Seminary Program

This is where we post the essays from many of our Universal Life Church Seminary students. When students finish a ULC course, they write a comprehensive essay about their experiences with the course, what they learned, didn't learn, were inspired by, etc. Here are their essays.

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Thursday, November 30, 2006

Spirit Quest

Metaphysics - Miracles
Spirit Quest

This has been an interesting and inspirational course and I am saddened to see it end. I found it thought provoking and very helpful in putting things into "proper" perspective. It not only clears up some of the unclear aspects of Life, it also makes Life itself much more interesting. I have always believed that "you always are where you should be", or, as stated in the course, "Each person is learning what they need to learn to skip down their spiritual path.".

I do not necessarily believe in destiny, as we all have choices. I do believe however, that the lessons we need to learn are "chosen" according to the choices we each make. Each choice puts us on a specific path that leads us to where we need to go and teaches us what we need to learn. We are ultimately responsible for the choices we make and the effectiveness of the accompanying lessons. If we "don't get it" or for some reason choose not to learn the "lessons", we simply put it aside until the opportunity presents itself again (and again, ...) until the lesson has been learned. Some call this Karma, some call it Cosmic Justice, but whatever name we give it, it is there for all of us and that is great! Without these lessons, we could never grow. We could not even be the kind of beings that we have evolved into. We would likely still be in the trees, avoiding predators instead of out-thinking them. Yes, I also believe that evolution has lots of room in a spiritual existence, but that's another topic.

Humans invent. We find explanations to things which are unexplainable. We imagine. We have done it so many times and for so long that we have become experts at it. We have learned to live more inside our heads than outside. We have a Love for song and story telling. We want to believe. Because we have developed this way, things like creating and destroying, golden suns, and grounding make perfect sense to us. After imagining such wonders, who wouldn't want to create them?

Most people think that the "real" world and imagination are two separate and distinctive things. In fact, reality is first created in our own minds. Reality is our imagination, not the other way around. So if you're discussing the wonderful things you learned in this course with someone and they simply laugh it off and tell you it's "just your imagination", don't get upset. Be thankful that you have learned what you needed to learn and they are on their own path, learning their own lessons.

Dr. Kenneth Ayotte

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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Christian Religion

christian religion course
The study of Master of Religion was done in connection with Comparative Religion I to enhance my knowledge of the subjects. I found the first section of the course to be extremely enlightening. The listing of titles was an interruption that could have come later in the course to not break the tone of the instruction but was a good addition to the course. I did learn from all of the lessons. Many of the chapters gave a brief taste of information that made you want to find out more which is good and forces one to continue study while building on each lesson. I hope there will be further courses with more in-depth study of some of the topics covered. I used each chapter to branched out and do research to add to my knowledge of the subjects.

I did wonder about a paragraph in Lesson 19 'Denominations' that states 'Many people seem to believe that they have received God's order to become Priest and to start their own church. Many of them probably have not sufficient qualifications to do so, other than being able to quote Bible parts quite fluently.' Is that not why many of the seminary students are taking this and other courses? Some have had this 'feeling' of being called from what I have read in the forum. Or did I misinterpret the statement and the author was stating they do so with no background or training whatsoever?

Lessons 14 on Counseling was very good. It gave good information and background. The paragraph on the importance of Christian Counseling was excellent. I agree a good church and strong community will create a better society. We need to reinforce that as much as possible. Granted church members are only human but as a group with proper shepherd guidance they can make a difference. I do believe that major educational background is required to go into the field but knowledge of your fellow man and a Bible connection is an excellent start.

The chapters on history were very enlightening and enjoyable. Mr. Schwab's perspective was a good interlude while studying this section of the lessons.

The Master of Religion Course was an excellent start of my studies. It was well put together and covered the important and basic lessons needed to move forward. I am gaining knowledge that will assist me in leading discussion groups and services. I hope to be able to continue to learn as I study more of the offered courses and put them together to work with and for others. 

Rev. Sharon J. Mayer

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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Comparative Religion

Comparative Religion
Questions to be answered during the essay:

1 What did I gain from the course?  Each religious thought started from one concept and was taken to different levels of understanding. To use the tree as a starting point one might note that everyone who comes to the tree takes the Fruit (standing for thought, truth, understanding, and reverence) for a different purpose. One may look at the fruit as part of nature to be revered and honored. One may draw a picture of the fruit or compose a song to the fruit. Another may make a dish from the fruit to add to other things for a meal, while some may eat the fruit as a whole. Some do an extended study of the fruit, exploring all parts from the skin to the seeds and core. Some perform complex ceremony for the fruit. Most started with one bit of understanding or thought and used that to get to a point they were comfortable and had a peaceful understanding of what the fruit was and its use. This became their form of religious practice. To be sure there are those peoples that are always searching but they all come to the central tree and the fruit to find what it is that brings that comfort to the human heart and or soul. Each started from One and move back to One as we progress along the path of understanding ourselves and life.

We as human beings have all started with the desire to understand and give meaning to our purpose and understanding of life. Each has found a way that brings us comfort or learning experience. We tap into the ideas of others and follow a set prescribed form of service to get a feeling of comfort about a subject that is extremely complex and beyond our true understanding. Sometimes there is a break through to a higher understanding but each of us starts out at the same line looking for the same thing; we just move along different and hopefully a correct path. Each religion has taken some truth of What Being Is. A person either moves smoothly along the path of their chosen religion or they find a detour to that Tree of Knowledge and try something new to reach the fruit. It is interesting to see how some feeling about others and gender is integrated into a religious belief to further the ideals of some. The break away of some from their church's teaching or changed traditions is of course part of that comfort zone that humans strive to reach in all endeavors. There are always those who follow the latest idea or a strong figure to find the least energy using means to inner peace and understanding on their quest to reach the Fruit and the course explored this quite well. Comparative Religion has taught me the sameness of thought in the world. It has given me understanding of why people believe what they believe and why they are so sure they are correct in some cases. It has explained more then just religion as it has given me insight to peoples I have only heard of and not felt the compulsion to study further until now.

I feel I have grown in my understanding of thought, religion, and peoples during the lessons. I hope to continue with further classes to add to my knowledge and understanding of the subject.

2, What I liked best about the course. The vast amount of information that was presented and the additional resources suggested to enhance the learning experience. The pictures presented with each lesson helped with my understanding of the presented subject.

3. What I liked least: Some of the lessons did not print properly and this distracted from the lesson; although, it did help with the learning process to have to write in the words that were out of the borders of the pages. Since part of the learning experience was to print out the pages it would have been better if they were formatted for all types of download. I selected the HTML version and use Microsoft products.

4. How I think these discourse could be improved. I see no need for improvement for this Part One except for the item mentioned about the printing of pages.

5. Any other comments. For the vast amount of information given this was a very interesting and attention-retaining course. I looked forward to the next lesson each week to see what was coming next. I was unable to use all the additional resources at this time but will refer to them as I continue my studies of the subject matter. It was a well written and thought out course geared to all learning levels of students.

6. Would I be interested in taking other course from Rev Kythera Ann? I would be most interested in taking another course from Rev. Kythera Ann. Her attention to detail and making the information interesting was greatly appreciated by me as I took the course. I do hope that Part One will be followed, as alluded to in the Title “ Part One, with another more in-depth discourse to further knowledge of other thoughts and practices of religions in the world.

Rev. Sharon J. Mayer

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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Spirit-Quest

Master of Metaphysics Course
I’d like to especially thank Amy for all her hard work. This 30-week course was great and flowed easily. I encourage all to sign up today and learn for yourself the benefits and knowledge this course offers.

The course starts off with the statement that "each course has a concept." The concept is that you are a perfect spiritual being on a unique course. This course is designed by both you and by God and God loves you no matter what you choose. This concept runs throughout the course.

One of the first areas covered is what your word means. Your word is the most important thing you have to offer, besides love. Your word is not just thrown out there, it is set in stone. You make it your priority. You bring honor to yourself and to God each time you keep your word. So, be aware of your intentions. Another area to state briefly on is forgiveness. Forgiveness is for the one who forgives. You don’t just forgive somebody; you also are forgiving yourself. With forgiveness comes freedom. Forgiveness is a choice. Use it and forgive someone today and you will also make yourself happy.

I really loved the discourse on meditation and grounding. Grounding gives your energy a place to go. Use your third eye in the space in the center of your head. You can imagine a giant view screen. This screen serves the purpose of seeing in all directions; future, past and much more. You are relaxed in a chair and you are imaging a grounding cord. This is an object that connects you to the center of the earth. Let all your foreign energy slide down the grounding cord. Any energy that isn’t yours is leaving your space. Now breathe deeply and fill that empty space with the light of God. Your are now finished with your grounding meditation. You can open your eyes and enjoy the feeling of peace, love and happiness. At this point you stand up and imagine dropping your grounding cord.

There is then a discourse on the Golden Sun: the light of God, the gold light of celestial love. There are small golden, sticky suns that pick up your energy you left at different places and bring them to the big Golden Sun above your head. Bring the Golden Sun into your body and gain all your energy back. This is the first step towards spiritual fulfillment.

Another part of your meditation is the protection rose. It is the image of a rose, created in your mind’s eye, that will protect you from unwanted energies. Postulate that this rose has the ability to absorb energy. The rose is like a force-field that protects around your body in a 360-degree radius. It keeps unwanted energy away from you. Now you get to destroy the rose any way you can postulate. You have now done away with the foreign energy. If you have extra bad energy left, imagine another rose and destroy that one too. Now to fill the empty space, bring in that golden sun again.

This discourse covers different types of energies, mock-ups, chakras, karma, affirmations, spirit communications and much, much more. It is a very fulfilling course. This course definitely helps you in your walk as a minister. I know I’m better off after taking the Spirit-Quest course.
In Christ Jesus name,

Rev. Nancy Rutledge


Ordained 11/28/05

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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Metaphysics and Miracles

Metaphysics and Miracles
I came to this course very skeptical of what it would cover and how it would relate to me. I had been to the local church that promised miracles by giving out one hundred dollars in ten dollar bills to members and then asking for a tithe and a donation for this and that until the person receiving the funds having been pressured by others gave it all back. The pastor then stated “wasn’t it wonderful that all were blessed and could give today?” I also had read the give and it shall be returned articles, the chain letter ideas, and played the lottery to get rich quick. I now know these ideas were based on the knowledge of human needs, loneliness, and fears of lack of goods. I had been to the basement and needed to find answers that were workable to move up to my full potential and while searching for a true answer decided to take this course.

The course has been a great awakening for me. It has not been a soft shake on the shoulder but a hard wake up call that changes must be made in my perception of who I am and what is real and what is made up by ego and is not real. I have come to realize I never understood the concept of love, forgiveness, and miracles properly before taking this course.

The discourse that was the most enlightening to me was Lesson 19. When I started my job with a major company we were to assist callers with questions and problems related to products and work being done for them by contractors. We all were excited and felt that we were providing an excellent service to the callers. Over the years with new management the purpose has changed. We now have stringent metrics to meet, multiple time limits, scripts to read, and helping the callers has become second to meeting goals set by management to ‘Look Good.” This has caused a morale problem as there is now no purpose in what we do but to get our names on a board to show the center that we are tops in what we do. Those who never make the board are replaced or feel that the job has no meaning. The pride that was felt in the beginning is nowhere to be seen now. The only occasional show of pride is by some of those who continually make the board but even the majority of them do not show much happiness.

After reading the lesson and pondering what I could do to get the old spirit back into my job I found the solution in the beautiful prayer included with the lesson:

I am here to be truly helpful

I am here to represent Him Who sent me.

I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do because He Who sent me will direct me.

I am content to be wherever He wishes, knowing He goes there with me.

I can now feel that I no longer have to worry about my name on a board continually and when it is there it is just something the company does and not a reflection on the True Me. I no longer have to worry about letting the team down, and I can do my work and the right words will come out and when they monitor me and I fail a point it is not the end of the world I can learn from this and move forward because I am acting with Love and the pressure is off me. The pressure was put there by ego with a desire for praise and recognition by my peers. It has nothing to do with who I really am. I can remove the pressure with Love and forgiving myself for what some may see as a failure but I now see as a learning moment.

Each lesson gave me a major point to work on. It will not be an overnight complete change but with continued work I should see a change in my life due to understanding of purpose. Each change will be seen as a miracle. As pointed out in the course – there is no size to miracles so each change will be a complete miracle. I know there will be set backs and doubts as ego tries to get in the way but with the information I now have I can go forward. I will acknowledge the small selves that pop up but then move beyond them.

I am so please that I took this course. It has taken me to other works on the subject of Metaphysics. Reverend Loretta M. Siani has presented the material in a way that anyone can understand. This can be a complicated subject but in her capable hands it was not only enlightening but enjoyable and each lesson built to the next so that you wanted to go forward and take what you had learned to a new level.

by Rev. Sharon J. Mayer


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To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for free, for life, right now, click on the Free Online Ordination link.

Rev. Long created the ULC seminary site to help ministers learn and grow their ministries. The Seminary offers a huge catalog of materials for ministers of the Universal Life Church

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Buddhism Course

Buddhism
Buddhism Final Essay
Rev. Samuel Fleischer

I have enjoyed the course very much, having provided me with a lot of new and enlightening information. The most significant impact has been the concepts of Impermanence and the Inter-connectivity of all things.

On the Inter-connectivity of all things: I now look at the world with a different eye. It seems a though I am able to look “into” things with greater depth. When looking at a man-made object, I now see that there are people behind the object. Someone had to plan, design, produce, package and distribute what ever it is. Nothing is as simple as it seems. Natural objects also now take on a greater depth of meaning too. Living organisms breathe in their own way. They respire as do you and I. Animals big and infinitesimal all go about a complex process of sustaining life, as seen for the first time by my mind.

This “new sight” gives me a greater appreciation for all living things and their struggle to exist and their dependence on one another

On the Impermanence of all things: The world is consistently changing, undergoing the evolutionary process before our eyes. While I am unable to see the deterioration of an object in this moment of time, alive or not, the impermanence of that object is striking. It will not last. It will change. It will be gone.

I find beauty in the changes.

May blessing be with all of you and may you find new sight in your continued studies.

Respectfully submitted,

Rev. Samuel P. Fleischer, D.D.

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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers hand-fasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spiritual Awareness

Universal Life Church Seminary
Rev. Vicki A Bennett D.D.

As a child I was deeply spiritual, something that I brought with me into this lifetime. I had visions and was clairvoyant from the time I was around 7 years old. I soon realized that I was different than my friends and by my late teens had suppressed most of my psychic abilities. I then lost (for lack of a better word) my way spiritually for the better part of 15 years.

Every good story has to have a starting point and this one begins in my late 30’s. I am restless…I know that I want/need something but can't quite put my finger on it. I quit my job and go back to college…maybe what I need is another degree. After a year I am still floundering, but I have a new neighbor and she draws me into conversation about psychic phenomenon. She wants to buy a deck of Tarot cards and wants me to go with her to a “new age” bookstore.

I have no clue what “new age” is all about, but I read Tarot cards when I was 19 and I think, this could be fun again, maybe I will get some answers. I end up buying the cards, but I find Ralph Blum’s Book of Runes. I buy the Runes, incense and Tarot cards and spend the entire weekend sitting on the floor of my tiny apartment reading the cards and runes and journaling every reading. This will continue to be my way of contacting that higher self for many years to come.

Every reading takes me a little deeper into myself and I am amazed at what was there to be discovered. Soon I am reading everything there is about becoming aware and enlightened.

I take classes in crystal healing and learn how to journey out of body. I decide that I will be a healer and a teacher. I find an incredible Reiki master and receive my attunements from him. I know that now I have found my path and am anxious to see where this will lead me.

By chance, I pick up a book on Native American Spirituality and then go on to meet up with a friend of mine who is a therapist. While waiting for her, an associate comes over, sees the book and tells me that he is doing research on Shamanism and there is a woman who is working on her PhD studying Native Shamans. He promptly gives me a flyer for her workshops and walks away leaving me bewildered.

My friend never shows up, she has forgotten our meeting. So I go home and finish reading the book. Next I get books by Fools Crow and then study the visions of Black Elk and want to know more about the Lakota. How can I do this? I don’t know anyone who is Native American, much less how to approach them.

So I root around and find that flyer that I was given 4-5 months earlier. I call the woman and she is excited to hear from me and wants to share her journey with me. She is having a drum making ceremony and she tells me to order a kit from this Native man in Washington State and come to the ceremony in 4 weeks.

I am awakened again and again the night before with dreams that my drum won't go together. I wake up groggy, grab the wet leather from my bathtub and drive to her house. I stop at a traffic light and next to me is the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. He is definitely Native American, long flowing black hair on a huge Honda motorcycle. I say to myself, “why can't I ever meet a man like that..”

He is totally oblivious to me, and he drives on toward the river. I turn toward her house and then decide that I need caffeine to make this day work. After a quick drive through, I pull up in front of her house and a big black motorcycle flies past and screeches into her driveway. Yep, it’s him.

Long story short, his name is Petaigig Ichiwaiwanka (Peta for short) it means “Keeper of the Fire” in Lakota. We spend the next year together as he is dying of cancer. He tells me as he lay dying that I am to write the book of the warrior of Black Elk’s vision who brings the world together in peace.

I tell him “NO”… he refuses to let it go. Finally to shut him up and maybe give him some peace, I agree. He dies that night and I spend 8 years studying with the Lakota.

My life is completely consumed by the writing of this book. I am having visions almost every night; the spirits come into my room and awaken me, explaining what I need to do next.

When I ask a Lakota medicine man to bless my ceremonial pipe, he blesses my apartment first. When he enters my bedroom, he stops dead in his tracks, turns to me and says, “Are you aware that you have a doorway to the spirit world in your bedroom?”

“Yes I am aware.”

He just nods and continues with his ceremony. The book of the warrior takes 6 years to finish. When it is finally done I think, “This is the path of my life, this is what I came here to do.” But nothing happens. My agent has a meltdown and runs away from Manhattan and never returns the hundreds of pounds of paper that I have sent her. I finally self-publish the book.

When the Celestine Prophecy comes out I read it in one sitting. I have experienced so much of what he is writing about and I share the book with my friends. We are all amazed at the journey that we have embarked upon and that so many others are doing the same.

I am getting restless again, so I go back to teaching college and it is a student who gives me the next push. She is getting married at a small wedding chapel. It is a sad little affair and the people who own it are fairly miserable…no happiness, no smiles…just business. Take your money, rush through a short ceremony and toss you out. No photos, no nonsense.

She says to me, “YOU SHOULD DO THIS, YOU COULD DO THIS SO MUCH BETTER.” I laugh. She goes on to say that I have the personality for this, that I would make brides feel special and…on and on she goes.

Six or eight months pass and I get to thinking about what she said, it suddenly piques my interest and I think, “why not?” I call to see what I need to have to do this and am told I need to be either a minister or a judge.

I am neither. But when I was a hippie…(insert laughter here) there was a church in California that was ordaining people. And my friends were all ministers performing weddings. What was that church called…you guessed it…Universal Life Church. I did a search online and found you.

Now, this was a big step for me. I was by this time in my mid-50’s and a Buddhist. I take my spiritual path very seriously and I am not sure that I want to be ordained online. It takes me several months to decide that I could still teach and do this too.

That is how I came to you. My wedding chapel is all the rage, I am an older woman who has seen much and experienced much more. My life is filled with love. I am called upon to share the most important day of a couple’s life. I get to join them in love and compassion and send them on their way to fulfill their dreams. I wrote this for the ceremonies that I perform, it is a Buddhist way of thinking, but I think that it applies to all people who are in a relationship:

Today you have declared yourselves to be husband and wife. Today you have committed yourselves to one another for the remainder of your lives. This one simple act has changed your lives forever. It was your passion for one another that brought you together originally and passion that brought you to this moment. But a union founded on passion alone cannot survive. From this moment on, you will need to learn to transform your passion into compassion. Compassion for one another will give you the strength to grow and endure as the years go by.

And when things get rough as they will in any relationship, I ask you to stand before one another as you are doing here today, hold hands, look deeply into one another’s eyes and remember this day, this moment, the sacred vows you have just pledged to one another and the deep and abiding love that you share.

Thank you for the gift of the seminary. It is a wonderful place to share and express ideas and most of all faith.

Namaste,

Rev. Vicki A Bennett D.D.

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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Comparative Religion

Rev. Linda Spicer

This course offered a variety of subjects to ponder and investigate regarding the most prevalent, population wise, religions of present human kind, providing modest social and historical evolution of these belief systems. I felt, from this course, that humans have a need for social structure no matter that said structure may dilute or destroy the very thing one is trying to organize and preserve i.e. the original message of the founder / model , through multi-layered “laws” and hierarchy . This need appears worldwide and spans culture and belief. Interestingly enough, this dilution seems to be accepted as part of the evolution of these religions. Questions to ponder, will future sects or schisms appear?  What will future religious leader’s message be?  Who will follow?

Secondly, as someone who should like to encourage others in their belief / non-belief, understanding, growth or search thereof, there was nothing in this course that created a disagreeable attitude on my part toward any of the mentioned religions. I wondered how I would react, would prejudice, bias, past experiences or personal ideals affect the way I approached the course? This course gave so many websites addresses and book titles to pursue, that I did not feel I was being exposed to biased instruction.

The Sacred Space and Architecture discourses (13 & 14) were my favorites. Was it because the subject matter included more Native American commentary, did I like the illustrations and photography more than the ceremonial or iconic pictures presented in other discourses? I must confess I enjoy when one explores the celestial, earthly, and chemical elements of our existence and humankinds’ efforts to understand, translate, emulate and create a harmonious existence with them.

Discourses 18 and 19 on Religious Titles were my least favorite. My impression was “ These leaders are creating positions for their friends and relatives and lets keep the power exclusive”. I was saddened, as I became more and more lost in the hierarchical structure of some religions, that the maps who these religions serve were diminished to lesser than status. Is it a wonder the majority of people can’t “find God”, look at the layers of church officials they have to wade through. Of course, most of these systems are inherited from a time when the spiritual leader was also the leader of the people on all levels.

What I found most interesting in this course was the lack of humor, is religion so serious that one forgets laughter and the joy of living? Are humans trying so hard to please God, find Nirvana, follow a spiritual leader, obey dogma, release physical attachment, help others and so on, that we lose our sense of humor? Or…are those searching for spiritual connection and enlightenment sick in the first place and don’t know the joy of life? Actually, in my own life, those who have a strong faith, enjoy peace with themselves and the world about them have the best sense of humor, laugh often and create an enjoyable atmosphere about them.

The only suggestion I have regarding improving this course is to double check web addresses. Some were no longer active, no longer included the information or had some very interesting , though not related, displays.

Rev. Linda Spicer


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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar