Christian Studies

 "So don't worry, saying, 'What will we drink? What will be wear?' The pagans ask for all these things, but your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Ask first for the kingdom of God and His justice, and these other things will be delivered to you. So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow can worry about itself. Each day's evil is enough for the day. (Matthew 6:31) 

How many times a week, or even a day, do I think "How am I going to…", or "But what if…", or "But what about…"? What am I doing when I'm busy worrying? You can see that the dictionary says that I'm "tormenting myself". Taking the dictionary a bit further, I see that "torment" in this context means "extreme mental anguish and distress". 

Why in the world would I WANT to cause myself all this extreme mental distress? God tells me in His Word that HE is in control, that HE is aware of everything I'm facing, and that HE will take care of EVERYTHING. I'm not supposed to worry about ANYTHING, because God cares, and He promises to help me. 

A story I'm reminded of was when Jesus was traveling, and a woman named Martha asked Him into their home. Mary, her sister, sat at His feet, and listened to what He had to say, but Martha was all upset about the work she needed to do while He was there. She finally asked Him "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me."

His answer was so simple, so plain, and so unavoidably true. He said "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41,42 NLT)

There is ONLY ONE THING that I need to concern myself with in my life, and that is my current relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father. If I'm committed to Him, then I am REQUIRED TO surrender my worries, and allow Him to do His job of taking care of me.

Compared to "extreme mental anguish", I'd rather Let Go of my worries, and Let God take care of my needs. I need to be talking to Him constantly about things, and thanking Him for His answers, and this is the ONLY way I can have peace and release from all of my concerns. Living in a trusting relationship with God can ONLY bring happiness, peace and contentment.

Pastor/Teacher Michael Eric Brown

The Four Gospels Course by ULC Seminary 

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

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site 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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Christian Studies

Dr. of Christian Studies by Rev. Kirk Haas "I came to set the earth on fire, and what do I wish? That it were already ablaze! I have a bath to be bathed, and how can I rest easy till that is carried out? Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, I came to bring division: from now on there will be five in one house split three against two or two against three. Father will be turned against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother."     - Luke Chapter 12, The Unvarnished Gospels, translated by Andy Gaus This was the passage that moved me most. It disturbed me most. I stopped when I read "peace on earth", and asked 'isn't this what I have believed, that Jesus was peace loving?' I began to look at it from a different angle than that of the Christian driven trust in God. I began to question if there was a motivation of Jesus that is underneath what the religious 'powers that be' wanted us to believe. I stepped away from the purity of the message and looked at it as an historian. This had a profound change in how I read the four gospels. It was no longer written verification of what I believed. It had now become historic recollection of what might have been. What if Jesus knew that his people needed a leader to stand up to the Jewish and Roman political/religious powers, and motivated them to turn away from the elders and live their lives in a new, rebellious religious way? What if Jesus orchestrated his martyrdom to create an end to the, what had become, hypocritical religious dogma? Jesus' knowledge of the Holy Scriptures was beyond compare. Even today, elaborate hoaxes have been put on the public with full success. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I am now more curious than before. I am more open to look at it from a different point of view. I started rereading the gospels to look for other examples. What I found is not important. What is important is that I looked. I questioned what I believed. Isn't that what Jesus meant by bringing division? Questioning the existing practice, questioning the practices of our fathers that had gone away from what God taught? In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John we have four different views of Jesus and his thirty some years on this earth. We have many translations that differ slightly or seriously, and one thing remains true through all of this, there was no scribe writing Jesus' words down. We have only recollections, years after the fact. We have what may be the truth, the Book of Thomas, and it was denied inclusion into the Bible? Was it because Jesus was a Gnostic? "Don't think I came to cast peace across the land. I didn't come to cast peace, I came to wield a sword…. and to make a man's servants his enemies."     -Matthew Chapter 10 I deeply enjoyed this course, however after this course I have more questions than comfort. My belief has not been shaken, but it has been stirred. Rev. Kirk Haas *******************************   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

Spirituality

DEFINING SPIRITUALITY

I was very pleased that the first lesson recognized that there is a re-emergence of Spirituality, even now, within the current extreme materiality that has been with us over the last century.  I was additionally pleased that the author has recognized that many individuals have gone beyond "traditional religion" in their Spiritual Lives.

I put quotes around the phrase "traditional religion" because anthropology and history have revealed that over the thousands of years of human history people have held so many different religions and religious practices that it is impossible to call any one of them "traditional". Among all cultures there are records of those who have gone beyond their traditions.  It is these individuals who are held as the shining lights of their cultures.

Never the less, Spirituality or the spiritual impulse has moved within humanity even longer and more universally throughout all cultures than religion, per se.  This becomes clear when we look at the most ancient of the Shamanistic traditions.  It is clear that Spirituality moved within the human heart from the beginning and that initially, religions formed naturally as a way for people to try and make sense of the spiritual experiences they were having.

Unfortunately, some denominations devolved to become only concerned with bureaucracy and cash flow.  As a method of revitalizing the Spiritual core of the human experience, Philosophy became a study.  The author has given us an excellent review of some of the key 'moments" in the history of philosophy.  But, these ideas are presented as if they had up sprung in a vacuum.  There has been no discussion of the religious ideas and historical events that were occurring at the same time and in many cases were the impetus for the philosophical explorations (such events as war, the Spanish Inquisition, the exploitation of the poor, etc.).  Never the less, the presentation has been extremely impressive and parallels my own studies.  I addition to the author's observation that "…mysticism was recognized by science as being the ultimate truth of all things" (Lesson #3) a quote was discovered by a prominent physicist who, after studying the nature of matter for a lifetime, concluded that the Universe is a thought in the Mind of God.

What is Philosophy?  For simplicity's sake, let us say that a philosophy is a set of guiding principles.  In this regard then, we can say that all religions have a philosophy, but, not all philosophies are religions.  Also, in this regard, Philosophy is not necessarily antithetical to either Religion or Spirituality and in many instances has illuminated many aspects of both.  As a mental exercise, philosophy has illuminated the minds of many who have then gone on to achieve profound levels of Spirituality.

Many groups have recognized Spirituality as the core of their culture and have indicated this realization in their symbolism.  In the West, the rose and in Egypt and the East, the lotus is used to illuminate this idea.

In this symbol each flower is a life and each unfolding pedal is an experience, a lesson learned, knowledge acquired or a skill mastered.  As our life unfolds the golden Spiritual core is gradually revealed.  What is also revealed is that, whether we were aware of it or not, the Spiritual was always there in the center of things. 

Whomever we are counseling or teaching or ministering, whether they consider themselves religious or not, still have within them that Golden Heart of Spirituality.  Knowing this can enhance our effectiveness if we seek to speak to that core.  Each group has a vocabulary with which they are most comfortable and the first rule of communication is 'know your audience'.

With that in mind I would like to add to the discussion of the definition of the word 'sin' on the last page of lesson #18.  Originally the word was an archery term that means 'missing the bull' (bull's eye).  Far too many use the word to mean 'shooting arrows up into the grand stand', when it fact we are hitting the target but we just need more training.

Adding the above meaning to our understanding may allow us to use more kindness and thoughtfulness into our ministries, it has in mine.

Thank you for the opportunity to study this course with everyone.  I am always grateful for the opportunity to achieve greater understanding.

Again, thank you and Blessings upon all.

Rev Dr Kenneth A Thompson DD PhD

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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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Christian History

Christian History Final Essay

By Rev. Patricia Buben

According to the course, Judaism gave us the most perfect system of moral philosophy in existence.  The Jews saw sin as a violation coming from an impure heart that resulted in external sinful actions. Salvation was viewed as being only from God, and not in human ethical works or subjective mystery cults.

Because of the location of Rome, at Christianity's birth and in the first three centuries of its existence, conditions were more favorable for the spread of the Christian gospel throughout the Mediterranean world than at any other time in previous eras. Of all the religions and cults practiced in the Roman Empire at the time of Christ's birth, only Judaism and Christianity have been able to successfully survive the changing course of world history and still be a major influence today.

The life, death and resurrection of Christ began the era of Christianity.  Unlike other traditions, Christ cannot be separated from Christianity.  Christ did not leave a structure—just the apostles and the Holy Spirit from which the apostles were instructed.  The entirety of the church structure came from the apostles with the Holy Spirit working through them and continues to this day.

The members of the original Christian church were Jewish.  It wasn't until the apostle Paul went out to "all corners of the earth" that the Gentiles were invited to hear the gospel message.  This work is still not complete and is the continuing goal of the Christian church.  Although there was splintering of the church, it forced the creation of a canon, organizing the content of the doctrine and eliminating heresies created by those who wanted to wield authority.  All of these challenges served to strengthen, not weaken, the church.

Over the years, many errors entered into the church as a result of pagan influence, scholarly debates and other doctrines brought into the church by St. Augustine and others.  The Protestant Reformation was an attempt at bringing the church back to the purity of salvation by grace through faith alone.

It is interesting that the dogmas and doctrines that have further "defined" Christianity were mainly a result of specific people's interpretations (personal opinions).  I always thought they were inspired by God, like the Bible.  This course gave a great overview of the historical events of Christianity giving timelines and putting everything into sequence—including how doctrines were formed, and who was involved in making these decisions.  It's interesting because these doctrines have always been communicated as fact, not the result of consensus or opinion of the church fathers.

Putting all of this information into the right context can be a challenge because of differing opinions and rhetoric.  This course was very objective in its presentation and outlined the facts.  Therefore, one gets a good sense of how Christianity developed and why it is still viable today.

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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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Comparative Religion

Final Essay……Comparative Religion (Kythera Ann)

Submitted By Rev. Ernest Kayorie

It has been some weeks since I finished reading and re-reading the materials that comprised the Comparative Religion course and now feel that I am ready to write the final essay. 

Initially, I would like to express gratitude to the Reverend Kythera Ann for putting together an excellent course on Comparative Religions, Part One.  The format of the course and the fact that it was an in depth overview and introduction to the study of Comparative Religions was truly refreshing.  Usually, courses on Comparative Religion end up presenting an extensive look into various religions with sidebars that attempt to explain  how they are similar or dissimilar. Because of this introductory format, it was relatively easy to establish a foundation on which a study of the various religious traditions could be started.

I enjoyed the sections that explained the difference between exoteric and esoteric aspects of the religious experience and how that expresses itself in society among various cultures.  As ministers, we certainly should be aspiring to enter the inner courts of that temple and as such should be familiar with the various initiations that are required.

Although the esoteric tradition was adequately represented , it might be interesting to expand the section on the mystical tradition, a tradition that pervades every religion  and in addition explain the difference between esotericism and mysticism. 

The pursuit of these "isms" have been accelerated  in modern society as people search for a new way to delve into their own spirituality.  The old is quickly passing away as those so inclined turn to alternate expressions and find that they can go directly to their inner selves and find the strength and solace that the exoteric religion traditions have failed to provide.

In an attempt to protect the "truth" or their version of it, traditional religions have thrown the baby out with the bath water.  Centuries of greedily guarding the message from those who were not prepared for it unfortunately crystallized this stance in a system that became rigid and dogmatic. It has never recovered …nor can it…To this day, traditional religion devotees adhere to the exoteric rites and rituals of their tradition and have no interest in pursuing further.  That is left to the meanderings of the select few (saints and mystics). 

Ironically, we all possess the faculty to delve deeper and to understand.  After all, did not the Master Jesus tell us that we would do all that he did  and even better.  Matthew records that  the people were astonished at what he said and taught as if one having authority and not as their teachers who mouthed  meaningless doctrines and laws. As exhibited in the example of Jesus, we too are able to speak with authority as masters of our own lives. We are searching for their own individual truths separate from the dogmatic "truths" of  established institutions. When faced with this pursuit, it is easy to follow a path of esoteric and mystical experiences unhampered by rigid rituals and established doctrine.  

I am not sure where I read or heard this but it seems to express what I am attempting to convey….. 

Esoteric thinking is concerned about a sincere interest in investigating different levels of consciousness and viewing them as "way stations" and not as obstacles in your search for God/Truth. 

Mysticism, on the other hand, focuses on reaching God/Truth in the most direct manner as possible and as such is an intensely personal journey that cannot be expressed in ordinary terms. 

In short, the mystic wants to reach the destination as quickly as possible and the esotericist wants to learn  about the landscape on the way. 

While I was reading the weekly lessons, I was also reading a self selected text that presented all religious traditions and belief systems written under current scholarship.    Michael Molloy's, Experiencing the World Religions  Tradition, Challenge and Change provided  an excellent backdrop for the course.

Hopefully, this course will be the first of a series examining the various aspects of the study of Comparative Religions. I anxiously wait……

  

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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

Shamanism

Master of Shamanism Final Essay

By Rev. Patricia Buben

Shamanism is the practice of healing through spirits.  Shamans travel into the world of spirit to obtain assistance in the healing process.  Shamans believe that illness is caused by invisible forces or spirits that affect the lives of the living.  The function of the Shaman is threefold:  first, the Shaman conducts spirits through the way of the spirits to the nether world; second, all Shamans preserve the bodies of the deceased; the third function is to convey myth.  They not only convey myth that has been passed down, but create new myth when the need arises.

Shamanism is very ancient and is considered the first of its kind.  Since there was no mass communication, it was not a transported religion.  In fact, Shamanism was at one time the Universal religion because it was practiced everywhere.  It is interesting to note that although there were culture differences Shamanism had the same goals, the same practices and the same experiences wherever it evolved.  

In the world of the Shaman, everything is viewed as having spiritual energy or being animated.  This is true of trees, rocks, animals and people. 

As ancient people moved within the circle of life, they maintained these truths:

Everything on earth is alive

Everything on earth has a purpose

Everything on earth is connected

Everything on earth is to be embraced

These values, although ancient, are still very valuable today. 

I really enjoyed this class because it was very unique and helped me to understand views that are very different from mainstream religions.  Shamans understood the world of spirit as well as we understand the physical world and felt very comfortable with it.  Our ancestors understood how to create harmony between man, God and nature and these gifts are still brought forth by today's Shamans.  

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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

Spirituality

Defining Spiritualism Essay

This was a challenging course that provoked much inner thought. It is near impossible to know what to pick for this discussion. Perhaps one of the most interesting lessons was that on different spiritual philosophies. Here we learn of stoicism that played an important role in defining much of Christianity. 

The stoics believed there was no higher God than reason, a direct challenge to Christianity so it was interesting to uncover why stoicism was such an important tenet for Christianity. Stoicism says that everything may be understood through reason, and the Christians equated reason with God, so all things can be understood through God. This is a very profound statement. In spiritual development, to achieve true growth we must seek reason, we must understand concepts and understand God. The stoical Christian tenet says effectively that true understanding comes through connecting with God. 

This leads to the crucial statement of the lesson "understanding what influences us makes us better ministers". This is certainly true. To be able to act as a minister for others we need a true understanding ourselves – an understanding that must act on all levels. How can we lead others when we are searching in the dark ourselves. This does not mean that one must achieve perfection to minister, but it does mean that we need to understand the means for working towards perfection. Here, stoicism progresses to give revelations – that God is energy (and therefore part of everything as with the divine spark I discussed in the paganism essay) and that the way to oneness with god is to accept this existence and therefore god, exactly as it is.

The next key point of the lesson is that the bible is not the only source of Chrisian ethics and it goes on to show the key philosophical thinkers who shaped Christianity such as Saint Augustine. This gave rise to many of the concepts that have been accepted as Christian truth, coming from God, when they were not. These include pre-destination, the idea that only the chosen may go to heaven, and it was this that powered the inquisition and the burning times. This lesson shows one of the key points of the whole course, that spiritualism involves questioning, that nothing should be taken on trust, and that with an enquiring mind we can come to true understanding.

Again, an excellent course and I thank the creator for the wisdom it contained.

Rev. Sue Bellworthy

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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

Four Gospels

Four Gospels Essay by Rev. Sue Bellworthy

There are challenging and deep parts of all four gospels which all benefit from frequent re reading, revealing small and new gems on each occasion. Like many I prefer the gospel of John for it flows easily and has the most beautiful sound. The course does not touch on the beginning verses "in the beginning was the word………" which is surely one of the most moving passages. 

John records many of the miracles of Jesus. Here we have the famous conversion of water into wine. It would almost seem in this passage that Jesus is "pushed" into this first miracle by His mother who recognised His potential by virtue of His birth and was encouraging Him to begin . Maybe she had received a divine message to this effect. Regardless, at this wedding we see the famous change of water into wine that is reported to be so sweet and flavoursome that the guests wondered why it was kept till last. The water to wine is also a metaphor. It may stand for the conversion of something ordinary into something special – the conversion of a non-believer to a believer perhaps, or a form of enlightenment. It may also link to the communion – converting plain water to the blood of Christ, perhaps also showing that we may receive Christ in all things. The lesson suggests that this miracle shows us the wine within the water, the pure heart hidden within everyone. 

It is interesting how many possible meanings can be drawn from this apparently simple act. Key to all is the uncovering of the true spirit. We are all like that water. Through the power of the word we may become as the wine. I find it interesting too that the miracle implies that there is a divine spark within us all – something that is actually stated later in the gospel. This is a pagan belief and has, in many respects, been "edited out" by the orthodox church. However it is a valid concept. We were made of God and therefore must contain His essence. Spiritual growth is finding and contacting that essence within as well as without. This miracle teaches us this.

This gospel is full of such deep and powerful truths and they are presented in such a beautiful way that they stay in the mind where they may be pondered slowly allowing the true meaning to emerge by the grace of God.

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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

Christian Studies

The Four Gospels Course

Thank you Universal Life Seminary and those who put this course together.  I had trouble getting started with this course but I am so glad that I finished the course in its entirety.  I began the course over at least three times in order to help me get into the course.  The course has given me a new way of looking at the Gospels and an aide to my preaching to our congregation here in Salem.   Teaching the Gospels as they apply to our lives today was really a new perspective for me.  Having been raised Catholic and the Gospel message given by most Priests related the Gospels more to the times of Jesus rather than being directed at how they relate to our present lives and times in this troubled world.  This course opened my eyes that the Gospels are a way of life and not a way of a particular religious organization.  Religion is a way of life not an organization.  

I thank you for including the section on the Gospel of Thomas.  This particular Gospel shows the preaching of love, peace, compassion and tolerance that Jesus taught while here amongst us. 

As from the past two courses I have taken I look forward to enrolling in yet another course being offered by the Seminary.

God's Blessings

Rev. Don Eck

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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

Shamanism

Shamanism by  REV. KURT FONDRIEST

     Reading the various lessons on shamanism enabled me to understand how this form of consciousness has evolved throughout the years.  It also had a profound impact on how I view my own metaphysical- christian faith.

     Shamanism for me is a connection made by an individual and his or her relationship to the environment on a physical, spiritual and mental level.  It is expressed through various rituals and symbols that become part of one's daily life.  It is an opening of one's awareness of the various elements of earth and our relationship with our earth mother.

     As a Metaphysical Christian I can see certain historical figures fulfilling the role of "Shaman", however the most prominent one would be St. Francis of Assisi.  This figure has always been a spiritual role model for me.  The connection that St. Francis made with nature is more then just historical but more metaphysical.

     This gentle man finds the spirit of all within the wild of an untamed nature.  The church at the time saw him as a heretic. He  left the ornate structures of religion to discover inner faith among what religious society found unacceptable.  He challenged the way his contemporaries viewed the hand of God.

     The church cast Francis  into exile for his belief "That God is all".  He builds his basilica not out of the prestige bricks or stones, but rather out of mud , rocks and sticks.  His congregation is not that of the wealthy but that of the animals of the forest.

     In many ways, St Francis becomes a spiritual Robin Hood.  He understands that the "EGO" is what causes the fall of ones faith.  He communes with nature to discovered where faith truly is " Everything in nature" including man himself being nature.  This was not accepted by the church leaders, that heaven exists in the realm of nature.  Francis saw that nature was the physical attribute of heaven.  This understanding could enlighten the symbol of the trinity which are physical, mental and spiritual.

     His order of the Franciscan priests and nuns, still exists today as a testament to the belief of the awareness in the "NOW".  I truly believe this priest was in essence the definition of shamanism.

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

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site 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

Shamanism

It is not difficult to write you a 300 word comment on this course.

First, what I liked - Bishop Pat's attempt to be fair and unbiased in 
reporting of all this information. I particularly liked the documentation 
and footnoting that accompanies each week's offering. It not only gives 
credibility to the lessons, it allows me to do further reading on various 
specifics of the topic.

Week 20's essay was one of my favorites. I appreciate the integration of
the shamanic and the psychosocial, and the information about the various 
psychological studies on shamanic states. Calling attention to multicultural 
behavioral, expectational and consciousness comparisons was well done in 
this lesson as well. I have been presented  the question of whether what 
shamans do is actual, or psychological, particularly in the realm of soul 
retrieval and other "difficult to explain" practices. Bishop Pat puts
this into proper perspective in lesson 20. This is relevant on many levels and 
from many viewpoints, as is well explained in lesson 20. Placing shamanic 
work in proper cultural and community context is essential, as is 
acknowledging that shamanic work empowers the individual client, in the 
framework of community support. Bishop Pat's treatment of ethical 
considerations is excellent as well. It is my experience and opinion that 
shamanic ethics, integrity and confidentiality are no less essential than 
those of any medical or psychological practitioner.

It is particularly valuable to me to read about shamanic practices and 
customs in the various cultures worldwide. I believe that the course has 
done a good job of addressing that.  I liked the treatment of the shamanic 
cultures in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, as this is the hub and early 
diffusion of the ancient human shamanic diaspora. I would have appreciated 
more discussion of African shamanic customs. The taste of the !Kung customs 
was delicious, left me wanting more. I would have liked to see more and 
in-depth treatment of other traditions including the Amerindian, Australian, 
Maori and the variety of Asian cultures. The quick glimpse into Taiwanese 
shamanism was tantalizing.

What I did not like about the course was the amount of errata in the texts. 
I have served as an editor in the past, and so I may notice them more than 
other readers might. Some of this may be due to the process of transferring 
the text from print to electronic media, or merely to flying fingers on the 
keyboard.

I would have liked to see the text in a more conventional format, as well.  
Utilizing the entire page for text, rather than a long slender column would 
have been easier to read for me, and would present better continuity.

All in all, this is a valuable course, which manages to present, in only 20 
lessons, an overview of many aspects including more depth in some which are 
of particular interest to me.

Caroline "Kitty" Laib-Norris

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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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Paganism

Master of Paganism Essay 

Rev. Sue Bellworthy

Where to start? This was such an immense course that it impossible to pick just certain fragments for this short essay. The course was very much an overview – a quick dash through the practices of paganism, but was no less valuable for this. Perhaps one of the most powerful lessons was that on sacred space – the ways of creating a special and sacred place wherever you want it, moving the place of devotion or spiritual exercise from the Churches, making it real, personal and accessible. The lesson on sacred nature follows on from this – emphasizing that the divine is everywhere and may be found in every thing – living or inanimate, in all parts of creation.

Fundamental to paganism is the Great Rite, the hieros gamos or divine union. This represents the union of the Goddess and the God, the act that precipitated creation. It is regularly re-enacted in ritual in symbolic form plunging the athame (male principle) into the chalice (female principle). A seemingly simple act but one that is so very powerful. Although sometimes enacted in the flesh, usually by couples in private, the hieros gamos is more usually celebrated in the symbolic form. Historically, hieros gamos may be seen throughout history in many different pantheons the world over. It has been suggested that Mary Magdalene was a priestess of Ianna ( who were sometimes referred to as prostitutes in the old, not modern, meaning) and that she performed the hieros gamos with Jesus and thereafter became His wife according to custom.

No review of paganism would be complete without discussing magickal workings, the use of intent – the energy of the mind, to create an effect. This process may be helped by correspondences – for example candles of an appropriate colour or use of crystals, to all augment the power. Ethics are all important here, based on the wiccan rede. The fundamental ethos is that all magickal working should be ethical, intended for good and should "harm none". Many pagans adopt the policy of limiting magick to acts that create good such as healing, and avoid harmless workings of a more frivolous nature. Key to this passage is the power of the mind, the concept that all is energy, and that thought is also energy, and that energy fields of different things are affected by contact with another. Thus the energy   can alter the energy field of the "target" achieving the effect.

In conclusion I can only congratulate  and thank the course creator for such an interesting and complete study of paganism.

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

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site 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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Buddhism

My interest in this class on Buddhism came about because of my interest in daily meditation, mindfulness, the books of the latest Dalai Lama, and the way I feel the God or spirit connection through nature and my garden. I have taken a local class in Buddhist meditation and connected greatly with the special classes on mindful walking and eating, as I have a practice of both walking and eating fast. Each practice has brought about a slowing down that has brought a special awareness of simple things of joy that have added much peace to a otherwise sometimes stressful life.       As I studied the weekly classes I liked the simple ways taught of kindness, compassion and a path to peace though non violence.  While my fundamental Christian family would not like the idea of me as comparing Jesus and Buddha as brothers, for most who have grown up with knowledge of just their own faith can never see beyond their own teachings, I personally, began to see each in a new light after this study.  I could see Jesus and the Buddha as almost twins or best friends of like minds in many ways, but as with my on Christian religion (that I find myself disappointed in at times) I found myself thinking as Jesus or the original Buddha might if each returned to day to evaluated or grade the current spiritual practices carried out in their behalf.  I feel sure that each would be highly disappointed and would no doubt give both spiritual paths a D minus when it came to caring forth the original mission of each man.  Jesus did not like the emphases on rules of his Jewish heritage that miss the point of love, compassion, forgiveness and love and perhaps the Buddha heard so much about all the Hindi gods and all their rules that he did not even want to utter the name God when it came to spiritual faith for he felt even that word had been misused so much it left the real meaning of a higher power wanting for something more.  AND YET look at both faith each have come down to proving ones faith by the keeping of rules, rules and rules.    I heard a lecture lately where the speaker said, that when mankind could study all faith and find common ground and not criticism of one being better than the other then perhaps the world would grow a little closer to peace.  I listened and thought to myself perhaps both Jesus and the Buddha saw this too and tried to help guide mankind's heart and eyes to viewing all mankind as one with the focus on Love and Soul and not the ego and rules, rules, rules.     I found myself wondering as we all become more and more educated and study all the many faiths maybe we will see the common ground and not the differences and move a little closer to peace. It would be nice to think that could come soon, though Jesus lived over 2000 years ago and Buddha long before him, and yet all things began with a vision and a dream and we must continue to carry their dreams forward for a better future for all mankind. Rev. Linda Francis *******************************   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

Christian Studies

Study of the Four Gospels

After studying the Bible for many years, I found this course and study material informative, concise and interesting.  I believe that the lessons offered through the Gospels can be found in all major Religions of the world today.  When read as stories, these 'nuggets of wisdom' gently slip through consciousness and into the deeper self.  It is my belief that Wisdom does not belong solely to Christianity or Buddhism or Islam.  When compared to other teachings, the Bible's encouragement towards gentleness and compassion speaks very clearly to our cultural and historic heritage, as many of us in North America were born into some expression of Christianity.  We grew up understanding 'God', 'Church', and 'Heaven'.  The Bible's four Gospels contain stories for children and adults, offering pause for reflection in almost any circumstance.

During my study of this course, 'The Four Gospels', I was struck with the unique nature of this Holy Book, and our western approach to Spirituality.  Unlike so many other spiritual disciplines, our brand of Christianity allows for interpretation. We can, with full measure, allow these stories and lessons to sink into our hearts and spirits, and then re-tell the story in our own words.  Anyone can do this!  And if by some miracle, others appreciate our way of writing and interpreting the word of God, we find that we have brought a small spark of vision to the world.

The interpretation of the Four Gospels, in my opinion, did away with the disputable verses, questionable translations, and went straight to the point of giving examples of lives well lived, lessons learned, and illustrations of "good and evil" actions.

I don't usually like 'Americanized' bible translations, because they often become too simplistic.  This book, while clearly not written for the Bible scholar, was 'juicy' and readable.

By Rev. Ann-Marie Blanchard

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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

Universal Life Church

Breakfast at McDonald's This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college  degree. The last  class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher  was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human  being had been graced with.   Her last  project of the term was called, 'Smile.' The class was  asked to go out and smile at three people and document their  reactions.    I am a very  friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I  thought this would be a piece of cake, Soon after we  were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to  McDonald's one crisp March morning.   It was just  our way of sharing special playtime with our son.   We were  standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone  around us began to back away, and then   even my  husband did.   I did not  move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me  as I turned to see why they had moved.   As I turned  around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing  behind me were two poor homeless men.   As I looked  down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was  'smiling'   His beautiful  sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for  acceptance   He said,  'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been  clutching.   The second  man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the  second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his  salvation.   I held my tears as I stood there  with them.   The young lady at the counter  asked him what they wanted.   He said, 'Coffee is all Miss'  because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the  restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be  warm).   Then I really felt it - the  compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man  with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.   I smiled and asked the young lady  behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate  tray.   I then walked around the corner to  the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot I put the tray on  the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold  hand.   He looked up at me, with tears in  his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'   I leaned over, began to pat his  hand and said, 'I did not do this for you. God is here working through  me to give you hope'   I started to cry as I walked away  to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and  said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me  hope..'   We held hands for a moment and at  that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given  were we able to give.   We are not church goers, but we  are believers.   That day showed me the pure Light  of God's sweet love.   I returned to college, on the last  evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in 'my project' and the  instructor read it.   Then she looked up at me and said,  'Can I share this?'   I slowly nodded as she got the  attention of the class. She began to read and that is when  I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to  heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the  people at McDonald's, my son,the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a  college student. I graduated with one of the  biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.   Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.   There is an Angel sent to watch over you. An Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart   To handle yourself, use your head.. To handle others, use your heart.             God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest. *******************************   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