BookWire - Meet The Author

Tonia Baney : Urantia Foundation is a non-profit, common law, tax-exempt educational foundation that was established in 1950 and operates under a Declaration of Trust. Its principle object is to publish The Urantia Book, perpetually preserve inviolate The Urantia Book text, and disseminate its teachings to all the peoples of the world. The Urantia Book is available in libraries and full-service bookstores and has been in print since 1955.

Urantia Foundation is committed to ensuring that The Urantia Book is translated into the major languages of the world, and that distribution channels for all translations in all countries are active. International offices of Urantia Foundation have been established to handle distribution and reader services in those countries. Urantia Associations are developed to foster the dissemination of the teachings at the same time the book is being established in the normal
distribution channels.

The Foundation is managed by a Board of Trustees who are appointed for life and serve without compensation. A small administrative staff assists in office operations at the main office in Chicago, while a volunteer staff manages international offices. A fraternal readership group known as International Urantia Association was established by Urantia Foundation to assist in achieving its Principal Object. Urantia Foundation's Principal and Concordant Objects as stated in The Declaration of Trust Creating Urantia Foundation are:

2.1 Principal Object: The object for which this Foundation is created is the promotion, improvement, and expansion among the peoples of the world of the comprehension and understanding of Cosmology and the relation of the planet on which we live to the Universe, of the genesis and destiny of Man and his relation to God, and of the true teachings of Jesus Christ; and for the inculcation and encouragement of the realization and appreciation of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man - in order to increase and enhance the comfort, happiness and well being of man, as an individual and as a member of society, through the fostering of a religion, a philosophy, and a cosmology which are commensurate with man's intellectual and cultural development.

2.2 Concordant Objects: The concordant objects for which the Foundation is created are to perpetually preserve inviolate the text of The Urantia Book and to disseminate the principles, teachings, and doctrines of The Urantia Book.
Urantia Foundation owns the international copyright in The Urantia Book and identifies its products and services by trademarks: The Concentric-Circle Symbol, and the words "Urantia" and "Urantian."

TB: The Urantia Book claims to be a revelation to mankind. It gives us a fresh and enlarged view of the cosmos and reveals new information on Deity and reality. It also reveals information on the origin, history, and destiny of our world (named Urantia in universal records) and of the destiny of each individual member of the human race. The book teaches that the universe is teaming with life and intelligence and there is a divine plan behind its design and purpose. From time to time spiritual beings hailing from other parts of the universe are mandated to impart information to the people of worlds such as ours to assist us in our evolutionary growth-physical, intellectual, and spiritual. The Table of
Contents of the book lists the non-human personalities who have presented the various papers.

The true value of The Urantia Book lies not so much in its origins as in the spiritually significant content of its message. Every reader must determine the validity of the revelation with his or her own inner experience of truth. ". . .revelation is validated only by human experience. . ." (The Urantia Book, p. 1106, par. 5). A good poem may
be appreciated regardless of the author; likewise a symphony does not depend upon knowledge of its composer to resonate in the hearts of the listener.

We invite you to spend some time in study of this extraordinary book and let its validity speak for itself. "Divine truth is best known by its spiritual flavor." (p. 43, par. 7)

TB: The Urantia Book is a unique publication of epochal significance to the people of our planet, Urantia. It tells about Deity, the organization and administration of universes and the relation of the planet on which we live to the universe, of the genesis and destiny of man and his relation to God, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. It speaks to man's deep spiritual yearnings and satisfies the intellect, harmonizing religion, philosophy, and today's science through the fostering of individual spiritual growth and an understanding of the universe which are commensurate with man's intellectual and cultural development. It opens new vistas of time and eternity, new concepts of man's
ever-ascending adventure of finding God the Father and gives a new, comprehensive, organized record of man's origin, history, and destiny.

Neela: About how many people subscribe to the Urantia belief system, worldwide?

TB: Unknown. Over 500,000 copies of The URANTIA Book have been sold
worldwide in seven different languages. Urantia Foundation established a fraternal readership group, International Urantia Association, whose purpose it is to devise means and methods to foster the study and understanding of the teachings of The Urantia Book; to develop the leaders and teachers needed to
stimulate and facilitate the spreading of the teachings; and to establish educational vehicles that teachers and leaders may use to convey the teachings of the revelation to all the people of the world. There are approximately 1200 members worldwide in 33 International URANTIA Associations - 8 national and 25 local associations.

Neela: If someone is interested in learning more about the Urantia Foundation, where should they go?

TB: They can call us at 1-800-URANTIA, 1-888-URANTIA, 1-773-525-3319, or on our website at: www.urantia.org . International URANTIA Association may be reached at (773) 935-8210 or on the Internet at www.urantia.org/iua

Neela: Is there anything else you would like to share?

TB: Urantia Foundation recognizes and respects the right of all individuals to make up their own mind about any issue-social, political, economic, or religious. It has taken care over the years to insure that The Urantia Book is not publicly identified with any religion, cult, or belief system. Rather, the teachings contained in the book are appropriate to all of mankind-people from all faiths and cultures can relate to the teachings without giving up any of the real, lasting
truths contained in their existing organized religion. Urantia Foundation does not sponsor, or have any connection with, any organized religion or cults.

Readers of The URANTIA Book are a group of religionists who are organized to study The URANTIA Book, and to co-ordinate conferences and study groups for educational purposes.