Up Close and Personal With The Urantia Book [Hardcover]

J.J. Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2007

First and foremost Up Close and Personal is a secondary work to the Urantia Book that initially promotes the Evangelistic message revealed in the book and its potential transformational impact with the cumulative effect of advancing higher levels of human civilization on our strife torn planet. Kindred spirits are attracted to the "Wake Up Call" in Part I. Secondly, Part II relates passages to concepts within the book and places them at your fingertips. It deftly correlates supporting paragraphs conveying an idea or ideal that a particular section may describe.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JJ Johnson is a dedicated and devoted Urantia student whose zeal in supporting the Fifth Epochal Revelation's messages has been apostolic in nature. As Founding Member and Past President of the Grand Canyon Society for Readers of The Urantia Book, he served for many years in a number of capacities including Chairman of the Education Committee. Johnson's ombudsman service to the Urantia movement is truly international in scope. He visited and placed Urantia Books in both national and university libraries in more than 20 countries, as well as catalyzing new readers and attending study groups all over the world and throughout the 50 states. From 2001 to 2005, Johnson facilitated study groups from Islamabad, Pakistan, to Rangoon, Burma, introducing spiritually hungry fellow agondonters to concepts that provided a way to the truth they were searching for. After meeting a blind reader at an Urantia conference, Johnson's dogged insistence and resolute persistence achieved the publication of the very first Urantia Book translated into Braille. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 440 pages
• Publisher: Johnson (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979592607
• ISBN-13: 978-0979592607
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,394,223 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #41 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > Urantia Book

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probing the Farther Reaches of the Urantia Papers, March 1, 2010

By 

Larry Mullins "Larry Mullins" (St. Augustine, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Up Close and Personal with the Urantia Book - Expanded Edition (Paperback)

Perhaps there is no more challenging or rewarding book on the planet than the Urantia Book. JJ Johnson has been the most passionate evangelist I know for this extraordinary work. With his new publication, he makes strides for a greater understanding of the Urantia Book. In this new edition, his concept of "COSAR," or the integrating of Science and Religion, is a welcome complement to his philosophy. JJ Johnson makes a firm stand embracing the value of science, while at the same time insisting that science does not have all the answers ... religious insight is needed. His new section featuring research into the complexities of new scientific discoveries and their relation to revelatory information is alone worth the price of his book. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Study Group Must, May 26, 2010

By 

Matthew Hughes "First Church of Golf" (Kamuela, HI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Up Close and Personal with the Urantia Book - Expanded Edition (Paperback)

Wow, this book is incredible. JJ Johnson has distilled years of research with Urantia Study Groups into a personal and comprehensive source book that will stimulate the imaginations of even the most seasoned readers and inspire new readers to read even more deeply. The book starts off a short section that reviews the most important scientific predictions confirmed by modern science. The organization is tight, logical, and clear. Great place to start with that skeptical "geek" at work who is looking for some spiritual meat to go with their scientific mayonaise. From there, Johnson serves us another appetizer of wonderful selections honoring the Spirit of Truth and the Kingdom of Heaven. Short but sweet. Just the kind of reading that every study group could use to set the mood at the beginning of a meeting. Johnson also unabashedly gets evangelistic in the 2nd section with a wonderful sample of selections that encourage the devoted reader to "spread the word." And last but certainly not the least, is a personally collected sample of study aids that range in topics from my favorite, Always Remember and Never Forget, to Pre-Morontia Math 101. At first glance, the selections appear to be computer generated but Johnson claims that each section of the Study Aids was the product of years of study group experience. The way he highlights each section with the topic addressed makes the use of the Study Aids easy, powerful, and relevant.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Quest of the Truth of Reality, March 26, 2010

By 

David A. Kantor "Long-time reader of The Uran... (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Up Close and Personal with the Urantia Book - Expanded Edition (Paperback)

The achievement of "the coordination of science and religion with the truth of reality" describes the 21st century challenge to philosophy and metaphysics--and to each of us as well. In this latest edition of "Up Close and Personal," JJ Johnson has underscored the importance of this quest and directed the reader to "The Urantia Book," which makes this perspective its primary philosophic thrust. JJ calls it the "COSAR" principle--the necessity of integrating science, philosophy, and religion in order to arrive at a viewpoint which reveals the truth of reality. He asserts that only by this integration--and never by a focus on only one element--may reality be approached. The religionist in the exclusive pursuit of God-consciousness makes the same mistake as the secular scientist and neither one are able to approach the level of consciousness which is achieved through application of the COSAR principle-- true cosmic consciousness.
"Up Close and Personal With The Urantia Book" is an important contribution to efforts at understanding the actual cosmic context within which we live our lives. It is only through a deeper understanding of this context that we can approach problem solving with a degree of wisdom sorely lacking in today's troubled world. Highly recommended for anyone serious about refining their inner life and enriching their potentials for meaningful action in the world.