Date:         Fri, 6 Feb 1998 16:26:47 -0600
Reply-To:     "The FORUM at WWW.URANTIA.ORG" <FORUM@WWW.URANTIA.ORG>
Sender:       "The FORUM at WWW.URANTIA.ORG" <FORUM@WWW.URANTIA.ORG>
From:         Kathleen Swadling <kathleen@WWW.URANTIA.ORG>
Subject:      Dateline Statements from Fdn
To:           FORUM@WWW.URANTIA.ORG
 

Dear List Members,

Due to popular demand, I'm posting below the 2 statements the Foundation sent to Dateline -- one on ACC and the other on Channeling.

Regards,
Kathleen Swadling

February 2, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Re: Aquarian Concepts Community -- Gabriel of Sedona

The URANTIA Foundation, the publisher and owner of the copyright of The URANTIA Book, would like to state clearly and unequivocally, the following:

First, the URANTIA Foundation, the publisher of The URANTIA Book, has no connection with the "Aquarian Concepts Community," a group based in Arizona and headed by one Tony Devlin who refers to himself as "Gabriel of Sedona."

The URANTIA Foundation has no affiliation with any church, priest, clergy, or gurus.

There is no teaching in The URANTIA Book that advocates the formation of cults and URANTIA Foundation does not endorse or condone any such activities.

In fact, the URANTIA Foundation has made every possible effort over the years to make sure that The URANTIA Book is not identified with any religion, cult, or belief system.

A life of service and involvement with family, friends, and community are central to the teachings of The URANTIA Book.

The URANTIA Foundation respects the right of all individuals to make up their own minds about any social, political, economic, or religious issue.

Finally, the URANTIA Foundation and The URANTIA Book have no connection with UFOs, drug-induced states of mind, or religious practices based on leadings, voices, or visions.

Instead The URANTIA Book advocates the living of life in accordance with natural laws and the highest concepts of goodness, truth, beauty, and love.

For further information please contact:
Tonia Baney
Executive Director of URANTIA Foundation
Ph: (773) 525-3319 or fax: (773) 525-7739
 

February 2, 1998

PRESS RELEASE

Re: Channeling and The URANTIA Book

The URANTIA Foundation, the publisher and owner of the copyright of The URANTIA Book, would like to state clearly and unequivocally, the following:

The URANTIA Foundation does not take a position regarding individual and personal religious experiences. Even so we strongly assert that The URANTIA Book and URANTIA Foundation have no connection with so-called "channeling" phenomenon and "channeled" materials.

URANTIA Foundation occasionally receives inquiries regarding possible connections between The URANTIA Book, URANTIA Foundation, and so-called "channeling" or "channeled" materials. Some of the materials which have been brought to our attention do appear to borrow concepts, names of personalities, and other information from The URANTIA Book. Hints of apocalyptic warnings are also issued. Historically such warnings are common to these kinds of phenomena. While each individual shall have to make up his or her own mind on such matters, The URANTIA Book teaches:

Altogether too much of the uprush of the memories of the unconscious levels of the human mind has been mistaken for divine revelations and spirit leadings. (p. 1099)

Under no circumstances should the trancelike state of visionary consciousness be cultivated as a religious experience. (p. 1099)

The secret of his [Jesus'] unparalleled religious life was this consciousness of the presence of God; and he attained it by intelligent prayer and sincere worship -- unbroken communion with God -- and not by leadings, voices, visions, or extraordinary religious practices. (p. 2089)

We believe that the present claims of "channeling" have diverted groups from the in-depth study of The URANTIA Book to the "short-cut" of seeking contact with spirit beings through voices or trance-like states.

As the publisher and owner of the copyright of all languages of The URANTIA Book, URANTIA Foundation will vigorously act to thwart any attempts to produce unauthorized versions of the book in order to defend its literary rights.

For further information please contact:
Tonia Baney
Executive Director of URANTIA Foundation
Ph: (773) 525-3319 or fax: (773) 525-7739