Watcha Readin'? Positive Outlooks in Ode and Yes!

by Niánn Emerson Chase

More progressive individuals refuse to advertise evil, and so do two of my favorite secular magazines: Ode, "the magazine to change (y)our world," and Yes!, "a journal of positive futures." The publishers and writers of these two magazines are very aware of the many problems in our world, and they address them in balance with acknowledging and honoring individuals and organizations that are contributing to solving problems, thus bringing hope and inspiration to those of us who read their pages.
          I have always loved reading and reflecting upon a section in The URANTIA Book called "The Positive Nature of Jesus' Religion."1 Before I go any further, I would like to point out that the word religion as used in this context has nothing to do with all of the negative connotations of dogmatism, fundamentalism, narrow-mindedness, blind obedience, fanaticism, superstition, and so on that religion can stir up in us. Jesus' religion is not Christianity or any other institutionalized religion, though some of Him can be found in many religions, including those outside of Christianity. Jesus' religion, based on personal spiritual experience in cooperating with the Threefold Spirit within each person, results in dynamic, positive social action. The spirituality of Jesus emphasizes positive action, doing good instead of evil, and returning good for evil.
          In its mission statement, the one-year-old international news magazine, Ode2 claims to have no "strings" attached "to the world of commerce and power" and states that by publishing their "stories that bridge the gap between thinking and doing, between rage and hope, and the painful gap between the rich and the poor" the magazine contributes to building peace and sustainability. In a yearly competition, last year the editors of Utne magazine nominated Ode for the "Best New Title" and has now nominated Ode for "Best Design."
          The focus of the Winter 2005 issue of Yes!3 is "healing and resistance" with articles that consider the wounds fracturing our social and political landscape as well as the sources of healing. The titles of some of this issue's material reflect the richness of having a positive approach to dealing with life situations and problems, whether personal or societal—"To Heal is to Live in the Truth," "A Phoenix From the Ashes," "Love and Resistance in Wartime," "Finding a Way Home," "The Warriors Who Turned to Peace," and "A Life Lived Whole."
          Ode and Yes! are guiding lights in a maze of media madness and materialism, showing the way home to compassionate and wise problem-solving. "The positive always has the advantage over the negative, truth over error, experience over theory, spiritual realities over the isolated facts of time and space."4

1 The URANTIA Book, pp. 1769-1771
2 Ode, published monthly by Ode USA, LLC, 375 South End Ave., #14P, New York, NY 10280. Toll-free 1-866-218-0400 (US or Canada) or 1-212-741-2365 (other countries) between 9 A.M.-5 P.M. EST. Fax 1-212-366-6585, email subscriptions@odemagazine.com, website www.odemagazine.com.
3 Yes! A Journal of Positive Futures, published quarterly by Positive Futures Network, 284 Madrona Way NE, Suite 116, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-2870. Toll-free 1-800-937-4451 Mon.-Fri. 9 A.M.-5 P.M. Website www.yesmagazine.org or email subs@yesmagazine.org
4 The URANTIA Book, p. 1125

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