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→Personal Experience
First, a little background. I have been a [[Urantia Book|Urantia book]] reader since 1983. I was brought up a Southern Baptist, and my [[education]] was in [[Physics]] and [[Mathematics]]. I have worked all my adult life in research and development, in both university and [[private]] enterprise environments. From my early teens till my mid 30s I would characterize myself an [[Atheism|atheist]]. My deity was rational thought, science, and the human [[mind]]. Certain [[experience]]s in my late 30's and early 40's convinced me that there was more to [[reality]] than the physical world. I began to seek, I knew not what.
First, a little background. I have been a [[Urantia Book|Urantia book]] reader since 1983. I was brought up a Southern Baptist, and my [[education]] was in [[Physics]] and [[Mathematics]]. I have worked all my adult life in research and development, in both university and [[private]] enterprise environments. From my early teens till my mid 30s I would characterize myself an [[Atheism|atheist]]. My deity was rational thought, science, and the human [[mind]]. Certain [[experience]]s in my late 30's and early 40's convinced me that there was more to [[reality]] than the physical world. I began to seek, I knew not what.
One day my wife brought a thick blue book home from work. A coworker had loaned the book to her saying " Here is a book I think F. should read." I read the book for a couple of weeks, skipping here and there, sampling its flavor. My initial reaction was one of skepticism and disbelief. I rejected the book for its unconventional science (an [[ultimaton]]???), and its unfamiliar nomenclature. After returning the book to its owner, I mentioned it to my business partner, and gave it no more [[cognition|thought]].
One day my wife brought a thick blue book home from work. A coworker had loaned the book to her saying " Here is a book I think F. should read." I read the book for a couple of weeks, skipping here and there, sampling its flavor. My initial reaction was one of skepticism and disbelief. I rejected the book for its unconventional science (an [http://mercy.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper42.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper42.html&line=33#mfs ultimaton]???), and its unfamiliar nomenclature. After returning the book to its owner, I mentioned it to my business partner, and gave it no more [[cognition|thought]].
On my next birthday, my 47th, I received a copy of the book as a gift from my partner and his wife, who both are interested in [[spiritual]] [[matter]]s. With the book now readily at hand, I undertook to read it, mostly out of curiosity. As I read, I began to perceive the spiritual fragrance of Truth. I began to understand that the book contained a [[concept]]ual framework of reality which united the material world and science, with a spiritual world and religion. Even more, I realized that I was a beloved son of a loving Universal Father. I began to see the way [[home]].
On my next birthday, my 47th, I received a copy of the book as a gift from my partner and his wife, who both are interested in [[spiritual]] [[matter]]s. With the book now readily at hand, I undertook to read it, mostly out of curiosity. As I read, I began to perceive the spiritual fragrance of Truth. I began to understand that the book contained a [[concept]]ual framework of reality which united the material world and science, with a spiritual world and religion. Even more, I realized that I was a beloved son of a loving Universal Father. I began to see the way [[home]].