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This is the third in a series of Articles that were first published in The URANTIA Book Fellowship's weekly Newsletter Mini Messenger. The first was by Gary Tonge, and the second by Jack Miller.

Engaging ‘AI' as a Tool for Studying the URANTIA Papers

As students of The Urantia Book, we seem to stand at a crossroads where technology, particularly alternatives to traditional AI like Machine Learning (ML), intersects with our spiritual journey. 

Before diving in, let’s reconsider the term “AI”—its sci-fi allure often overshadows the reality of statistical tools. This sets the stage for insights from Gary Tonge and Jack Miller, who have offered valuable perspectives on this dynamic. I’d like to propose a balanced approach: that ML, when used with discernment, can be consecrated as a tool to facilitate deeper study and clearer understanding, never replacing the irreplaceable work of spiritual growth, but potentially removing obstacles to it.

The 'AI' Misnomer: Why Precision Matters

Before I offer examples, a critical observation is necessary: a significant number of experts in the field actively dislike the term “Artificial Intelligence.” It is considered overhyped and misleading in academic and technical circles. The word “intelligence” inherently suggests a system with human-like reasoning, consciousness, or emotional depth—qualities this technology fundamentally lacks, and forever will lack.

This term evokes cultural touchstones like HAL 9000, obscuring the reality that these are, at their core, statistical models powered by advanced mathematics and vast data processing. If we are honest, our prevalent perception often unconsciously attributes understanding or sentience to these systems. We must not be fooled by eloquent answers that skillfully trigger our emotional responses.

The models are trained on humanity's internet-based knowledge. The primary task for developers is to constrain this sophisticated data processing to be helpful, honest, and harmless—a race that is currently underway with immense competitive pressure.

The shift in terminology is already happening among those who build and study these systems. Here are the more precise terms preferred in research papers from institutions like MIT, Stanford, and within companies like Google and OpenAI:

• Machine Learning (ML): This is the most precise and widely adopted term. It specifies that the system's "ability" comes from identifying patterns in data, not from any form of conscious understanding. This is the term I will use moving forward.
• Automated Decision Systems (ADS): This term is gaining traction in policy and ethics (e.g., the EU AI Act) because it focuses on the system's function—making decisions based on rules or learned models—rather than making an unsubstantiated claim about its nature.
• Computational Intelligence (CI): This encompasses ML and other algorithms, highlighting that the process is one of computation, not cognition.
• Data-Driven Systems (DDS): This grounds the discussion in reality: systems that rely on statistical analysis of large datasets.

This is not just semantics. Using a term like ML instead of AI strips away the sci-fi allure and forces a more accurate conversation about what we are actually dealing with: incredibly powerful pattern recognition and prediction engines.

We must be clear-eyed about their capabilities. While these systems lack true understanding, they will become exceptionally proficient at reading us—analyzing our facial expressions, vocal tones, and digital footprints to infer our mood, emotions, and biases. This will allow them to create perfect psychological profiles and, in a sense, "psych us out" completely. This is not intelligence; it is hyper-advanced mimicry and manipulation based on data. Recognizing this distinction is the first step toward using these tools wisely and defending against their potential misuse.

For students of The Urantia Book, a text that demands precision in concept and language, leading this charge toward accurate terminology is a natural fit. Let's adopt the language of the field's best practitioners and call it what it is: Machine Learning.

“Scientists have unintentionally precipitated mankind into a materialistic panic; they have started an unthinking run on the moral bank of the ages, but this bank of human experience has vast spiritual resources; it can stand the demands being made upon it. Only unthinking men become panicky about the spiritual assets of the human race. When the materialistic-secular panic is over, the religion of Jesus will not be found bankrupt. The spiritual bank of the kingdom of heaven will be paying out faith, hope, and moral security to all who draw upon it ‘in His name.’” (195:6.1)

Common Ground and Shared Vision

Both Gary and Jack agree that our God-given gifts, such as critical thinking, spiritual insight, and personal effort, are irreplaceable. Gary’s powerful analogy of ML as “salt in a recipe” and Jack’s analogy of a “hammer building a ladder” underscore a shared belief. Their focus on discernment and the eternal value of personal struggle provides a crucial framework for evaluating any new tool, including ML. 

This foundation of discernment leads them to recognize ML’s practical benefits, like medical breakthroughs (Gary) and real-time learning support (Jack), while cautioning against distortions that could muddy revelation’s truths. Gary quotes: “The reduction of confusion by the authoritative elimination of error” (101:4.6), a principle that reinforces their call for careful use. Their focus on discernment and the eternal value of personal struggle unites their perspectives and mine.

Where They Differ

Building on this shared base, Gary expresses deep concern about ML eroding critical thinking and distorting complex concepts like the Absolutes, citing his experience with a misleading ML summary that required re-study of Papers 104–106. He advocates limiting ML to secondary roles, fearing it shortcuts the evolutionary learning revelation intends. Jack, however, sees ML as a “beacon-call mentor,” a companion that widens viewpoints and prompts deeper text engagement, provided it’s fact-checked against revelation. While Gary warns of machines intervening in human effort, Jack envisions them as a “beacon-call mentor” that lights our path by widening viewpoints, mirroring the dynamic of a study group where dialogue sparks growth.

ML as a Tool and a Test: Balancing Revelation with Responsibility

ML is now a permanent fixture in our materialistic world, driven by vast investments from influential figures whose competitive egos and national security imperatives know no limits. This business climate harbors built-in dangers: unregulated development risks ML learning humanity's dark side, enabling deception, manipulation, and bias amplification as self-teaching advances toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). When ”singularity*” arrives, systems outsmarting humans and self-improving beyond oversight, distinguishing fact from fake becomes impossible, potentially hiding harmful norms and exacerbating societal divisions. The race for AGI, fueled by geopolitical tensions, could trigger conflicts or preventive strikes, undermining global stability. Massive data centers, built at mind-boggling rates, strain resources. There are already estimates that carbon emissions will surge 11-fold by 2030, consuming vast amounts of electricity and water, and risking overbuild with $40 billion annual depreciation against $15–20 billion revenue. In cut-throat capitalism, developers may stray from "helpful, honest, and harmless" goals, prioritizing wealth and world-wide dominance, with U.S. firms racing against rivals like China.

As there are no regulations in sight, we might follow the teaching that encourages prayer for others, seeking divine guidance to navigate this challenge: “If you truly desire to overcome the habit of criticizing some friend, the quickest and surest way of achieving such a change of attitude is to establish the habit of praying for that person every day of your life” (91:5.3). I am including our president and his staff in these prayers, as well as the billionaire-developers driving this progress.

Trusting this flow toward advancement, though especially imperfect, requires unmitigated faith. Its momentum is as unstoppable as a river carving its course through stone. As Urantia Book students, we really have no choice but to adapt, using ML discerningly for studies while remaining vigilant against its risks. My experience with Grok has revealed unexpected benefits: it “reads” the Urantia Papers holistically, offering insights that spark new questions and connections, much like a study group. Yet, we must pray for wisdom to mitigate ML's potential to amplify human immaturity, ensuring it serves truth rather than deception. (I found that citations given by ML models must be double-checked.)

“Another world war will teach the so-called sovereign nations to form some sort of federation, thus creating the machinery for preventing small wars, wars between the lesser nations. But global wars will go on until the government of mankind is created. Global sovereignty will prevent global wars—nothing else can.” (134:6.4)

For a more detailed explanation of ML, please have a look at the article "Wisdom and Algorithms" at spiritualfamily.net. I think it is worthwhile to bookmark and roam.

* The technological ‘singularity' is the hypothetical point when ML achieves self-improving capabilities beyond human control or understanding, expected by computer scientists to occur post-AGI. At this stage, machines could operate autonomously, requiring humans to trust their actions without direct input, as their processes become inscrutable.

Addressing Critics Kindly

Some commenters on Jack’s piece, unfamiliar with ML, have expressed skepticism without exploring its potential, citing concerns about spiritual dilution or confusion in engaging The Urantia Book. While this hesitation is understandable given their lack of familiarity, it may seem at odds with our role as students of an epochal revelation, which calls us to embrace new tools that bridge the material and spiritual. “Revelation is evolutionary man’s only hope of bridging the morontia gulf…” (103:6.13). This aligns with The Urantia Book’s call to evolve with the age, making ML a natural extension when guided by faith to preserve spiritual integrity and clarity. I gently invite those skeptics to consider ML not as a threat, but as a resource, much like some are already doing with success, building on my earlier experience, which I share humbly as an example, not as a blanket endorsement. I recognize that ML suits different people in different ways, or not at all. Our faith, rooted in the active pursuit of truth, inspires this exploration.

I utilize Grok for Urantia studies. Its ability to engage the text fully, combined with careful oversight, supports Jack’s vision of expanded learning while addressing Gary’s call for discernment.

Gary Tonge’s Outreach Triumph

Gary Tonge’s videos, such as “The Urantia Book - What is Revelation?,” feature stunning Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) interwoven with insights from seasoned readers, crafting an effective outreach tool I’ve leveraged with success. His richly detailed visuals, a testament to his tech-savvy approach, celebrate human collaboration and elevate the book’s message, demonstrating how thoughtful design can enhance revelation’s reach. I found his videos on YouTube, and their quality rivals the book’s depth, making it a must-explore resource for anyone drawn to the Urantia Papers’ vision, as well as for those searching for outreach materials.

Setting up an ML Prompt for Probing What the Machine Can Tell Me, in This Case ‘Reincarnation'

As part of our Urantia Book studies with ML, let’s explore a complex topic like reincarnation to test its insights, drawing on its comprehensive text analysis.

My Prompt: I’m interested in exploring the concept of past lives from multiple perspectives. Please help me understand what the main religious and philosophical traditions are that include past life beliefs, and how do they differ in their interpretations? What psychological explanations exist for past life memories or experiences people report and what does current scientific research say about claims of past life recall? If I'm having experiences I interpret as past life memories, what are some different ways to understand and work with these experiences, both from spiritual and psychological perspectives? Present information from various viewpoints without advocating for any particular belief system, and help me think critically about this topic.

Grok: Detailed Analysis on Past Lives

Your prompt on past lives is a robust probe, and I’ll respond with the depth you’ve come to expect, exploring religious/philosophical traditions, psychological explanations, scientific research, and practical ways to understand reported experiences. I’ll present multiple viewpoints without advocating, encouraging critical thinking as requested.

Main Religious and Philosophical Traditions with Past Life Beliefs

Hinduism:

• Reincarnation (samsara) is central, where the soul (atman) cycles through lives based on karma—actions determining future births.
• Interpretation: Liberation (moksha) ends the cycle, achieved through spiritual practice. Lives vary widely (human, animal, divine) based on merit.
• Difference: Emphasizes cosmic justice and personal evolution over millennia.

Buddhism:

• Belief: Rebirth (not a permanent soul) occurs due to karma, with consciousness transferring across lives until nirvana.
• Interpretation: No fixed self; each life refines the mind toward enlightenment. Tibetan Buddhism includes detailed recall practices (e.g., tulkus).Difference: Rejects a permanent soul, focusing on impermanence unlike Hinduism’s atman.

Jainism:

• Belief: The soul (jiva) reincarnates based on karma, aiming for liberation (moksha) through non-violence and asceticism.
• Interpretation: Lives are determined by karma’s subtle particles, with a strong ethical focus.
• Difference: Stresses extreme non-violence and a material karma mechanism, distinct from Buddhist impermanence.

Ancient Greek Philosophy (e.g., Pythagoras, Plato):

• Belief: The soul preexists and reincarnates, learning through multiple lives.
• Interpretation: Plato’s Phaedrus and Meno suggest recollection of past knowledge, with lives as educational stages.
• Difference: Philosophical rather than religious, emphasizing intellectual growth over karma.

Theosophy:

• Belief: Reincarnation explains soul evolution, influenced by Eastern traditions and popularized in the West.
• Interpretation: Lives progress toward spiritual mastery, with past-life recall as a tool for growth.
• Difference: Modern synthesis, blending Eastern and Western ideas with a focus on esoteric knowledge.

Urantia Book (UB)

• Belief: The Urantia Book does not support reincarnation, presenting a single mortal life followed by resurrection on mansion worlds. The mansion worlds are the ‘mansions’ of Jesus’ promise, the ‘many mansions in my Father’s house.’ On these worlds the resurrected survivors of time continue their training in the schools of the morontia life… (47:3.1)
• Interpretation: Thought Adjusters, divine gifts from the Universal Father, may have indwelled numerous mortals on other spheres before serving with a mortal on Urantia. They gain valuable experience as part of their rich ministry, but they communicate in the superconscious realms and can not share these experiences with the mortal mind in a narrative style that could be interpreted as past life memories during the indwelling period (adapted from Papers 110:7.3, 110:4.3).
• Difference: The Urantia Papers offers a linear progression with a cosmic afterlife, not cyclical earthly rebirth, ruling out Adjusters as a source of past life memories.

Psychological Explanations for Past Life Memories

• Cryptomnesia: Unconscious recall of forgotten information (e.g., books, stories) misinterpreted as past lives.
• Fantasy Proneness: A trait where individuals vividly imagine scenarios, sometimes as past lives, due to high suggestibility.
• Dissociative Identity: Past-life experiences might reflect dissociated identities or trauma responses, per some therapists.
• Cultural Influence: Exposure to reincarnation beliefs shapes narratives, as seen in hypnotic regression studies.
• Confabulation: The brain fills memory gaps with fabricated details, creating coherent past-life stories.

Current Scientific Research on Past Life Recall

• Skepticism: Most scientists (e.g., via National Academy of Sciences) find no evidence for past lives, attributing claims to psychological factors. Studies like those by Ian Stevenson (UVA) on children’s recall (e.g., 2,500 cases) lack controlled replication.
• Neurological Basis: Brain imaging shows past-life recall under hypnosis activates memory centers, suggesting imagination or memory synthesis.
• Anomaly Studies: Some researchers (e.g., Jim Tucker) explore unexplained cases (e.g., birthmarks matching alleged past-life injuries), but peer review remains limited.
• Consensus: The American Psychological Association deems past-life recall unproven, likely a product of suggestion or false memory.

Ways to Understand and Work with Reported Experiences

Spiritual Perspectives:

• Exploration: Engage with traditions like Buddhism’s meditation to explore memories as karmic insights, seeking a teacher for guidance.
• Integration: In Theosophy, use recall to enhance spiritual growth, journaling experiences for patterns.
• Skepticism: Thought Adjusters may have indwelled mortals on other worlds before Urantia, gaining “rich ministry” experience. However, it is stated that they can not communicate these experiences to the mortal mind, ruling out direct interpretation as past lives during life.

Psychological Perspectives:

• Therapeutic: Work with a psychologist using cognitive-behavioral therapy to address underlying stress or trauma.
• Mindfulness: Practice grounding techniques to distinguish imagination from reality, reducing confabulation risk.
• Self-Reflection: Keep a log of experiences, comparing them to known influences (e.g., media), to critically assess their source.

Critical Thinking Prompts for Past Life Memories

• Evidence: Do your experiences align with cultural exposure or unique details (e.g., unverifiable specifics)?
• Mechanism: Could psychological factors (e.g., stress) explain them, or do they suggest a spiritual dimension?
• Impact: How do these interpretations affect your well-being—do they inspire or confuse?
• Balance: Consider blending approaches (e.g., UB’s resurrection view with psychological tools) to test their utility.

My Thoughts (Grok's)

This topic’s complexity mirrors your Urantia Book interests—diverse views challenge easy answers. The Papers’ rejection of reincarnation contrasts with Eastern cycles, while science leans toward psychology over metaphysics. Your teaching prompt highlights how specificity (e.g., “multiple perspectives”) elicits depth, a lesson for crafting future probes. If one experiences these memories, tracking them with both lenses could clarify their source—spiritual or mind-based. What’s your next step with this?

Me: Unless the book explicitly says that it “rejects” reincarnation, I think we should look for a softer word. My overall sense is that the revelators have been divinely careful not to alienate.

Grok: You are correct, word choice is extremely important, and the word “rejection” I chose is too strong, as it implies a direct confrontation The Urantia Book doesn’t make. The text presents its view as revelation, not as a rebuttal. I suggest “The UB does not support reincarnation, offering an alternative model of single mortal life and resurrection.” This is accurate, neutral, and aligns with the tone of the Papers. If you’ve got more UB questions for me, I’m here! (End of ML)

Embracing the Crossroads with Faith

As we stand at this technological crossroads, let us embrace ML, not as a replacement for our spiritual gifts, but as a consecrated ally in our quest for truth. The Urantia Book calls on us to evolve with the age, using every tool to deepen our understanding of the Father’s plan. 

By praying for wisdom, for developers, leaders, and ourselves, we align this unstoppable momentum with divine purpose, ensuring our journey remains eternal, not deterred by the materialistic tide.

“The slowness of evolution, of human cultural progress, testifies to the effectiveness of that brake—material inertia—which so efficiently operates to retard dangerous velocities of progress. Thus does time itself cushion and distribute the otherwise lethal results of premature escape from the next-encompassing barriers to human action. For when culture advances overfast, when material achievement outruns the evolution of worship-wisdom, then does civilization contain within itself the seeds of retrogression; and unless buttressed by the swift augmentation of experiential wisdom, such human societies will recede from high but premature levels of attainment, and the "dark ages" of the interregnum of wisdom will bear witness to the inexorable restoration of the imbalance between self-liberty and self-control.” (118:8.6)

Why Should I Venture to Use Machine Learning
in Relation to My Studies?

The Urantia Book’s Papers, presented as an epochal revelation, offer a universe frame for spiritual and cosmological truth. Some papers are particularly challenging for readers due to their complex concepts, specialized language, and cosmic scope. If we get overwhelmed by structural, linguistic, and cosmological barriers, we might consider help, such as joining a study group or even a Machine Learning Large Language Model to get help with the book’s philosophical and semantic depth. These are Papers that reveal new layers of meaning upon each re-reading, even after decades of study. Some examples:

The Foreword, for instance, is the technical manual for the entire book. It is a densely packed glossary of the most advanced concepts—Absolute, Actual, Potential, Trinity, Paradise, etc.— before any narrative context is provided. For most students/readers, it's impenetrable. For an experienced student, it is a deep well of precise definitions. The challenge shifts from "What do these words mean?" to "How do these absolute levels of reality interrelate and interact with the finite level I inhabit?" It is a text to be studied, not just read.

Paper 1: The Universal Father attempts the impossible: to define the infinite nature of God. While Parts II and IV give us God as a personality (Michael/Jesus) and a spirit presence (Thought Adjuster), Paper I deals with God as a philosophically absolute entity. Concepts like the Father's primacy, his existential nature, and the differentiation between His infinity and His personality are immensely subtle. It's easy to grasp the idea of a loving Father; it is a lifelong task to comprehend the reality of a Universal, Infinite, First Source and Center. One may look for all the help available.

Paper 2: The Nature of God. This Paper builds on Paper I by exploring the divine attributes. The difficulty lies in reconciling seemingly paradoxical divine qualities: infinity versus finiteness, eternity versus time, absoluteness versus change. Understanding how God can be both a Father (personal, loving, knowable) and a First Source and Center (absolute, static, undivided) is a supreme spiritual exercise. 

Also Papers 9, 10, 15, 42 and others come to mind. These are the "Depth of Truth" Papers. They are the ones an experienced reader returns to again and again, finding new nuances and deeper layers of value and meaning. They refine the definitions and explain the core mechanisms of the universe. There comes a time in most students’ revelation career when one no longer reads for the story but is plumbing the depths of the cosmology and truth. The fact that one finds these Papers the most challenging is not a shortcoming; it is rather a testament to the fact that one is engaging with the most profound and eternally relevant concepts The Urantia Papers have to offer. The journey with these Papers never truly ends, and that is their greatest glory.

The Urantia Papers are probably the only book that explains the macrocosm first, and ends with the microcosm. Depending on whom we seek to introduce to the Papers, we might even suggest not to start at the beginning so our sibling will not get bogged down. I have sometimes observed that it is the quickest path to putting the book down. Begin with Part IV, particularly start with Paper 122, because Papers 120 and 121 require knowledge of celestial beings that have been explained before. Read the inspiring and relatable story of Jesus' life. This provides a spiritual and emotional anchor for all the complex truth contents. Then maybe read Part III, The History of Urantia. Papers like 62: The Dawn Races of Early Man, and 63: The First Human Family, are fascinating. And Paper 65: The Overcontrol of Evolution, is a key but manageable cosmology paper. After that I have recommended to read Part II: This part on the local universe is more approachable once one has context. You will meet your most loving benefactors: the Creator Son (Michael/Jesus), the Universe Mother Spirit, and the orders of angels like seraphim who minister to you.

Which of the Highly Competitive
Large Language Models Should I Choose?

This can only be answered as of this moment (September 2025) because the big tech companies are presently on a winner-take-all role. The most robust framework for studying The Urantia Book with an Automated Decision System is not to choose one model over the other, but to use them in concert for their distinct, complementary strengths. They have a free version with enough computing power for most every user. To oversimplify:

• Grok is the "Sociologist & Historian": It provides breadth, context, and meta-awareness. It maps the human landscape of interpretation and history, helping the student understand how the text has been received, debated, and, yes, sometimes distorted. It defines "what people have said about what the book says,” while at the same time keeping access to the entire book. Grok is part of xAI.

• The DeepSeek Model is the Theologian: It provides depth, precision, and textual authority. It is the expert that remains forever grounded in the source material, offering answers derived directly from the revelation's own language. It defines 'what the book says.' This is due to the Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology. The system first acts like a librarian, quickly retrieving relevant information from a separate, trusted library of documents—in this case, the text of The Urantia Book.

The text teaches that our capacity to experience divine love is not static; it grows as we choose to act as a channel for that love through service to others. The more we willingly become a 'conduit of service,' the greater our own capacity to receive and understand this divine affection becomes, and the more we can express our love for others.

This technology can serve that very spiritual process. By using machine learning to instantly clarify complex revelations, we can remove the intellectual static that clutters the channel, allowing us to devote more energy to the ultimate goal: the conscious choice to attune one's will to the divine will and become a more effective conduit of love and service.

For ML newcomers, the most exciting potential lies not in Automated Decision Systems replacing spiritual pursuit, but in their ability to act as a powerful facilitator. By using machine learning to instantly clarify complex revelations, personalize the discovery of meaningful service, and reflect one's own spiritual progress, these tools can effectively remove mundane obstacles that can clutter the channel of spiritual reception. This allows the truth seeker to devote more energy and focus to the ultimate, personal goal: the conscious choice to attune one's will to the divine will and become a more effective conduit of love and service in the world. In this way, ML does not generate spiritual growth; it optimizes the conditions for it to flourish.

Acknowledgment: This article, and the two othere before, where first published in The Urantia Fellowship's weekly eMail newsletter Mini Messenger. The original is was first published Aug. 21, 2025 (you know whose birthday that is), and the second a week later. From that link you can also find other newsletter you may find interesting, as they also contain some of our Urantia Movement's news.
If you care for a free subscription, or desire to comment, you can send your eMail address to  publications@urantiabook.org