Spirituality Course

     Final Essay

                                                                          Defining Spirituality

 

  I'll start by saying how much I learned in this course. I really enjoyed the history lesson going back to ancient Greece where western thought is believed to have originated. This course was also designed to teach ministers how to minister to scientifically-minded people, which is good information all ministers can make good use off in this scientific age off ours.

 

  According to this course there are only two kinds of people. Those that are influenced by there hearts and those that are influenced by there minds. Heart people of course are those that trust there feelings, are feely-touchy, are compassionate and warm and believe in things they cannot see (faith) etc. Whereas Mind people tend to be rational, logical, analytical etc., not believing anything they cannot  see etc. As Ministers driven by are hearts we of course feel for mind driven people and want to help them. The only problem with this of course is that if we push to hard our efforts might backfire and all we'll accomplish is scaring people away. As this course teaches rational scientific types a lot of times will come to a place in there lives where science, as great as it is, can only go so far  in answering the real deep questions about life. That's when these rational scientific types will suddenly become interested in seeking answers that science in all its greatness cannot answer. That's when they start seeking out us, the heart driven types for answers. As we learn in this course when these mind types finally decide to seek us heart types out we should be loving and kind not preachy and observe and listen. Remembering always to be a guide only and empowering people to seek out answers for themselves.

 

 This course also takes us through a history of western thought starting with the Pythagoreans going all the way to Freud. Fascinating is all I can say. I think the philosopher I really enjoyed the most was Plato. I think the reason for this is because I'm very intuitive and spiritual and I found My spirit resonating with Plato's philosophy. Plato believed in the duality of the universe. He believed there existed another dimension or a dual or parallel universe.This world that we live in now is imperfect and there exists in another dimension a perfect dimension or universe so to speak. Jung talks about this years later and calls it the unconscious mind.According to Plato the ultimate goal of Mankind was to reach for this perfect world as much as they possibly could. A good ex., of this perfect world is  shown in His allegory of the cave. After taking this course I was inspired to actually read Plato's Republic in its entirety and was amazed at how little has changed since Plato when it comes to people. Although I admitted to liking Plato this course teaches to learn from all philosophers. Balance in all things.

 

 I really appreciated how this course ended by the author. He went on to share his personal life journey and open himself so that He could show us His real self. This takes courage and guts to say the least. I agree with the author that to be an effective minister requires one to be open and transparent with ones own life thus being believable and trustworthy. People open up to you more because they have found someone they can relate to and trust. I find that this makes you a whole lot more effective minister than someone who comes across as this perfect person on an ivory tower. If there is such a person.

 

 Obviously there is no such thing as a perfect course, but this is definitely one of the better ones I've taken. As I said at the beginning of this essay I learned a lot and I can see myself coming back to this course over and over again for further study.

*******************************

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

Biblical Egyptology Course

Final Essay for Biblical Egyptology

The Biblical Egyptology course presents and discusses many pieces of evidence to support the Biblical Exodus of the Jews from Egypt and the existence of the man Moses. The primary textbook for the course is “A History of Ancient Egypt” by Nicolas Grimal. It is interesting that this text states on page 258 that there are no surviving Egyptian sources, which describe the Exodus. Yet the course provides Egyptian evidence such as steles, papyrus, and documents of painted stone.

The window of time in which the Exodus likely occurred is from the 12^th to the 19^th Egyptian dynasties. Many scholars believe the time of Biblical Joseph, the famine, and the Jews migrating to Egypt was the 12^th Egyptian dynasty. Sources put the 12^th dynasty at approximately 1985 – 1795 B.C.E. The Exodus likely occurred between the 16^th dynasty and the rule of one of the first four pharaohs of the 19^th dynasty, which would be approximately 1600 - 1200 B.C.E.

Mention is made of a documentary created by Simcha Jacobovici called “Exodus Decoded”. This documentary can be seen on TV or possibly rented from a library. Much compelling evidence of the Exodus is presented and the likely year is identified. Of course, this information is quite compelling due to the dramatic television style of presentation. Still it was quite interesting and worth viewing.

Let us turn to some of the specific evidence presented in the course. On the Merneptah Stele there is reference to Merneptah’s victory over the Israelites in Palestine. The Stele indicates the Israelites had already left Egypt by the time of Merneptah’s reign. Merneptah was the son of Ramses II and the fourth pharaoh of the 19^th dynasty. Though this might not indicate a mass Exodus, it does indicate that there were hostilities between the Jews and Egyptians at this time and that the Jews were no longer in Egypt.

Some accept the Quran as corroborating evidence of the Exodus, since it tells of the Exodus story. But, it is questionable as evidence because it was written much later than the Old Testament and even the New Testament. The source of the information it contains about the Exodus could have come from the Old Testament.

One of the most intriguing pieces of supporting evidence of the Exodus is “Hecataeus, His Work, and the Jewish Excursus”. This is transcribed literature from c.400 B.C.E. This document says the “aliens (believed to be the Jews) were driven from the country (Egypt)”. It says most were driven into Judea and were headed by a man called Moses. This document could be a re-telling of the Exodus story from the Old Testament. However, it does include much other information not found in the Old Testament. For example it states that some of the aliens driven from the country were “cast ashore in Greece and certain other regions”. This is a topic investigated more thoroughly in the “Exodus Decoded” documentary.

Another piece of supporting evidence is the writings of Artapanus. He was a Jewish historian. His writings were transcribed by Eusebius, who had influence in the Council of Nicea, around 300 A.D. These writings contain the Exodus story.

This course presents many tangible items of evidence for the Biblical account of Moses and Exodus. They support Moses and Exodus, but do not provide dates or name the pharaohs of the Exodus time period clearly enough to be certain of which pharaoh it was and thus provide us with an approximate date based on the dynasty. There is a document available known as a “king’s list”, which list the order of pharaohs and the dynasty in which they reigned. Various Egyptologists have created different versions and provided the years of reign for each pharaoh along with the dynasty.

The literary accounts of Manetho and Josephus provide the more credible accounts that confirm the Exodus. Josephus lived from 37 A.D. to 100 A.D. (approximately) and became known as Titus Flavius Josephus. He was a Jewish historian who recorded the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. He has many writings which are available today in book form. He transcribed the writings of Artapanus and Manetho.

Manetho was an Egyptian priest and lived from 305 B.C. to 285 B.C. He interpreted ancient Egyptian records and kings lists. No complete versions of his writings are available today. But, Josephus preserved extracts of his writings. Josephus identifies the Israelite Exodus with the first Exodus mentioned by Manetho.

Much account is given in this course of the Hyksos, which are likely a Semitic culture, possibly the Jews who left Egypt in the Exodus event. Evidence of two Exodus like events is presented. Enough evidence is presented supporting the Biblical Exodus to cause one to believe it did indeed happen.

Rev. Tyler

*******************************

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

Doctor of Spiritual Development

The Doctor of Spiritual Development Course by Dr. David Crouch has provided me with many tools and insights to further my personal growth. I feel that personal growth is an on-going process and I look forward to applying what I have learned from the course into my personal and professional life. I learned a good deal about how to manifest reality. I thought it was useful that understandable language was used to provide information on how to live life from a place of Intent, Mindfulness, and Purpose. Crouch was able to tie together many modalities which all express the reality that energy follows thought. The lessons on clarity and getting rid of the internal clutter were especially beneficial for me as these are areas where I have struggled with in the past. 

Having been involved in a body-oriented personal growth psychotherapy practice for the last three years, I appreciate the mention of the sub-modalities which help to provide awareness of how the mind communicates with itself in the form of images, sounds, and sensations. I have experienced this many times before. I liked how Crouch broke down the different sub-modalities and provided questions to focus awareness for each.

 I also found it useful that guidelines are provided for how to write out a specific plan for creating positive changes – manifesting change – in my life. I have been able to learn how to envision a future in which my desired objective is a present reality for me. One of my desired objectives included having a space to practice Reiki and to have a healing center and I am happy to say that I am now starting a business with another person. Right now I can see that this business is successful and feel in my heart that the universe will provide what it takes to make it so if I hold in clarity my vision for the success as already happening. I am excited to see how it all enfolds and to be part of the journey with the destination in mind.

I have also been able to apply what I have learned about changing my personal history. The lessons provided me with further validation of the benefits of this. I worked for years to find the seed, and am currently changing the seed, getting to watch a new plant grow from the seed. I have been releasing all that has been stored in the body and gaining access to the unconscious to change my past, present, and future. I found this lesson particularly helpful for what I have been working through for the last 6 months. I also believe this knowledge will be helpful in my profession as a counselor. So much of life can get tied up in the past and there is so much freedom in changing our perceptions and in being released from those patterns.

Overall, I feel this course is very informational, easy to read, and provides a great understanding of how to successfully manifest change and continue developing spiritually. That is what it is all about as far as I am concerned.

Jamie Downs

*******************************

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

Chaplaincy Studies

http://www.ulcseminary.org/chaplaincy.php

 Chaplaincy Studies

Being a chaplain and a health care worker working with ALS patients and their caregivers is something I never would have imagined myself doing.  I have been involved in health care since the early 1980’s.  When I graduated from high school in 1975 I knew that I wanted a career in some field where I would be able to help people.  Specifically, I wanted to help people who were not in a position to help themselves.  Health care provided me with that opportunity.  Health care began to lose its personal aide back in the late 1980’s and I found myself discouraged.  The emphasis was no longer on helping people.  That was still important but not as important as cutting expenses and turning profits. 

So, in an attempt to once again devote my efforts to helping people, I entered seminary and began a short career in pastoral ministry.  After spending about 8 years in pastoral ministry, I realized that the people in the church that I was serving didn’t want to be helped.  Once again finding myself discouraged, I returned to health care and doors of opportunity began opening.  Doors continue opening to this day.  One of those doors brought me to this course in chaplaincy.  What a blessing this has been for me as it has equipped me to provide spiritual care in an arena that hadn’t existed until 2007. 

People have always had ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  What was new was a clinic developed just for people afflicted with ALS.  This clinic opened in the town where I was once again working in health care and I was offered the opportunity to use my health care skills helping ALS sufferers.  What was and still is lacking in the ALS clinic that I work in is spiritual care of both the ALS patients and their care givers.  This is where ULC and this chaplaincy course intersected with my current pathway.  This course work has helped equip me to minister both a healing ministry and a spiritual ministry to people with very real and immediate needs.  Completion of this final lesson will provide me with the credentials and the documentation that I need to bring me to the next door of opportunity – ALS Chaplain.

As an ALS Chaplain, I hope to become the first official ALS Clinic Chaplain in my home State of Michigan.  I see myself accomplishing several goals in this role.  First, I will be able to use my health care credentials to minister to the physical needs of ALS patients (PALS).  ALS is a horrible, irreversible, progressive, neuromuscular disease that can claim the life of its victim in less than a year from the date of the initial diagnosis.   ALS attacks people as early as their late teens and always ends in physical death.  Care givers suffer as much or more than the PALS.  My heart goes out to both.  And now, thanks to the training I received in this course, I am equipped to provide physical care to the PALS and spiritual care to both PALS and their caregivers.   

It may take a small miracle from God to make this possible.   But as God is in the business of connecting people so they can help each other experience grace, peace and healing, I will leave the future in God’s capable hands and seek to be open to more opportunities.  This is what I hope to be able to accomplish as a result of taking this course.

One of the most important things I learned through this experience is that God is very big.  God’s love is deep, wide and unpredictable.  God’s grace extends to those who need it but don’t deserve it.  Faith in God is not something that I can take for myself.  Nor is faith something that I can give to someone else.   God gives faith and hope to those who come into an experience of God’s love.  God’s love is very big.  As people experience God’s love, they also experience God’s healing and can know wholeness even in a broken body, even in a body ravaged by ALS.  I believe God’s vehicle of love, grace, faith, hope and healing is people.  In some instances God will reveal God’s self to those in need through the chaplain.

The chaplain isn’t God.  The chaplain is a vessel God can use.  The chaplain isn’t a healer but the chaplain can facilitate healing.  The chaplain can make a broken person whole again but God can make people whole again and sometimes uses the chaplain to begin this process. 

God isn’t Catholic, Buddhist, Jewish, Baptist, Unitarian, etc.  God is Truth.  Somehow, though we can make a mess of God’s Truth, God can and does work through us in all our imperfections, to draw people into the Truth.  The chaplain, as a spiritual person, must not assume that he or she has a handle on God’s Truth but must always believe that God’s Truth is knowable.  God will draw people into God’s Truth through those whom God chooses to use as God’s servants.  The chaplain that God can use is the chaplain who allows God to work by not having an agenda, timeline, plan or purpose beyond being open and available for God to use. 

As a servant of God, the chaplain must do his or her best to speak truth.  Whether that truth is physical truth such as affirming that ALS is terminal or acknowledging that anger is a God given emotion as is sorrow, the chaplain must always speak the truth.  As God is Love, the chaplain must speak the truth in love with great compassion and an open mind, again realizing that it is God who draws people, who changes hearts and minds, who bring spiritual and physical healing and to make love known.

It is important to help people become comfortable with you, the chaplain.  Listening and being with the person who is in crisis is essential.  Helping the person in crisis be able to express what they are feeling by helping them put it into words is very important.  Record your notes because you will refer back to them as you seek to understand and help the person in crisis.  I learned that it is important to prepare, to be prepared, to know where you are going in the process of helping, to plan, to be accountable and hold accountable and yet, through it all, to let God orchestrate the changes that will come and to push the person in crisis forward toward a goal of healing and restoration that God will bring. 

This course was very helpful to me in the conciseness of the lessons set forth.  I also appreciated the use of Scripture at the beginning of each lesson.  God’s word is Truth revealed.  As closely as I am rooted in God’s Truth, that Truth can be manifested and as I stay as close as I can to God’s revealed Truth in my planning and preparation, I can be useful to God’s purpose for the person in crisis.  I think the counseling process can also be simple, concise and equally powerful.  God doesn’t need complicated structures to accomplish God’s goals and purpose for the person in crisis.

I would like to suggest for consideration the addition of life examples that would give a life application of each lesson for the student to ponder as he/she ponder the lesson contents themselves.   It would have driven home the points of the lesson even more to have had a life story to relate the lesson contents to.  Story is such a powerful tool for learning.  The biblical story at the beginning of each lesson is huge.  The personal application story at the conclusion of each lesson could be what really drives the lesson home for the learner.  

What a challenge it is working with people.  But what greater fulfillment is there than knowing that what God gave you to work with was used to help people find their way back to God.  If God sees fit to use what little I have to offer, my life will be worth it.  There are so many needy people and here I am in a small corner of the world hoping to be able to help a few find hope where they see only hopelessness.     

ALS is a horrific disease.  The end of the disease is death.  There is no physical healing for those afflicted by ALS but there is a spiritual healing that transcends the physical.  Those who find the spiritual healing that God offers, will find that even though they die, yet they will live.  What an awesome privilege to be a servant worker with God in sharing that message.

Thank you for helping me prepare for this ministry challenge.  God bless you all at ULC as you continue to help shape students for ministry.

Rev. Brad Norg
*******************************

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

Buddhism

BUDDHISM COURSE ESSAY

by

John Ozanich D.D.

 

            Of the several ULC Seminary courses I’ve taken, the Buddhist Studies course is by far the most well written, well organized, informative and easy to read course.  It is the only course I’ve yet encountered that provided a lesson outline so that the student was aware of where they were in the course lesson by lesson.  It flowed quite well, expounding and defining what was necessary as it went and structuring important fundamentals in a logical way.

            From the course, I learned the important fundamentals of the Buddhist faith.  I learned of the life of the first Buddha, Siddartha Gautama and what trials brought him to a place of enlightenment, of his travels and experiences, some of his specific lessons to his disciples and how he used the knowledge gained to try to aid other in also following his path to enlightenment.  I learned the initial requirement of taking refuge under the protection and guidance of The Three Jewels – the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.   The levels of refuge and method of requesting refuge were covered:

            To the Buddha for refuge I go !

            To the Dharma for refuge I go !

            To the Sangha for refuge I go!

            The Four Noble Truths are the basis of Buddhist philosophy.

1.     Dukkha – all worldly life is suffering

2.     Samudaya – the cause of suffering is attachment

3.     Nirodha – there is an end to suffering (Nirvana)

4.     Marga – the path to Nirvana is the Eight Fold Path

Samsara is the repeating cycle of suffering, living and dying for the unenlightened.  It is represented by a six-spoked wheel dividing existence into six categories:

1.     the World of Gods

2.     the World of Titans

3.     the World of Humans

4.     the World of Animals

5.     the World of Hungry Ghosts

6.     the World of Hell

            I then learned of the Buddhist councils convened after the Buddha’s death to continue coordinating the Sangha and resolves questions which arose from time to time.  The initial council was convened after concerns about faithful and consistent following of the Buddha’s teachings arose.  Mahakashyapa convened the council with over 500 arhats where they recited the teachings of Buddha to ensure all was known and consistent among them.  100 years after the Buddha’s death, the second Buddhist council convened due to a rift in the Sangha.  A contingent of the Sangha felt that the Elders were interpreting the teaching of the Buddha too rigidly.  The disagreement led to the first major rift in the Buddhist faith.  The Elders continued a rigid application of the Buddha’s teachings while the others split off.  The Elders became the Theravada (“Way of Elders”) branch while the others formed the Mahayana (“Great Vehicle”) tradition.  While both revere the Buddha, the Theravada believe the primary goals is to become arhats while the Mahayana tradition believes the primary goal is to become bodhisattva.  While arhats will achieve enlightenment to pass into parinirvana, bodhisattva will stay within this realm to help others achieve enlightenment.  Some time after the Second Buddhist Council, King Ashoka reigned.  After a period of bloody conquest, he came to be appalled and regret the consequences of his brutality.  He turned to Buddhism to amend his ways and eventually became a major contributor to the Buddhist faith.  Ashoko’s influence became the foundation of the spread of Buddhism throughout the world.

            We learned of the history of the current Tibetan Dalai Lama, the history of the current situation between Tibet and China, and the struggles of the Dalai Lama to liberate his people from Chinese occupation.

            Finally, I learned of Buddhist virtues, the Four Immeasurables:

1.     Loving kindness

2.     Compassion

3.     Sympathy

4.     Equanimity

And also learned of the Six Perfections of a Bodhisattva:

1.     Generosity

2.     Ethical behavior

3.     Patience

4.     Joyous effort

5.     Concentration

6.     Wisdom

Awesome course !

           

*******************************

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

Spirit Quest

When I started this course, I was not too sure about how I would feel about it… Personally, I am quite pragmatic and it has taken me a long time to admit to and share my inner feelings. However as I progressed through the course I “warmed up to it” and I must say that it has been quite an eye-opener for me personally.

 

There were many aspects I learned that I was more or less familiar with and even practiced in some form of another, but the course has given me a framework to put it all in place and to put it into practical use.

 

Early on in the course when starting the exercises sitting quietly and attaching a grounding cord, I spent a lot of time on that. I found out a really funny experience: I’m traveling by plane a lot, and even when I’m in the plane, I am able to attach the grounding cord going to the center of the earth. First I thought that would not be possible but it felt quite naturally, even at 30,000 feet going fast.

Later I added another technique: Wherever I am, I first imagine myself sitting quietly in my living room. Then from that position I attach my grounding cord and go through the exercises.

 

“Getting what you want” and “Creating your own reality” were also exercises that kind of came naturally. I have believed in those concepts for a long time, but this course has structured it for me.

 

On a side note, my stepdaughter is a chiropractor and practices Applied Kinesiology. It has become more clear to me now how that all come together. She has one test she performs regularly on her patients (and on myself and my wife) where she puts pressure on the stretched out arm while letting the person taste several spices and foods. This way she can determine what the body is allergic to. Very similar to the tests in this course.

 

When the subject turned to spirit communications I became a little wary… I personally found that subject a little scary. My wife is very perceptive to “the spirit world” and after several “encounters” early on in life which were not very pleasant she turns it off. But going through the course it turned out not to be “scary” at all, as I was afraid of initially.

Over the years I have philosophized quite a bit about “the afterlife” and what happens to us. I believe that we all remain as spirits (remaining energy) in some virtual world (in which you would create your own heaven or hell), and where the strong spirits can communicate with our world.

 

All and all this turned out to be a great course with many tools which can be used from now on (and be used better over time). I also loved the positive message being used throughout.

 

Thank you!

 

Rev. Peter van Sluis

*******************************

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

Master of Religion

Master of Religion Week 20 Final Essay

          First I would like to apologize for this being so late; Week 20 was assigned on December 19^th 2007. I had a number of things on my plate, alas I at least figured that better late than not at all.

          This is the first course I have taken and I plan on taking the rest of the courses offered to gain the title of Chaplain.

          I am going to review things that have stood out to me.

          This course was a great review, that reminded me of a few things, also I like the fact that the author has stated that they believe that god has not stopped talking to us, I agree. And it was refreshing as most I talk to seem to think otherwise, which in my opinion is a shame.

          The course also gave a good overview of the old and new testaments in my opinion; there was a lot of useful info on historical facts, which I enjoyed. It also went over the differences between the Jews and Christians, it is too bad that we are all not on the same page on beliefs as there is one savior and we both should be focusing on that. It is also a shame that throughout history that books were deleted and edited, the bible to me should have been left as god had written it.

          Bible study is only good for a person if they keep at it, no one will ever have all of the knowledge that the bible presents, and only god has that. You may forget a lot of things if you don’t keep up with your studies.

          Today we still have priesthood duties and responsibilities; we are all tasked with spreading the good word of the gospel and try to bring as many people to know Christ, through kind acts and our words.

          I believe that titles are ok but what is really important is the effective use of the knowledge we gain in our studies. Through knowledge we can better help mankind and our service to our lord. 

          The one thing about the communion issue I have is that the author said that less than 14 years old should not have communion. I believe this to be wrong; if an 8 year old can be baptized then he/she should be taking communion.

          On the issue of tithing I believe that one should tithe 10% of their income. But to those who don’t have a job should be exempt.

          Marriage goes without saying that it is a commitment between you, your spouse and god, that you will be with that person for the rest of your life. Divorce is too common place in today’s society.

          Over all the course was put together well but I believe that the course was geared for a new starting minister than one that has been at it for a while. If I was to grade the course I would give it a B+ on content, for a masters course I would like to see something just I little bit more in depth.

Rev. Leonard Roy Cooper Jr. D.D.

*******************************

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