Paper 49 Overview: The Inhabited Worlds

The inhabited worlds of time and space represent the evolutionary origin points for mortal races, functioning as the initial staging grounds in the progressive Paradise ascension scheme. These spheres serve as the spawning and developmental cradles for the mortal orders, providing essential experiential training for subsequent existence phases. The universe administration has structured a comprehensive system whereby each inhabited world functions as a preparatory educational environment for higher levels of cosmic reality, from the first mortal experience on evolutionary planets through advanced Melchizedek training preceding superuniverse transition and first-stage spirit existence.

The inhabited worlds are organized into local systems through celestial administrative design, with each system limited to approximately one thousand evolutionary worlds by decree of the Ancients of Days. This limitation applies specifically to evolutionary planets where mortals with survival status reside, excluding worlds settled in light and life and those in prehuman developmental stages. The Satania system remains incomplete with only 619 inhabited worlds registered in sequential order based on the appearance of will creatures. Urantia received the designation 606, indicating its chronological position as the 606th world in Satania to achieve human evolutionary emergence. The system continues development with thirty-six worlds approaching life-endowment status and approximately two hundred spheres evolving toward readiness for life implantation within the coming few million years.

All mortal-inhabited worlds are evolutionary in origin and nature. These spheres are the spawning ground, the evolutionary cradle, of the mortal races of time and space. Each unit of the ascendant life is a veritable training school for the stage of existence just ahead, and this is true of every stage of man's progressive Paradise ascent; just as true of the initial mortal experience on an evolutionary planet as of the final universe headquarters school of the Melchizedeks, a school which is not attended by ascending mortals until just before their translation to the regime of the superuniverse and the attainment of first-stage spirit existence.

All inhabited worlds are basically grouped for celestial administration into the local systems, and each of these local systems is limited to about one thousand evolutionary worlds. This limitation is by the decree of the Ancients of Days, and it pertains to actual evolutionary planets whereon mortals of survival status are living. Neither worlds finally settled in light and life nor planets in the prehuman stage of life development are reckoned in this group.

Satania itself is an unfinished system containing only 619 inhabited worlds. Such planets are numbered serially in accordance with their registration as inhabited worlds, as worlds inhabited by will creatures. Thus was Urantia given the number 606 of Satania, meaning the 606th world in this local system on which the long evolutionary life process culminated in the appearance of human beings. There are thirty-six uninhabited planets nearing the life-endowment stage, and several are now being made ready for the Life Carriers. There are nearly two hundred spheres which are evolving so as to be ready for life implantation within the next few million years.

Not all planets are suited to harbor mortal life. Small ones having a high rate of axial revolution are wholly unsuited for life habitats. In several of the physical systems of Satania the planets revolving around the central sun are too large for habitation, their great mass occasioning oppressive gravity. Many of these enormous spheres have satellites, sometimes a half dozen or more, and these moons are often in size very near that of Urantia, so that they are almost ideal for habitation. The oldest inhabited world of Satania, world number one, is Anova, one of the forty-four satellites revolving around an enormous dark planet but exposed to the differential light of three neighboring suns. Anova is in an advanced stage of progressive civilization.

The universes of time and space demonstrate gradual development, following evolutionary patterns that, while not always predictable, adhere to non-accidental principles. Cosmic evolution, though occasionally inscrutable to finite understanding, functions according to coherent universal laws rather than through arbitrary or magical interventions. This methodical progression ensures that life development follows established patterns adjusted to the specific conditions of each inhabited sphere.

The basic unit of material life across the universe is the protoplasmic cell, which constitutes a communal association of chemical, electrical, and other fundamental energies. While chemical formulas differ between systems and cell reproduction techniques vary slightly across local universes, the Life Carriers consistently function as the living catalyzers initiating the primordial reactions of material life. All worlds within a local system demonstrate unmistakable physical kinship, yet each planet maintains a distinctive scale of life with unique plant and animal endowments. These planetary variations result from deliberate decisions by the Life Carriers rather than capricious determination, as the universes operate according to established law and order. The laws of Nebadon represent divine mandates from Salvington, and the evolutionary pattern of life in Satania conforms to the broader evolutionary design of Nebadon.

The process of life initiation varies across planets, sometimes beginning at a single center, sometimes at three centers, as occurred on Urantia. The Life Carriers exercise considerable latitude in their function of life initiation, though they typically establish life in marine environments on atmospheric worlds. In the developmental sequence, vegetable forms invariably precede animal patterns, reaching substantial development before animal types differentiate from these foundational plant kingdoms rather than organizing separately. The early stages of life evolution may not align with contemporary scientific views, yet mortal existence represents not an evolutionary accident but part of a precise universal system determining planetary life development. The evolutionary process remains orderly and controlled, with superior strains of living protoplasm meriting careful preservation upon their emergence, as these potentials for advancement hold greater value on most inhabited worlds than they do on Urantia.

The Life Carriers frequently confront the necessity of modifying standard biological patterns to accommodate varying physical conditions across diverse worlds of space. While fostering a generalized system type for mortal creatures, they have developed seven distinct physical types along with thousands of minor variants of these primary categories: atmospheric types, elemental types, gravity types, temperature types, electric types, energizing types, and unnamed types. The Satania system encompasses all these major classifications, though some appear only in limited representation throughout the system's worlds.

The atmospheric conditions of a planet constitute the primary factor determining the physical differentiation of mortal habitation, with other influences playing relatively minor roles in planetary diversification. Urantia's current atmospheric composition approaches ideal conditions for supporting breathing human types, though human forms can be modified to survive on both super-atmospheric and sub-atmospheric worlds, with similar adaptations extending to animal life across these varied environments. The distribution of atmospheric types in Satania includes approximately 2.5% sub-breathers, 5% super-breathers, and over 91% mid-breathers like those on Urantia, collectively accounting for 98.5% of Satanian worlds. The remaining 1.5% of planets host non-breathers, representing an extreme adaptation to planetary conditions that warrants separate classification in cosmic records.

The elemental types of intelligent life demonstrate four distinct species based on their relation to water, air, and land habitats. These adaptations include water dwelling, air navigation, land dwelling, and combined land-air types, with the distribution in Satania showing 7% water types, 10% air types, 70% land types, and 13% combined types. Some worlds witness the extraordinary spectacle of early civilization developing among air navigators or marine dwellers before transitioning to land habitation, creating distinctive developmental pathways unlike the predominantly land-based evolution familiar to Urantians. Through creative design modifications, gravity-type intelligent beings can function on planets both smaller and larger than Urantia, with mortal height in Nebadon averaging slightly under seven feet but ranging from less than four feet to approximately ten feet across various worlds. Similarly, temperature-type modifications allow beings to withstand environmental conditions both significantly hotter and colder than the life range of Urantia races, with five distinct orders classified according to heat-regulating mechanisms distributed across 30% of Satania's worlds.

The electric, magnetic, and electronic behavior of worlds creates ten distinctive designs of mortal life adapted to differential planetary energy patterns, with Urantia's electric type (class number four) representing approximately 23% of inhabited planets in Satania. The energizing types of beings demonstrate six different forms of animal and mortal nutrition, including those who can effect life-process exchanges directly through light-energy and power transmutations when respiratory factors prove either excessively high or low on planets with otherwise adequate prerequisites for intelligent life. Beyond these major classifications, numerous additional physical variations exist among planetary life forms, though these differences primarily involve anatomical modification, physiologic differentiation, and electrochemical adjustment rather than affecting intellectual or spiritual development across the cosmos.

The cosmic distribution of non-breather inhabited worlds reveals their relative scarcity across the grand universe, with less than 7% of Orvonton's inhabited worlds, less than 3% of Nebadon's planets, and merely nine worlds in all of Satania supporting this specialized life type. This limited distribution stems primarily from cosmic conditions rather than biological limitations, as the recently organized Satania section of Norlatiadek still contains abundant meteoric space bodies that pose particular hazards to worlds lacking protective atmospheric friction, leaving them vulnerable to continuous bombardment from these wandering celestial bodies.

The non-breathing worlds face distinctive environmental challenges requiring technological adaptations from their advanced races, including electrical installations designed to consume or deflect incoming meteors and specialized protective structures shielding inhabitants during tremendous energy fluctuations and electrical storms of a nature unknown on Urantia. Life on these worlds differs fundamentally from atmospheric planets in nearly every aspect of daily existence. These beings neither consume food nor drink water like Urantian races, and their nervous systems, heat-regulation mechanisms, and metabolic processes function through radically different principles. Despite these profound physical differences, the non-breathers demonstrate equivalent mental capacity and spiritual potential, though they follow a different post-mortal destiny as candidates for Spirit fusion rather than Adjuster fusion as experienced by atmospheric mortals.

The unique planetary conduct of non-breather races would prove fascinating to Urantians, particularly as one such world exists in relatively close proximity to Urantia itself, representing an entirely different evolutionary pathway that nevertheless achieves comparable intellectual and spiritual development. Despite their distinctly different biological foundations, these beings experience similar relative trials and joys as breathing mortals and demonstrate equivalent mental and character development, illustrating the universe's capacity to foster diverse paths toward spiritual advancement regardless of physical form or environmental conditions. This cosmic diversity reflects the creative adaptability of universal life patterns while maintaining the essential spiritual unity of purpose that transcends physical differentiation.

Despite the substantial variations among mortals across different worlds, all creatures possessing will dignity share the fundamental characteristic of being erect, bipedal animals. The evolutionary races follow a consistent pattern of six basic types: three primary races—red, yellow, and blue—and three secondary races—orange, green, and indigo. Most inhabited worlds host all six races, though many three-brained planets and some local systems sustain only the three primary types, illustrating both the commonality and diversity of evolutionary patterns across the universe of universes.

The sensory apparatus of human beings averages twelve special physical senses across the universe, with three-brained mortals possessing slightly enhanced sensory capabilities beyond those of one-brained and two-brained types like the Urantia races. Despite physical variations, certain patterns of biological and social development remain remarkably consistent across inhabited worlds: young are typically born singly rather than in multiple births; family life follows fairly uniform structures; sex equality characterizes all advanced worlds with males and females achieving equivalent mind endowment and spiritual status; agricultural practices emerge universally among advancing races on all atmospheric worlds; and all mortal types face microscopic challenges similar to those experienced on Urantia, though perhaps with different intensity or distribution. Life spans vary considerably across the evolutionary spectrum, ranging from approximately twenty-five years on primitive worlds to nearly five hundred years on the more advanced and ancient spheres.

The gregarious nature of human beings manifests universally in tribal and racial group segregations that stem inherently from their evolutionary origin and constitution. These tendencies toward group formation can be modified through advancing civilization and progressive spiritualization, but they represent fundamental aspects of mortal development across the cosmos. Despite varied social, economic, and governmental organizations reflecting the age and divine influence experienced by different planets, the mind of mortals functions consistently across diverse environments. The Infinite Spirit bestows mind that operates similarly regardless of structural and chemical differences characterizing the physical nature of will creatures throughout local systems. However, this mortal mind cannot achieve survival without the immortal spirit; survival depends fundamentally on spiritualization through the Adjuster's ministry and the birth and evolution of the immortal soul, requiring at minimum the absence of antagonism toward the Adjuster's mission of spiritual transformation.

The comprehensive classification of mortal beings throughout the universe encompasses seven primary taxonomic approaches: adjustment to planetary environment, brain-type series, spirit-reception series, planetary-mortal epochs, creature-kinship serials, Adjuster-fusion series, and techniques of terrestrial escape. Each classification system provides distinct insights into the nature and developmental patterns of evolutionary creatures, creating a multidimensional framework for understanding the diversity and unity of mortal experience across inhabited worlds.

From the perspective of environmental adaptation, mortal worlds divide into three general groups: normal adjustment, radical adjustment, and experimental worlds. Urantia holds the distinctive status of an experimental planet, differing markedly from its sister spheres in Satania through the appearance of unique life forms and the absence of common species found elsewhere. These experimental life-modification worlds form a serially linked domain receiving special administrative attention and periodic inspection by universe directors led by the veteran finaliter Tabamantia. Regarding cerebral organization, Urantia belongs to the two-brained type, positioning its inhabitants as more imaginative, adventurous, and philosophical than one-brained mortals but somewhat less spiritually attuned than three-brained orders. While one-brained races face certain terrestrial limitations and two-brained worlds (like Urantia) can achieve significant mechanical, material, and intellectual progress, the three-brained spheres demonstrate civilizations that would astound Urantians and potentially induce a sense of comparative inadequacy, particularly in higher mind control and spiritual reciprocation.

The spirit-reception capacity of mortals varies based on glandular chemistry, particularly regarding structures comparable to the pituitary bodies, with distinct implications for imagination and spiritual receptivity. Throughout the universe, approximately 65% of beings share Urantia's second-group type, 12% belong to the naturally less receptive first type, and 23% demonstrate enhanced spiritual inclination during material existence, though these distinctions dissipate after natural death. The progression of mortal experience follows defined planetary epochs beginning with Life Carrier initiation of life, continuing through the arrival of a Planetary Prince, the biologic uplifting work of Material Sons and Daughters, the magisterial and bestowal missions of Paradise Sons, and culminating in the Teacher Sons' arrival preceding the final evolutionary utopia, the age of light and life. The horizontal administration of the universe also organizes creatures according to kinship serials that coordinate activities of related classes across different spheres, while the Adjuster-fusion series primarily differentiates mortals based on their relationship to the indwelling Mystery Monitors, with approximately 90% of Nebadon's inhabited worlds hosting Adjuster-fusion candidates compared to nearby universes where scarcely half the worlds support such beings.

Despite the diverse physical types and planetary origins of mortals throughout the universe, all experience the liberating ministry of Thought Adjusters, guardian angels, and the messenger hosts of the Infinite Spirit. This universal spiritual ministry ensures that all mortals, regardless of their evolutionary background, are released from material limitations through natural death and progress to the morontia worlds of spiritual evolution and mind advancement, establishing a fundamental equality in the ascension career.

The techniques of terrestrial escape and resurrection follow several distinct patterns, accommodating the varied developmental levels of ascending mortals. Special resurrections periodically occur through the motion of planetary authorities or system rulers, mobilizing specific groups of sleeping survivors for particular service in the local universe plan, though the majority of mortals are repersonalized at the inauguration of new dispensations, coinciding with the arrival of divine Sons. Individual progress through the seven cosmic circles of mortal attainment determines resurrection timing, with those achieving the third circle receiving personal guardians of destiny who facilitate their repersonalization on the mansion worlds independent of dispensational adjudications. As evolutionary ages advance, increasingly more mortals qualify for earlier resurrection based on their spiritual progress, creating a graduated system of ascension that rewards individual achievement.

The universe provides specialized resurrection provisions for children and youths who die before reaching spiritual maturity, with Adjuster-indwelt children and youths following the parent of most advanced spiritual status to the system finaliter world on the third day after death. Children without Adjusters remain attached to their parents until reaching the mansion worlds, receiving appropriate spiritual guidance until qualifying for personal guardians upon attaining the third circle. The higher orders of ascension include the secondary modified ascenders, who bypass some or all of the mansion worlds based on their advanced planetary development, and the primary modified order representing the most glorified state of mortal translation. These exceptional beings, who fuse with their Adjusters during mortal life, experience direct transport to the resurrection halls of higher morontia spheres through Son seizure, bypassing physical death entirely. This advanced translation process becomes increasingly common on worlds approaching the settled ages of light and life, eventually becoming the predominant mode of transition as planets achieve full spiritual maturity.