5. MORTALS OF TIME AND
SPACE
40:5.1UB
Mortals represent the last link in the chain of those beings who
are called sons of God. The personal touch of the Original and
Eternal Son passes on down through a series of decreasingly divine
and increasingly human personalizations until there arrives a
being much like yourselves, one you can see, hear, and touch. And
then you are made spiritually aware of the great truth which your
faith may grasp -- sonship with the eternal God!
40:5.2
Likewise does the Original and Infinite Spirit, by a long series
of decreasingly divine and increasingly human orders, draw nearer
and nearer to the struggling creatures of the realms, reaching the
limit of expression in the angels -- than whom you were created
but a little lower -- who personally guard and guide you in the
life journey of the mortal career of time.
40:5.3
God the Father does not, cannot, thus downstep himself to make
such near personal contact with the almost limitless number of
ascending creatures throughout the universe of universes. But the
Father is not deprived of personal contact with his lowly
creatures; you are not without the divine presence. Although God
the Father cannot be with you by direct personality manifestation,
he is in you and of you in the identity of the indwelling Thought
Adjusters, the divine Monitors. Thus does the Father, who is the
farthest from you in personality and in spirit, draw the nearest
to you in the personality circuit and in the spirit touch of inner
communion with the very souls of his mortal sons and daughters.
40:5.4
Spirit identification constitutes the secret of personal survival
and determines the destiny of spiritual ascension. And since the
Thought Adjusters are the only spirits of fusion potential to be
identified with man during the life in the flesh, the mortals of
time and space are primarily classified in accordance with their
relation to these divine gifts, the indwelling Mystery Monitors.
This classification is as follows:
1.
Mortals of the transient or experiential Adjuster sojourn.
2.
Mortals of the non-Adjuster-fusion types.
3.
Mortals of Adjuster-fusion potential.
40:5.5
Series one -- mortals of the transient or experiential Adjuster
sojourn. This series designation is temporary for any evolving
planet, being used during the early stages of all inhabited worlds
except those of the second series.
40:5.6
Mortals of series one inhabit the worlds of space during the
earlier epochs of the evolution of mankind and embrace the most
primitive types of human minds. On many worlds like pre-Adamic
Urantia great numbers of the higher and more advanced types of
primitive men acquire survival capacity but fail to attain
Adjuster fusion. For ages upon ages, before man's ascent to the
level of higher spiritual volition, the Adjusters occupy the minds
of these struggling creatures during their short lives in the
flesh, and the moment such will creatures are indwelt by
Adjusters, the group guardian angels begin to function. While
these mortals of the first series do not have personal guardians,
they do have group custodians.
40:5.7
An experiential Adjuster remains with a primitive human being
throughout his entire lifetime in the flesh. The Adjusters
contribute much to the advancement of primitive men but are unable
to form eternal unions with such mortals. This transient ministry
of the Adjusters accomplishes two things: First, they gain
valuable and actual experience in the nature and working of the
evolutionary intellect, an experience which will be invaluable in
connection with later contacts on other worlds with beings of
higher development. Second, the transient sojourn of the Adjusters
contributes much towards preparing their mortal subjects for
possible subsequent Spirit fusion. All God-seeking souls of this
type achieve eternal life through the spiritual embrace of the
Mother Spirit of the local universe, thus becoming ascending
mortals of the local universe regime. Many persons from pre-Adamic
Urantia were thus advanced to the mansion worlds of Satania.
40:5.8
The Gods who ordained that mortal man should climb to higher
levels of spiritual intelligence through long ages of evolutionary
trials and tribulations, take note of his status and needs at
every stage of the ascent; and always are they divinely fair and
just, even charmingly merciful, in the final judgments of these
struggling mortals of the early days of the evolving races.
40:5.9
Series two -- mortals of the non-Adjuster-fusion types.
These are specialized types of human beings who are not able to
effect eternal union with their indwelling Adjusters. Type
classification among the one-, two-, and three-brained races is
not a factor in Adjuster fusion; all such mortals are akin, but
these non-Adjuster-fusion types are a wholly different and
markedly modified order of will creatures. Many of the
nonbreathers belong to this series, and there are numerous other
groups who do not ordinarily fuse with Adjusters.
40:5.10
Like series number one, each member of this group enjoys the
ministry of a single Adjuster during lifetime in the flesh. During
temporal life these Adjusters do everything for their subjects of
temporary indwelling that is done on other worlds where the
mortals are of fusion potential. The mortals of this second series
are often indwelt by virgin Adjusters, but the higher human types
are often in liaison with masterful and experienced Monitors.
40:5.11
In the ascendant plan for upstepping the animal-origin creatures,
these beings enjoy the same devoted service of the Sons of God as
is extended to the Urantia type of mortals. Seraphic co-operation
with Adjusters on the nonfusion planets is just as fully provided
as on the worlds of fusion potential; the guardians of destiny
minister on such spheres just as on Urantia and similarly function
at the time of mortal survival, at which time the surviving soul
becomes Spirit fused.
40:5.12
When you encounter these modified mortal types on the mansion
worlds, you will find no difficulty in communicating with them.
There they speak the same system language but by a modified
technique. These beings are identical with your order of creature
life in spirit and personality manifestations, differing only in
certain physical features and in the fact that they are nonfusible
with Thought Adjusters.
40:5.13
As to just why this type of creature is never able to fuse with
the Adjusters of the Universal Father, I am unable to say. Some of
us incline to the belief that the Life Carriers, in their efforts
to formulate beings capable of maintaining existence in an unusual
planetary environment, are confronted with the necessity of making
such radical modifications in the universe plan of intelligent
will creatures that it becomes inherently impossible to bring
about permanent union with the Adjusters. Often have we asked: Is
this an intended or an unintended part of the ascension plan? but
we have not found the answer.
40:5.14
Series three -- mortals of Adjuster-fusion potential. All
Father-fused mortals are of animal origin, just like the Urantia
races. They embrace mortals of the one-brained, two-brained, and
three-brained types of Adjuster-fusion potential. Urantians are of
the intermediate or two-brained type, being in many ways humanly
superior to the one-brained groups but definitely limited in
comparison with the three-brained orders. These three types of
physical-brain endowment are not factors in Adjuster bestowal, in
seraphic service, or in any other phase of spirit ministry. The
intellectual and spiritual differential between the three brain
types characterizes individuals who are otherwise quite alike in
mind endowment and spiritual potential, being greatest in the
temporal life and tending to diminish as the mansion worlds are
traversed one by one. From the system headquarters on, the
progression of these three types is the same, and their eventual
Paradise destiny is identical.
40:5.15
The unnumbered series. These narratives cannot possibly
embrace all of the fascinating variations in the evolutionary
worlds. You know that every tenth world is a decimal or
experimental planet, but you know nothing of the other variables
that punctuate the processional of the evolutionary spheres. There
are differences too numerous to narrate even between the revealed
orders of living creatures as between planets of the same group,
but this presentation makes clear the essential differences in
relation to the ascension career. And the ascension career is the
most important factor in any consideration of the mortals of time
and space.
40:5.16
As to the chances of mortal survival, let it be made forever
clear: All souls of every possible phase of mortal existence will
survive provided they manifest willingness to co-operate with
their indwelling Adjusters and exhibit a desire to find God and to
attain divine perfection, even though these desires be but the
first faint flickers of the primitive comprehension of that "true
light which lights every man who comes into the world."
6.
THE FAITH SONS OF GOD
40:6.1
The mortal races stand as the representatives of the lowest order
of intelligent and personal creation. You mortals are divinely
beloved, and every one of you may choose to accept the certain
destiny of a glorious experience, but you are not yet by nature of
the divine order; you are wholly mortal. You will be reckoned as
ascending sons the instant fusion takes place, but the status of
the mortals of time and space is that of faith sons prior to the
event of the final amalgamation of the surviving mortal soul with
some type of eternal and immortal spirit.
40:6.2
It is a solemn and supernal fact that such lowly and material
creatures as Urantia human beings are the sons of God, faith
children of the Highest. "Behold, what manner of love the Father
has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God."
"As many as received him, to them gave he the power to recognize
that they are the sons of God." While "it does not yet appear what
you shall be," even now "you are the faith sons of God"; "for you
have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you
have received the spirit of sonship, whereby you cry, `our
Father.'" Spoke the prophet of old in the name of the eternal God:
"Even to them will I give in my house a place and a name better
than sons; I will give them an everlasting name, one that shall
not be cut off." "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the
spirit of his Son into your hearts."
40:6.3
All evolutionary worlds of mortal habitation harbor these faith
sons of God, sons of grace and mercy, mortal beings belonging to
the divine family and accordingly called the sons of God. Urantia
mortals are entitled to regard themselves as being the sons of God
because:
40:6.4
1. You are sons of spiritual promise, faith sons; you have
accepted the status of sonship. You believe in the reality of your
sonship, and thus does your sonship with God become eternally
real.
40:6.5
2. A Creator Son of God became one of you; he is your elder
brother in fact; and if in spirit you become truly related
brothers of Christ, the victorious Michael, then in spirit must
you also be sons of that Father which you have in common -- even
the Universal Father of all.
40:6.6
3. You are sons because the spirit of a Son has been poured out
upon you, has been freely and certainly bestowed upon all Urantia
races. This spirit ever draws you toward the divine Son, who is
its source, and toward the Paradise Father, who is the source of
that divine Son.
40:6.7
4. Of his divine free-willness, the Universal Father has given you
your creature personalities. You have been endowed with a measure
of that divine spontaneity of freewill action which God shares
with all who may become his sons.
40:6.8
5. There dwells within you a fragment of the Universal Father, and
you are thus directly related to the divine Father of all the Sons
of God on all the worlds of space.
4. EVOLUTIONARY
WILL CREATURES
49:4.1UB
There are great differences between the mortals of the different worlds,
even among those belonging to the same intellectual and physical types, but
all mortals of will dignity are erect animals, bipeds.
49:4.2
There are six basic evolutionary races: three primary -- red, yellow, and
blue; and three secondary -- orange, green, and indigo. Most inhabited
worlds have all of these races, but many of the three-brained planets harbor
only the three primary types. Some local systems also have only these three
races.
49:4.3
The average special physical-sense endowment of human beings is twelve,
though the special senses of the three-brained mortals are extended slightly
beyond those of the one- and two-brained types; they can see and hear
considerably more than the Urantia races.
49:4.4
Young are usually born singly, multiple births being the exception, and the
family life is fairly uniform on all types of planets. Sex equality prevails
on all advanced worlds; male and female are equal in mind endowment and
spiritual status. We do not regard a planet as having emerged from barbarism
so long as one sex seeks to tyrannize over the other. This feature of
creature experience is always greatly improved after the arrival of a
Material Son and Daughter.
49:4.5
Seasons and temperature variations occur on all sunlighted and sun-heated
planets. Agriculture is universal on all atmospheric worlds; tilling the
soil is the one pursuit that is common to the advancing races of all such
planets.
49:4.6
Mortals all have the same general struggles with microscopic foes in their
early days, such as you now experience on Urantia, though perhaps not so
extensive. The length of life varies on the different planets from
twenty-five years on the primitive worlds to near five hundred on the more
advanced and older spheres.
49:4.7
Human beings are all gregarious, both tribal and racial. These group
segregations are inherent in their origin and constitution. Such tendencies
can be modified only by advancing civilization and by gradual
spiritualization. The social, economic, and governmental problems of the
inhabited worlds vary in accordance with the age of the planets and the
degree to which they have been influenced by the successive sojourns of the
divine Sons.
49:4.8
Mind is the bestowal of the Infinite Spirit and functions quite the same in
diverse environments. The mind of mortals is akin, regardless of certain
structural and chemical differences which characterize the physical natures
of the will creatures of the local systems. Regardless of personal or
physical planetary differences, the mental life of all these various orders
of mortals is very similar, and their immediate careers after death are very
much alike.
49:4.9
But mortal mind without immortal spirit cannot survive. The mind of man is
mortal; only the bestowed spirit is immortal. Survival is dependent on
spiritualization by the ministry of the Adjuster -- on the birth and
evolution of the immortal soul; at least, there must not have developed an
antagonism towards the Adjuster's mission of effecting the spiritual
transformation of the material mind.
5. THE PLANETARY
SERIES OF MORTALS
49:5.1
It will be somewhat difficult to make an adequate portrayal of the planetary
series of mortals because you know so little about them, and because there
are so many variations. Mortal creatures may, however, be studied from
numerous viewpoints, among which are the following:
1.
Adjustment to planetary environment.
2.
Brain-type series.
3.
Spirit-reception series.
4.
Planetary-mortal epochs.
5.
Creature-kinship serials.
6.
Adjuster-fusion series.
7.
Techniques of terrestrial escape.
49:5.2
The inhabited spheres of the seven superuniverses are peopled with mortals
who simultaneously classify in some one or more categories of each of these
seven generalized classes of evolutionary creature life. But even these
general classifications make no provision for such beings as midsoniters nor
for certain other forms of intelligent life. The inhabited worlds, as they
have been presented in these narratives, are peopled with evolutionary
mortal creatures, but there are other life forms.
49:5.3
1. Adjustment to planetary environment. There are three general
groups of inhabited worlds from the standpoint of the adjustment of creature
life to the planetary environment: the normal adjustment group, the radical
adjustment group, and the experimental group.
49:5.4
Normal adjustments to planetary conditions follow the general physical
patterns previously considered. The worlds of the nonbreathers typify the
radical or extreme adjustment, but other types are also included in this
group. Experimental worlds are usually ideally adapted to the typical life
forms, and on these decimal planets the Life Carriers attempt to produce
beneficial variations in the standard life designs. Since your world is an
experimental planet, it differs markedly from its sister spheres in Satania;
many forms of life have appeared on Urantia that are not found elsewhere;
likewise are many common species absent from your planet.
49:5.5
In the universe of Nebadon, all the life-modification worlds are serially
linked together and constitute a special domain of universe affairs which is
given attention by designated administrators; and all of these experimental
worlds are periodically inspected by a corps of universe directors whose
chief is the veteran finaliter known in Satania as Tabamantia.
49:5.6
2. Brain-type series. The one physical uniformity of mortals is the
brain and nervous system; nevertheless, there are three basic organizations
of the brain mechanism: the one-, the two-, and the three-brained types.
Urantians are of the two-brained type, somewhat more imaginative,
adventurous, and philosophical than the one-brained mortals but somewhat
less spiritual, ethical, and worshipful than the three-brained orders. These
brain differences characterize even the prehuman animal existences.
49:5.7
From the two-hemisphere type of the Urantian cerebral cortex you can, by
analogy, grasp something of the one-brained type. The third brain of the
three-brained orders is best conceived as an evolvement of your lower or
rudimentary form of brain, which is developed to the point where it
functions chiefly in control of physical activities, leaving the two
superior brains free for higher engagements: one for intellectual functions
and the other for the spiritual-counterparting activities of the Thought
Adjuster.
49:5.8
While the terrestrial attainments of the one-brained races are slightly
limited in comparison with the two-brained orders, the older planets of the
three-brained group exhibit civilizations that would astound Urantians, and
which would somewhat shame yours by comparison. In mechanical development
and material civilization, even in intellectual progress, the two-brained
mortal worlds are able to equal the three-brained spheres. But in the higher
control of mind and development of intellectual and spiritual reciprocation,
you are somewhat inferior.
49:5.9
All such comparative estimates concerning the intellectual progress or the
spiritual attainments of any world or group of worlds should in fairness
recognize planetary age; much, very much, depends on age, the help of the
biologic uplifters, and the subsequent missions of the various orders of the
divine Sons.
49:5.10
While the three-brained peoples are capable of a slightly higher planetary
evolution than either the one- or two-brained orders, all have the same type
of life plasm and carry on planetary activities in very similar ways, much
as do human beings on Urantia. These three types of mortals are distributed
throughout the worlds of the local systems. In the majority of cases
planetary conditions had very little to do with the decisions of the Life
Carriers to project these varied orders of mortals on the different worlds;
it is a prerogative of the Life Carriers thus to plan and execute.
49:5.11
These three orders stand on an equal footing in the ascension career. Each
must traverse the same intellectual scale of development, and each must
master the same spiritual tests of progression. The system administration
and the constellation overcontrol of these different worlds are uniformly
free from discrimination; even the regimes of the Planetary Princes are
identical.
49:5.12
3. Spirit-reception series. There are three groups of mind design as
related to contact with spirit affairs. This classification does not refer
to the one-, two-, and three-brained orders of mortals; it refers primarily
to gland chemistry, more particularly to the organization of certain glands
comparable to the pituitary bodies. The races on some worlds have one gland,
on others two, as do Urantians, while on still other spheres the races have
three of these unique bodies. The inherent imagination and spiritual
receptivity is definitely influenced by this differential chemical
endowment.
49:5.13
Of the spirit-reception types, sixty-five per cent are of the second group,
like the Urantia races. Twelve per cent are of the first type, naturally
less receptive, while twenty-three per cent are more spiritually inclined
during terrestrial life. But such distinctions do not survive natural death;
all of these racial differences pertain only to the life in the flesh.
49:5.14
4. Planetary-mortal epochs. This classification recognizes the
succession of temporal dispensations as they affect man's terrestrial status
and his reception of celestial ministry.
49:5.15
Life is initiated on the planets by the Life Carriers, who watch over its
development until sometime after the evolutionary appearance of mortal man.
Before the Life Carriers leave a planet, they duly install a Planetary
Prince as ruler of the realm. With this ruler there arrives a full quota of
subordinate auxiliaries and ministering helpers, and the first adjudication
of the living and the dead is simultaneous with his arrival.
49:5.16
With the emergence of human groupings, this Planetary Prince arrives to
inaugurate human civilization and to focalize human society. Your world of
confusion is no criterion of the early days of the reign of the Planetary
Princes, for it was near the beginning of such an administration on Urantia
that your Planetary Prince, Caligastia, cast his lot with the rebellion of
the System Sovereign, Lucifer. Your planet has pursued a stormy course ever
since.
49:5.17
On a normal evolutionary world, racial progress attains its natural biologic
peak during the regime of the Planetary Prince, and shortly thereafter the
System Sovereign dispatches a Material Son and Daughter to that planet.
These imported beings are of service as biologic uplifters; their default on
Urantia further complicated your planetary history.
49:5.18
When the intellectual and ethical progress of a human race has reached the
limits of evolutionary development, there comes an Avonal Son of Paradise on
a magisterial mission; and later on, when the spiritual status of such a
world is nearing its limit of natural attainment, the planet is visited by a
Paradise bestowal Son. The chief mission of a bestowal Son is to establish
the planetary status, release the Spirit of Truth for planetary function,
and thus effect the universal coming of the Thought Adjusters.
49:5.19
Here, again, Urantia deviates: There has never been a magisterial mission on
your world, neither was your bestowal Son of the Avonal order; your planet
enjoyed the signal honor of becoming the mortal home planet of the Sovereign
Son, Michael of Nebadon.
49:5.20
As a result of the ministry of all the successive orders of divine sonship,
the inhabited worlds and their advancing races begin to approach the apex of
planetary evolution. Such worlds now become ripe for the culminating
mission, the arrival of the Trinity Teacher Sons. This epoch of the Teacher
Sons is the vestibule to the final planetary age -- evolutionary utopia --
the age of light and life.
49:5.21
This classification of human beings will receive particular attention in a
succeeding paper.
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