URANTIA AND AI
By Rick Lyon
I want to share my thoughts on AI since it is such a hot topic at the moment. First of all, AI is here to stay. That genie, so they say, is already out of the bottle. You may not like it, even fear it, but it is not going away, at least not until the next big new thing comes along. The first victim of AI will be the internet as we know it. People must learn to live with AI, use it, control it, and make sure the good outweighs any bad aspects of this amazing new tool of creativity, discovery, and growth.
In 2023, The Center For Unity had a booth at the Parliament of the World's Religions. Of the several hundred booths of spiritual and religious organizations, CFU was the only one with anything related to something new called AI. But that is the way it should be, Urantia should be leading the way in spiritual innovation and outreach to young people. We saw first-hand the potential and positive impact of AI at the event.
At CFU, alongside our brothers and sisters in all Urantia organizations, we strive to create projects and events that make this revelation more available and accessible to the public. CFU is doing this with DiscoverJesus.com by providing short essays that are quick, spoon-size versions of what is in The Urantia Book. DiscovertheUB.com is bringing the teachings to another 55% of the world population who simply cannot read or comprehend the book's language and terminology. We are making the teachings available to those who will never pick up the book to read it, or cast it aside as too much or too difficult to read. Our Spiritual Translations project will make secondary works available to the 80% of the world who cannot speak English. Our goal is to provide the means of translating secondary works for pennies on the dollar, into every language that The Urantia Book itself is available.
Projects like the wonderful videos of Derek Samaras, Gary Tonge, Paula Thompson, Andre Radatus, and David Kantor along with our immersive experience, "The Angelic Story of Jesus", and our film project, "The Divine Within" will make the teachings available to the 800 million people who cannot read anything at all through visual storytelling. In the next 2-3 years, the gospel of Jesus will be available to all mankind.
The absolute most important aspect of growing this revelation is learning it, living it, and sharing it individually. However, we need to create new and innovative ways to make the teachings available to all the young people of this world. They cannot benefit from an epochal revelation if they don’t know about it or cannot read it, hear it, or understand it.
So, AI can be and is a force for good in the world. All that is required for evil to fail is that good people do something good. Rest assured the forces of evil heathen are not shy about using new technology for their goals.
Let me suggest that In the age of AI, the greatest problem will not AI itself. The biggest problem we will face is the increased leisure time it creates for people. With some people, a labor saving device does not save labor but increases their ability to do more. Many others will find it difficult to make productive and rewarding use of free time. They play video games, drink or do drugs, languish in depression because they suddenly have no purpose, no meaning, to their lives. They get bored with life and will suffer from "I cannot find a job" which translates to "I have no purpose." An unemployed society is not a healthy society. The value of human life, their own and of others, declines.
So, the current innovation that is going to be yet another end of the world scenario, is AI. We are all going to be out of work and this runaway new technology is going to kill all of us, again. I read the other day about this humanoid robot that can take the dishes out of the dishwasher, put them in the cabinet, and then put the dirty dishes from the sink into the dishwasher and start the dishwasher. I told Susan about this and rather than scream in terror that the robot was stealing her job she said, "I want one of those."
There will always be some new labor saving device that increases the time on our hands. How we fill that time will determine the future and the health of our society and the happiness of our people. Busy people are happy people. We may wish for time to just do nothing, but we cannot deal with idleness for very long. And, people with nothing to do, tend to do things that get them in trouble with the law or ruin their lives.
So the real question is: "How can we help people find meaning and value and purpose in the increasing amount of free time that they have?" This is something that the Urantia movement can and should help with.
I think the answer is service, finding a way to serve the needs of others. Another answer is education, what is called continuous lifelong learning that keeps us growing intellectually and creating a sense of adventure. And striving to grow spiritually in the ultimate adventure of seeking God and finding him. These things along with a few hours of gainful employment will keep our brothers and sisters busy, challenged, and happy.
We live in a time of transition from a materialistic world to a spiritually enlightened society. Such times are usually difficult, rarely easy. The Urantia community should address the impact of AI and technology on human labor and leisure in a way that is profoundly aligned with the teachings that emphasize the spiritualization of human life and the pursuit of meaningful existence. As humanity enters an era where technology increasingly alleviates the burden of physical labor, the challenge becomes one of guiding individuals toward a purposeful and fulfilling life, rather than allowing them to drift into idleness or dependency as their material needs are met without personal effort. This shift calls for a redefinition of work, leisure, and societal roles, rooted in spiritual growth, creativity, and service.
One way to address this challenge is by fostering a culture that values the intrinsic worth of every individual and encourages the pursuit of higher purposes beyond material survival. We all need a sense of accomplishment that creates value and self-worth. As the need for traditional labor diminishes, people need to be guided to explore their unique talents and interests, channeling their energies into creative, intellectual, and spiritual pursuits. This could involve the establishment of community centers and programs that provide opportunities for artistic expression, scientific exploration, and philosophical inquiry. By creating environments where individuals can discover and develop their potential, the Urantia service organizations can help them find spiritual joy and philosophic fulfillment by contributing to the greater good.
The concept of leisure itself must be redefined. Rather than viewing it as mere relaxation or entertainment, leisure can become a time for self-improvement, family bonding, and community service. Spiritual education could be designed to help individuals use their free time to deepen their understanding of universal truths, cultivate virtues, and engage in acts of service. In this way people can grow and progress spiritually, morally, and altruistically.
To address the potential loss of identity and purpose among men as the traditional "bread winner" provider role evolves, society must emphasize the dignity of all forms of contribution, whether material, intellectual, or spiritual. Men can be encouraged to see themselves as providers not only of material resources but also of wisdom, guidance, and moral strength. Programs that promote mentorship, fatherhood, and community leadership could help men find new ways to fulfill their roles as protectors and nurturers of their families and communities. This reimagining of masculinity, grounded in spiritual ideals, could help men adapt to changing societal dynamics while retaining a sense of purpose and value.
Additionally, the Urantia religionists could advocate for economic systems that reward creativity, innovation, and service rather than mere productivity. Universal basic income or similar models could be explored as a means of providing financial security without fostering dependency. Such systems would free individuals to pursue meaningful work and personal growth without the fear of economic instability. However, these systems must be coupled with cultural and educational initiatives that inspire individuals to use their freedom responsibly and constructively. By promoting a vision of life that integrates work, leisure, and spirituality, we can help people navigate the challenges of this new era and embrace their roles as co-creators in the unfolding of the divine plan.
To me, this is the heart of our mission as the Urantia movement as a whole. We need to start thinking of this movement as a "whole" and each organization, each individual, is a part of this whole. The Urantia community and our organizations should lead the way in fostering a healthy transition from the material to the intellectual and spiritual era that lies on the other side of "the brink." AI is a new tool to help us serve mankind and move this world a bit closer to light and life.