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Frequently Asked Questions

"Urantia" Meaning

  • Urantia is the name given to our world in the universe.
  • The Urantia Papers reveal new truths to human beings on Urantia. They describe cosmic and spiritual realities.
  • The Urantia Book is a publication of these papers.

Read on for a deeper explanation.

a picture of Earth, known as Urantia in The Urantia Book

What Does the Word “Urantia” Mean?

Urantia is the name by which our world is known in the cosmos. Therefore, the "Urantia" meaning is just as one of many other inhabited planets that exist in the universe.

Urantia is located in a section of the cosmos—a local universe—called Nebadon. This universe and others like it form a superuniverse called Orvonton. Seven such superuniverses circle a central universe called Havona. At the heart of the central universe lies Paradise, the place where God resides.

The local, super, and central universes make up the grand universe of organized and inhabited creations. They all form part of the even larger master universe, much of which is still uninhabited and in the process of formation.

The Urantia Papers and The Urantia Book

The Urantia Papers are narratives that were indited in 1934 and 1935. The authors present enlarged concepts and advanced truth to the human beings who live on Urantia. 

These 196 papers are collected in The Urantia Book, which was published in Chicago, United States, in 1955.

The book is intended to expand our cosmic consciousness. It says that we live in a vast and friendly universe of millions of worlds. These worlds are inhabited by myriad beings ranging from the physical to the spiritual.

The book explains the structure of the universe. It gives us a glimpse of higher realities that exist beyond the physical. It presents the origins and destiny of humanity. And it narrates the life and teachings of Jesus from birth to death, giving details never before revealed.

The authors of the book also seek to enhance our spiritual perception. They teach us that we are all part of the spiritual family of a loving God. God’s spirit lives within us to guide us through an eternal journey of growth from imperfection to perfection. Our life on Urantia is only the start of this journey.

a cover image of The Urantia Book

What’s the Big Deal with The Urantia Book?

The Urantia Book (which publishes the content of the Urantia Papers) is a recent event of religious revelation. Its mission is to present new truths from the realm of the spirit to expand on the teachings of the world’s religions. 

There have been five such events of religious revelation throughout history. That presented by Jesus of Nazareth was the fourth. He taught that God is our Universal Father and that we are all God’s spiritual children. The essence of Jesus’ teaching was love and service.

The Urantia Book is the fifth event of religious revelation on this planet. It states plainly, however, that “no revelation short of the attainment of the Universal Father can ever be complete.”

How Is "Urantia" Pronounced?

Urancha is how English-speaking students of The Urantia Book in the United States generally pronounce the word “Urantia.” This may differ from the pronunciation used in other countries and languages.

"Urantia": Some Other Curiosities

Some Urantia Book students have surmised that “urantia” means “of or belonging to the heavens.”

A similar word, “Uranus↗️” was the primal Greek god of the sky. In Ancient Greek literature, Uranus or Father Sky was the son and husband of Gaia, Mother Earth. Is “Urantia” a female word form related to “Uranus”?

In Greek mythology, Urania↗️ is the goddess of astronomy and stars. She carried a globe and compass. She was the daughter of Zeus and the great granddaughter of Uranus.

Also, Urantia was a place in Spain identified in A Narrative of the Peninsular War, by Andrew Leith Hay↗️, 1831, which includes, “I remained at Valmaseda↗️ on the 27th, and very early the following morning, was on the road to Urantia.”

Read another introduction↗️ to The Urantia Book.