The Urantia Book: New and Improved Ebook Kindle Edition

An earlier reviewer referred to the text as "God given," and I agree. One feels gifted by God in the reading of this book, something I can still say after 30 years of its companionship. Many who are spiritually alive (or seeking to be so) will find their inner "truth resonators" vibrating soundly when they read this text, no matter which edition they read. A beautiful quality of this book is that no one needs to "tell" you if it is true or not. You will recognize its truth on a soul level, or not.There was a time when some considered this text "stolen" from the Foundation, but I pray such perceptions continue to heal and become reconciled. Commendably, the Foundation safeguarded the process of shepherding the contents into book form (publishing it in 1955). Much later, they sued for copyright, but lost. At the time of that lawsuit, some readers put alot on the line financially, in order to protect public access to the book and its contents. One such person is Kristin M., who was ultimately forced into bankruptcy by the court costs, losing her home, etc. (Her portrait hangs in tribute, in my inner gallery of spiritual heroes.) Many selfless acts were made then, because the privilege of access is just that important. Now (happily), the contents are available on line--for free!--in both print and audio versions, and in a growing number of languages.Anyone who brings "eyes to see" to the material recognizes that the book was given to all of humanity for the benefit of all of humanity. It's a text which has the potential to change lives, and even nations, if sincerely applied. Book distribution by both publishers is an act of service toward all seeking expanded truth. A unique aspect of these two publishers is that no one is looking to earn profit from making these books available. As non-profits, the publishers function with exceptionally low operating expenses. All proceeds are funneled back into making the book widely available--including meeting requests to translate the book into even more languages.This is the first time that the index and the text have appeared in one volume. This is a handy feature for quick look-up, such as when readers are gathered for a study session. Questions will invariably pop up then, and the index speeds the process of locating cross-references. [For in-depth personal investigation, I do tend to rely on the separate and larger "Concordex," as well as a reference called the "Paramony," which correlates Bible verses to book contents.] To those whose labors of love produced the many types of indexes available, including the one in this edition, I publicly offer my thanks! Over-all, this particular edition feels more user friendly to me than past editions, due to its index, as well as its trimmer size and lighter weight.Of course, the particular edition utilized is not nearly as important as the contents, which are the same in all editions. As a general resource, this text uplifts the paths of religionists from many perspectives. Its contents are not designed to promote or start a new religion, but rather are intended to support one's search for a life of transcendent meaning (including a personal connection to our Creator). No matter which edition is preferred, this profound book needs to be discovered (and likely will be) by those who are hungry for spiritual liberation.

The power, beauty and value of this book cannot be overstated. Having left behind the increasingly tightening grip of a certain religious organization, I started out on a spiritual journey that has brought with it many unexpected experiences and revelations, leading up to and including the discovery of this book. The profound spiritual insight in its pages is, for lack of a better term, nothing short of a modern miracle. In fact, it clarifies, expands upon, and demystifies much of the confusion that exists not only in Christianity but in all religion while at the same time illuminating the common truths all these faiths share. Interestingly, while the word "religion" is used quite liberally throughout, it is in no way used to promote the concept as we currently understand it today; the God revealed in the Urantia Book truly is one of love, gentleness, mercy, generosity, and wisdom. He is a far cry from the fickle, brutal, harsh, demanding God portrayed in the Old Testament. If I could provide any advice to those who may be hesitant to read this book out of any sort of fear or intimidation, it is this: Pray for the Spirit of Truth that Jesus promised to send all those sincerely seeking Him and His Father. Do not allow the naysayers and other critics of the book to rob you of a richly satisfying, deeply rewarding and even healing spiritual experience. Keep your mind and heart open, follow the leading of the Spirit, and trust God to lead you out of the clutches of religious darkness and into the warmth and safety of His loving truths. Despite more aesthetically pleasing versions available, I chose this particular copy for ease of study since it includes an index. It's true that the pages are quite thin, but that drawback is easily remedied by using a gel highlighter if you choose to mark up your copy. To those bold enough to break free from the shackles of outdated thinking, I enthusiastically recommend this book.