Master of Religion Lession 1-Bible Basics Dr. Herbert L. Fuchs Submitted by Rev.Eddie Rev.Eddie R. Albertson D.D How to have effective Bible study? I have been going about it wrong and reread Dr. Fuchs first lesson on Master of Religion and he is right in stating don't just read the bible but make it an adventure with God and Jesus Christ,asking God to help make your adventure a achievable one in reading the Bible. Lesson material to be sent in 1.Why the Bible reflects true word of God? (a) Predictions are always sound and accurate from the Holy Bible in my using of the King James version or NIV version ,"The Unvarnished Gospels"being an excellent reference source with the course. (b) To me when I read the Holy Bible I never have bad thoughts about God and Jesus Christ, the Bible just is a practical fact book preserved without great changes. (c) Logically the Bible explains prophecies in a way that you know it is of no other than Divine Origin. 2. Explain the differences between Translations and Paraphrases? (a) Translations are translating each word from Greek or Hebrew exactly to the intended language. (b)Paraphrases add or omit words in order to communicate the original meaning from reference copies. Bible Course ********************* The Universal Life Church offers free online ordination and an extensive seminary program where we offer a course in Wiccan Studies, one on the Four Gospels, several courses that are based on A Course in Miracles, several Christian Studies courses and a variety of courses on Spiritual Awareness and Spiritual Development. |
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Christian Studies
Friday, January 15, 2010
Master of Religion
| I am enjoying doing the Master of Religion Course as I find it very interesting. In Lesson 11, we are dealing with the problem of abortion, which is a very thorny question to which there is no definitive or immediate answer. I am sure most people will agree that we do not have the right to terminate life, even though that life is still in the mother's womb. I think that every child has the right to be born - whether disabled or not - and make its contribution to the world. Many children have been born disabled but yet have produced a high standard of life. In my opinion, medical necessity should really be the only criterion for abortion - to save the mother's life. If a women does not want children, then surely in these days she can find a way of not becoming pregnant. Young people in particular should be encouraged to ensure safety in their sexual adventures which would prevent the need for possible abortions In every responsible home, the parents should encourage their children to act safely in these matters, although there is never a 100% guarantee. But should the unforeseen happen, in a responsible home the matter can be solved in a proper way. Ultimately, if a woman does not want to have the baby for herself then I am sure arrangements can be made for adoption quickly after birth. Many childless couples would love the chance to adopt. I have known this to happen on a number of occasions with very satisfactory results. Rev. Derek Kemp ******************** 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 |
Religious Philosophy
| As I say can only speak for myself God gave us every thing and in his word we have the best of all is his son that is every thing. We get his word from Hebrew,Greek,and Latin, but it all is by the inspiration of God that is the truth and that is where our Bible came from,and now if we read 2 Tim. 3:16 & 17, and believe it that we read are we not borrowing from the one's that was being talked about ,but we still know it is the truth form God to man. Now can we say that they are doing anything wrong by taking the good out of all they know to make the world a better place. I am glad it is not for me to judge. Maybe we are not so much of a difference if we look at what ,and how we believe to be the truth.Can we be sure that we are right ,and they are wrong did we not borrow from Jhon Calvin, and other's? 2. No we borrowed from other's and I don't think that what we have is diluted or it's value has diminished from our original faith. 2. I think more of us could lrean from that we know of them of what we read in this lesson about how they believe. They must be a caring,and sensitive socially tolerant people. Do I think that if you are not sincere the real truth will come out, and I think that is a real good, sure way of knowing that it is legitimate, and the way the dominant culture treat's them so poorly or wrong, and their on government's position is that they are savages and how would we feel, and do because of our on country and government is against us more and more every day, but we must keep on keeping on this is how,and the way I think. Religious Philosophy in the beginning to me had no business being on or in the same book, but after starting this course well thing's started to look a little different. As I began to read the first lesson it was beginning to make some change's in my thought's. How about in some ways it help me, but some would confuse me to. Like our vehicle for the journey some what had me at a stand still until I stop to think about what it was telling me. Then a light came on and I seen things in a different way even being a relatively new field of study, and it is different from one belief to another I can how see the purpose for both. History tells us that this study started in the 18th century,and the funny thing is that they were not Christians and don't want to be. Now I can go on and on about where it began,but to make some kind of comment on some of the other thing's that I have learn I must move on. Religious Ethic's, and Fundamental's, I believe that if we don't have truth, faith and love and a devotion and trust in our religion it is as nothing because it is. Worship is another way to know if we are right with our Lord. Another way is if he is in me then I should be in him, and if that is true the part about Ethical System would take care of it's self. I have always believe that good Christian people try to bring up their children in the same way that is as a good christian does it always work no not at that time, but later on in their life it take's on it's self. We may never understand all that God has for us or do we need to know,all the thing he has I don't think so,but that is just me. We should not be to worry about that because we can not change reality all we can do is try to understand as much as possible, and that is all. Organized Religion's and Cult's that was something that I knew nothing about until I started this course I learn that anytime a group of people meet to worship is an organized religion. I believe that from the beginning because it say's so in the bible if I am not wong. Also I learn all kind's of religion's, Hindu's,Muslim's,Buddhist's and Sikh's, so the population of the world two third's of them does not claim to be Christian's that mean's 70% are in a Cult. Now for what I have learn in this course I can't write it all down because it would take forever,and it would make a book as I said before so it is best if I tell you I learn a lot of thing's and let that be enough,what I have already should be. In lesson 4 about the Great Ape's I am not smart enough to talk about them. Paul R. Ehrlich is to smart for me he is a professor, I am not anything, but a confessor of sin, and a bible believing christian, and that is not being smart that is the truth. i know this is not going to sound right, but I have to ask is it not true that a pig is smart as well? that is something I heard before. Dr James B Harrod has a study on chimp's behavior, and I am not saying he don't know what he is talking about, but I have been to the zoo, and I hope that I am not any kin to the chimp's that I saw in there, but maybe I am and I still hope not.Am I stupid are something because I don't think we are related to no ape of any kind. No or pig nether maybe because I believe in what God has to say, and like I said I am not trying to be funny or anything, but I can't see us as anything, but a man if that makes me stupid I am so just call me stupid. Man as I believe them to be was made by God, and for God to have a Father and son type of relationship with in the beginning, and man mess it up the same way as he always done by being disobedient like Adam and Eve. we are the same as they were. Rev. Johnnie Woodall ******************** 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 |
Christian Studies
The prayer exercise is a variation of what I have been doing for years with so very small yet positive effects in retraining the way my spirit views my existence. I would like to respectfully disagree with some of the precepts of this lesson. From my own prospective, it is not the self imposed separation from our mutual great creator that is the source of our "suffering". I believe the the cause of our great mutual suffering has been wrought through the codification and delineation of religious intractability. In my Christian upbringing, I was taught that I was an inherently flawed and spiritually weak being. That left to my own devises and without adherence to the strict laws of the church, I would fall to the hold of the negative side, whatever name it is given. I was taught that due to my having a birth father who was other than the man to which my mother was married to, and that I not being pure of race, that I as a result of my birth not only bore the mark of "sin", I was the cause of the "sin" itself. My religious foundations providing these precepts taught me through man forms that I was less than human and that the only way I could find redemption and return to commune with our creator was to suffer for my "transgressions" and repent of all that was vile within me. Yet, in truth, when born was not of any form, other than a creation from the mind of our creator. In many variations mainstream religion, not only Christianity, this imposition of false guilt repeats and repeats again with the intended effect of the beating down of the soul into submission and subservience. I myself did not begin to develop an awareness in me that this was the cause of my suffering till later in life This is when I realized that I was born without flaw, that my soul, created through the love of our creator was perfect. Now all I had to do was convince my self of this. Sounds easy, doesn't it. It was my acceptance of all that I was told that I was, that made me flawed in my heart and soul. This is not to say that I as an act of free will I have not transgressed upon the lives of others, as I have so without doubt have done so. I simply fulfilled the expectations of what those who I held as an authority figure in my sight had taught me that I was. I had accepted the negative self role and acted accordingly. this is no excuses for my actions, as I have come to accept. It takes two to tango. This brings me back to having constantly to remind my self that I am not now, nor have ever been less that what our great creator designed. It was but I that had accepted the negative role of self rather than listen to my true inner soul. In rehabilitation the changing of self view is known as to stop the playing of the old tapes that run rampant in my mind and replace them with new tapes that will nourish the life of my soul. Replacing my old tapes given through my acceptance of the teachings of evangelical and mainstream religions with an new set of tapes affirming my true self is a life long endeavor. I believe few are ever totally free from this reaffirmation of life. My convincing the skeptical me will always the a challenge and the only journey that will ever free me from the false beliefs of self shame and self denigration. This prayer exercise was the same ever so slow effective change of re-learning who I am. I respectfully disagree that our guilt and pain was caused by the decision to turn away from our great mutual creator. I believe it comes from the codification and institutionalization of religious beliefs that set down what is accepted as "holy" and what is "evil". From my rather negative personal experience with evangelical and mainstream Christianity, I was simply taught that i was not only flawed and so weak as to sin, that from the illigitamacy of having a birth father other than the one that was married to my mother at the time of my birth and being a child of misogyny, that I was not only born of sin, I was sin incarnate. Fully responsible for my birth. The years of denigration that followed taught me to believe that I was shameful, not worthy of forgiveness without servitude, suffering, that quite frankly , I was less than human. That only through repenting my ill sinful self and accepting the "love" of Christ would I be restored. No matter how much negative was imposed and self imposed, upon myself, nothing changed. I repented like a trained animal, and yet still it seemed I had not achieved acceptance as it was initially flawed to begin with, and that was something that not even our creator could change. In my well over half century life, I have met far to many who have experience the same life path. This results in rage, and submission at the same time, giving reinforcement to shame, guilt, mental and emotional instability, violent unexpected outbursts and absolute separation from the Love of our mutual creator. Eventually, unfortunately for most of those I have met, it has led us to travel down the path of mental illness. Now back to the prayer exercise. This is the retraining of my soul and spirit over the acceptance of teachings given my mind's ego. For those who have also been in the life long proactive of rehabilitation, it is known as replacing the stinking thinking with new tapes, new thoughts, new ideas and acceptance of the belief that I was created from the thought of our great creator in the form of pure love, regardless of the physical body I inhabit. Its like re-teaching and old dog new tricks. This is not easily accomplished, yet it, hopefully before the end of this physical life it is achievable. There goes that skeptic again with that stinking thinking! By the why, yes I have always been long winded. Just ask my adult children. Rev. Jim ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the 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. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Buddhist Studies
1. Why do Zen Buddhists strive to break the language barrier? Have you had an experience where language has gotten in the way of something intrinsic? (a) Buddhism becomes an inclusive religion when it is shared with people who desire something better in their lives. The various sects within the religion appeal to different types of thinkers, as any great religion should. The capacity for expansion of wisdom attracts people who are compassionate, creative and practical. Practical Buddhist Masters have an urge to enlighten and save as many people as possible to ease their suffering. This universal compassion makes it inevitable that the teaching of how to become a Buddha extends across territorial and linguistic challenges. (b) I spent some months in a government program called Katimavik where language became a big issue. It was part of the main sources of many of our group's problems. The actual problem was the attitudes of the participants towards teaching each other how to speak the other langauge. We would have group meetings in Quebec where I would function as a translator from French to English, during which I only understood most of what was being said and had to rapidly translate it to English for the people who didn't understand all the French. The result was that over time the French resented those of us who were English because we could not integrate enough of what they were saying to the experience. I am told the U.S.A. has a similiar program called the Youth Corps. Inevitably much of the group decisions we voted on were determined by the attitudes between les Francophones and the Anglophones, or the Vegetarians and the non-vegetarians etc. The intention behind the experience was to provide the opportunity to learn the other language while in a part of the country where the locals spoke that language. In that it succeeded, I learned to know French. However eight years later I do not listen to French, watch French or even speak French with others even though I live in a city with a relatively large French population. 2. Why do you think the text compiling koans is called the Gateless gate? Gates do not necessarily require keys, in fact a gateless gate implies there is no barrier at all. koans, not having a specific answer, are like a gate with no lock. You can climb over it, you can go around it or you can walk beneath it: any way you get through it though you have to pass it. With this design there is no barrier except the wrong answer which a tool to think with, and so brilliantly it becomes a foolproof path through a challenge of understanding that which is not known and a window into clarity. 3. Why do you think Zen is so appealing to Westerners? Zen has grown as a sect to such an extent that it has succeeded in developing many Masters. The appeal of a religion with many teachers, unlimited wisdom and few ritual requirements lends itself quite ideally to the Western way of life. Zen Buddhism can be a riddle in the morning, a path through the day and a home for the spirit at night. This, in a fast-paced, get ahead, multicultural and sarcastic society which oftens blames religions for causing problems rather than seeing them as a method to solving them. In this respect Zen is a very good religion for the majority of people in Western life, regardless of their amount of free time, money or life challenges. Rev. Scott ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the 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. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Master of Religion
This course taught me a lot about religion and where it began and how much it impacts our lives today. We as a nation believe and it's our faith that gets us through those tough tests and trials that we experience in our lives. Even though there are several different levels of religion it all comes down to One Nation serving One God reaching to get to the same place "Heaven" that eternal place where there is Eternal Life". By Rev. Sabrina HarrellOut of all of the lessons that was taught I enjoyed them all but there was one particular lesson that really touched me to my heart and that was the lesson on "Paul" and how the church first got started. It is truly a blessing to be able to freely worship as I please and not have to worry about being killed for doing it. Paul was in a position where he thought that what he was doing was God's work when in reality it wasn't and little did he know God had a greater plan in place for Paul and was going to turn his wrong doing to a righteous doing and he would become one of the greatest ministers and build one of the greatest ministries the world would ever experience. That's how God works in our lives today he sees our greatest potential even in the midst of our mess. Paul had a way with words he can sway a thousand people to kill Christians and God took that gift in him and used it for kingdom building and he became one of the greatest preachers of all time. I look at his story and I began to apply it to my life. I recently lost my job because of something that I see as a problem and as a result caused me to loose my job. I know that God is going to take that same problem of mine and turn it around for my good and allow it to help me see that God can take your weaknesses and turn it into your greatest strength and use you for his kingdom building! ******************** 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 |
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Miracles Course
The following are the three sections that I have chosen to respond on. From the quick to the "where is he going with this"? EGO I agree that Ego is the barrier that separates us from our spiritual connections to all others, including God. In my perception the ego is like a bandage that has been placed over where a wound might or might not take place. It gives us cushion from possible harm from the perceived world at the cost of loosing feeling and sight of our spiritual self. In essence, the Ego is our false wall that isolates us from God. Guilt I must agree and yet respectfully disagree with some of the given lesson on the root cause of guilt. We are taught by main stream Christian theology that the human is an inherently spiritually weak creature. That we are subject to base carnal and material desires and must be convinced that there is a brutal reprisal from God for having fallen to such lows of existence. This teaching in itself isolates us from God. From my own life's experience, the churches I grew up in taught that we should fear God, that everything we do without the heirarchy's guidance will lead us to sin and damnation. I believe that this form of enforced control through the dogma of guilt is what keeps us from our spiritual connection to God. many teachings are that if you hear voices in your head or near about you when you are alone, it is the work of the greatest of evil. We first must love God without fear as the basis. Only then can we meet with the touch of God's self which is always at our heart's door. With spiritual cleansing done out of love and not fear, we can hear the voice of God. I digress as usual. I do not belive that guilt is caused by our disconnection form God, i believe it is a tool that maintains control over the people and as a byproduct estranges us from God. Miracles Miracles are as real as the feel of the wind on a breezy day. Miracles are generated by a focused belief in the healing powers that we all have. In order to effect the change, we must fully focus our spiritual mine, our third eye on accepting the gift of healing that we were given at the creation of our souls. Not all miracles are of the high grandeur that we look for as proof of the existence of this ability. It comes in many ways, simply seeing the pain in another's soul, connecting to that pain and share in the burden. This gives strength to ourselves and our fellow traveler. With diligence there will be a healing, a miracle. My brother was given a death sentence at the age of thirteen due to the ravages of rheumatic fever. I remember the doctors telling my parents that he would not survive another six months. The damage to his heart had been to great. The family kept this from my brother. My brother, in his own journey, began to focus on St. Christopher for his physical salvation. Many scoffed at his belief, we did not. My brother not only recovered fully, his healing was such that he spent 25 years on active duty between the Army in Vietnam and entry into the Navy. Miracles are not like a puff of smoke, they are the result of diligent true belief, in ourselves and the hand of God working through us. ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the 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. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Seminary Program
Paulo's version of mind over matter is fairly direct. If you believe you can overcome the physical obstacle you will. His example is the bending of an iron bar. If viewed as heavy and forbidding , it will over come the mind. If the mind realizes that as pressure is applied to the bar in an effort to bend it, it will initially resist the change in form. As the pressure is continued in the effort to bend the bar, the metal begins to gain heat from the action of stress. As the metal bar heats, it will begin to soften and then begin to conform to the pressure applied. Continued pressure equates to an increase in heat and softening of the metal, with the original goal of having the bar conform to the minds desired shape. With continued applied pressure the creation of the desired shape takes place. In the area of matter over mind, If one decides that the difficulty of overcoming the obstacle is beyond their belief in over coming, then only failure will follow, with all it's mental and emotional ramifications. the end result is a guarantee of failure. What I gained in the concept of mind over matter is not all that different in concept. In my case the matter is the false apparition of the limits and denials projected of the physical world. This is not to say that I can jump off the top of a tall building and not suffer the consequences of my actions, as gravity is not a false apparition. The limits we place on ourselves in relation to the physical world and interaction within its natural realms are the ones I speak of. To use myself as an example an example, I am a survivor of horrendous brutality, and for many decades was a victim who was to be held to blame for what had happened and that in self perception was no different than my tormentors. Fully convincing my self the the true nature of others was base, self-serving and vile, regardless of how they acted. When I began to develop a new world view, I found myself seing miracles in the smallest and most mundane of things. The tenmacity and resiliance of the weed that I constantly battled with, the return of each season and the beauty which each in turn holds, and the inate good heart and love of most people. Mind over matter was not a choise of what to pick and choose from. good or evil, it became the journey of embrasing the joy of life and the joy of helping others to find their own path to truth. It is a journey where I constantly must look beyond the "limits" imposed by my being encumbered with sever menatal ilness, and realize the only limits are the ones I impose upon myself. I was told that I could never work again. So, instead I hold one unpaid elected office and eight other volunteer positions. On the other hand..... Matter over mind, I will speak for me only. It is so very easy to surrender to defeat and allow my fears of people, places, things and the physical world in general drown out the life in my soul and smother my connection to our great creator. The two choices in essence are either to belive in mind over matter and travel the journey I take regardless of the challenges I will overcome, or accepting the choise of matter over mind the allow the self-destruction of my very being to take place. You ask what greviances that I still hold against myself. There are to many to share within one simple writing. The clearest is not the worst by any means... During times of "armed conflict" you at times have the ability to make a decision as if it is necessary to take life. I made the decision , not based on need but based on cold twisted reasoning. I took the life from two people that I did not have to for reasons that are beyond reason themselves. When you live with the rage of a storm consuming your whole essence, then the outcome is of almost any action will be inhuman. The major grievances that I hold to myself is the projection and fantasizing of doing to others what was wrought upon me as a small child and throughout my life. I am in a lifelong battle against this illness and do fear that some day I may be so horrid as to act out my own life's experiences acting upon another. I have been in psychotherapy for over a score of years and this is what keeps me grounded and in check. I use twenty six separate psychoactive medications per day, prayer, and have the most wonderful help of my counselors and doctors . They give me someone to trust in to some degree, and help me keep my head screwed on straight. I gravely doubt that I would ever act out, yet if the fantasy can be there, I see it as a short trip to becoming one of the vile ones that have peppered my life. How do I deserve the punishment placed upon myself? Simply put, it works as a preventative countermeasure. In the way of blessings, that is easy, my life experience has made me more respectful of all who have suffered at the hands of others whether it was by individual act or institutionalized sicknesses such as hate based beliefs. I am able to be comfortable with all socio-ethnic and racial groups, as I most personal and brutally understand what it is to be the outsider, the reject for the sake of just existing. The blessings have given me the ability to since another'soffrontive. One example of many was when I was in NASAP in San Diego at Mirmar Naval Air Station due to a compulsive-addiction problem on my own. There were several instances in which I could fell the pain of another and would know why it was there, this is but one. A young marine was not doing well in the program and holding back from going to the point of her pain and dealing with it so that she could move on with her life. We were sitting in the smoking room where men and women could meet and talk late at night when sleep would not come. We. both were regulars. One night it was just the two of us and I asked her point blank, why she did not want talk about the sexual abuse she had endured, rape. What we talked about that quiet night will always remain between the two of us. The point being, that she did bring up her anguish to her counselor and group, began to leave her undeserved self guilt behind and was able to finally move on with her life, receiving the help she so richly deserved. As she got ready to leave our community she turned to me, gave me a big grin and said "I Love You and then blushing, said but not in that way!" This kind of making contact had happened many times before, and has happened many times since. I also have moved on, and through my meeting these people and sharing a small bit of their lives I gained the strength to face my own mental illness. I see myself at the weak link that came along at the right time to join up with another and find mutual strength between us to overcome what what must be met that day. ******************** 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 |
Friday, January 08, 2010
Metaphysics
| At the end of SpiritQuest. My own previous beliefs were confirmed and even expanded upon. This is why I am happy I took this class. I remember the day I reread the bible ,I say re-read because I had read it often before. My eyes were upon the words from Genesis,"And he created them in his own image,"Or some other bibles God said,"Let us create them in our own image" Well some people say God made us look like him some will say he (she)gave us the abilities to be like him some say both.But one thing I knew deep in my heart was,god was our creator,some like the Native Americans even refer to him as "The Creator" so if hes the creator and like him in his image we are created,Then we are creators! I often knew it was more than a coincidence when I spoke something and it happened.but I'm not saying there's anything special about me I'm talking about everyone on earth,We are creators and like children running lose in the house with a crayon,We humans spend our life running around earth.creating and coloring everything in sight good or bad unaware of our creative powers.I wish more people would take the time to understand we are creators out of control.Well that's generalizing. Because a lot of people indeed do know the power of thought and intent a lot really. So in the Spirit quest course a person learns the tools to direct the creative energy stored in us.Like a carpenter who stands on a piece of land, in front of a pile of wood and bricks with the intent of building there. Spirit Quest is like a truck full of tools pulls up and says, here's what you need to get the job done.Buy learning to use the tools included in the Spirit quest classes ,I realized they worked and it wasn't long before I realized that I could make tools of my own like a example within the carpentry theme would be ,Spirit quest handed me a hand saw and it wasn't long before I discovered the power saw or if you not a carpenter let me say this, Spirit Quest taught me how to bake bread and by the end of the class I had learned on my own how to serve an entire dinner. In other words I learned that the basic tools in the class if applied ,worked so I invented ,discovered , made some of my own.The golden sun was especially helpful to me and it wasn't long till I added a silver sparking star to assist the golden sun.The Golden sun was my favorite but the grounding cord was a with out question the most useful.The way these tools changed my life is, this is beautiful, there always there. I don't have to wait till I go and get the tool to fix the problem there always with us in our mind available and read to be used.This has helped me control a lot of emotions and uncomfortable life situations. Before I felt somewhat victim to my problems in life.now I have the tools to take that uncomfortable energy and transform.Problems now become removed or at least bearable .I recommend the information in this course to anyone with a open mind willing to apply it to their life. Pastor Diane Louise Watkins ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the 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. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Chaplaincy Studies
Buddhism Course
| Questions 1. Does the story of Siddhartha Guatama, particularly in the years before he became the Buddha, ring true? Yes Is it legend or hearsay? Both Does it matter? No 2. What does enlightenment mean to you? To me enlightenment means having true compassion without limitations to sex, creed, caste or sexual orientation. There are good in all and through work and practice we all can achieve this higher state of being. 3. Do you believe that enlightenment is possible? Enlightenment is possible for all through rigorous work and practice regardless of sex or caste. Is there more than one way to be enlightened? Yes If so, what? 1) Enlightenment comes from work and practice. 2) It can also comes from knowing yourself with no external refuge. or 3) Combine raja yoga with rigorous thought and concentration, find new strength in food and comfort and vow to attain relief from all suffering. Questions 1. Which of these guidelines do you think is the most important? Renounce desire Why? The cause of suffering is desire and desire is the root to all violations of Ethical Conduct, i.e. Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood. 2. What is the unifying concept of these guidelines? To attain perfect enlightenment 3. What do you think the Buddha would have to say today about "Right Livelihood?" He would know this to be someone on the path to enlightenment. Can you think of any positions in today's workforce that he might use as an activity one should avoid? Corporate executive, car salesman, lawyer, armed forces, raising animals for slaughter... etc In other words, avoid deception and do not violate the principles of Right Speech or Right Action. Questions 1. Could the fact that the Dharma wasn't written by the Buddha himself be problematic? Some interpretations would say yes. If so, in what ways? It is asked, "How much of the Buddha is left and how much of the writer is placed in the Dharma for their own gain?" These are the ways. 2. Imagine you are preparing to go for refuge. What necessary changes would you need to make in your life first? My only change would be continued commitment in taking refuge to pursue enlightenment. I will remain on the path of the ten grave precepts and add to this way of life the three pure precepts. 3. When going for refuge, are you relying on forces outside of yourself for peace of mind, or are the Three Jewels ultimately found inside yourself? Though it is true that the Three Jewels are found outside one's self, ultimately these are found inside yourself and taking the Three Jewels inside yourself is a commitment to reorient your life around them. The principle person one must go to for salvation is his or herself. "Be lamps unto yourselves," the Buddha said. Questions 1. Why do you think Buddhism resonated so deeply with so many kings and rulers? It was a common factor that resonates accross borders and opened up lines of communication toward peace. Their eyes were finally open to the death and carnage left by their conquests before the decision to rule according to Buddhism. 2. What elements were necessary for the spread of Buddhism? a. Recitation & Translation; Dao-an translated much of the dharma into written Chinese and are responsible for much of the spread of Buddhism throughout China. b. Kings decided to rule their kingdoms according to Buddhism. c. Missionaries were assigned to travel the known world, preaching the dharma. d. Buddha's teachings were finally written down for the first time in Sri Lanka. e. Sutras written in Sanskrit, the true account of the life and teachings of the Buddha, are said to be a turning point in the spread of Buddhist thought. 3. What, if anything, could rulers of today's world learn from the dharma? They could learn from the dharma how to rule their kingdoms with kindness, compassion, charity, and tolerance. ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the 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. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Religious Philosophy
| I can only speak for myself God gave us all thing and in his word we have the best of all that is is one and only Son. His word came to us from the Hebrew Greek,and Latin. It was by the inspiration of God that the Bible was wrote to us all we need to do is read in the book of 2 Tim. 3:16-17 and believe what we read. 2.We are borrowing from all the one's that was just talking about, and we still it is the truth. Now can we say that they are doing anything wrong by taking good out of all they know to make the world a better place.I am glad it is not for me to judge. maybe we are not that much of a difference if we look at it from that way. Can we be sure of our on way of believing, and we are right, and they are wrong did we not borrow from John Calvin, and other,s.1-2. No we borrowed from others, but I don't think that what we have has diluted, and it's value has not diminished our faith. 2.-1. I think that more of us could learn a little from what we know about them. From what we have been reading about them in this lesson,about how they are or must be a caring ,and sensitive,socially tolerant people. I think that if you are not sincere with it the truth will come out,and I think l that is a real and good , sure way of knowing that it is legitimate, and the way that the dominant culture treats them so wrong or poorly their on government does because of their position say that they are savage's. Now how would that make you feel about our on country is it because we think our on government is against us. More and more every day I feel that way,but we must keep on keeping on and this is the way I think. 1. No it does not give me or nobody else the right to do just what they wont to some may like to kill,but some would do anything 1.-2 We can kill for food by this I am saying a buck we should not kill any thing just for the sport of killing for no reason at all surely not just for a rack, but as human being's we kill because it is there and no other reason to me I think if you kill it you better like it. 1.-3 No again w should always take only what is needed for us to live,and not anything more. To me that would be wrong, but I did not see it that way for a long time. Truth is I well tell you or anyone that I was like those people a few years back. That fill's like age's now that my Lord changed the stone I had we call a heart now it is soft and tender full of love for every one and every thing now I not that person anymore thank GOD because I would be died by this time. 2. Myself I think that china does not have the resource's that they need for just any kind of organic type of food as we do, but we are slowly using them up like all the other thing's in our world we are destroying it to. 1.No I believe that we are in the place where GOD want's us to be, the Holy Spirit is our teacher and one more is teaching us that is his word that we study ,but not as much as we should. These are where we get our knowledge. When we do not the thing's that we know is wrong that is when our social advance's come to us from God by the Holy Spirit that lives in us all,and science as we know is from our bible if we would stop and think about it. 2. The Social problem is very important and more so than the others I think not. Psychological problems are to me is also important. To be a whole and complete human so I think each one of the two is as important as the other. Only when we need them in the place where we are I believe that is when we need them the most,and I believe at one time or another we need help from both of them. Now I think that I have confused us all long enough for now. Rev. Johnnie Woodall ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the 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. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Universal Life Church
Hello Rev.Amy, I know that I sent you a e-mail a while back letting you know about my new ministry so I thought I would give you an update. First off I already have my ministry registered as a business in the state of Oregon and already have my business license approved and I should have it in hand by the end of the week. I have had to take these steps because of the weddings I will be doing. I have a friend working on my web site and it will be up and going soon. The wedding side of my business is just the beginning. I became ordained in the ULC while I was working as a Chemical Dependency Counselor in the hope of starting a faith based treatment program. Since working in that field I have always had a passion for working with people struggling with addiction. I have a special connection with people in recovery because I myself am in recovery from a drug addiction. Because the people that I worked with knew that I was also in recovery it produced a bond of trust between us. They knew that I understood the pain and the struggle of recovery. I no longer work in the Chemical Dependency field but I still have the passion for working and helping these people. They are my people. This is the vision of my ministry. To help give these people that are truly dedicated to their recovery efforts hope and direction in their lives. Amy, at this point I am willing to try anything to see that my vision for this ministry becomes a reality. I respectfully ask for your wisdom and would appreciate any advice you have to give me ideas to see my vision come to a reality.I recal reading in a newsletter of some sort of publication from the ULC that Sharon Stone in Hollywood is a a ordained ULC minister. Do you recal seeing something about this? I think it would be a blessing if Sharon knew about my vision for this ministry and could help get my message out about my ministry's desire to give people support and help. I'm not sure what needs to be done to get my message out but I think just people knowing and understanding the struggles that these people have is a good start. I do know there are plenty of people in Hollywood that are in recovery. These people understand the pain of being an addict. I'm not sure how involved Sharon is in the ULC Church but it would be great if I could at least let her know about my ministry and it's vision of hope. If you have any Idea how I could get my ministry's message to her it would be greatly appreciated. As far as the wedding end of this I hope to be booking weddings before Valentines Day. I am very blessed to have a lot of good friends that are helping me get this off the ground. I do appreciate your time and I hope to here from you soon. Blessing and peace, -- Loren H. Holloway Minister Universal Faith Ministry and Weddings ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the 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. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Miracle of Prayer
The first item to challenge my concept of free will came from this course. I had always believed that free will was my innate ability to travel in what ever direction I choose to go spiritually. Without boundaries, as so to say. To me the concept of free will being the giving up of directions and paths chosen by by me to be the exact opposite of what I had conceived free will to be. Though I resisted this alternate concept of free will from the onset, I am beginning to grasp its true depth of meaning. Changing my thoughts of convention has never been a fast process for myself. I at first viewed the concept of surrendering the guidance and purpose of my life to God was tantamount to slavery. By fully accepting that I am a creation of God, then it would only seem to be natural that I should follow that course and directions set by my creator, my father. That is a personal problem that logic should simply answer, yet I am stubborn (ego). As far as all creation being the sons and daughters of God, with Jesus as our elder brother was an easy concept for me to meld with my preconceptions developed from my series of studies over the years. Even in the good book,Jesus had made this concept of spiritual brothers and sisters to be clear. The man versus the lesson, broadened my concepts of what his life's mission was . I was raised with the emphasis being on the physical Jesus more than his actions, coupled with the teaching that we are not his equal in any fashion and that we should admire and emulate the persona. Through various teachings, including this course, I have come to re-examine the focus of what I was taught and to in essence abandon the physical man and to grasp the Message of Jesus. By accepting Jesus as a spiritual teacher, I have began to have faith in the unbelievable, the miracles that have always been taking place and not isolated to an era of time past. This course has again broadened my understanding of the purpose of his visit, and given me a greater understanding of his spiritual life. To me prayer was always a give me, asking for what I thought I wanted or needed to make life a little better for myself or another. Here I have taken a radical change in viewpoint. While reading this course, words i heard as a child by President john Fitzgerald Kennedy came to my mind. Blazened into my consciousness were the words, " Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country". For the life of me, I had never made the connection to not asking what God could do for me, but what I could do for God. When it comes to healing depression , fear and relationships, I must agree that spiritual wellness is the key to a balance life of happiness. Yet, I must respectfully disagree in that there are changes to the brain that are chemical in nature when serious trauma had unfolded, whether it be of a short and violent nature of having taken place over many years of one's life. In my personal experience, I have found that spiritual growth will always be confounded by the inability to trust and the unwillingness to change from a know to an unknown. This where medications and professional counseling have a place in restoring and maintaining some semblance of balance in those encumbered by the socially dreaded disease of mental illness. Try an experiment, tell other that you suffer from moderate to sever mental illness and see their reaction. Then you will be able to grasp the trust issue, more often than not they will either treat you as if it were contagious, or will attempt to change the subject. Mieacels happen every day around us. We are all capable of making them happen, if we just listen to the small quiet voice of God in each of us. Miracles are rarely the catching of an airplane falling from the sky. I believe that they are mostly seeing the pain in others that we ourselves have experienced and bridging that gap. By making a bridge, they can begin to speak of it, and unleash the pain from a place hidden from far within. What I have seen as ironic, though it is easy to help another, it is sometimes impossible to accept the same healing hand from another. What am I. In our societies we teach that we are what we own, what standing we hold, what we appear to be like, and so on. This course had helped me further redefine what I am. A spiritual being made from love and filled with love. This course had given me such food for thought. I has radically changed some of what I firmly believed, reinforced other beliefs I have and has challenged me to re-think some of the foundation of my beliefs. More so and most importantly, I believe that the lessons of the course will help me come closer to accepting that I can touch the spiritual face of God, and allow myself to begin to trust in what I know is true. What I have just written seems like an oxymoron, and does not make sense. Trust me, to me it does. Rev. James Price ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the 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. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Religious Philosophy
Master degree course for Religious Philosophy Lesson 13 Food for thought; Questions:
Answers by part to questions: 1.) Cooperation, it has taken a life time to realize the impact that we have had on the environment. We are all learning to be more receptive to our "foot print" on the planet. As a minister I also look at my world and have created away through doctrine to justify my impression and impact on my daily life by looking at the situation with a reverence as well. In this way I keep myself in check to adhere to both respects. 2.) I have taken a general interest in certain renewable energy technologies that utilize the natural elements that nature provides and convert it to our daily use, while keeping the footprint as low as possible. This is not only good for the planet but it is also good for the soul as well as humanity. As for economics, it will be a major player in our modern capitalistic culture. Again, I feel it to be a win, win situation for all mankind for generations to come. 3.) I have found through the study of many religious beliefs that most take their responsibility to the environment seriously and they along with several non-profit organizations keep us ever mindful of the fact that we are not only the problem but, also the solution. Even though many folks have been trying to make it known for quite some time, we as the human race are now waking up to the facts and I think it is in just the nick of time. We can undo a lot of what impact we have done to the environment through the years but we are now making a committed effort to resolve the situation as well as making it cost effective and profitable in order to generate new economic stability for the human race. As ministers, we can "get away with" speaking on and including scripture to help influence the people we come into contact with on a daily basis. Spiritual people seem to have a better grasp on the outlook of this matter and can convey an active solution to the problem of communication, simply by putting their belief into action. As by living a life style by example through a conscious effort. Showing that one person at a time can and will make a difference. ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the 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. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
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