Jesus' Spirit of Truth - Part IV & What Happened After Pentecost

This week we will return to finish exploring Paper 194 - Bestowal of the Spirit of Truth. We will read the last section of this paper, Section 4. Beginnings of the Christian Church. This section provides a fascinating, insightful and candid narrative of the beginnings of Christianity. Then, we'll go on to Paper 195: After Pentecost. This is where the Urantia Book allows us to take a bold and revealing look at Christianity in the modern world.

We'll begin a study of these intriguing topics: 1.Influence of the Greeks 2.The Roman Influence 3.Under the Roman Empire 4.The European Dark Ages 5.The Modern Problem 6.Materialism 7.The Vulnerability of Materialism 8.Secular Totalitarianism 9.Christianity's Problem and 10.The Future

Consider this: Wisely or unwisely, these early leaders of Christianity deliberately compromised the ideals of Jesus in an effort to save and further many of his ideas. And they were eminently successful. But mistake not! these compromised ideals of the Master are still latent in his gospel, and they will eventually assert their full power upon the world.

By this paganization of Christianity the old order won many minor victories of a ritualistic nature, but the Christians gained the ascendancy in that:

1. A new and enormously higher note in human morals was struck. 2. A new and greatly enlarged concept of God was given to the world. 3. The hope of immortality became a part of the assurance of a recognized religion. 4. Jesus of Nazareth was given to man's hungry soul.

Many of the great truths taught by Jesus were almost lost in these early compromises, but they yet slumber in this religion of paganized Christianity, which was in turn the Pauline version of the life and teachings of the Son of Man. And Christianity, even before it was paganized, was first thoroughly Hellenized. Christianity owes much, very much, to the Greeks.

Please join us!