in no small measure regenerated by the [[efforts]] of those [[teachers]] who were commissioned by [[Machiventa]] [[Melchizedek]] when he lived and taught at [[Salem]] almost [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_B.C. two thousand years before Christ]. These missionaries proclaimed [[faith]] as the price of [[favor]] with [[God]], and their teachings, though unproductive of any immediately appearing [[religions]], nevertheless formed the [[foundations]] on which later teachers of [[truth]] were to build the [[religions]] of [[Urantia]].  

*2. 92:5.7 ''Era of the Melchizedek missionaries''. [[Urantia]] [[religion]] was in no small measure regenerated by the [[efforts]] of those [[teachers]] who were commissioned by [[Machiventa]] [[Melchizedek]] when he lived and taught at [[Salem]] almost [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_B.C. two thousand years before Christ]. These missionaries proclaimed [[faith]] as the price of [[favor]] with [[God]], and their teachings, though unproductive of any immediately appearing [[religions]], nevertheless formed the [[foundations]] on which later teachers of [[truth]] were to build the [[religions]] of [[Urantia]].  

*3. 92:5.8 ''The post-Melchizedek era''. Though [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenhotep_II Amenemope] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhenaten Ikhnaton] both taught in this period, the outstanding [[religious]] [[genius]] of the post-Melchizedek era was the [[leader]] of a [[group]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levantine] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouins] and the founder of the [[Hebrew]] [[religion]]—[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses]. Moses taught [[monotheism]]. Said he: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.6] "The Lord he is God. There is none beside him."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.4] He [[persistently]] sought to uproot the remnants of the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_87 ghost cult] among his people, even prescribing the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment death penalty] for its practitioners. The [[monotheism]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] was adulterated by his successors, but in later times they did return to many of his teachings. The greatness of Moses lies in his [[wisdom]] and sagacity. Other men have had greater [[concepts]] of [[God]], but no one man was ever so successful in inducing large [[numbers]] of people to adopt such advanced [[beliefs]].

*3. 92:5.8 ''The post-Melchizedek era''. Though [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemope_(author) Amenemope] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhenaten Ikhnaton] both taught in this period, the outstanding [[religious]] [[genius]] of the post-Melchizedek era was the [[leader]] of a [[group]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levantine] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouins] and the founder of the [[Hebrew]] [[religion]]—[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses]. Moses taught [[monotheism]]. Said he: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.6] "The Lord he is God. There is none beside him."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.4] He [[persistently]] sought to uproot the remnants of the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_87 ghost cult] among his people, even prescribing the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment death penalty] for its practitioners. The [[monotheism]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] was adulterated by his successors, but in later times they did return to many of his teachings. The greatness of Moses lies in his [[wisdom]] and sagacity. Other men have had greater [[concepts]] of [[God]], but no one man was ever so successful in inducing large [[numbers]] of people to adopt such advanced [[beliefs]].

*4. 92:5.9 ''The sixth century before Christ''. Many men arose to [[proclaim]] [[truth]] in this, one of the greatest centuries of religious [[awakening]] ever witnessed on [[Urantia]]. Among these should be recorded [[Gautama]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius Confucius], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi Lao-tse], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster Zoroaster], and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism Jainist] teachers. The teachings of Gautama have become widespread in Asia, and he is revered as the [[Buddha]] by millions. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius Confucius] was to Chinese [[morality]] what [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato] was to [[Greek]] [[philosophy]], and while there were religious repercussions to the teachings of both, strictly speaking, neither was a religious teacher; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi Lao-tse] envisioned more of [[God]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao Tao] than did [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius Confucius] in [[humanity]] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato] in [[idealism]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster Zoroaster], while much affected by the prevalent [[concept]] of [[dual]] spiritism, the good and the bad, at the same time definitely exalted the [[idea]] of one [[eternal]] [[Deity]] and of the [[ultimate]] victory of [[light]] over [[darkness]]. [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION]

*4. 92:5.9 ''The sixth century before Christ''. Many men arose to [[proclaim]] [[truth]] in this, one of the greatest centuries of religious [[awakening]] ever witnessed on [[Urantia]]. Among these should be recorded [[Gautama]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius Confucius], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi Lao-tse], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster Zoroaster], and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism Jainist] teachers. The teachings of Gautama have become widespread in Asia, and he is revered as the [[Buddha]] by millions. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius Confucius] was to Chinese [[morality]] what [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato] was to [[Greek]] [[philosophy]], and while there were religious repercussions to the teachings of both, strictly speaking, neither was a religious teacher; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi Lao-tse] envisioned more of [[God]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao Tao] than did [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius Confucius] in [[humanity]] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato] in [[idealism]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster Zoroaster], while much affected by the prevalent [[concept]] of [[dual]] spiritism, the good and the bad, at the same time definitely exalted the [[idea]] of one [[eternal]] [[Deity]] and of the [[ultimate]] victory of [[light]] over [[darkness]]. [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION]

*5. 92:5.10 ''The first century after Christ''. As a [[religious]] [[teacher]], [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]] started out with the [[cult]] which had been [[established]] by [[John the Baptist]] and progressed as far as he could away from fasts and forms. Aside from [[Jesus]], [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul of Tarsus]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo_of_Alexandria Philo of Alexandria] were the greatest [[teachers]] of this era. Their [[concepts]] of religion have played a dominant part in the [[evolution]] of that [[faith]] which bears the name of [[Christ]].  

*5. 92:5.10 ''The first century after Christ''. As a [[religious]] [[teacher]], [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]] started out with the [[cult]] which had been [[established]] by [[John the Baptist]] and progressed as far as he could away from fasts and forms. Aside from [[Jesus]], [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul of Tarsus]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo_of_Alexandria Philo of Alexandria] were the greatest [[teachers]] of this era. Their [[concepts]] of religion have played a dominant part in the [[evolution]] of that [[faith]] which bears the name of [[Christ]].  

92:6.7 The [[Christian]] religion is the religion about the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents#Part_IV._The_Life_and_Teachings_of_Jesus life and teachings of Christ] based upon the [[theology]] of [[Judaism]], modified further through the assimilation of certain [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism Zoroastrian] teachings and [[Greek]] [[philosophy]], and formulated primarily by three [[individuals]]: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo Philo], [[Peter]], and [[Paul]]. It has passed through many [[phases]] of [[evolution]] since the time of [[Paul]] and has become so thoroughly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occidentalized] that many non-European peoples very naturally look upon [[Christianity]] as a strange [[revelation]] of a strange God and for strangers.

92:6.7 The [[Christian]] religion is the religion about the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents#Part_IV._The_Life_and_Teachings_of_Jesus life and teachings of Christ] based upon the [[theology]] of [[Judaism]], modified further through the assimilation of certain [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism Zoroastrian] teachings and [[Greek]] [[philosophy]], and formulated primarily by three [[individuals]]: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo Philo], [[Peter]], and [[Paul]]. It has passed through many [[phases]] of [[evolution]] since the time of [[Paul]] and has become so thoroughly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occidentalized] that many non-European peoples very naturally look upon [[Christianity]] as a strange [[revelation]] of a strange God and for strangers.

92:6.8 [[Islam]] is the religio-cultural connective of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Africa North Africa], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levant], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia southeastern Asia]. It was [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism Jewish] [[theology]] in [[connection]] with the later [[Christian]] teachings that made [[Islam]] [[monotheistic]]. The followers of [[Mohammed]] stumbled at the advanced teachings of the [[Trinity]]; they could not [[comprehend]] the [[doctrine]] of [[three]] [[divine]] [[personalities]] and one Deity. It is always [[difficult]] to induce evolutionary [[minds]] suddenly to [[accept]] advanced revealed [[truth]]. Man is an [[evolutionary]] [[creature]] and in the main must get his [[religion]] by evolutionary [[techniques]].

92:6.8 [[Islam]] is the religio-cultural connective of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Africa North Africa], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levant], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia southeastern Asia]. It was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism Jewish] [[theology]] in [[connection]] with the later [[Christian]] teachings that made [[Islam]] [[monotheistic]]. The followers of [[Mohammed]] stumbled at the advanced teachings of the [[Trinity]]; they could not [[comprehend]] the [[doctrine]] of [[three]] [[divine]] [[personalities]] and one Deity. It is always [[difficult]] to induce evolutionary [[minds]] suddenly to [[accept]] advanced revealed [[truth]]. Man is an [[evolutionary]] [[creature]] and in the main must get his [[religion]] by evolutionary [[techniques]].

92:6.9 [[Ancestor]] [[worship]] onetime constituted a decided advance in [[religious]] [[evolution]], but it is both amazing and regrettable that this [[primitive]] [[concept]] persists in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China China], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan Japan], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India India] amidst so much that is [[relatively]] more advanced, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhism] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism]. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occident], [[ancestor]] [[worship]] [[developed]] into the [[veneration]] of national gods and [[respect]] for racial [[heroes]]. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century] this [[hero]]-venerating nationalistic religion makes its [[appearance]] in the various [[radical]] and nationalistic [[secularism]]s which characterize many [[races]] and [[nations]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occident]. Much of this same [[attitude]] is also found in the great [[universities]] and the larger [[industrial]] communities of the [[English]]-speaking peoples. Not very [[different]] from these [[concepts]] is the idea that [[religion]] is but "a shared quest of the good life." The "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_religion national religions]" are nothing more than a reversion to the early [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_emperors Roman emperor] [[worship]] and to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto Shinto]—[[worship]] of the [[state]] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Family_of_Japan imperial family].

92:6.9 [[Ancestor]] [[worship]] onetime constituted a decided advance in [[religious]] [[evolution]], but it is both amazing and regrettable that this [[primitive]] [[concept]] persists in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China China], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan Japan], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India India] amidst so much that is [[relatively]] more advanced, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhism] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism]. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occident], [[ancestor]] [[worship]] [[developed]] into the [[veneration]] of national gods and [[respect]] for racial [[heroes]]. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century] this [[hero]]-venerating nationalistic religion makes its [[appearance]] in the various [[radical]] and nationalistic [[secularism]]s which characterize many [[races]] and [[nations]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occident]. Much of this same [[attitude]] is also found in the great [[universities]] and the larger [[industrial]] communities of the [[English]]-speaking peoples. Not very [[different]] from these [[concepts]] is the idea that [[religion]] is but "a shared quest of the good life." The "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_religion national religions]" are nothing more than a reversion to the early [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_emperors Roman emperor] [[worship]] and to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto Shinto]—[[worship]] of the [[state]] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Family_of_Japan imperial family].

92:7.2 New religions cannot be [[invented]]; they are either evolved, or else they are suddenly revealed. All new [[evolutionary]] [[religions]] are merely advancing [[expressions]] of the old [[beliefs]], new adaptations and [[adjustments]]. The old does not cease to exist; it is merged with the new, even as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism Sikhism] budded and blossomed out of the [[soil]] and forms of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam Islam], and other contemporary [[cults]]. [[Primitive]] [[religion]] was very [[democratic]]; the [[savage]] was quick to borrow or lend. Only with [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION revealed religion] did [[autocratic]] and intolerant theologic [[egotism]] appear.

92:7.2 New religions cannot be [[invented]]; they are either evolved, or else they are suddenly revealed. All new [[evolutionary]] [[religions]] are merely advancing [[expressions]] of the old [[beliefs]], new adaptations and [[adjustments]]. The old does not cease to exist; it is merged with the new, even as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism Sikhism] budded and blossomed out of the [[soil]] and forms of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam Islam], and other contemporary [[cults]]. [[Primitive]] [[religion]] was very [[democratic]]; the [[savage]] was quick to borrow or lend. Only with [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION revealed religion] did [[autocratic]] and intolerant theologic [[egotism]] appear.

92:7.3 The many [[religions]] of [[Urantia]] are all [[good]] to the extent that they bring man to [[God]] and bring the [[realization]] of [[the Father]] to man. It is a [[fallacy]] for any [[group]] of religionists to conceive of their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed creed] as The Truth; such [[attitudes]] bespeak more of [[theological]] [[arrogance]] than of certainty of [[faith]]. There is not a [[Urantia]] [[religion]] that could not profitably [[study]] and assimilate the best of the [[truths]] contained in every other [[faith]], for all contain [[truth]]. Religionists would do better to borrow the best in their [[neighbors]]' living spiritual [[faith]] rather than to denounce the worst in their lingering [[superstitions]] and outworn [[rituals]].

92:7.3 The many [[religions]] of [[Urantia]] are all [[good]] to the extent that they bring man to [[God]] and bring the [[realization]] of [[the Father]] to man. It is a [[fallacy]] for any [[group]] of religionists to conceive of their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed creed] as The Truth; such [[attitudes]] bespeak more of [[theological]] arrogance than of certainty of [[faith]]. There is not a [[Urantia]] [[religion]] that could not profitably [[study]] and assimilate the best of the [[truths]] contained in every other [[faith]], for all contain [[truth]]. Religionists would do better to borrow the best in their [[neighbors]]' living spiritual [[faith]] rather than to denounce the worst in their lingering [[superstitions]] and outworn [[rituals]].

92:7.4 All these [[religions]] have arisen as a result of man's variable [[intellectual]] [[response]] to his identical [[spiritual]] leading. They can never [[hope]] to [[attain]] a [[uniformity]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed creeds], [[dogmas]], and [[rituals]]—these are [[intellectual]]; but they can, and some day will, [[realize]] a [[unity]] in true [[worship]] of [[the Father]] of all, for this is [[spiritual]], and it is forever true, in the [[spirit]] all men are [[equal]].

92:7.4 All these [[religions]] have arisen as a result of man's variable [[intellectual]] [[response]] to his identical [[spiritual]] leading. They can never [[hope]] to [[attain]] a [[uniformity]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed creeds], [[dogmas]], and [[rituals]]—these are [[intellectual]]; but they can, and some day will, [[realize]] a [[unity]] in true [[worship]] of [[the Father]] of all, for this is [[spiritual]], and it is forever true, in the [[spirit]] all men are [[equal]].