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Worship

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From Urantia Wiki, the encyclopedia of The Urantia Book

Worship, contemplation of the spiritual, must alternate with service, contact with material reality, for a balanced and fulfilling life. 143:7.3

Worship encompasses more than just moral conduct and social service, as the adoration of the abstract beautiful and exaltation of nature are not forms of true worship of God. 5:5.4

The quality of spiritual worship defies estimation like spiritual joy, love, and moral values cannot be quantified. 196:3.18

Religion is the consciousness of universe fellowship through divine worship, transcending science, society, philosophy, and morality. 5:5.2

Adoration and worship of the Universal Father is conveyed to Father by Adjusters through the personality circuit. 5:3.2 5:6.11

Worshipping the Eternal Son and Infinite Spirit is also worshipping the Universal Father, as they are all equally divine and eternal. 6:2.3

The Father in heaven always accepts sincere worship, regardless of how primitive or crude the concept of Deity may be. (142:3.3,8)

The defense of outgrown systems of worship hinders the growth and evolution of spiritual practices, impeding the advancement of true faith. 195:10.8

True worship is found in giving thanks to the Lord, as Jesus exhorted his followers to do. 146:2.15

The depth of worship is determined by the quality of creature perception, reflecting differing concepts of the purpose of religion. 5:4.8 27:7.1

The evolution of religion does not depend on revelation as the human mind, guided by universal spirit bestowal, is fully capable of developing worship. 86:0.1

The worship of wealth-power results in value distortion. 70:2.13

The value of beauty in worship was emphasized by Jesus, who taught that simplicity and nature-like surroundings elicit true spiritual communion. 167:6.5-6

In enlightened and reflective worship, wisdom is transcended and ultimately leads to the finality of thought. 112:2.11-13

In the Urantia Book

Definition

  • Acknowledging personal relationship with Creators is the highest privilege and first duty of all created intelligences, leading to the joy and liberty of the sons of God. 16:6.8 27:7.1
  • Abiding by the Father’s will is man's choicest gift to God, the only true worship satisfying the Creator Father. 1:1.2
  • True worship is the mobilization of all human powers under the evolving soul's dominance, subject to the divine directionization of the associated Thought Adjuster. 5:3.7-8 146:2.17 146:3.6
  • Worship is divinely creative, self-forgetting, and a way to anticipate and reflect spiritual significances onto life. (143:7.5,7)
  • Worship is the highest insight of cosmic mind, the spiritual realization of divine fellowship and recognition of spirit values. 16:6.8
  • Worship is the highest privilege and first duty, a conscious and joyous act of recognizing the intimate and personal relationships between the Creators and their creatures. 2:5.6-7 27:7.1
  • The key to awakening dormant spiritual powers lies in the interchange of mind of self for will of God through worship. 160:3.1
  • True worship is achieved when the inner self is intent upon God, seeking forgiveness and release from wrongdoing, craving freedom from sin, and praying for comfort, protection, and love. 131:4.5
  • True worship involves the mobilization of the human personality’s powers under the soul’s dominance, guided by the Adjuster. 5:3.7
  • Worship, more essential than prayer, deepens reflective powers and illuminates destiny through communion with the divine source of reality. 102:4.5 196:3.22
  • Worship is when a part identifies with the Whole, merging the finite with the Infinite in a personal communion with the divine Father. 143:7.8
  • The practice of the presence of God in group worship creates an atmosphere of communion, fostering fellowship with the divine and leading to the emergence of the brotherhood of man. 103:4.1
  • All mortals indwelt by Thought Adjusters have the capacity for seeking reciprocal contact with divinity, despite the persistence of primitive fear religion. 52:1.7
  • Worship is the sincere pursuit of divine values and the wholehearted love of God, leading to the personal realization of divine fellowship and eternal survival. 16:6.8 16:8.14
  • Through a son's affectionate reciprocation of Father's love, intelligent children are joyfully led into sublime and supernal free worship of a loving, just, and merciful Father-God. (149:6.2,4)
  • True worship is a spontaneous reaction to Father's personality. 5:3.3
  • Worship is like tuning in to universe broadcasts of the infinite spirit. 144:4.8
  • It was a momentous day, just before noon, when Adam and Eve directed the people to worship Him who made us and keeps us living, as a sincere pledge to never be tempted to worship anyone but God. 74:4.5

Primitive worship

  • Animal worship, originating from the fear of natural elements, evolved among early civilizations and eventually led to sacrificial ceremonies as a form of worship. 63:6.3-4 64:4.12 85:3
  • Mortal man has worshiped everything imaginable, from the earth to the sky, out of fear and awe of natural forces beyond comprehension. 85:0.4
  • Fire and lightning, sacred symbols in early times, led to the custom of fire worship and the belief in passing through fire after death. 69:6.4-6
  • The worship of heavenly bodies, starting from rocks and trees, evolved to deification of sun, moon, and stars in various ancient cultures. 85:5
  • Man has not hesitated to honor himself with adoration, worshiping everything else on earth and in the heavens above. 85:6
  • Plants and trees were venerated for their intoxicating liquors, believed to render one divine, leading to early forms of nature worship. 85:2
  • The political rulers in the Roman Empire promoted the worship of self-elevated human deities, with Augustus proclaiming himself the supreme god. 98:3.7-8
  • The Kateri people of southern India and numerous tribes in northern India still worship stones and hills. 85:1
  • Primitive man worshipped the sun in all civilizations. See link about sun | sun (Urantia’s):sun worship
  • Mankind has worshiped the 4 elements - earth, air, water, and fire - throughout history, with beliefs ranging from river cults to fire as a deity. 85:4
  • The guiding force in all worship is the feeling of what they feared. 85:7.2
  • Adam refused to accept worship, directing others to bow down only to God. 74:4.4-5

Jesus teachings

  • The essence of Jesus' teaching was loving worship given in recognition of the loving ministry of God as the Universal Father. 92:4.8
  • Jesus was reverential towards others' faulty worship, standing as a model of respect even while challenging religious traditions and human beliefs. 100:7.16
  • True worship, as taught by Jesus, transforms the worshiper to become more like the being worshiped. 146:2.17

Practice of worship

  • Worship brings relaxation, illumination, courage, and self-understanding, renewing the mind, inspiring the soul, enabling bravery to face problems, obliterating fear, and equipping with divine assurance to dare to be Godlike. 160:1.12
  • Forming worshipful habits through difficult and time-consuming practices leads to a mature personality recognized by others. 160:3.2
  • We worship God because he is in us, and we praise the Infinite for what he is rather than fear him for what he does. 16:9.14 149:6.5
  • Worship is for its own sake; true worship involves no self-interest, while prayer can encompass egoistic or altruistic elements. 5:3.3-4 91:4.3
  • Worship of the Universal Father must be voluntary, a heartfelt recognition and love freely given by intelligent will creatures. 1:1.2
  • Consecrated devotion ensures one will be ready to say, “Here am I; send me”, prompting them to not neglect daily worship. 163:4.10
  • Worship of the Most High shuns evil and forbids sin, leading to salvation for those who trust in his name. 131:1.8
  • Worship in spirit and in truth, for God seeks sincere worshipers who worship Him in this way. 143:5.6 193:1.2
  • Worship of nature is improper because it is a phase of the universal and divine power, marred by the rebellion and misconduct of creatures. 4:2.6-8
  • Worship should be directed to the Universal Father only, as he is the one true God, the bestower and conservator of all personalities throughout the master universe. (5:3.1,5-6) 38:2.5 56:4.5 74:4.5 131:1.3
  • group worship
  • The purpose of group worship is to enhance fellowship, promote values, and encourage spiritual growth within a community. 99:6.2
  • The atmosphere of communion is the beginning of true worship, fostering fellowship with the divine and the emergence of the brotherhood of man. 103:4.1
  • Group prayer prevents the danger of overmuch private prayer by promoting socializing influence and preventing isolation. 91:7.13
  • Reflective worship and prayer of thanksgiving offer a healthful spiritual meditation, contrasting with the dangers of mystic communion influenced by physical fatigue, fasting, anxiety, and other psychic states. 100:5.10

On Paradise

  • After the full attainment of worship, admission to the Finaliter Corps is granted, marking the beginning of eternity service. 27:7.8-9
  • The worship on Paradise always exceeds preparation for it, as beings of experiential ascension express accumulated emotions of ages in the presence of the Powers of Paradise. 27:7.6
  • The conductors of worship guide beings towards the highest joy and ultimate satisfaction of Paradise existence. 27:7
  • Worship on Paradise is the highest joy of existence, a blissful sanctuary of divine service that intensifies and exalts self-expression and appreciation. (27:7.2,5)
  • The chiefs of assignment periodically disperse the overflow of spiritual emotions during worship on Paradise, ensuring ascendant beings attain full satisfaction before entering eternal service. (27:7.3,6)
  • Worship on Paradise overwhelms even the Powers of Paradise with the accumulated emotions of beings ascending to eternal glory. 27:7.6
  • The threefold fluctuation of light from Deity abode signals the fulfillment of the eternal plan through the worshipful expression of Paradise residents. 27:7.7
  • Those without Name and Number have superior ability in worship. 22:4.1
  • In the magnificent garden, the Most Highs lead all Edentia in worshipful contemplation of God the Supreme at their shrine. 43:6.3

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.

Where it appears

Worship is linked in 12 paragraphs of the text.

5:3.316:6.816:8.1427:7.136:5.11131:5.3133:4.9143:7.3144:4.7146:2.17150:6.1196:3.22

See also

Adjutant mind-spiritsChurchesJesusMeditationMount GerizimPraisePrayerRecreationSpiritual communionSpiritual insightThanksgivingWater
Categories: Concepts and teachings · Paper 85 · Paper 5 · Paper 27