The focus of the spiritual living group is to enhance spiritual growth through an interactive and supportive group experience. This weekly online group will be led by long-time Urantia Book study group leader and clinical psychologist Arlene Weimer.
The themes of this experiential class are based on two quotes from The Urantia Book.
“It is to the mind of perfect poise, housed in a body of clean habits, stabilized neural energies, and balanced chemical function — when the physical, mental, and spiritual powers are in triune harmony of development — that a maximum of light and truth can be imparted with a minimum of temporal danger or risk to the real welfare of such a being. By such a balanced growth does man ascend the circles of planetary progression one by one, from the seventh to the first”. 110:6.4
“The doing of the will of God is nothing more or less than an exhibition of creature willingness to share the inner life with God — with the very God who has made such a creature life of inner meaning-value possible. Sharing is Godlike — divine.” 111:5.1
The class will focus on the following:
1. Spiritual Sustenance - physical foundation, meditation, prayer and worship, and re-creation.
2. Self-Mastery - self-understanding, self-forgetfulness, and faith.
3. Loving Service - respecting an individual’s free will; trustworthiness; attitudes of brotherly love and reactions of fatherly love; and the practice of living the fruits of the divine spirit.
Please note: This is an experiential class focused on spiritual education and growth rather than group therapy.
A successful group is built on trust and continuity. Therefore, we request participants to make a sincere commitment to the group by agreeing to the following Group Guidelines and living up to them to the best of their ability:
I will attend all six meetings.*
I will maintain confidentiality.
I will listen with understanding compassion.
I will give advice only when asked.
I will be mindful of time spent sharing, allowing everyone adequate time to share.
* In the event of an emergency or imminent fusion ;-) you are requested to contact the group moderator by email about your absence.
If you have a question about the guidelines, please send an email stating your specific question or concern to the group moderator at email@example.com.
Note: One absence is understood and allowed. However, if you have a conflict with two or more of the scheduled meeting dates between Oct 7-Nov 11, then please consider to enroll at a later date.
Participants are required to appear in person at the weekly online meetings via their computer's or other devices's web camera. Participants must be able and willing to use the Zoom online video conferencing application to participate in this online group experience.
First-time users will need to download an applet from the Zoom.us.com website in order to join the online meeting.
For the best results, users should be running the latest version of their browser on their computer or other device.
After I enroll, what happens next?
Upon enrolling in the class you will receive a provisional confirmation email.
Soon afterwards, you will receive an email containing the Spiritual Living Group Participation Agreement. You will be asked to review it and indicate your acceptance of the group guidelines before emailing it back to UUI.
Around one week before the class starts, you will receive an email with login information for the online Zoom meetings.
A reminder email will be sent to participants the night before the start date of the class.
Will I get a grade for this class?
At this time, no grades are given for completing UUI classes. This class has been designed chiefly for personal and spiritual enrichment.
Effort: Minimum of 1.5 hours per week. Commitment to attend all six weekly online meetings is required.
Level:All readers of the Urantia Book wanting to enhance their ability to LIVE the Brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God in their daily life.
Format: Weekly online meetings using Zoom video conferencing
Size: The first 15 people to register will be enrolled into the Spiritual Living Group
Brooklyn-born to Jewish parents who emigrated from Poland, Arlene Weimer spent the first 17 years of her life following the orthodox Jewish faith. When she began attending Brooklyn College, science and philosophy took the place of religion and she rejected the fear and guilt associated with the Old Testament.
For the next 10 years, while pursuing her higher education, she was an agnostic. In 1970, she received a PhD in Psychology and Gerontology, yet had little confidence to use her degree professionally. She began asking questions about the truth of this life and her place in it. After a five-year relationship, she married Buck Weimer in June, 1970. They decided to travel the world for two years, and it was during this period that she began to experience a personal God who cared for her and was guiding her.
In 1972, while teaching Psychology at Florida Tech. University, a student in a class on Personality said: “If you really want to learn about personality read the Urantia Book.” She got the book and gave it to Buck to read. After several months she decided to read the Jesus papers, being inspired by Buck’s growth in his ability to express loving kindness. They finished reading the Urantia Book in the mountains of Costa Rica. After 10 months of living in a tent, they decided to return home to the U.S. and settle down to working and raising a family. With Jesus as her guide and inspiration, Arlene found her direction and confidence.
She and Buck have lived in Pueblo, Colorado since 1974, where they raised 3 great sons. For Arlene, being a parent is the closest she will ever come in this life to understanding God’s love for us. After several years of teaching and working at Colorado State Hospital, she started a private practice as a clinical psychologist which she has continued to the present. Arlene and Buck started the first Urantia Book study group in Pueblo in 1976 and have hosted a weekly study group in their home ever since.
The Urantia Book has helped Arlene to have a personal relationship with God. She emphatically states that Jesus is her comforter and guide in living the truth by “Loving God and Serving Others.
UrantiaUniversity, Inc. | 4947 Sundance Square | Boulder, CO 80301-3744 USA | Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm MST | firstname.lastname@example.org