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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame 97:10.1 Their leaders had taught the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites Israelites] that they wer...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:The_eye_of_all_ur60.jpg|right|frame]]
97:10.1 Their [[leaders]] had taught the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites Israelites] that they were a [[chosen people]], not for special indulgence and [[monopoly]] of [[divine]] [[favor]], but for the special [[service]] of carrying the [[truth]] of the one God over all to every [[nation]]. And they had [[promised]] the [[Jews]] that, if they would fulfill this [[destiny]], they would become the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] of all peoples, and that the coming [[Messiah]] would reign over them and all the world as the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.9 Prince of Peace].
97:10.2 When the [[Jews]] had been freed by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews#Babylonian_captivity Persians], they returned to [[Palestine]] only to fall into [[bondage]] to their own [[priest]]-ridden code of [[laws]], [[sacrifices]], and [[rituals]]. And as the [[Hebrew]] [[clans]] rejected the [[wonderful]] [[story]] of [[God]] presented in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Death farewell oration of Moses][http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy] for the [[rituals]] of [[sacrifice]] and [[penance]], so did these remnants of the [[Hebrew]] nation reject the magnificent [[concept]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah#Isaiah_40-55_.28Deutero-Isaiah.29 second Isaiah] for the rules, regulations, and [[rituals]] of their growing [[priesthood]].
97:10.3 [[Nationalism|National]] [[egotism]], false [[faith]] in a misconceived promised [[Messiah]], and the increasing bondage and [[tyranny]] of the [[priesthood]] forever silenced the [[voices]] of the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] (excepting [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel Daniel], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel Ezekiel], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggai Haggai], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi Malachi]); and from that day to the time of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John the Baptist] all [[Israel]] experienced an increasing [[spiritual]] [[retrogression]]. But the Jews never lost the [[concept]] of the [[Universal Father]]; even to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century] after Christ they have continued to follow this [[Deity]] [[conception]].
97:10.4 From [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John the Baptist] there extended an unbroken line of [[faithful]] [[teachers]] who passed the [[monotheistic]] torch of [[light]] from one [[generation]] to another while they unceasingly rebuked unscrupulous rulers, denounced commercializing [[priests]], and ever exhorted the people to adhere to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]], the Lord God of Israel.
97:10.5 As a [[nation]] the Jews [[eventually]] lost their [[political]] [[identity]], but the [[Hebrew]] [[religion]] of [[sincere]] [[belief]] in the one and [[universal]] [[God]] continues to live in the hearts of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora scattered exiles]. And this [[religion]] [[survives]] because it has effectively [[functioned]] to conserve the highest [[values]] of its followers. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Judaism Jewish religion] did preserve the [[ideals]] of a people, but it failed to foster [[progress]] and [[encourage]] [[philosophic]] [[creative]] [[discovery]] in the realms of [[truth]]. The [[Judaism|Jewish religion]] had many faults—it was deficient in [[philosophy]] and almost devoid of [[aesthetic]] [[qualities]]—but it did conserve [[moral]] [[values]]; therefore it [[persisted]]. The [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]], as compared with other [[concepts]] of [[Deity]], was clear-cut, vivid, [[personal]], and ''moral''.
97:10.6 The [[Jews]] loved [[justice]], [[wisdom]], [[truth]], and [[righteousness]] as have few peoples, but they contributed least of all peoples to the [[intellectual]] [[comprehension]] and to the [[spiritual]] [[understanding]] of these [[divine]] [[qualities]]. Though [[Hebrew]] [[theology]] refused to expand, it played an important part in the [[development]] of two other world religions, [[Christianity]] and [[Mohammedanism]].
97:10.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Judaism Jewish religion] [[persisted]] also because of its [[institutions]]. It is difficult for [[religion]] to [[survive]] as the [[private]] [[practice]] of isolated [[individuals]]. This has ever been the error of the [[religious]] [[leaders]]: Seeing the [[evils]] of [[institutionalized]] [[religion]], they seek to destroy the [[technique]] of [[group]] functioning. In place of destroying all [[ritual]], they would do better to reform it. In this respect [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel Ezekiel] was wiser than his contemporaries; though he joined with them in insisting on [[personal]] [[moral]] [[responsibility]], he also set about to [[establish]] the [[faithful]] observance of a superior and [[purified]] [[ritual]].
97:10.8 And thus the [[successive]] [[teachers]] of [[Israel]] accomplished the greatest feat in the [[evolution]] of [[religion]] ever to be effected on [[Urantia]]: the [[gradual]] but continuous [[transformation]] of the [[barbaric]] [[concept]] of the savage [[demon]] [[Yahweh]], the [[jealous]] and cruel spirit god of the fulminating [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai Sinai] volcano, to the later exalted and [[supernal]] [[concept]] of the [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]], [[creator]] of all things and the [[loving]] and [[merciful]] [[Father]] of all [[mankind]]. And this Hebraic [[concept]] of [[God]] was the highest [[human]] [[visualization]] of the [[Universal Father]] up to that time when it was further enlarged and so exquisitely amplified by the [[personal]] [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents#Part_IV._The_Life_and_Teachings_of_Jesus teachings and life example] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_20#20:5._BESTOWAL_OF_THE_PARADISE_SONS_OF_GOD his Son], [[Michael]] of [[Nebadon]].
97:10.9 Presented by a [[Melchizedek]] of [[Nebadon]].
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_97 Go to Paper 97]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 97 - Evolution of the God Concept Among the Hebrews]]
97:10.1 Their [[leaders]] had taught the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites Israelites] that they were a [[chosen people]], not for special indulgence and [[monopoly]] of [[divine]] [[favor]], but for the special [[service]] of carrying the [[truth]] of the one God over all to every [[nation]]. And they had [[promised]] the [[Jews]] that, if they would fulfill this [[destiny]], they would become the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] of all peoples, and that the coming [[Messiah]] would reign over them and all the world as the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.9 Prince of Peace].
97:10.2 When the [[Jews]] had been freed by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews#Babylonian_captivity Persians], they returned to [[Palestine]] only to fall into [[bondage]] to their own [[priest]]-ridden code of [[laws]], [[sacrifices]], and [[rituals]]. And as the [[Hebrew]] [[clans]] rejected the [[wonderful]] [[story]] of [[God]] presented in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Death farewell oration of Moses][http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy] for the [[rituals]] of [[sacrifice]] and [[penance]], so did these remnants of the [[Hebrew]] nation reject the magnificent [[concept]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah#Isaiah_40-55_.28Deutero-Isaiah.29 second Isaiah] for the rules, regulations, and [[rituals]] of their growing [[priesthood]].
97:10.3 [[Nationalism|National]] [[egotism]], false [[faith]] in a misconceived promised [[Messiah]], and the increasing bondage and [[tyranny]] of the [[priesthood]] forever silenced the [[voices]] of the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] (excepting [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel Daniel], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel Ezekiel], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggai Haggai], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi Malachi]); and from that day to the time of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John the Baptist] all [[Israel]] experienced an increasing [[spiritual]] [[retrogression]]. But the Jews never lost the [[concept]] of the [[Universal Father]]; even to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century] after Christ they have continued to follow this [[Deity]] [[conception]].
97:10.4 From [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John the Baptist] there extended an unbroken line of [[faithful]] [[teachers]] who passed the [[monotheistic]] torch of [[light]] from one [[generation]] to another while they unceasingly rebuked unscrupulous rulers, denounced commercializing [[priests]], and ever exhorted the people to adhere to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]], the Lord God of Israel.
97:10.5 As a [[nation]] the Jews [[eventually]] lost their [[political]] [[identity]], but the [[Hebrew]] [[religion]] of [[sincere]] [[belief]] in the one and [[universal]] [[God]] continues to live in the hearts of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora scattered exiles]. And this [[religion]] [[survives]] because it has effectively [[functioned]] to conserve the highest [[values]] of its followers. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Judaism Jewish religion] did preserve the [[ideals]] of a people, but it failed to foster [[progress]] and [[encourage]] [[philosophic]] [[creative]] [[discovery]] in the realms of [[truth]]. The [[Judaism|Jewish religion]] had many faults—it was deficient in [[philosophy]] and almost devoid of [[aesthetic]] [[qualities]]—but it did conserve [[moral]] [[values]]; therefore it [[persisted]]. The [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]], as compared with other [[concepts]] of [[Deity]], was clear-cut, vivid, [[personal]], and ''moral''.
97:10.6 The [[Jews]] loved [[justice]], [[wisdom]], [[truth]], and [[righteousness]] as have few peoples, but they contributed least of all peoples to the [[intellectual]] [[comprehension]] and to the [[spiritual]] [[understanding]] of these [[divine]] [[qualities]]. Though [[Hebrew]] [[theology]] refused to expand, it played an important part in the [[development]] of two other world religions, [[Christianity]] and [[Mohammedanism]].
97:10.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Judaism Jewish religion] [[persisted]] also because of its [[institutions]]. It is difficult for [[religion]] to [[survive]] as the [[private]] [[practice]] of isolated [[individuals]]. This has ever been the error of the [[religious]] [[leaders]]: Seeing the [[evils]] of [[institutionalized]] [[religion]], they seek to destroy the [[technique]] of [[group]] functioning. In place of destroying all [[ritual]], they would do better to reform it. In this respect [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel Ezekiel] was wiser than his contemporaries; though he joined with them in insisting on [[personal]] [[moral]] [[responsibility]], he also set about to [[establish]] the [[faithful]] observance of a superior and [[purified]] [[ritual]].
97:10.8 And thus the [[successive]] [[teachers]] of [[Israel]] accomplished the greatest feat in the [[evolution]] of [[religion]] ever to be effected on [[Urantia]]: the [[gradual]] but continuous [[transformation]] of the [[barbaric]] [[concept]] of the savage [[demon]] [[Yahweh]], the [[jealous]] and cruel spirit god of the fulminating [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai Sinai] volcano, to the later exalted and [[supernal]] [[concept]] of the [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]], [[creator]] of all things and the [[loving]] and [[merciful]] [[Father]] of all [[mankind]]. And this Hebraic [[concept]] of [[God]] was the highest [[human]] [[visualization]] of the [[Universal Father]] up to that time when it was further enlarged and so exquisitely amplified by the [[personal]] [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents#Part_IV._The_Life_and_Teachings_of_Jesus teachings and life example] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_20#20:5._BESTOWAL_OF_THE_PARADISE_SONS_OF_GOD his Son], [[Michael]] of [[Nebadon]].
97:10.9 Presented by a [[Melchizedek]] of [[Nebadon]].
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_97 Go to Paper 97]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 97 - Evolution of the God Concept Among the Hebrews]]