The Continuing Study of Urantia Paper 71 - The Development of the State.

Last week we continued our study of Urantia Paper 71, The Development of the State, yet another of a series of thought provoking sociology papers. We started with the embryonic state and the evolution of representative government. Last week we read two sections on the ideals of statehood and the features of progressive civilization. These sections reveal that evolved states live according to high moral and ethical ideals, all the while maintaining adequate defense from outside hostility and exploitation. This week we will continue with at least two more sections, Section 5 on The Evolution of Competition and Section 6 on The Profit Motive. Section 5 opens with this, "Competition is essential to social progress, but competition, unregulated, breeds violence. In current society, competition is slowly displacing war in that it determines the individual's place in industry, as well as decreeing the survival of the industries themselves."  Section 6 makes this bold statement, "Present-day profit-motivated economics is doomed unless profit motives can be augmented by service motives. Ruthless competition based on narrow-minded self-interest is ultimately destructive of even those things which it seeks to maintain." So far, we have pondered the balancing act that must be achieved to promote the evolved state, i.e., finding peace and protection, idealism and practicality as well as rights and responsibilities. This paper admonishes us to love loyalty derived from the realization of human brotherhood, have intelligent patriotism based on wise ideals, and develop cosmic insight interpreted in terms of planetary facts, needs, and goals. We hope you can tune in and join in the study and discussion of this great paper. We love hearing from our listeners to gain their insights and understanding of these terrific teachings. The lines are open so please call in and help us explore The Development of the State.