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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Urantia Book, and why are you using it?

The Urantia Book, also known as The Urantia Papers or The Fifth Epochal Revelation, is a spiritual, philosophical, and religious book that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States, sometime between 1924 and 1955. The authorship of the book remains a matter of debate. It has received various degrees of interest, ranging from praise to criticism, for its religious and science-related content, its unusual length, and the unusual names and origins of the authors named within the book.

The text introduces the word "Urantia" as the name of the planet Earth and states that its intent is to "present enlarged concepts and advanced truth." The book aims to unite religion, science, and philosophy. Its unique content, which includes a large amount of information on topics of interest to science, sets it apart from other documents said to have been received from celestial beings. Among other topics, the book discusses the origin and meaning of life, mankind's place in the universe, the history of the planet, the relationship between God and people, and the life of Jesus.

We primarily use Part IV of The Urantia Book because we believe it is one of many revelations that humanity has received, and because it provides an extended version of the Bible's teachings on the life and teachings of Jesus. Part IV, titled "The Life and Teachings of Jesus," contains almost 445,000 words, almost twice the length of the New Testament.

What is the timeline for each of the projects?

  • Discover Jesus web application is live at discoverjesus.com having launched on November 15, 2023. The mobile version launched in February of 2024.
  • The Jesus Experience is currently putting together an interfaith steering committee. We anticipate launching a unique crowdfunding campaign to raise the seed funding of $250,000 in the first half of 2024.
  • AskJesus is now in experimental alpha. Version 0.4 was released in November 2023. We are working on the next version.
  • Cinematic Jesus is currently in its early conceptual phase. There is no set schedule for this project.

How will my monetary contribution be used?

The CFU team is almost exclusively volunteer-based. We greatly appreciate your contribution, as it allows us to access the specialized services that our volunteers cannot provide. Your support is crucial for us to continue our mission effectively.

How can I participate as a volunteer or ambassador of the Center For Unity?

It's incredibly simple. Click here for the Volunteer application, and here for the Ambassador application. Fill out the form, and we'll schedule a meeting with you. Your time and contribution will be greatly appreciated!

How can I make a monetary contribution to these projects?

Thank you so much for considering supporting us! Any amount of contribution would be greatly appreciated.

Please visit the 'Contribute' page to make a donation online.

To donate via wire transfer, please contact donate@thecenterforunity.org for further instructions. If you prefer to talk over the phone or a zoom call, that can also be arranged as well.

If you wish to send a check, please email rick.lyon@thecenterforunity.org for instructions.

How is the CFU different from other ministries?

Our ministry is unique in three ways:

  • We use The Urantia Book (specifically, the Jesus Papers) as a primary source.
  • We promote the idea of “Jesus before Christianity”. This means that we suggest that Jesus existed before Christianity, that he was, in fact, Jewish (Joshua ben Joseph), and that anyone can safely connect with Jesus and his teachings without changing their existing beliefs or religious affiliation.
  • We promote the idea of "a personal relationship with God", which means that anyone can find God for themselves, by themselves, and in themselves. Sharing the life and teachings of Jesus is one of many paths to finding God as a personal experience, and it is the path that we choose to focus on.