I would like to state my opinion as it pertains to the Bible. There are many reader/believers of that book who are spiritually motivated and in tune with the universe. According to the Urantia Papers, it is not so much "what" you believe as it is "how" you believe that assures your survival. I believe that when I was searching so desperately for God, back in 1981, he answered me according to my ability and capacity to understand. I believe that he also took advantage of the fact that I was able to "delete" from my mind and all the things I had previously learned, even those things from the Bible. I was empty and ready to start anew, "as a little child". And so he presented to me, the FER (Fifth Epochal Revelation/Urantia Papers). Had I not had the capacity or the ability to read and comprehend it's contents, or had I not been able to "delete" my history of spiritual learning, I do believe that he would have led me in a different direction at that time.

               During the first few years that I had the FER, I believed that I had no use whatsoever for the Bible and even detested it because its negativity and distortion had frightened me and it had failed me during my time of desperation. However, I found that as I became more knowledgable through the FER, I needed to also study the Bible. As I did so, I was able to recognize its truths, along with its contradictions, and my perception of its contents became more positive. I found that it became increasingly helpful to know what people, not familiar with the FER, were believing and why. I had realized that Jesus knew the scriptures well. He had read and studied them and he was better able to state the truth to the people of his day based on their comprehension of scripture. I found that I am much more effective when I state a "brighter" truth without contradicting their beliefs and the source of their truth.   The difficulty for me lies in their belief in rules, regulations, and rituals.

               My family is strict catholic. I was at my grandmother's the other day visiting with her along with my aunt. We were talking about my grandmother's son who had died at 6 years old. Now, keeping in mind that these people believe that you die and go straight to heaven, I presented a very subtle idea for them to think about. I told them that I picture a nursery in heaven. There has to be a place where babies and young children go when they die and there must be someone there to tend them until their parents arrive. This made perfect sense to my aunt who had never really thought that even babies in heaven would need the care of an adult. From there questions were asked and we had a wonderful discussion. When I left, I was sure that I had started her on a path of pondering. I'm certain that we will have further discussions, however it is so important that I don't contradict the "truth" of the Bible or I will lose my credibility for sure. The Bible is very important to my work and ministry and I refer to it often.

               Now my grandmother, being 91, is set in her beliefs and rituals. I would never convince her that she still has a very long way to go before she gets to "heaven", and I would not attempt to do so. She believes in God and Jesus (I know she has a personal relationship with him) and angels and yes, even saints. Her belief is so strong and she has not faltered in living what she believes. She is truly spiritual, but has no knowledge of the FER. Her life is based on her perception of the truth contained in the Bible. Here I am, with the FER, and I still learn from her.

               The Bible wasn't enough for me. Throughout my life I had questioned too many things. My capacity to percieve and understand went beyond that book. And so God and I found each other through the FER. That, in my opinion, does not make me more spiritual than my grandmother or Billy Graham or anyone else who enjoys a true, close relationship with Christ Michael. Nor do I believe that it makes me more spiritual than an AA member who has submitted his/her will to the will of the Higher Power. It may only make me more knowledgable. And knowledge alone will not get me to Paradise.