Evolution of Human Society - Urantia Paper 71 - The Development of the State

This week we start our study of Paper 71, The Development of the State. This paper is as thought provoking and the other sociology papers we've studied lately. It provide amazing insights into how the state evolves and what makes the state strong and highly functional.

It says, for instance, that the enduring state must have a common language, mores, and institutions. Strong states are held together by several factors, including private property, cities, agriculture, domestication of animals, strong family units, a clearly defined territory, and strong rulers. Democracy is an ideal but has inherent dangers, one of which is the glorification of mediocrity. Democracy is a product of civilization rather than of evolution.

The ideal state is guided by the realization of human brotherhood, intelligent patriotism, and cosmic insight. It  should provide for liberty, security, education, and social coordination. Society will not progress well if it permits idleness and poverty. A government must evolve if it is to survive.

The members of an ideal society must live according to their ideals while maintaining adequate defense against those who may seek to exploit them. The test of the idealism of a government is the maintenance of military preparedness for defense but never for offense.

Profit motives are necessary to keep people at work, but profit motives must be augmented by service motives. In the ideal state, education continues throughout life. Philosophy, the search for wisdom, may become the chief pursuit of citizens.

The only sacred feature of government is its division into executive, legislative and judicial domains; the universe is administered in accordance with such a plan. The citizenry of the evolved state is ever progressing toward the goal of augmented self-control and increased social service.

These are just some of the ideas we will be discussing as we ponder together this amazing paper.