Banana layout + Kings Quest/Batman picture = genius

I'm finally beginning to complete one of the goals I set for myself last summer... to read and relay The Urantia Book's version of "The Life and Teachings of Jesus." 

 

Note: according to this book, everything that I am going to recount about Jesus' life is factually correct. Understandably, I'm rather skeptical. I think it would be very nice if it was true, but wishing doesn't make it so. I'm not trying to force anyone to believe what I am about to write. I just ask that anyone who reads this keep an open mind.

 

I'm going to write about this book in installments, the first of which will be commentary regarding Jesus' Passover pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Before I go into what happened, I think it's important to give a little background information on Jesus' origin and life.

 

The Urantia Book describes God as one creator called the Universal Father, who has many Creator Sons, each of whom reside over a specific universe. In order to gain full control over their universe, the Creator Son must make "seven bestowals upon the various orders of his universe creatures" (1324). The seventh bestowal for the Creator Son Michael was to live the life of a human being on Urantia (Earth) as Jesus of Nazareth.

 

Here are some tidbits about Jesus' life that I found interesting:

1. Gabriel showed himself to Mary the day after the conception of Jesus.

2. Joseph and Mary were married in March, 8 B.C

3. Joseph and Mary took their trip to Bethlehem on August 18th, 7 B.C.

4. Jesus was born on August 21st 7 B.C.

5. Jesus had 7 other siblings: James, Miriam, Joseph, Simon, Martha, Jude, and Ruth

6. The Urantia book depicts Jesus as an intelligent, thoughtful, questioning, and most importantly, ordinary child.

 

Alright, now on to Jerusalem. In a nut shell, Jesus' pilgrimage was filled mainly with disappointment. Women's acceptance in temple, secular trade in the temple courts, ritualistic sacrific, and consecration ceremonies were just a few of the religious practices that Jesus questioned. The following excerpts are the result of such questioning:

 

In regards to the belief in "the wrath of God or the anger of the Almighty" Jesus said, "My father, it cannot be true-- the Father in heaven cannot so regard his erring children on earth. The heavenly Father cannot love his children less than you love me. And I well know, no matter what unwise thing I might do, you would never pour out wrath upon me nor vent anger against me. If you, my earthly father, possess such human reflections of the Divine, how much more must the heavenly Father be filled with goodness and overflowing with mercy. I refuse to believe that my Father in heaven loves me less than my father on earth" (1378).

 

The following text was not said by Jesus. It does, however, relay Jesus' feelings once Passover week had ended, "He felt assured inhis own mind that the Father in heaven was not pleased with this spectacle of sacrificial offerings, and as the years passed, he became increasingly determined someday to establish the celebration of a bloodless Passover" (1379).

 

The reason why I found the preceding passage interesting is because many Christians (who I've met in person) don't celebrate Passover, and don't really regard Jesus as a Jew. He did question many traditional Jewish beliefs, but Passover was not one of them. I fully commend the few Christians on mindsay who celebrate Passover. If this passage is true, then Jesus probably would have wanted the celebration to continue to be practiced.

 

This next passage was exclaimed by Jesus after leaving Jerusalem. Just as an aside... Jesus actually became separated from his parents on the return back to Nazareth. Apparently he went to temple service and completely lost track of time. Gosh I hate when that happens! His parents didn't find out he was missing until that night, and spent four days looking for him. Jesus didn't seem to care all that much, but most understandably his parents were scared to death. When I read that part of the book I just thought, "Man, too bad they didn't have cell phones back then," which I thought was rather silly... Anyway, here's something not so silly:

 

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, and the people thereof, what slaves you are-- subservient to the Roman yoke and victims of your own traditions--but I will return to cleanse yonder temple and deliver my people from this bondage!" (1384).

 

This passage really made me think. Throughout the entire book it is obvious that Jesus questioned almost everything, and was constantly debating whether to stay true to his own rational beliefs, or stay true to his family. He ultimately decided, "While I must do the will of my Father in heaven, I will also be obedient to my father on earth. I will await my hour" (1384). He meditated over beliefs that didn't make sense to him, such as belief in an angry God and animal sacrifice (to name a few). Then, he followed his own opinions which eventually spawned a new religion. It seems incredibly ironic to me that Catholics, for example, are almost totally reliant upon tradition. The Eucharist... the repetition of prayers... I could go on and on... they're all illogical traditions.

 

"He passed through the consecration rituals but was disappointed by their perfunctory and routine natures. He missed that personal interest..." (1377). I'm sorry, but when I think about lack of personal interest... I think about drones of Catholics repeating the same memorized verses for the umpteenth time. Later on in life, Jesus persuaded his brothers and sisters to develop their own prayers so as to form a personal relationship with God. Plain memorization was not what he had in mind.

 

In all of this speculation I am, of course, assuming that every word in The Urantia Book is true. If this is not the case, then I hardly have proof to support my argument.

 

That being said, I don't believe in blind faith. I think it's a cop out. Jesus didn't have blind faith. He saw that the Jewish religion was faltering.. that certain practices were illogical and immoral. Why then do we allow ourselves to just blindly agree with practices and beliefs that are also nonsensical and immoral? and perhaps... traditions that Jesus himself did not endorse?

 

More next time.