The Sublime Adventure – II. The Eternal Quest
Date Posted: April 30th, 2008
Why am I here and where do I go from here?
These two questions have preoccupied humankind since the
beginning of time. And yet, until 1955, when the Urantia Book
was published, humanity had only vague religious and
philosophical answers. I am not saying that the Book has brought
instant knowledge; most people are not ready for these
revelations. It will be a long time before obscurity is lifted,
and the light of truth allowed to shine on this forlorn planet.
I will do my best in a subsequent part to answer the first
question.
The second question concerns the potential survival of the
human being beyond this life. Indeed, this whole article is
about our voyage across the universe once we are liberated from
the fetters of the flesh.
A human life is absurdly short. It is filled with
struggles, disappointments, and at time plain despair. I am not
saying that the world is a vale of tears, there are occasional
joys. Certainly, in the developed world, life has become easier
and more rewarding. But in many places in the world, life is
short, filled with uncertainties, and downright bitter. It is
therefore legitimate to ask the question: Is that all there is
to it? The answer is no. This is only the beginning.
The notion that there was a life beyond the present one goes
back to primitive humans. The Book explains it in the following
passages.
“The concept of a supermaterial phase of mortal personality
was born of the unconscious and purely accidental association of
the occurrences of everyday life plus the ghost dream. The
simultaneous dreaming about a departed chief by several members
of his tribe seemed to constitute convincing evidence that the
old chief had really returned in some form. It was all very real
to the savage who would awaken from such dreams reeking with
sweat, trembling, and screaming.” [P952].
“The primitive doctrine of survival after death was not
necessarily a belief in immortality. Beings who could not count
over twenty could hardly conceive of infinity and eternity; they
rather sought of recurring incarnations.”
“Early man entertained no ideas of hell or future
punishment. The savage looked upon the future life as just like
this one, minus all ill luck. Later on, a separate destiny for
good ghosts and bad ghosts – heaven and hell – was conceived.”
[P953].
