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Welcome
to the service projects
area of our website. Here you will find volunteer individual and group
sponsored efforts that aid in fostering study of The Urantia Book and the dissemination of its teaching.
 Urantia Book Study Groups
 Suggestions for starting a study group
Effective study groups
More on study groups
The early leaders of the Urantia movement were asked to form thousands of study groups. Perhaps this was because the study group environment is considered to be the most effective place for The Urantia Book teachings to take root in the hearts and minds of the participants while developing a social bonding of friendship among readers..... MORE >>
Urantia Book Internet School (UBIS)
Urantia Book Internet School
U B I S Homepage at Urantia Foundation
Schedule of Courses - Current Semester
Registration Application Form
The Urantia Book Internet School was founded by the Urantia Foundation in 1999, and as such is an Educational Outreach service of the Foundation, provided to facilitate the in-depth study of The Urantia Book. The Urantia Book Internet School is envisioned as a means to help students from all over the world study THE URANTIA BOOK in an electronic setting that frees the students from the constraints of distance, timetables, and physical presence. Courses are given in class sizes of 15 to 20 students under the guidance of an experienced teacher/facilitator using the "Questions and Response" technique.
Please note: Classes tend to fill up quickly, so plan to register early. Because of high demand and limited classroom space UBIS can only register students for one course per semester. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no early registration or wait list.
To register, fill out the Registration Application Form >>
Study
Aids
Downloadable Acrobat Reader (pdf) files
that you can save and print on your desktop printer--published by Urantia
Foundation. Visit the Urantia Foundation's Education
and Publications section >>
- Select Excerpts
— Selected excerpts from The Urantia Book.
(40k)
- Starting a Study Group
— Ideas and tips for starting a study group. (28k)
- The Urantia Book Workbooks - Originally published in the 1950s
and 1960s, these study aids were authored by Dr. William S. Sadler
and Alvin Kulieke to serve as texts to train teachers and students
of the Fifth Epochal Revelation.
- In
His Steps - Maps Tracing the Routes Taken By Jesus as described
in The Urantia Book.
Book Fairs
Book fairs offer a proven method of dissemination that is well respected, organized and easily accessible. Book fairs have a unique role with great potential for dissemination of the teachings in a relatively low profile, moderate cost, and one-on-one labor-intensive venue. Book fairs help ensure the revelation and the name URANTIA have an increasingly prominent place in national and international arenas.
Book fair presentations are a well-tested, effective method of dissemination that has been used for decades by three generations of readers. This method is widely respected, globally available and achievable by an average team of readers. Book fairs offer disseminators a relatively low-profile, moderate cost, one-on-one, labor-intensive venue for presenting the revelation to potential readers, at the same time establishing the name Urantia in the book realm.
Urantia Foundation has always had a presence in seller's markets to assure The Urantia Book is well known inside mainstream publishing. But UAI book fair presentations are normally at consumers' or librarians' shows. In this way book sellers and buyers see and hear the name Urantia, have an opportunity to open the book and meet the people associated with its dissemination.
There are thousands of book fairs every year on every continent, each with a unique theme. Some, but certainly not all, are appropriate touchstones for our message of spirit uplift. Readers experienced in offering this service are available to assist members who request it. Feel free to contact UAI's Dissemination Committee for connections to veterans of book fair presentations. Proper preparation for book fairs is essential as there are many details to consider. But most pitfalls can be avoided by conferring with experienced presenters and making a comprehensive plan with a dedicated team.
Equipment is required for a presentation; a booth and display items at least. Posters and banners invite interest, computer graphics and other electronic aids can be helpful. Booths can be built, borrowed or rented by the team making the presentation. These decisions are best made by a presentation planning committee. Various translations (Spanish, French, Russian, Finnish, Dutch, Korean, Lithuanian, German, Portuguese, Italian and Romanian) are available from Urantia Foundation or any online bookseller. Presenters may want to place their name and/or email address on brochure backs to become local or regional contacts after the presentation.
Urantia Foundation offers free downloads of English brochures at these links:
UAI members with book fair information and experience will gladly offer guidance should your reader group decide to make a presentation. Please do not hesitate to contact UAI's Dissemination Committee to seek advice or obtain help implementing this effective and rewarding form of dissemination.
Rick Warren (Dissemination Committee -Communications)
rewar@swbell.net
Urantia Association International JOURNAL
View online current and back issues of the UAI Journal, a quarterly
newsletter of the Urantia Association International. You can print your
own copy from the PDF versions. You may also submit your paid subscription
(US$20 for 4 issues) for the UAI Journal.
UAI Journal Archives
About the UAI Journal
TIDINGS from Associations Around Urantia
A monthly newsletter started on June 2005. English, Spanish and French editions.
Global Seeding
The Global Seeding Project (GSP) is designed to disseminate the inviolate text of the revelation in all its versions, and in perpetuity. The GSP operates under its own fund. This fund is restricted to purchases of Urantia Books, brochures, and assistance for project volunteers in UAI Dissemination Committee approved seeding endeavors. With this project, field disseminators who need books or literature to support seeding, can be tutored, supplied and resupplied even where poverty reigns.
This project is not simply a supply line to impoverished seeders, it seeks out disseminators, especially younger readers. Readers in college or university are in a unique position to seed the revelation, and in fertile soil. The GSP is set up to contact potential disseminators and offer them 'Seedpacks'---a Urantia Book (in the translation of choice), and six brochures. Any reader can be a part of this project in one or two ways: by giving to the Global Seeding Project restricted fund, and/or becoming a living local contact, a seed-sower working the field.
The GSP is a simple and relatively inexpensive project that locates and empowers disseminators who are willing to offer this crucial, priceless service. Urantia Foundation in association with the GSP right now offers free brochures to disseminators anywhere, via the Internet. Readers can print out brochures from any computer, and place them on campuses or other appropriate venue. If a disseminator so chooses, he or she may write in their name and contact number on the brochures to become a local representative of the revelation. Foundation brochure downloads in English can be accessed and printed from these links:
Selected Excerpts: http://mercy.urantia.org/brochures/excerpts.pdf
A Description: http://mercy.urantia.org/brochures/description.pdf
UAI Dissemination Committee's role in the GSP is to find disseminators and provide encouragement, training where needed, information, and to offer seedbooks with brochures to sincere sowers. The Global Seeding Project ensures the availability of inviolate Urantia Books and quality brochures for disseminators, even if they are living in the grip of indigence. For those who are financially able to purchase their seedpack materials, the GSP offers a coordinated project with definite goals, and a fraternal network of disseminators that spans the globe and the next millennium.
All UAI members are encouraged to serve on the GSP in some way. Local disseminators and contacts are needed even where the revelation has been rooted for decades. Supporters and contributors play an important role in this much needed service. Each new translation has to be seeded in its language region just as the English has been since 1955 in North America. To find out how to help, contact the Dissemination Committee or your Local Association's officers: UAI CONTACT PAGE. To contribute to the GSP Restricted Fund online or by mail, click HERE
If you are interested solely in Library Placement, below are links to a discounted book program from the Foundation, and two essays from UAI members with experience, on ways to approach this aspect of dissemination. Feel free to contact the Dissemination Committee to discuss your dissemination needs and ideas. Dissemination is necessarily a local activity and each area has unique requirements that are best met by local readers.
Library placement policy How to help place books in libraries in your area.
Seeding the Field—What Works for Me Article by Mark Bloomfield from United Kingdom who has placed over 8,000 books in libraries worldwide.
Approaching Librarians Article by Rick Warren, UAI Dissemination Committee Chair. This is a report on Library Placement with an emphasis on the librarian's point of view. It includes a step by step presentation of one proven method of placement.
Contact for UAI Dissemination Committee: rewar@swbell.net
Translations
The original Urantia Book is fairly well established in English speaking countries, and El Libro de Urantia is quickly spreading throughout the Spanish realms. The revelation will eventually be translated into all the major, and most of the minor, languages before the dissemination of the text is complete. And the Internet is greatly accelerating this dissemination process.
The positive and expansive influence of Urantia Book translations is immense. No finer tool exists for disseminating the text than translations. And there have been no endeavors more successful in establishing the text outside its birthplace than translations. Their effect is high, wide and deep. Great progress has been made in the translation arena during the last two decades, but there is a great deal more to do.
Translation support is an area where all readers can help---as individuals, or on a team. There are several ways to support the creation and distribution of translations. Impressing upon the reader community their overarching relevance is foremost. Communicating the importance of translations and raising their profile fosters interest and support for this quintessential phase of dissemination.
Next comes the need for talented linguists, doing the actual work of translating. Coordinating this complex task of translating an epochal revelation, and assuring its quality, is Urantia Foundation's responsibility. Professional translators are used, but they often are also readers who know and embrace the spirit of the revelation. Usually they have read the English version and crave to have it in their mother tongue, they recognize the unmatchable advantage of offering it to their fellows in their own language. This service requires very specialized skill, applying this skill takes considerable time and money. To produce one quality translation normally requires a decade or more of teamwork, and a small fortune.
Throughout the translation process there is a continuous need for financial support. What readers may lack in translation skill they can make up by supporting the various translation funds. Urantia Foundation accepts donations and restricts their use to the translation designated by the donor. These special funds are held in trust and drawn upon when and as needs arises.
Another crucial part of the dissemination of translations is ensuring distribution channels are in place. Urantia Foundation takes great care to establish new translations in their native retail marketplaces, and in wholesale book seller’s inventories. Readers help disseminate the revelation by supporting Urantia Foundation when the Trustees undertake financing, printing and distributing the revelation in another language. Readers serve also when they buy and give copies of new translations to native speakers, especially when they are purchased through local booksellers. Booksellers will keep books in stock that sell well. Readers and Urantia Foundation are interdependent when it comes to production and dissemination of translations, on several levels.
Seeding the text in libraries and universities of a given region is another service UAI members can and often do. Each language version requires seeding to start the flow in bookstores, libraries and institutions of higher learning. For more on placing the book, please see the section on the Global Seeding Project on this page.
The need for quality translations is so great and far reaching that global organization and coordination is required to support their creation and distribution. Decades, if not centuries, will pass before readers can rest assured the revelation is available to each member of the human family in a form comprehensible to that person.
Translations in print at this time are the Spanish, French, Finnish, Russian, Dutch, Korean, Lithuanian, German, Portuguese, Italian and Romanian. The translations next in the production line are the Swedish, Bulgarian, Estonian, Polish, Greek and the Hungarian. The Chinese (Mandarin) is in the final stages.
When all these translations are completed and published, approximately two thirds of the people of the world will have The Urantia Book available in their idiom. Readers as a whole should be congratulated on what the first and second generations accomplished regarding translations. This continuing work ensures the revelational graft will be highly successful.
Translations are projects that all readers, UAI members and Urantia Foundation staff can do side by side, as a team. Through constant attention, unfailing support, determined focus and coordinated service between individuals and organizations, the revealed facts that inspired us will be found by other truth seekers, no matter where they live or the language they use.
Translations: Twenty-first century globalization means providing The Urantia Book in as many translations as is financially and logistically practical. In keeping with Urantia Foundation’s commitment to translations, the Board voted that the Estonian, Hungarian, and Swedish translations be printed as soon as the translation teams complete their work. We expect these printings to occur in the near future. The Board also voted to grant the European team’s request to print and sell, for distribution in Spain only, El libro de Urantia as revised and corrected by the Sevillian team. As always, the translations will be available on the Internet.
Related links:
JAPANESE TRANSLATION PROGRESS ~ Urantia Foundation's News Online, March 2008
PORTUGUESE PREMIERE in BRAZIL ~ UF News Online, March 2008
PORTUGUESE TRANSLATION ~ UF News Online, Sept. 2007
COMMITTEE ON TRANSLATIONS ~ UF News Online, Sept 2007, Trustees' Meeting.
THE GERMAN TRANSLATION ~ UF News Online, Dec. 2007
STATUS OF THE CHINESE TRANSLATION ~ Neal Waldrop, Urantia Foundation Liaison
KOREAN TRANSLATION PUBLISHED ~ Urantian News, April 2000
DISTRIBUTION OF EL LIBRO ~ UF News Online, Sept. 2007
RUSSIA AND EASTERN EUROPE ~ UF News Online, Sept. 2007. Trustees' Meeting
ITALIAN and LITHUANIAN COMPLETED ~ Urantian News, Aug. 2004
LE LIVRE D'URANTIA IN QUEBEC ~ Urantian News, April 2003
URANTIA FOUNDATION TRANSLATIONS REPORT ~ Urantian News, Dec. 2005
EUROPEAN LANGUAGES ~ UF News Online, Dec. 2007. Trustees' Meeting
TRANSLATION SUPPORT
Prisoner Inquiry Response Team (PIRT)
In January 2005, the Prisoner Inquiry Response Team (PIRT) was formed and put into action. The Foundation handled these inquiries for years, sending inmates Books and information. As word spread the number of inmate inquiries grew beyond Urantia Foundation ability to process them. The UAI was asked to create a team to handle them, PIRT was the answer. It is an adjunct to UAI's Dissemination Committee.
PIRT's goal is placing The URANTIA Book in the hands of all interested inmates. Inmates who send requests for information and Book donations from Urantia Foundation receive a prompt reply from PIRT. PIRT members respond to inmate inquiries with an information package containing three brochures about The URANTIA Book, and an offer of free Book.
The Books donated are from Urantia Foundation's supply of "returns". They are soft covered Books sent back from booksellers for one reason or another (usually because of slight damage). Correctional facilities generally will not accept any hardcover book, nor will they accept any books that are not shipped directly from the publisher. Although these Books may have minor defects, the inmates cherish them greatly according to the many letters of thanks received by PIRT member. See inmate comments on pages 7-8 of Tidings, June 2005.
Although a free Book is offered to inmates who cannot afford one, there is required a $8.00 shipping fee. However the shipping fee may be waived in cases where the inmate is without any monetary resources, at least as long as there is money in the PIRT fund. More often than not there is a request from the inmate to waive the fee. If you want to support this endeavor with a contribution, please make it through Urantia Foundation and be sure to note it is for the PIRT Fund. Click here.
This program is now operating in English and Spanish, placing many Books in inmates' hands in both languages. The URANTIA Book offers inmates the light of truth during a dark time in their lives; a saving path to personal reform with incalculable benefits to society as well. Word is slowly spreading throughout the US prison systems and it is hoped this placement project can be expanded to other nation's prison systems as preliminary evidence has shown this form of dissemination bearing good fruit.
Sincere thanks to UAI National and Local associations, as well as the many individuals who have donated time and money to the Prison Placement Program. If you are interested in knowing more about this program or finding ways in which you can participate, please contact PIRT:
rewar@swbell.net
Thought Gems from The Urantia Book
Translations are very expensive. To help defray the cost, Southwest Urantia Readers Family (SURF), the local association in Southern California and Arizona, produced "Thought Gems from The Urantia Book," a calendar of quotes from The Urantia Book. All proceeds go to the support of translations. Order Thought Gems >>
New "Thoughts to Ponder "
Receive a weekly thought from The Urantia Book via email in an updated HTML format. Free subscription >>
Mailing List
When you add your name to the Urantia Foundation
mailing
list >>
you will receive:
- "URANTIAN News" twice a year
- Invitations to special events, and
- Timely news of Urantia Foundation's programs and projects
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