Conflicts are an inevitable part of life on the inhabited worlds, especially those in the early stages of social evolution—like Urantia. Nonetheless, despite millennia of confusion and hostility, many things have improved on this world, and they will continue to improve over time (see Factfulness by Hans Rosling). But not until the far distant future, when our planet finally attains the utopian ages of light and life, will we be entirely free of discord. This is not to say that, at such a time, all of us will agree, only that the manner in which we deal with our differences will be significantly improved.
Until we reach that utopia, and apart from impending warfare, we will experience two personal spheres of conflict—one in the inner life (mind, soul) and the other in the outer life (family, social, national).
Managing Inner Conflict
Jesus said there are two realms of human life: one is a life in the flesh, and the other is a life in the spirit. Indeed, on his return from Rome, he told Ganid that there are two great classes of mortals—those who know God and those who do not (133:0.3).
He went on to say that people who live completely in the flesh or completely in the spirit experience little inner conflict, but for all others who struggle to make the transition from one life to the next, there is a considerable degree of conflict and confusion along the way. And Jesus, rather than telling his disciples to ignore this struggle or to cover it up with false optimism, instead instructed them to be right up front about it.
When I first read this section of The Urantia Book, I couldn’t help but think it was already difficult enough to spread Jesus’ essential and elementary message—that our spiritual life begins by accepting that we are children of God. And now we are advised to tell all prospective believers that achieving a spiritual life will entail much struggle and conflict. It seems like a hard sell.
Jesus said even more on this subject:
Our Master makes it clear that we can expect much tribulation and conflict in our ongoing efforts to minister to others and to live and prosper in the spirit. Throughout all this, we are also expected to accept our responsibilities and obligations to God, our families, and our communities.
The notion that a spiritual life is full of adversity and obligation is a far cry from fashionable views—that a spiritual journey is akin to “a fantastic and mystic experience of indescribable feelings of ecstasy” (101:1.1) or that it’s a mental state of utopian bliss.
Jesus dispelled many of our cherished notions. In the Roman Empire of those days, and even in the modern society of today, it was not uncommon for the faithful to believe they were entitled to divine providence or special treatment, or perhaps, by God’s hand, they would be spared the troubles of others. But this is never the case.
So why does Jesus tell us it’s going to be a tough experience? I doubt he’s trying to discourage us. It’s more likely he’s attempting to disillusion us, just as he disillusioned the apostles on many occasions. However, despite his many cautions and reprimands, it’s a great relief that he always gives us an out—he gives us good spiritual reasons to stay the course.
Indeed, just after he forewarned all believers about inevitable conflict, he mentions that, “The gospel yoke is easy and the burden of truth is light.” This statement is reiterated in another paper, when a midwayer tells us that “The Master’s yoke is, indeed, easy…” (141:3.7). And in other places, Jesus repeats this comforting truth.
The Master’s yoke (I presume) is having faith in the truth he speaks and the example he lives. Indeed, to overcome our difficulties and troubles, we are required only to believe him, to trust him, and to follow him, which is not a heavy burden at all. We are also consoled and heartened when he tells us that, once we believe this gospel, we will be unafraid when trouble strikes, and that he will be there with us through all these tribulations—if we would only believe.
The Benefits of Inner Conflict
Experiencing inner conflict as we spiritually progress is beneficial, primarily because we learn wisdom through tribulation, and this leads us to God-consciousness. For instance, in all our moral dilemmas, we may discover that simply asking God for help is one path to God-consciousness.
Throughout our spiritual lives, we cannot avoid growing pains. Our minds and souls do not easily give up the comforts and familiarities of a material and secular existence. But growing up in the spirit requires us to leave these comfortable shores for unknown and unexplored lands, a prospect that could prove to be distressing.
Even Jesus experienced these conflicts in his youth:
Another benefit of moral conflict is that it often gives rise to spiritual insights that bring us closer to God. The intuitive wisdom we acquire by knowing more of the true nature of God enables us to reach a better understanding of ourselves and others. Conflict forces us to change our way of thinking, to look for a better way of living, and to devote our lives to the way of God. And in the process, we open our minds to even greater spiritual truths.
Another episode in Jesus’ life that was truly inspiring when it comes to managing conflict was his talk with Fortune, “the young man who was afraid.” He comforts the distraught young man by telling him to free his inner spirit from the fetters of fear and thereby allow it to “stimulate and inspire your mind.” He encourages the man to enable his spiritual nature with “the power-presence of living faith,” which leads to the consciousness that “you are a child of God.” And when you are thus born of the spirit:
Although conflict and trouble are necessary first experiences for spiritual growth, with some irony, our ultimate spiritual objective is to overcome all conflict in our inner lives.
As the above quote says, “conflict persists only in the face of refusal to espouse the higher values connoted in superior meanings.” In other words, conflict is the result of not living in the spirit. Jesus said that the way to overcome this inner conflict and reach a state of peace is to accept and believe his words of truth—his gospel. And with the power of steadfast faith, to follow the Spirit within you—to live the way of God no matter what trials and tribulations await you—even unto death.
However, if we cannot fully attain this peace of mind on earth, we will have the opportunity to achieve it on the first mansion world.
Dealing With Social Conflict
No matter how much we personally advance in the spirit, we can never entirely avoid social conflict. Even Jesus, as a perfect man, could not avoid all social misunderstandings, even if the onus of these misunderstandings fell on others.
Jesus advised us to be tactful and tolerant with everyone, to be alert and expert in our “worthy efforts to avoid all unnecessary social misunderstandings.”
We are all different in so many ways, which inevitably leads to differences of opinion and, therefore, the need to be tolerant. By understanding the truth of our relationship to one another, tolerance comes more easily. As Jesus told James:
Sadly, at this present stage of social development on Urantia, spiritual unity in the service of God seems a long way off. In the meantime, we can only do our best to live the spirit way and to maintain our great faith in “the exceedingly great and precious promises of God” (143:2.4).
And regardless of the doings of others, it remains our objective and our duty to learn to live harmoniously with all people. This is a skill that begins on Earth and continues throughout the mansion worlds, even to the constellations and beyond.
One of the most important lessons to be learned during your mortal career is teamwork. (28:5.14)
Learning teamwork is a long-term objective. The Urantia Book intimates that, even after we have achieved Adjuster fusion and graduated from Jerusem, we have yet to fully overcome social irritabilities and resentments. Surmounting these irritabilities is one of our main objectives on the constellation worlds, a goal attained through the experience of living with the univitatia and others. Ultimately, it teaches us to “live happily and work effectively” with many different types of beings (43:8.5).
Trouble in the Universe
Conflicts, disagreements, and misunderstandings between different individuals do not end on the mansion worlds, nor are they limited to mortal ascenders. No doubt, the troubles occurring in universe affairs are of a nature unknown to us, but even the master seraphim involved in the planetary government of Urantia have had their disagreements—and they’ve been to Paradise and back!
And this fact alone speaks highly to the notion that there is nothing wrong about voicing disagreements. The significant difference is how we deal with them.
We can agree to disagree, but we don’t need to be disagreeable. ~ John Wooden
But celestial disagreements differ from earthly ones. The disagreements and troubles in the administration of a universe are “very unlike the petty trials and travails of material existence.” Instead, they appear to be more related to misunderstandings.
Nearly all disagreements and misunderstandings in the grand universe are resolved without animosity or conflict. The Universal Conciliators serve as the traveling courts of the worlds, functioning from the individual planets to the superuniverse headquarters (25:3). Their job is to adjudicate the minor difficulties and misunderstandings of the realms. Some of these difficulties relate to proper procedure, while others result from differences of opinion or different viewpoints.
But in the sector governments and on higher spiritual levels, there are fewer misunderstandings to adjudicate, and their work takes on a different nature. Nonetheless, to get some idea of the number of misunderstandings arising in a superuniverse, consider that there are almost 18 trillion Conciliator commissions in Orvonton alone.
The courts and tribunals of the universes also deal with minor conflicts arising from poor judgment and practical errors, although real conflict still occurs. In the system of Satania, the most familiar celestial conflict would be the Lucifer rebellion, but there were several other revolts in Nebadon and probably quite a few in the entire seven superuniverses.
Celestial conflicts such as these appear to be confined to the local system level, and specifically to the order of Lanonandek Sons. Some Melchizedek Sons have had lapses of judgment, and the Vorondadek Sons of the constellations have erred occasionally, but they have never fallen to rebellion nor have they ever been found in contempt of the universe government.
Nevertheless, there appears to be a considerable amount of discord throughout these lower levels of superuniverse administration. And there is no better proof of this than the existence of the Mighty Messengers.
Nothing attests more to the extent of conflict and contention in the grand universe than the sheer number of Mighty Messengers.
All in all, we should not entertain any illusions about the state of the universe, or what things will be like when we reach the first heaven—mansion world number one. One of the objectives of The Urantia Book is to expand our cosmic consciousness, and this task is achieved by telling us many truths about the nature of relationships throughout the cosmos.
While it’s good to be informed of these things, none of it necessarily interferes with our personal journey. No matter what conflict or trouble is going on around us, we will always make progress in this magnificent and majestic universe by remaining faithful, loyal, and devoted to a true, good, and beautiful God.