Religion from A Melchizedek Viewpoint—Part 3: Social Aspects of Religion

We continue this week with a multi-week series on Papers 99 through 103 of The Urantia Book on the "religion papers." We are currently still on Paper 99: The Social Problems of Religion. Who would have guessed that religion has social problems?  Our Melchizedek author expounds more on these social problems in sections 5. Social Aspects of Religion, 6. Institutional Religion and 7. Religion's Contribution. Yes, we will cover all three sections this week to finish up Paper 99 and move on to Paper 100. Religion in Human Experience, next week. The Melchizedek author of this amazing paper intrigues us with statements like this: "Just as certainly as men share their religious beliefs, they create a religious group of some sort which eventually creates common goals. Someday religionists will get together and actually effect co-operation on the basis of unity of ideals and purposes rather than attempting to do so on the basis of psychological opinions and theological beliefs. Goals rather than creeds should unify religionists." And this: "Sectarianism is a disease of institutional religion, and dogmatism is an enslavement of the spiritual nature. It is far better to have a religion without a church than a church without religion." And this: "Religion inspires man to live courageously and joyfully on the face of the earth; it joins patience with passion, insight to zeal, sympathy with power, and ideals with energy." He fully illuminates the wonderful benefits of socialized religion compared to the traps of institutionalized religion. There is a difference! This will be another rich and interesting exploration of revelation. We hope you can join us on the chat board and/or in the conversation by tuning in to the live show. However, archived shows are always available on demand.