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195:9.1 Do not overlook the [[value]] of your [[spiritual]] [[heritage]], the [[river]] of [[truth]] running down through the centuries, even to the barren times of a [[materialistic]] and [[secular]] age. In all your [[worthy]] [[efforts]] to rid yourselves of the [[superstitious]] [[creeds]] of [[past]] ages, make sure that you hold fast the [[eternal]] [[truth]]. But be [[patient]]! when the present [[superstition]] [[revolt]] is over, the truths of [[Jesus]]' [[gospel]] will [[persist]] [[gloriously]] to [[illuminate]] a new and better way.
195:9.2 But [[paganized]] and [[socialized]] [[Christianity]] stands in need of new [[contact]] with the uncompromised [[teachings]] of [[Jesus]]; it languishes for lack of a new [[vision]] of [[the Master]]'s life on [[earth]]. A new and fuller [[revelation]] of the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] is destined to [[conquer]] an [[empire]] of materialistic [[secularism]] and to overthrow a world sway of [[mechanistic]] [[naturalism]]. [[Urantia]] is now quivering on the very brink of one of its most [[amazing]] and enthralling [[epochs]] of [[social]] re[[adjustment]], [[moral]] quickening, and [[spiritual]] [[enlightenment]].
195:9.3 The teachings of [[Jesus]], even though greatly [[modified]], [[survived]] the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults mystery cults] of their birthtime, the [[ignorance]] and [[superstition]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography) dark ages], and are even now slowly [[triumphing]] over the [[materialism]], [[mechanism]], and [[secularism]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century]. And such times of great testing and threatened [[defeat]] are always times of great [[revelation]].
195:9.4 [[Religion]] does need new [[leaders]], [[spiritual]] men and women who will [[dare]] to depend solely on [[Jesus]] and his incomparable teachings. If [[Christianity]] [[persists]] in neglecting its [[spiritual]] [[mission]] while it continues to [[busy]] itself with [[social]] and [[material]] [[problems]], the spiritual [[renaissance]] must await the coming of these new [[teachers]] of [[Jesus]]' [[religion]] who will be exclusively [[devoted]] to the spiritual regeneration of men. And then will these [[spirit]]-[[born]] [[souls]] quickly supply the [[leadership]] and [[inspiration]] requisite for the [[social]], [[moral]], [[economic]], and [[political]] reorganization of the world.
195:9.5 The [[modern]] age will refuse to [[accept]] a [[religion]] which is inconsistent with [[facts]] and out of [[harmony]] with its highest [[conceptions]] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_56#56:10._TRUTH.2C_BEAUTY.2C_AND_GOODNESS truth, beauty, and goodness]. The hour is striking for a rediscovery of the true and [[original]] [[foundations]] of present-day [[distorted]] and [[compromised]] [[Christianity]]—the real life and teachings of [[Jesus]].
195:9.6 [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN Primitive man] lived a life of [[superstitious]] [[bondage]] to religious [[fear]]. [[Modern]], civilized men dread the [[thought]] of falling under the [[dominance]] of strong [[religious]] [[convictions]]. [[Thinking]] man has always [[feared]] to be held by a [[religion]]. When a strong and moving [[religion]] threatens to [[dominate]] him, he invariably tries to [[rationalize]], [[traditionalize]], and [[institutionalize]] it, thereby hoping to gain [[control]] of it. By such [[procedure]], even a revealed religion becomes man-made and man-[[dominated]]. [[Modern]] men and women of [[intelligence]] evade the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] because of their [[fears]] of what it will do to them—and with them. And all such [[fears]] are well founded. The [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] does, indeed, [[dominate]] and [[transform]] its [[believers]], demanding that men [[dedicate]] their lives to seeking for a [[knowledge]] of the will of [[the Father]] in heaven and requiring that the [[energies]] of [[living]] be [[consecrated]] to the [[unselfish]] [[service]] of the brotherhood of man.
195:9.7 [[Selfish]] men and women simply will not pay such a price for even the greatest [[spiritual]] [[treasure]] ever offered [[mortal]] man. Only when man has become sufficiently [[disillusioned]] by the sorrowful [[disappointments]] attendant upon the [[foolish]] and [[deceptive]] pursuits of [[selfishness]], and subsequent to the [[discovery]] of the barrenness of [[formalized]] [[religion]], will he be disposed to turn wholeheartedly to the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]], the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]].
195:9.8 The world needs more firsthand [[religion]]. Even [[Christianity]]—the best of the religions of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century]—is not only a religion about Jesus, but it is so largely one which men [[experience]] secondhand. They take their [[religion]] wholly as handed down by their [[accepted]] religious [[teachers]]. What an [[awakening]] the world would [[experience]] if it could only see [[Jesus]] as he really lived on [[earth]] and know, firsthand, his life-giving teachings! Descriptive [[words]] of [[things]] [[beautiful]] cannot thrill like the [[sight]] thereof, neither can [[creed]]al [[words]] [[inspire]] men's [[souls]] like the [[experience]] of knowing the [[presence]] of [[God]]. But [[expectant]] [[faith]] will ever keep the [[hope]]-door of man's [[soul]] open for the entrance of the [[eternal]] [[spiritual]] realities of the [[divine]] [[values]] of the worlds beyond.
195:9.9 [[Christianity]] has [[dared]] to lower its [[ideals]] before the [[challenge]] of human [[greed]], [[war]]-madness, and the [[lust]] for [[power]]; but the religion of [[Jesus]] stands as the unsullied and [[transcendent]] [[spiritual]] [[summons]], calling to the best there is in man to rise above all these [[legacies]] of [[animal]] [[evolution]] and, by [[grace]], attain the moral heights of true [[human]] [[destiny]].
195:9.10 [[Christianity]] is threatened by slow [[death]] from [[formalism]], overorganization, intellectualism, and other nonspiritual [[trends]]. The [[modern]] [[Christian]] church is not such a brotherhood of [[dynamic]] [[believers]] as [[Jesus]] [[commissioned]] continuously to [[effect]] the [[spiritual]] [[transformation]] of successive [[generations]] of [[mankind]].
195:9.11 So-called [[Christianity]] has become a [[social]] and [[cultural]] [[movement]] as well as a religious [[belief]] and [[practice]]. The stream of [[modern]] [[Christianity]] drains many an ancient [[pagan]] swamp and many a [[barbarian]] morass; many olden cultural watersheds drain into this present-day [[cultural]] [[stream]] as well as the high [[Galilean]] tablelands which are supposed to be its exclusive [[source]].
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_195 Go to Paper 195]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 195 - After Pentecost]]
195:9.1 Do not overlook the [[value]] of your [[spiritual]] [[heritage]], the [[river]] of [[truth]] running down through the centuries, even to the barren times of a [[materialistic]] and [[secular]] age. In all your [[worthy]] [[efforts]] to rid yourselves of the [[superstitious]] [[creeds]] of [[past]] ages, make sure that you hold fast the [[eternal]] [[truth]]. But be [[patient]]! when the present [[superstition]] [[revolt]] is over, the truths of [[Jesus]]' [[gospel]] will [[persist]] [[gloriously]] to [[illuminate]] a new and better way.
195:9.2 But [[paganized]] and [[socialized]] [[Christianity]] stands in need of new [[contact]] with the uncompromised [[teachings]] of [[Jesus]]; it languishes for lack of a new [[vision]] of [[the Master]]'s life on [[earth]]. A new and fuller [[revelation]] of the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] is destined to [[conquer]] an [[empire]] of materialistic [[secularism]] and to overthrow a world sway of [[mechanistic]] [[naturalism]]. [[Urantia]] is now quivering on the very brink of one of its most [[amazing]] and enthralling [[epochs]] of [[social]] re[[adjustment]], [[moral]] quickening, and [[spiritual]] [[enlightenment]].
195:9.3 The teachings of [[Jesus]], even though greatly [[modified]], [[survived]] the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults mystery cults] of their birthtime, the [[ignorance]] and [[superstition]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography) dark ages], and are even now slowly [[triumphing]] over the [[materialism]], [[mechanism]], and [[secularism]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century]. And such times of great testing and threatened [[defeat]] are always times of great [[revelation]].
195:9.4 [[Religion]] does need new [[leaders]], [[spiritual]] men and women who will [[dare]] to depend solely on [[Jesus]] and his incomparable teachings. If [[Christianity]] [[persists]] in neglecting its [[spiritual]] [[mission]] while it continues to [[busy]] itself with [[social]] and [[material]] [[problems]], the spiritual [[renaissance]] must await the coming of these new [[teachers]] of [[Jesus]]' [[religion]] who will be exclusively [[devoted]] to the spiritual regeneration of men. And then will these [[spirit]]-[[born]] [[souls]] quickly supply the [[leadership]] and [[inspiration]] requisite for the [[social]], [[moral]], [[economic]], and [[political]] reorganization of the world.
195:9.5 The [[modern]] age will refuse to [[accept]] a [[religion]] which is inconsistent with [[facts]] and out of [[harmony]] with its highest [[conceptions]] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_56#56:10._TRUTH.2C_BEAUTY.2C_AND_GOODNESS truth, beauty, and goodness]. The hour is striking for a rediscovery of the true and [[original]] [[foundations]] of present-day [[distorted]] and [[compromised]] [[Christianity]]—the real life and teachings of [[Jesus]].
195:9.6 [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN Primitive man] lived a life of [[superstitious]] [[bondage]] to religious [[fear]]. [[Modern]], civilized men dread the [[thought]] of falling under the [[dominance]] of strong [[religious]] [[convictions]]. [[Thinking]] man has always [[feared]] to be held by a [[religion]]. When a strong and moving [[religion]] threatens to [[dominate]] him, he invariably tries to [[rationalize]], [[traditionalize]], and [[institutionalize]] it, thereby hoping to gain [[control]] of it. By such [[procedure]], even a revealed religion becomes man-made and man-[[dominated]]. [[Modern]] men and women of [[intelligence]] evade the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] because of their [[fears]] of what it will do to them—and with them. And all such [[fears]] are well founded. The [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] does, indeed, [[dominate]] and [[transform]] its [[believers]], demanding that men [[dedicate]] their lives to seeking for a [[knowledge]] of the will of [[the Father]] in heaven and requiring that the [[energies]] of [[living]] be [[consecrated]] to the [[unselfish]] [[service]] of the brotherhood of man.
195:9.7 [[Selfish]] men and women simply will not pay such a price for even the greatest [[spiritual]] [[treasure]] ever offered [[mortal]] man. Only when man has become sufficiently [[disillusioned]] by the sorrowful [[disappointments]] attendant upon the [[foolish]] and [[deceptive]] pursuits of [[selfishness]], and subsequent to the [[discovery]] of the barrenness of [[formalized]] [[religion]], will he be disposed to turn wholeheartedly to the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]], the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]].
195:9.8 The world needs more firsthand [[religion]]. Even [[Christianity]]—the best of the religions of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century]—is not only a religion about Jesus, but it is so largely one which men [[experience]] secondhand. They take their [[religion]] wholly as handed down by their [[accepted]] religious [[teachers]]. What an [[awakening]] the world would [[experience]] if it could only see [[Jesus]] as he really lived on [[earth]] and know, firsthand, his life-giving teachings! Descriptive [[words]] of [[things]] [[beautiful]] cannot thrill like the [[sight]] thereof, neither can [[creed]]al [[words]] [[inspire]] men's [[souls]] like the [[experience]] of knowing the [[presence]] of [[God]]. But [[expectant]] [[faith]] will ever keep the [[hope]]-door of man's [[soul]] open for the entrance of the [[eternal]] [[spiritual]] realities of the [[divine]] [[values]] of the worlds beyond.
195:9.9 [[Christianity]] has [[dared]] to lower its [[ideals]] before the [[challenge]] of human [[greed]], [[war]]-madness, and the [[lust]] for [[power]]; but the religion of [[Jesus]] stands as the unsullied and [[transcendent]] [[spiritual]] [[summons]], calling to the best there is in man to rise above all these [[legacies]] of [[animal]] [[evolution]] and, by [[grace]], attain the moral heights of true [[human]] [[destiny]].
195:9.10 [[Christianity]] is threatened by slow [[death]] from [[formalism]], overorganization, intellectualism, and other nonspiritual [[trends]]. The [[modern]] [[Christian]] church is not such a brotherhood of [[dynamic]] [[believers]] as [[Jesus]] [[commissioned]] continuously to [[effect]] the [[spiritual]] [[transformation]] of successive [[generations]] of [[mankind]].
195:9.11 So-called [[Christianity]] has become a [[social]] and [[cultural]] [[movement]] as well as a religious [[belief]] and [[practice]]. The stream of [[modern]] [[Christianity]] drains many an ancient [[pagan]] swamp and many a [[barbarian]] morass; many olden cultural watersheds drain into this present-day [[cultural]] [[stream]] as well as the high [[Galilean]] tablelands which are supposed to be its exclusive [[source]].
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_195 Go to Paper 195]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 195 - After Pentecost]]
