Priests
From Urantia Wiki, the encyclopedia of The Urantia Book
Priests impress and awe common people by conducting rituals in ancient tongues, but there is a danger that the rituals may replace true religious devotion. 90:5.6
Honor rulers and teachers, but call no man Father in spiritual sense, humbly serving all for the glory of God. 175:1.10
Men struggled to comprehend women, viewing them with a mix of mistrust, fascination, and contempt, leading to a widespread belief in the baseness of women ultimately influencing the tradition of a celibate priesthood. 84:4.4
The formation of celibate priesthoods in many religions was influenced by the continence cult, which historically spawned from a ritual among soldiers and viewed marriage as a lesser evil than fornication. 89:3.6
As religion evolved, priests specialized in various talents until they claimed to hold the keys of heaven. 90:5.5
The deleterious agency of religion is exemplified by priests. 91:5.6
Living faith and ecclesiasticism are forever incompatible, hindering the advancement of the true gospel as taught by Jesus of Nazareth. 195:10.8
Institutional religion diminishes the potential for good in ministers, turning them into mere administrators. 99:6.3
Priests intervene between the religionist and object of worship, evolving from the concept of exceptional individuals communicating with unresponsive spirits in the advancing concepts of primitive man. 90:0.2
Micah condemned priests for teaching for pay, envisioning a future where everyone worships God freely. 97:5.5
Priests, although a millstone about the neck of the races, are invaluable leaders in guiding towards higher realities. 90:5.8
In the Urantia Book
Primitive priests
- The Salem missionaries, forbidden to function as priests, could have established a great religious structure among the Greeks if not for their oath of ordination. 98:1.1
- As religion evolved, priests became specialized according to predilections, ranging from singers to orators, ultimately claiming to “hold the keys of heaven.” 90:5.4-5
- Ancient capitalists, priests amassed wealth by exploiting the fear of the dead and offering protection for fees. 69:5.9
- The priests, kings, and prophets were worshiped as individuals believed to be inspired by the deities. 85:6.2
Priesthood and woman
- Women entitled to perform religious service stood before God on an equality with man, following the teachings of Jesus culminating in Pentecost and the obliteration of religious discrimination. 194:3.14
Bible parallels
Passages that the paragraphs cited above parallel, quote or reinterpret, from Duane Faw’s Paramony cross-references. Hover a reference to read it.
- Call no man “spiritual father” 175:1.10 — Mt 23:9.
- Who would be greatest: the server 175:1.10 — Mt 20:26-27; Mt 23:11; Mk 9:35; Mk 10:43-44; Lk 22:26.
- Humbled will be exalted 175:1.10 — Mt 18:1-4; Mt 23:12; Lk 1:52; Lk 14:11; Lk 18:14.
- Blame women 84:4.4 — Gn 3:12-17.
- Marriage, the lesser evil 89:3.6 — 1 Co 7:2,9.
- Man not touch woman 89:3.6 — 1 Co 7:1.
- Paul would like all men be single as he is 89:3.6 — 1 Co 7:7.
- Good for singles & widows 89:3.6 — 1 Co 7:8.
- Paul speaks by permission 89:3.6 — 1 Co 7:6.
- Rulers who judge for reward 97:5.5 — Mic 3:11.
- Every man sit under own vine 97:5.5 — Mic 4:4-5.
- Spirit liberty 194:3.14 — 2 Co 3:17.