Wiccan Studies

Wicca Essay

The Wiccan class is one that I have truly enjoyed. While I am not a practicing Wiccan, I find that I do practice Wicca in many ways.

I have enjoyed all the classes, they were very interesting, an easy read that held my interest.

The introduction to herbs class as inspired me to learn more about herbs. I drink the herbal teas, I have rushed to the health food store to purchase herbs as a remedy for a cold, but never really gave much thought to it. I never considered the lavender plant to be an herb, it’s one of my favorite scents of aromatherapy. My rosemary bush by the front porch has taken on a new life, so to speak. I recently purchased a beautiful mortar and pestle, I am ready to take on the herbs.

I enjoyed the classes on alters and have added additional alters around my home.

Rituals, spells, the basics are here. My rituals are limited to moon ceremonies, perhaps someday I will expand, it’s nice to have all the basics here at hand.

Since starting this course, I have added some new books to my library, spells and herbs, dousing, rituals and ceremonies.

Wicca, a religion or a way of everyday life…I believe we are all wiccans at heart, this class helps you realize that.

Thank you Amy and Lord Starwalker. I have enjoyed the journey.

Nancy L. Kuhn

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Happiness is when what you think,

what you say,

and what you do are in harmony.

~Mahatma Gandhi

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Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving,

the most beautiful of the arts,

because it is not mere translation or abstraction from life;

it is life itself.

~ Havelock Ellis

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Spirit Quest

Spirit Quest Essay by Rev. Timothy Spotswood

I found the Spirit Quest course to be very informative and helpful. I have been involved in religious studies for over 30 years and practicing daily meditation for over 20. So when the course starts out with lessons in meditation I decide that since I paid for the course and want to take it seriously I will study the lessons. Although, since I have been meditating for so many years, I am sure they will have some good information for beginners, but not for me. Imagine my surprise when one of the first things I read about is the ‘grounding cord’. I don’t recall ever learning about this wonderful tool. The blowing up roses is a great tool as well but I have used similar things, but I can not stress how much the grounding cord has helped me. So the first lesson learned is to keep my mind open; I might actually learn something if I let me.

For the first half of the course I was doing very well. I was reading all the lessons as soon as they came in, working on the exercises, taking lots of notes. I really felt I was making some good progress. Then, about half way through I took a vacation out of state for a couple weeks, without internet access. I knew I would be a bit behind but could readily catch up, or just stay a couple weeks behind and continue.

Unfortunately when I got back from Disney World I had not only lost my momentum, I had seemed to have lost interest in the course. I just always had other things to do instead of catching up on my reading. After a few weeks of this I decided to try and figure out what was going on. I mean I was really enjoying the course and felt I was doing well. Why would I try to convince myself I was too busy to pick it back up?

After some mediation I realized I had done this before. Many times before. Throughout my life as things start to go well for me, either in a relationship or business things always fall apart. After some contemplation I realized I was doing it to myself. Something would start to go right for me and I would do something to mess it up. As if some part of me didn’t think I deserved to be happy. I tried to determine when this started or how long I had been doing it. I could not come up with a particular event or time but I could almost see myself around pre-school age and knowing I was a bad person.

I know I am not a bad person but the feeling was very hard to overcome. I decided I had to take charge and try to overcome it. So for starters I would finish this course. As I pick up the next lesson imagine my surprise to see lesson 15 Affirmations, then 16 Speaking In The Positive. These two lessons seemed to cover what I had just spent the last two months working on. I am glad I worked on these ideas first because reading the lessons meant much more to me than if I had read them first (and probably just glossed over them)

Life is a journey. I thank you very much for this course and the help it gave me, and will continue to give me on my journey. The end of the course is not really a destination, but more a step in the right direction. I took almost 10 months to make this step, instead of 8. But I have learned patience a long time ago, and I feel it is more important to do something right, not necessarily fast.

Timothy ‘ Tukaram ‘Spotswood

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Four Gospels

DIVORCE and the CHRISTIAN

Prepared by Stanley C. Lawrence

Paper Written for The FOUR GOSPELS Course

“The Unvarnished Gospels” book was interesting and provided many different perspectives of the Four Gospels of the New Testament, however I tended to disagree with a few of the interpretations of some of the Biblical phrases used, such as, “Kingdom of the skies” and “bathing of the Spirit,” as used in the book. I felt that these interpretations just didn't provide the punch that the original Bible interpretations provided.

Basically, I found fault with much of this interpretation of the four Gospels. I would have preferred an Aramaic to English translation, or better to have studied the book, “The Complete Gospels,” Robert J. Miller, Editor. The textbook, however, does bring up some interesting questions.

Having said that, this interpretation did make one think about the words of Jesus and the traditions about him. I thought about and had the most trouble with the subject of divorce, as

it pertains to the Christian today. It seems as though every family has experienced divorce somewhere in their families or someone who is a friend. And I believe this topic to be very

important for the ULC clergy to consider, as most religions will not remarry someone, through the church, after they have been divorced, because most church clergy believe that this

comes from God, and so this should be adhered to if we are to do what the law of God commands.

Divorce is so prevalent in today's society and most individuals know of people personally who have divorced and broken their marriages apart. Of course, the main emphasis of any

marriage that has children, should be that the best interest of the children involved come first and foremost before the interests of the feuding adults. It is so very interesting that the discourse on divorce in Matthew (Matthew 19:3-12) was immediately followed by a discourse on little children, so it is very important to see that Jesus tied the two subjects together.  Problems causing divorce are largely rooted in dysfunctionality of the adult individuals involved, which makes it extremely difficult to reconcile differences. In these cases, I believe that these marriages have not been ordained by God, as the individuals have usually not taken the time for courtship and the engagement of getting to know each other properly. This often is because of the dysfunctionality of the individuals that rush into these slipshod marriages because of sex being such a part of these courtships and quite often pregnancies ensue as a result.

The dysfunctionality can be very varied, but may include: ADHD, various other mental problems and diseases, alcohol or drug addictions, low self-esteem, these things often combined with low income, and many, many times survivors of child abuse.

Jesus said in Matthew 19, as it is said in the textbook: “So what God joined together, let no man divide.” In the Gospel book of John, it tells the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, where Jesus asks her about where her husband is and he tells her she had had five husbands and was then living with a man not married to her. Jesus doesn't really condemn her for all these marriages (and obvious divorces), however he does speak to her of forgiveness and commitment in her life. Strangely though, the book of John was written for believers in Christ, but it does not specifically mention divorce, as the other three Gospels do.

We as clergy, should be concerned about whether or not the two individuals to be married are truly believers in Christ and if salvation is a part of their lives. If both are sincerely Christian and wanting to obey God's commands, the greatest of which is to love God and each other, then we would seek to try and counsel the adult individuals with the hope that their marriage will completely be from God. We as clergy can decry the terrible evils of divorce and then we seek to marry everyone that wants to be married. Therefore, we should not place the center of our attention on divorce, but rather we should emphasize the lifelong commitment that should be a necessary part of Christian marriages today. Marriage should be a source of spiritual and moral strength in life, with the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Becoming Ordained

Dear Rev. Amy Long,

I became a ordained minister with the Universal Life Church, because I believe mortals are called to Christ's ministry by Christ. Christ does not require a four year degree at a seminary school. Education is always good for the individual, but it is not necessary to preach the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus, did not select the educated scholars of the time to be his 12 apostles, he picked tax collectors, fisherman, unlearned mortals, etc. Why, because when you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, not adding or subtracting anything from the word of God, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you need to say or know, when the time comes. The Universal Life Church, asks only that we be honest and true to ourselves and helpful to our brothers and sisters.

Since, I have been ordained, I have mostly officiated at funerals, now I would not have picked this way to serve, but this must be my calling at the time. To serve and give comfort to those that mourn. I have been told several times that I have the Holy Spirit guiding me in my funeral sermons, and I usually get asked where I went to school, when I tell them I did not attend a seminary, most are surprised, and I feel they think I am joking. But, I pray and give myself to the Holy Spirit, who knows all, and helps us when needed.

I say all this to show that the Universal Life Church is doing a service to the mortals of this earth, male and female, with no rejection because of ones race, sex, education level, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.

God Bless and keep the Universal Life Church.

Reverend Dennis William Hawkins

Unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.

 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.  
 

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Four Gospels

Rev. Linda Francis

Essay for completion of the class on the four Gospels.

Perhaps the Gospel of John was were my doubts about the "real truth of the Gospels" begin when I was just a girl. I was a writer, an artist and storyteller even at that age and most of all a dreamer and a mystic. There was a new country song out called "Me and Jesus Have Our own Thing Goin'." Jesus became very real to me that year. I wrote poetry and made up songs to him almost daily on my walks in nature alone or in the hay loft of my Grand Father's barn. He became so real to me it was as we were twin souls and could read the mind and feelings of the other. I came to known a man meek, mild and humble yet strong and wise beyond words. I knew my fundamental parents and church had the man they believed in, picture in their minds and hearts all wrong. As I read the Gospel of John that summer I love the style of the poetic writer and his storytelling ability but I felt he did not know the "real man" I knew and was telling the story wrong. I recall communicating in my own special way that summer with my new friend I had discovered that summer and feeling "his" silent voice telling me, "Yes, Linda, you are right, I would never boast about myself to others as the author has me do. The write loves me as much as you have came to love me this summer but he just heard about me and created the person he wanted me to be, but he never took the time to really know me as you have this summer."

I feel as if there too are perhaps two people involved in authorship of this story. Perhaps a left brained centered person still much in the control of the ego that wants black and white questions and answers, and wanted to convince others he was right to strength the cause of the new church and perhaps a creative storyteller who took his story and told it as it was presented to him, but in a poetic and dramatic fashion. Creative thinkers, like poets and storytellers, in general are not back and white thinkers and want open ended questions and not closed answers as often appear in this gospel.

It was a good to find many years later in my others too who also had the wisdom and knowledge in their research to know and show this story had a purpose of it's own that was more to the author's personal views than the real nature and history of the man called Jesus.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Spirituality

Spiritualism or Defining Spirituality

An essay for a course from Universal Life Church Seminary 

Rev. Carol Birdwell

This course had 19 lessons and covered a great deal of the history of western thought and the development of religion. It was directed toward the minister so that she would know how to respond to people who argue against spirituality as unscientific.

It is my belief that today we are seeing science and spirituality merge and meet each other in Quantum Physics, but it may be years yet before this becomes widely recognized as fact. Just last week my 17-year old nephew sent me an email in which he expressed his atheistic beliefs, but did not wish to go into explaining why he feels that way. He has never been exposed to any religion in his young life.

I dove right in and took the opportunity to explain some of my spiritual beliefs to him in a very kind and loving way, that I hoped might be “dropping a seed” for him to pull out and look at some time in his future, perhaps after it has even “grown” a bit. There was only love between us in this email exchange and he wrote back a nice note and I was thrilled.

As ministers it is important that we observe people and decide which ones are mind driven and which ones are heart driven. If we want to talk about our beliefs to others it is important that we never, ever push our beliefs, but always be gentle, kind, and understanding, and be aware of where “they are coming from”.

In this course, we studied people whose names I was not familiar with, that I have never studied before, and we also studied many well-known names, such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Einstein, Nietzsche, Merlin, Jesus, Buddha, Socrates, and others. We also learned of various movements and groups.

I agree with our course teacher that if Jesus were alive today, it is very likely he would not be a Christian, and if he were a Christian, he would not be the kind of Christian we are most accustomed to seeing most of the time. He would certainly not be a “fundamentalist” Christian, but more likely a Positive Christian or a New Thought Christian, like the kind of Christian I am. For many years I even took offense at the word Christian and certainly would not call myself one!

Jesus did not come to this planet to start a religion. None of our great teachers and avatars did. They came to teach. Jesus was our big brother and came to teach us that we are Gods, co-creators with all of the energy of the universe, of all that is and ever was and ever will be.

He came to teach us that LOVE is the lesson, and that we can do the same miracles he did and “even greater”, when we know and accept who we are, all of us a part of the Divine Creator, all Divine Energy, all the same Sons of God that he was, our teacher, not our savior as the fundamentalist Christian churches believe.

We walk our paths, our many different paths that all lead back to God, from whence we came and in whom we have our very lives and breathe our very breaths, the breath of God, with whom we are all one, and all of us are all one together, all the same Divine Energy, that changes form, forever and ever, and is always God, as you, as me, as the guy next door.

I very much enjoyed this course, and intend to continue to study it over and over. There is a lot of history and philosophy in it with which I want to become more familiar. There are more “reads” ahead for thes lessons I have saved on my computer.

Thank you.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Spirituality

Defining Spirituality

Final Essay

Rev. Brendan C. Cook

Spirituality. A word that means so much to so many people. Life defining, life changing concepts can be bound up in that one word. But how is it defined? What does it mean? How does one approach understanding the many concepts comprised in that one word? Though many have attempted to do so, and many systematic approaches have been developed, it is my belief that defining spirituality is at best an exercise in frustration.

Why, after taking such a superbly prepared and well-informed course, would I argue that defining spirituality is surely an exercise in frustration? Quite simply because the definition of spirituality is highly individual. There may be elements of commonality within what is commonly thought of as spirituality, but the specifics are defined and determined by the individual in question.

How many times have we, as ministers, heard the following: “I’m not really religious, but I do consider myself spiritual,”? When we hear that, what does it really mean? Is the person atheist? Agnostic? Anamist? All of the above? None of the above? Some of the people we meet in our ministry may fall into some, or even all, of these categories at some point in their lives. They may not even be sure themselves where they stand, or may not be able to precisely define their belief set or system. And that’s perfectly fine!

As ministers, it is our job to develop an understanding of the process of developing spirituality. A scientist, for example, may not believe in God in the traditional sense, or even consider him/herself a spiritual person. But they may have a clear sense that they are part of something greater than themselves; a part of the Universe which they are striving to understand through their science. As cogently argued in the lessons of Defining Spirituality, science is itself a religion of a kind and scientists are its priesthood. The evolution of this worldview, its components and influences, are essential for a minister to understand.

A grasp of the evolution of Western thought is, as the course makes plain, essential for every minister in today’s world. Defining Spirituality provides a clear, concise understanding of the major underpinnings of modern Western thought, which is especially useful for those who may not have had exposure to such a depth and breadth of ideas and ideological influences before. The course makes clear how modern thought and modern spirituality are inter-related.

Likewise, however, every minister should have a solid understanding of Eastern thought and philosophy as these both can heavily influence those who declare themselves spiritual and not necessarily religious. Eastern thought, with ideas dating back thousands of years, has become part of the modern American mindset over the last 40 years and been widely embraced by those who do not find fulfillment in traditional religious practice. In order to define spirituality and not be frustrated in the attempt, it is clear that we must define it as broadly as possible and seek to learn and understand as broadly as possible.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Four Gospels

The Four Gospels Course Essay

of Universal Life Church Seminary

Carol Birdwell

This course came with a book with it which was sent by mail and titled The Unvarnished Gospels. It is a contemporary (2001) translation from the original Greek, by Andy Gaus. When I began to read this book, I could not stop. I read it straight through without thought of how it was to have been interwoven with the weekly lessons, AFTER I finished the lessons.

I started the course, and continued with the lessons that came by email week after week. I totally forgot about the book, so I did not study the lessons and the book together as was intended for this course. I suppose I believe it was the best way for me to study the course simply because that is how it happened for me.

When I finished the weekly lessons, I realized the book was here. I had taken no notice of it.

Once I discovered the book I became mesmerized by it. I carried the book with me everywhere I went so that I could read in it during those spare minutes of waiting somewhere.

I intend to read the book again and again. I also intend to study the lessons and the book together as it was intended to be studied.

I have never read the Gospels through like this before. I have read them in bits and pieces during my lifetime and in following preachers during sermons. I have read bits and pieces in reading quotes in my Daily Word.

I read this book straight through like one would read a novel. I absolutely LOVED it! If I knew where I could find more books of the Bible written in the language of today, I believe I would read all I could find, based on how much I enjoyed this book. Thank you so very much! (If you can advise other similarly excellent Bible translations in the language of today, please let me know!)

In this book, in today’s everyday language, so many things that were never clear to me, were made clear to me for the very first time in my life, despite rather a lot of Bible exposure during my life.

One very important thought was that the word “Spirit” was made more vital, more clear and meaningful, when translated as “breath”, the very breath we breathe to live. WOW! What a concept!

In this translation it is so clear to me that Jesus was the teacher that I believe he came to be, that he did not come to start a new religion, to die for our sins (of simply “missing the mark”), but to teach a way of life that we all are meant to live, that is there for us and was taught by him for us, as it likewise was by all other avatars and great teachers throughout history.

I believe that the Gospels were written long after the life and death of Jesus and the stories were first passed down verbally from generation to generation, like our family stories and the living through our world history are passed down verbally today.

Many of us who study genealogy gather what we know from word of mouth, from the family stories, long before we ever are able to find the proof of the events we hear about, if ever. Sometimes the stories are a little, or even a lot, different from the proof we may eventually find.

Thank you.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Universal Life Church - Online Seminary

Becoming a Minister

Universal Life Church
Dear Amy,

I truly appreciate your notes of encouragement you e-mail...they are very empowering.... Empowering others has been my life mission.  I was a Pentecostal minister around 25 years ago and as I grew in my walk into the spiritual knowing....I left the church.  I have been empowering others with the love of God ever since.  I have been taking classes from you and received my ordination in 2008.  I have retired from the corp. world and now dedicate my life full time to encouraging others on their path.

I have been living with Multiple Myeloma for the last 10 years and have been keeping it at arms reach.  I am now in need of treatment and only want to look at this as an opportunity to claim my miracle and see the MAGIC happen as a witness of the amazing power of the Universe giving others the gift of hope in the midst of their illness as well as myself.  There is a purpose in all things and I know this is just as it is suppose to be....I just don't want to miss the Divine purpose!

I had the "push" to write you and ask for your prayers and remembrance of me as I continue my journey while being a vessel of truth and a reflection of the Divine Love.  If you are interested in seeing a little more about me....please go to my website below and read my words.  I am also the organizer of Celebration of Spiritual Awakening and find this a path of empowerment for those who seek their Divine Knowing.

I have voted for you and am very proud of who you are.

Love and Light,

Karin

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.

 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.  
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spiritual Awareness

I really like the definitions for Energy and Power in this text: “Power is energy that is formed by the intentions of the soul. It is Light shaped by the intentions of love and compassion guided by wisdom.” Light is the spirit of God, love and compassion are the nature of God. It then becomes clear that all power originates in God. For me then, the sense of being powerful or powerless always comes back to my awareness and alignment with the Lord.

Fear and pain signify the loss of energy or powerlessness. When there is fear for the loss of the ability to love or be loved an individual may experience physical pain in the region of the heart—heartache. Every distress and dysfunction of the physical body, every disease can be traced back to an overwhelming sense of powerlessness over external circumstances. Each of the chakras, or energy focal points in the body, is designed to release potent energies to bless the individual and beyond, but these points can be disturbed and blocked causing discomfort and disease when not allowed to function by reason of the individual’s actions and attitudes.

In my own experience, I felt the heartache when I had to admit my own dear wife into an Alzheimer’s residential facility. I spent from 9:30 until 2:30 each day with her for almost five months. Every day when it was time for me to leave, she would ask me to take her home with me. Every day I thought that my heart would break; even now as I write these words, the memory is so strong that the feelings are overwhelming. Finally I was able to bring her back home, and I became her home care provider.

Miracles do happen. I now take care of her every day and I thank the power of the Spirit that I express. She is slowly making progress, and I know that she is happy to be at home with me in her familiar surroundings. We just celebrated our 57th wedding anniversary. We are blessed with four children and six grandchildren. I had to surrender to the power of the Almighty in those dark days. I had to maintain a thankful heart as much as possible. Little by little fear and pain gave way to trust that “Thy will, not my will be done.” God’s grace and mercy revealed themselves moment by moment through the many blessings that have come for both of us through this experience.

Rev. James D. Connor

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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FOUR GOSPELS

FOUR GOSPELS FINAL ESSAY

Rev. Michael Babb

Before taking the course on The Four Gospels, I had been exposed to them through Sunday School and Church Sermons. Having attended several different churches, I was confounded by the different interpretations that ministers put forth to their congregations. I started to read the scriptures on numerous occasions, but without common sense guidance, I was always left wondering about the meaning of various parables and examples of Jesus' teaching. I have listened to sermons that taught everything from the universal message of peace and love to eternal damnation as the center point. It always confused me how the teachings of one gentle and loving man could have so many divergent meanings, each preached with equal conviction. I now understand that these different viewpoints of Jesus' message are largely dependent upon which gospel one focuses upon. The book of John for example, lends itself to those who strictly interpret the only way to heaven is directly through Jesus, otherwise an eternity of damnation awaits he who is not "born again". As the supplemental material points out, this is the only book where Jesus gives himself credit for the miracles he performed as opposed to attributing these to the father God and he being the vessel that channeled the event. The real path follows the lessons and deeds of Jesus that lead us home to the father. As Jesus points out time and again, the kingdom of God is within us all. He shows us the way to reconnect with our heavenly father. Therefore, I have a real problem with a gospel that not only portrays Jesus as somewhat egocentric, but places himself above his own teachings. Love and harshness cannot dwell in the same house. The differences are evident, however, the important points seem to be fairly consistent.

There are lessons that I learned as I read and re-read the gospels and supplemental material, but the one I want to focus on is the idea of doing good in an anonymous way for the glory of God. This is opposed to doing good deeds for one's own sense of ego and outward goodness. This thread of teachings contains a real modern day lesson, to commit "acts of random kindness." In other words, Jesus sets the example of showing us how to help others without having to take public credit, but to attribute that credit to God. That it is his glory, not ours that the act is intended to honor. This first becomes evident when Jesus descended from the mountain and healed the leaper who asked to be healed. After the leaper was made whole, Jesus told him not to speak of the healing to anyone. As Jesus proceeded to heal people and drive out demons that plagued the mentally infirm, the evidence overwhelmingly shows that he gives the credit to God and down plays his role. When the woman who was plagued with continual bleeding touched his robe, he told her that it was her courage and faith that healed her, again refusing to take credit for the act. A final example is of the blind man/men, dependent upon which gospel recitation one uses, begged for his mercy and to give them sight. It was their profession of belief that restored their sight, the unequivocal belief that Jesus could perform such a miracle. Again, he told them to be silent about how they gained sight. These are all living examples of how Jesus demonstrated unbelievable kindness toward others without having to take credit for the deed. I believe his message to us here is to follow his example and perform our good deeds, but to give credit to God for blessing us with the opportunity to serve rather that pat ourselves on the back and say how righteous we are.

My personal favorite parable that exemplifies this concept concerns the leaders and wealthy members of the church outdoing each other with their monetary contributions to the church, beating their chests and bragging to each other about how much they gave. Then comes the poor widow who gives little in monetary value, but it was all she had. Jesus points out that she gave more than all of the church leaders combined because she gave all she had. The true measure of any deed is not in and of itself, but by the purity in which it honors God.

May you be blessed with love, abundance, and peace.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Spirit Quest

Spirit Quest Essay:

This was quite an enjoyable course. Though I have had experience working with energy, this course introduced some new and interesting ways to do it. 

I often noticed that whatever subject the coarse was offering in a particular week, just happened to be the very thing I needed to work on at the time. In particular, the week we were working on “stuck energy”, and moving it. That was the very week I needed to clean out my garage, so I could finally get my car in there. If there is one thing I hate to do it’s part with things. The coarse said that we can’t keep every item our children ever made us, and wouldn’t you know, I’ve kept scrap books and scrap books of exactly that. I knew I had to let go of some of this. So, I did what I knew I had to do, and I was thankful I had the coarse that week to help me through it. It was exhausting, and I wasn’t surprised because I learned so much of our energy is attached to things we hold on to. When we start to let it move, it physically affects us. I moved stuff out a little at a time, so I knew it wasn’t exhaustion from the physical act of cleaning. Once I opened the first box and started setting aside what I was getting rid of, I felt my energy start to drain. But I understood what was happening to me from a different standpoint, other than just being tired. I also realized how important it is to keep energy moving. 

If there is one way to put a definition on the word “Metaphysics”, because I’ve seen a few different ways it is explained, I’d have to say that it is understanding energy and how to move it. Of coarse, we want to move it in a positive way. The law of Karma is there to keep things in balance. 

I’ve learned that the Universe works on everyone’s behalf, there are no favored ones. If we want something that directly involves another person, our request has to meet the good of all involved. If it does not, that doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t get our request. We just might not get it in the exactly the way we hoped. Mock-ups are a clear example of this. It’s about recognizing when a prayer or request has been answered, though it might not be in the exact way we expected. The question would be, “Have your needs been met?” If we look clearly at the situation, we will find that they have.

Rev. Nina Foster

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Religious Philosophy

Master of Religious Philosophy Final Essay

by Rev. Douglas Grant

The religion a person practices is less important than that they practice. Regardless of what divinity a person swears by, a good deed conducted faith-fully is a good deed and for that they should be commended as being a faithful follower of their faith.

As members of the ULC, we are enjoined to not judge others for their faith, because we have no confirmation that the path we walk is the One, True Path. The only assurance we can have as fallible mortals is that this is the Path we walk – and it is a solitary path. Others may walk beside us, but since we are not that person, we can never be assured that they truly believe the way we do, or practice as we do; and for that reason, we should always keep our judgments and opinions about the faith of others to ourselves.

In a very different context, our last great president said, “Walk softly and carry a big stick.” Although he was intending a very different meaning, this is an adage members of the ULC should take deeply to heart and actively and strongly practice. By walking softly, we practice discretion, doing our best not to step on the many and diverse beliefs, values and faiths of others, for we have not the right to judge, nor would any sane mind want such a responsibility. We should also carry a big stick, that we may lean upon the strength of our own faith and beliefs to support us in times of trial and need and to guide our steps upon our Path.

This course had been educating its students to develop a greater understanding of the diversity of religious practices. We should complete this class with a deeper appreciation for those practices. We should be especially mindful of those religions that we do not agree with, and carefully and sensitively examine why we feel this way. No question is answered by the patent nostrum of “Because.” Until that ‘because’ is followed by a well reasoned and insightful statement it remains what it is, merely a preface, and never a true declaration.

Although I am fortunate to have been raised in a very enlightened environment, we should also be careful to understand a practitioner of a particular Path in light of their environment. The worldview a person holds is almost indelibly shaped by their upbringing. Be sensitive to that and little harm can occur. Be at Peace. Be Peace.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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A Course In Miracles

Dr. of Metaphysics Dissertation

The Dr. of Metaphysics course was a very eye-opening experience. It brought a lot of self recognition as

well as the surroundings of everyday life.  When one comes to realize the miracles of everyday

life, that is the day that their three minds become aligned, their way of thinking is through their higher guidance not their ego. They come to understand that they have a soul and a higher purpose in life.  When you realize you have a soul, you come to realize it's purpose is to learn while here on Earth. Not only is it its need to learn but also to teach others that go astray from their higher purpose.

The way to teach others is through everyday contact with others. The actions that are done to others, the words spoken, the thoughts, they all need to be examined for us to learn from. The answer to all those actions is through forgiveness. Only through forgiveness can a soul truly heal. When a person asks for forgiveness from their heart it is exchanged between them and the person being asked.  Everything in life happens for a reason. We don't know why the dark side of life happens. But we delight in the beauty and bounty of nature, the gifts of our talents, the pursuit of happiness and love from others. When we learn to accept, we recognize that both the dark and the light sides of life nourish us.  It bears witness that all things work together for good for those who love God. With an attitude of acceptance even our personal shortcomings become blessings.

According to A Course in Miracles, prayer is the medium of miracles. It releases us from fear-based thinking of our egos and aligns our minds with the love of God. Also in the course it is said "through prayer love is received, and through miracles love is expressed". That makes prayer the greatest gift with which God blessed His son at his creation.

If you truly pray for something from your heart, you are asking for intervention at the level of cause.  When we do this we may be afraid of receiving the very result we are seeking. What we must truly pray for is not always given an answer we seek, if we were then God would be giving us more than we could handle and God does not burden his children. That is why guidance is always given in the form of everyday interactions.  Signs of an answer are given all around you, when you lest expect them. We just need to be receptive and look with open hearts to receive them.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Four Gospels

The study of the Four Gospel Course was a spiritual journey for me. It allowed me to enter the spiritual world of, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.I was able to allow myself to question the Gospels. For the first time, I allowed myself to question the word, to evaluate, and, to ask myself is this what Jesus said and did. I was able to consider the word,without feeling I would go to hell for questioning. I realized that the bible is the inspired word of God, and God spoke to the spirit of each writer. Even when God speaks to my spirit there is a humanness involved in the interpretation, and so it is with the writers of the Four Gospels.

My favorite chapter was the book of John. Although some may find that it has a poetic flavor, I can really sense the human part of our divine Christ. I am able to journey through the human emotions of Christ. I can understand his frustrations, his sorrow, and his pain. I felt as thou I had gone on a spiritual journey with Jesus. It encouraged me to explore the human side of Jesus.In the book of John I got a real sense of a wide range of the human emotions Christ experienced.Before the feast of the Passover, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, this showed his compassion and willingness to serve.The chapters leading to his death on the cross, are further examples of the emotions experienced by Jesus. The pleading to take this cup away, and finally the acceptance of his fate are all examples that, as humans we can relate to. It reminded me of the stages people experience when they are dying. The anger, denial, bargaining, and finally acceptance. , I believe these are the same stages we go through as we reach different levels of spiritual maturity.We die to our lower selfish natures, as we grow into higher stages of spiritual development.

In Matthew, I am impressed with the authority of Jesus, over circumstances, diseases and even death. In Mark's gospel I experience the ministry of Christ as he presents Christ as the servant of God. The book of Luke I sense the compassion of the Son of Man as he cares for those in need. Finally, in the book of John, I sense John saying Come see, and experience Christ. In the first section of John he is the miracle worker, in the second I experience the teacher, and in the last section of John I experienced the Victor.

I really enjoyed this course. I also enjoyed the emails, and looked forward to receiving the interchange of ideas.

Rev. Linda K. Muhammad

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Paganism

I am proud to call myself a Pagan. I take the term quite literally, not from the aberration of its meaning placed on it by others. A pagan is simply one who lives in the country ways.

Oh, sure, you can say, “I too am a Pagan; I don’t live in a city”. But do you practice the country ways?

When you travel daily through your country life, do you take time to admire the trees, the flowers, the clear sky and the sun? While passing along the country paths do you say hello to brother bird, Mrs. Woodchuck, little hopper rabbits, friendly doe and young, strong horses, and even Sir Snapping Turtle? Do you see them as fellow residents of your area or are they a nuisance to you?

I was enthralled by the “Paganism for a New Age” course. I have studied Druidism, Celtic Shamanism and I was raised in the Native American ways. I have always been interested in the concurrence of beliefs of various religions, sadly what are known as pagan religions. This course showed me the similarities and the coexistence of belief systems that occurred all around the world, created by their own impetus. Isn’t it a wonder how many different tribes, clans, or nations of people could come to the same conclusions without interactions across continents? Yes, the names may be different, the styles slightly askew, but if you look deep into the theological meanings of the elements of the religions you will find common threads, common ideas, common beliefs.

I believe in cosmic consciousness. I believe the universe to be nothing more than the amalgamation of all our knowledge, and thus far, the universe is growing.

Now, however, I am afraid. We see fundamentalist religions growing around the world. We see intolerance taking place, we see even cousins fighting each other over simple interpretations of the same dogma. Fortunately, their attention is primarily within. However, even in the United States the polls indicate that 70% of registered voters want our President to have a strong belief in his or her faith. What they neglect to mention is that it had better be a mainstream, Christian faith.

What would happen if a Druid were elected President? Would he or she be allowed to truly practice their religion? I think not; after all, this country was founded by PURITANS, people that insisted that religion be practiced in a one PURE way.

My ancestors are Celtic and Native American. They all practiced country ways but never called themselves pagan. I am sorry for that, yet it was hard enough for them to admit the native American heritage, let alone their religious beliefs.

What did happen when the Native Americans practiced their pagan religion? One only needs to look back barely a century ago when the Ghost Dancers were certain that the ancestral spirits would return to help them regain their tribal lands. First the Ghost Dancers were banned from practicing their dances, yes, only a dance. Eventually out of fear, the Ghost Dancers were slaughtered, killed in their homes on “safe” reservations.

I believe that the numbers of people that practice the country ways, the people that practice a pagan religion, are growing. I meet more and more people that are questioning the ways of organized religions every day. That is the main reason we need to be fearful, our numbers are growing.

Look back in history or look in today’s newspaper. What do you find? People who practice religions that are out of the mainstream, or are not exactly in accordance with the pure teachings of the Torah, the Koran or the Bible, are banned and frequently killed. The Shias and the Sunnis illustrate this perfectly. They kill each other.

I learned a great deal from the Paganism course and I look forward to learning more from the seminary, but as a Pagan, I remain fearful. The fundamentalist Christians, Jews and Muslims all scare me.

They’re going to kill us again, you know.

Rev. David Schankin

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The Universal Life Church, is free place to become ordained,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button to get started today.

The ULC Seminary was created to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. The  Universal Life Church has grown over the years and its Seminary has added the continual growth of the church.

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