Master of Christian History

            The course Master of Christian History I found to be very enjoyable and informative the literature was readable and not at all boring as some texts can be. what I found to be a burden was not too have all the reading material in one go and possibly the questions only emailed weekly this may be due to being used to reading books in one go also my time constraints with my day job clashed this caused me to delay sending materials for a few days or not being concise in my answers this is just a few problems that I encountered along my way through Christian history.

            I found once I read the materials some answers where before my eyes while others had to be thought through I believe a reading list would have been of some help to broaden our answers and could even add a little spice to the writings of the students mine especially if all the courses where to be done like this with well written works i.e. lessons or notes I would gladly do several other courses not just in the history field but also in other beliefs or fields.

            Although I may have sounded as a critic in places one has to remember that this points are only my own that is to say I was educated a certain way and taught to study a certain way all have been in lecture theatres and never until know as a distance learner by email and at such a distance . I in turn found the forums in my mind to be a great idea this gave a new student ideas on how to write an essay and also and ways to answer the said questions this can also help prospective students decide on studying a certain field before going through with the said course.

            The most favourite part of the course would be Rome with its demise as this was an important turning point in all history, this was due to not republics being formed and ruled by dictators we instead have families appearing as hereditary rulers who are being brought into the Christian fold.

            To conclude I enjoyed the subject area and when I have some time print off my lecture notes to read again as I would have initially liked all in one this I will keep as a reference book perhaps it should or could eventually be published so as to be kept as a book or manual of sorts ,once again a great and enjoyable work even though I am biased as a reader of history this is not heavy in biblical works or history so as to scare a new student this is a work that can be done at a leisurely pace which would build the confidence of new and old students a like to the extent of wanting more . I like many other students of the seminary would like to eventually see the certificates or diplomas recognised by other institutions which would be a great building block on the path of life and life long learning and to assist employers with a recognised world wide diploma or other qualification especially as these are a special field in its own rights .

Rev. Andrew Longsden

 

Master of Metaphysical Healing final essay

This course tends to focus or Energy Healing and Hypnosis from a traditional South African perspective. I have been studying both Energy Healing, specifically Reiki and Chakra Dynamics, as well as Hypnosis for quite a while. It was interesting to study these modalities from an African perspective, as  the perspective of the subject material I have been exposed to before taking this course has been either Far Eastern or Western.

Although this course has room for expansion, it serves as a good, well rounded introduction to traditional healing modalities of the region. The course does have suggested readings scattered throughout the text directing students to further reading on specific subjects covered. However, these tend to be a few and far between.

I am not familiar with the author of this course, Rev. Katherine Lee Kruger. I tried looking her up on the internet. The only information I can find on Doctor Kruger was directly related to this course. However the first lesson of the course is dedicated to outlining Doctor Kruegers credentials, which I do not question. However, one would expect to find more information about an author of such a course as this in this day in age on the internet.

I found this to be an interesting course. However, it didn't offer me any skills nor much information which I hadn't already studied or was in the process of studying through other channels.

The greatest benefit I've gotten, personally, from this course has been the ability to study Energy Healing and Hypnosis, albeit very basic, from an angle different from what I have been studying.  I had not considered South Africa previously as a place where Alternative Health Modalities were developed, nor flourished. However it now makes a lot of sense, as South Africa is not far from the Cradle of Humanity. Effective Traditional Healing Modalities  have logically had more time to develop and be perfect in such a place.

In closing, I would recommend this course to those wishing a thorough  introduction to Energy Healing and Hypnosis, with particular respect to a South African perspective, which is normally out of the mainstream.

Significant to note is the Healers Creed, which is included in the last installment of the courses discourse schedule. This creed is parallel to the Hippocratic Oath Medical Doctors take here the United States. Most alternative healing practices, if not all of them, lack such a unifying mechanism. Both Reiki and Hypnosis have codes of conduct, which express basically the same thing. However, there is no mechanism unifying best practices for alternative healing modalities across the board. It would be nice for an organization to be established regulating practices of alternative healing modalities using an oath as such to unify codes of conduct.

Gerald Henthorn
Universal Life Church

Master of Metaphysics - Spirit Quest Final Essay

Master of Metaphysics - Spirit Quest Final Essay

This course has been informative, enlightening, and enjoyable. Each week I have eagerly awaited the next discourse to arrive in my email inbox. Aside from getting it over with as a developmental phase, I'm actually disappointed that the course is over.

The style of writing Reverend Long uses is very down home, friendly, and unpretentious. She's candid about her own, personal experiences regarding the subject matter. The tone and personality of each discourse was what I would expect from a sister or cousin writing a letter to me, not what I would expect from an academic series of lessons.

No mumbo - jumbo. No 'Doctor Peabody and Swami McGillicutty say ...' It's just Rev. Amy Long, in a voice that could be coming from next door, telling what she knows to be true, actual, and factual. Easy to read, easy to understand, easy to follow, presented in a logical sequence, I recommend this to those wishing to learn the practical side of Metaphysics.

The first two or three discourses tended to offer fairly standard concepts and techniques in Psychology. I thought initially that the course had either been mislabeled, or misrepresented. Then the discourses seem to have digressed into very silly exercises ... that actually work like a charm once a person sits down and does them.

I  actually had problems forming the visualizations. I still do to some extent. I can not completely visualize, I can not fully see my grounding cord going all the way to the center of the Earth in my minds eye.

I cannot seem to visualize roses either, but I have little problem visualizing the roses as balloons. The only exception is that I can visualize my protection rose as a rose. Also, instead of it being out in front of me, I am in the center of it.

With the protection rose out in front of me, negative energy was able to get to me. Worse, I was able to generate negative energy myself ... and both external and internal negative energy would have a feeding frenzy every so often. Surrounded by my protection rose, which is clear, and set to attract, neutralize, and dispose of negative energy from any source, I now find the technique phenomenally effective.


These variances in practice do not seem to matter. I have had some quite phenomenal results.

I begin sending out greeting roses -  balloons to people. I am incredibly girl shy. Some of these greeting roses -  balloons were too young women I would like to have other than a passing - by non - relationship type relationships with.

Amazingly, with each young woman to whom I sent a greeting rose - balloon, there now exists at least a friendly relationship where no relationship at all had existed before. I have been in close proximity to each of these young ladies for quite a while.

With one young woman in particular, there now is exists a frustrated relationship, as each of us is incredibly shy of each other's gender, and neither of us is exactly sure how to proceed with the other.

The techniques prescribed in this course have otherwise given me tools for more objective thinking, and better stress management. This course is well worth the time and effort it takes to complete, and is worth many times over what the course cost.

Master of Buddhism Essay

Master of Buddhism Essay

The Master of Buddhism course by Tricia Stirling was instructive and very helpful in jogging my memories of Buddhism classes long ago.  She lays out the history of Buddhism, its legends and its evolution in a concise way that holds your attention and keep you looking forward to the next lesson.  Particularly useful, is the way she quotes from Buddhist scriptures and gives references to where you can look for more information in each particular form of Buddhism be it Theravada (teaching of the elders), Hinayana (the lesser vehicle), Mayahana (the greater vehicle), Vajrayana (the diamond vehicle) and all the subdivisions derived from them. 

In past studies of Buddhism, I was struck with core similarities between Buddhism and mystic Christianity.  I was reminded of this again as I read through the lessons of this course, in particular the one on monasticism.  Christians seek union with God which relieves us from our suffering, Buddhists seek release from the suffering and the cycle of rebirth.  In Christianity, it's taught that God is love (1 John 4:8) and so when a Christian is told that the greatest commandment is to "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt. 22:36-40), they are essentially being told to Love the Greatest Love with all their heart, mind, and soul, and to love others as themselves.  In Buddhism, compassion and love for those who are in the midst of the cycle of rebirth leads Buddhists to help guide others to their release and to also be filled with compassion and love.  Love and desiring to help others to be released from the bondage of behaviors that bind them to their inner darkness are both present in the two religions. 

Accepting the five precepts was another similarity I found with Christianity.  In the 15th lesson, it's stressed that to go against the five precepts after taking them on was to be in a worse state than before accepting the five precepts. The same has been said about Christians after baptism, that to return to a previous state of sin (or in Buddhism, it would be wrong living), is worse than not to have accepted the faith at all.  There are many such parallels between the two religions.  The point system described in this lesson assigned to meritorious deeds is also like the Catholic system of indulgences, as well as the practice of going on pilgrimages to places their religious leaders were born, preached, or performed miracles at. 

An ideal set forward to Christians, to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, is very similar to what is found in The Teaching of Buddha, published by Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai, Tokyo,  "Lay followers should always keep in mind that sooner or later they will be obliged to part with their parents and families and pass away from this life of birth and death; therefore, they should not become attached to things of this life but should set their minds on the world of Enlightenment wherein nothing passes away."  It's nice to see this much harmony in the spiritual traditions.  I can see why Thomas Merton was drawn to Buddhism as well as to his own faith. 

This course sets out the different paths of Buddhism, goes into the practices of laypeople, and provides history and background that makes it sensible and easy to understand.  I'd definitely recommend this course to anyone seeking to learn more about Buddhism.

Rev. Janet

Completion of Master of Chaplaincy

What Did I Learn?

I learned where one ministers, such as in businesses and in the community, schools, colleges, and that some large employers have begun to find value in having access to a chaplain.  Even tobacco companies that murder thousands of people a year with their disgusting products hire chaplains.  In-house chaplains may have less efficacy because of their perceived connection to the employer.

I learned that successful business chaplaincy will include: confidentiality; regular visits; prompt return of all calls; not to take money in most capacities, and that prayer is a priority. 

The need for chaplains from a variety of backgrounds and those with ecumenical ministry experience is great. In almost every arena a chaplain will provide spiritual counsel as needed; leading worship services; coordinating services for those of other faith groups; leading/coordinating studies related to faith; providing information to people on the local services, housing, and other support systems; providing counsel on religious matters to the people and participating in important ceremonies to include prayers.

A good chaplain will have experience in grief/counseling or seek to obtain that experience.

Ministering to children and teens includes presence and counsel. One key principle is found in the New Testament taught by Jesus Christ: "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20, NKJV). The location or building is not as important as the people gathered in the presence of God.

As a listener described in lesson 9, I use NLP and hypnotherapy techniques to counsel individuals. 

I learned in lesson 10 about healing touch and the importance of touch in therapy, in worship, in life.  It should also be remembered that there are modern health and cultural considerations to touching people. Sometimes the best thing is for the chaplain to say, "I'm Chaplain Jane Doe. How can I help you?" Chaplains represent the Divine to people. It is often in prayer that our greatest comfort can be extended and Anointing Prayer is often the most comfortable.  It is not a bad idea to carry a small bottle of anointing oil and know that God is the source of healing.

In lesson 11 I learned that chaplains in many settings often face the task of comforting those in grief and I need to be prepared to deal with grief.  People need someone with a strong emotional, mental, and spiritual foundation to come along and give assurance that God is there.  Grief is simply the normal human emotional response to loss. It is not easy to grieve.   Our role as ministers is to help people to go through the process of grief in a healthy way.

My attitude and belief about death and loss are vital as they will come across to the person I am ministering to and confidence in God must come alongside the comfort we offer to those suffering in grief. (as an atheist…I will develop how to deal with this concept over time.)  In lesson 12 I learned about counseling for the troubled.   I apply hypnotherapy, NLP and other processes in my counseling for the troubled already.   I learned about thinking, feeling then acting and teaching people new skills.  In lesson 13 I learned about traps to avoid about myself, my limitations, and others.  In lesson 14 I learned about different ceremonies and the importance of establishing beliefs and criteria with respect to those ceremonies. In less 15 I learned that worship matters; – a time when God and people come together.  My job is to be able to assist with worship. It is my job to create a sacred space, to remove barriers to worship.

In lesson 16 learned about a "soul friend" and that as a chaplain I can be a soul friend for someone who needs one.  "It is the Divine Spirit of God working through your life. As mentioned in an earlier lesson, there is a mark upon those called to the ministry."   While I do not necessarily I am divining rod of the Divine…I believe that my appreciation of someone's faith and desire to improve their faith is helpful to them.  In lesson 17 I learned about accountability.   As a former lawyer and now minister/hypnotherapist, I completely accept the need to be accountable in all areas, to me, my family, a mentor, organizations, etc. including God if I were to so believe in him.  In lesson 18 I learned about burn-out.  I burned out as a lawyer…I have learned not to burn out as a hypnotherapist/NLP practitioner.  In chapter 19, I learned about the Chaplains' toolbox.   I have already started gathering information, supplies, necessities to minister to those who need a minister.   Again, I am an atheist, but I also hold a degree in Jewish Studies, know Hebrew, have been to the holy sites of Israel.   I have worked with others' religion and supported their religious beliefs.

What Helped Me

What helped me was the simplicity of the course material.  Being a minister really is simple in terms of what is necessary.  I think having people skills is the most important thing and that's what this program demonstrated.  Being present with people is simple.   A willingness to lend a hand is simple.   Following simple guidelines is important.   Again, what helped me was the simplicity of this course.  It is like a checklist of what I need to do.  

What I hope I will accomplish as a result of taking this course.

I hope to receive a certificate toward becoming a chaplain.    I want to help people and make a living do it.  I have been a lawyer, a soldier, a first aid provider, hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner.  I have always been in the helping business.    I want to let people know that I take their religious beliefs seriously and that I can help them strengthen their faith if their faith will help them heal.  While I may be an atheist, I know that religion gives people strength.   I am more educated in religion that most religious people I know, so I can teach it even if I am not a firm believer.

Please confirm you received this email.

Thank you.

Christopher Bartow

Final Essay: Master of Metaphsical Healing

MASTER OF METAPHYSICAL HEALING

FINAL ESSAY

     Thank you, Rev. Dr. Katherine Lee Kruger, for an outstanding discourse on Metaphysical Healing.  I especially like your history and lifetime experiences of the cultural aspects of the healing industry.   I appreciate your passion and knowledge in this area, as it is demonstrated throughout the lectures.  You are sincere about this subject, which shows through your insights and thought provoking lessons.  Each class lets us know the capabilities we possess as healers and helpers of this world.  Pure love and light is given to each of us and we need to know how to direct this light towards the work of healing.

 

     From the beginning of the class we learn the Anatomy and Physiology that make up the human person.  The inter-relationship between our physical self and our energy fields (aka Auric Fields) both need healing as a whole.  I like the idea of working with a person as a complex being that modern medicine seems to ignore.  Our Spiritual self can express itself in our physical well-being, so looking at the true source can produce a favorable outcome.

 

     Many of the lessons contain meditative and practical guided meditations which are enlightening and useful for energy work.  Bringing a person to their realities can take a few sessions and patience on the practitioner's part is necessary.  Everyone works within themselves at different rates, we as healers, need to take each case individually and go with the pace of the patients' progression.

 

     I have a strong belief that past life experiences do give insight into our present day existence and what we believe to be our 'truths' presently.  The Past Life Regression class was helpful in seeing the negative and positive traits we bring into this life time on earth.  I personally learned from a regression why I hide my true talents and will not let go and open myself up to possibilities.  There is a block that came from a past life that will not let me trust people with the gifted side of me.  In that life I was put to death and I vowed never to let anyone see that part of me again.  So, I guess, I need to work on myself also!

 

  Thank you also, Rev. Kruger for the standards of practice, techniques for clearing and cleansing and the Healers Oath.  This is one of the finest discourses that Universal Life Church offers!

 

Rev. Constance J. Hitts

Dr. of Metaphysics Course Final Essay

Dr. of Metaphysics Course Final Essay
From Lesson 15 Acceptance
I AM Acceptance
Shelly Seligman

I totally agree with this lesson that the key to inner peace is a quiet acceptance without judgment, anger or bitterness, and that God's
Divine Intention for us is to live in a state of quiet acceptance in order to achieve the Power of our Presence. Once we accept that God is all there is, everything is God, Spirit, and Oneness, we can maintain our self-control over outer circumstances.

In order to heal our inner conflict we must accept this quiet calm and stillness that is our God Presence. Once we accept and acknowledge the Divine Presence within, this is the key to the peace that passes understanding. When we accept and acknowledge our God Presence within we begin to access the Power of Divine Forgiveness naturally for ourselves and others, it becomes easy and effortless.

All seeming discord dissolves in the face of Divine Forgiveness.

When Divine Forgiveness starts to flow we are lifted above the negative discordant actions of the ego into a higher perspective and from this elevated position, we can begin to experience miracles. Divine Acceptance is the beginning of Oneness. We then view life with a Spirit of Understanding and Gratitude for all Life. We accept ourselves as Divine and others as well. We release the need to battle every situation and we choose to go within to that still place where all the answers to our questions lie instead of seeking outside in the appearance world. Life begins to flow creatively from this place and everything comes together harmoniously in perfect Divine Order.  We start to receive the Gifts of Life, because Life is created to give freely, and it is up to us to open our arms and willingly accept what Life is giving us through a quiet detachment, overjoyed enthusiasm and gratitude!

Sometimes we don't always see the gift inside the lesson and we overlook it. Occasionally we are looking through the eyes of the human experience. We often times forget that we are Spiritual Beings having a human experience. We mistakenly allow ego to lead us and get off track.

All we are required to do in this situation is stop, become very still, and go within to our still place within our Hearts. Connect deeply with our Divine Presence, accept that the Presence of God is the one and only Presence acting within and around us, and everything magically falls into perfect alignment.

When we accept that we are God in action in every situation, we learn to appreciate every moment in Life and we create a vibration of Love and Harmony, Life becomes Sacred, and this energy pulses forward into the atmosphere drawing every good vibration to us and ever expanding the Light wherever we are.

Letting go, allowing and appreciating is the key to acceptance. We look on the bright side of Life and we become the beacons of Light that moves mountains.

When we accept ourselves and our Divinity we are empowered to move through this earth plane totally supported, fearless, in control and powerfully protected. We are then able to empower others and see them as God in action for us, not against us. We become one with All Life.

Within the Sacred Presence of God we are living in the present at all times where all miracles occur. We are no longer fighting because we are totally free, everything is as it should be and all is well in the Universe. We feel safe, because we know that we are co-creating with God every step of the way we accept that it's All Good because it's All God ;)

I AM Sacred Divine Acceptance
And so it is….

Final Essay - Master of Paganism

Master of Paganism

Paganism for A New Age

Final Essay

     Starting this essay with a big thank you to Rev. Phoenix for a very enlightening and informative discourse on the practice of Paganism!  I never realized the depth of this clan with their belief systems in place.  The word complicated comes to mind with all the deities, gods and goddesses; if this is your first exposure, as it was with me, it leads to multiple aspects of a practice of magick.

 

     I see a correlation between the Druid, Wiccan and Pagan discourses that I have taken simultaneously.  Each has their individual use of magick and ritual, yet I respect that they all have a deep reverence for the planet and the energy that is given through the universe.  We don't find this in the more traditional, conventional, structured religions.

 

      In reviewing my notes to write this essay, I am awe struck at all meaning placed behind the trees, Panthens, Cultures, the Sabots and the Four Guardians.  The area of creating an Alter and sacred spaces have their own extensive list and worth the time studying.  I really enjoyed Lesson 19 on the Runes.  I have looked into them before, but really liked the explanation of the symbols given, leading to an understanding of these stones which fulfilled my curiosity.

 

     Another section I spent extra time on was forming my own ritual.  Using the Four Guardians, North, South, East and West, I made my own sacred space for meditation and opening up to the Higher Power and realms for information.  In some ways it reminds me of the Native American Medicine Wheel using the four directions to create a secure area for communication.

 

     Although the Pagan belief is not something , at present time, I will taken on as a practice, I can now appreciate the way they feel and know that this will help me in my Chaplaincy and working with different cultures.  Thank you, Rev. Phoenix!

 

Rev. Constance J. Hitts

 

 

Insights into Awarenness Final Essay

Awareness Final

What sense of awareness can be gained by adopting the first insight into your present lifestyle?

The first insight it will start with coincidence, hunch or intuition.  We will start to see things happening in our lives, like things falling into place or a subject that you were talking about in the past.  All of a sudden that thought or an incident happens and you wonder if it was a coincidence that it happened.  According to the first insight there are no coincidences.  The awareness that we can adopt is to pay attention to what is happening all around us, like the people we meet, to thoughts coming to us.  We need to look around and see everything, not just physical, but spiritual as well.  A person must also meditate to open and calm the mind in order to hear or get in touch with high source to gather the energy needed.  If this is done every day, along with taking the time to meditate, one will see an increase of coincidental happenings in their life—from people coming into our life to objects as well.

 

When I was growing up I used to listen to the stories my grandfather and uncles talked about when they were growing up.  A lot of their stories were about spirits and strange things that happened.  Some of the stories I would take to heart and others I would not think twice about.  Being raised Catholic, there wasn't a belief in the kinds of stories that they told.  As I am writing and thinking about this, the priest in our Catholic Church treated the parishioners like non-believers, or ignorant, and he would try to use fear to instill the message of God.  The Catholic Church did not encourage the reading of the Bible, so I never read it until I was in my twenties; of course I had heard of the stories in the Bible, but had never read them.  Once I started to read the Bible I began questioning the beliefs of the Catholic Church, regarding God.  I then began to go to other churches, such as Pentecostal and Apostolic, to learn what their beliefs were about God.  As I grew older, I started looking around and noticing the area around me, and where I lived.  I always believed the Earth to be a living planet, and that things are done according to nature.  I started realizing that the words I read in the Bible was that God is a spirit, which was more in-tune to my original belief system about God.  I learned in church that we live within God and he lives in us.  What is a spirit, I pondered?  I started to research spirits, and one thing in particular that got my attention was that spirit is made up of energy. In the early seventies, I remember watching a TV show about strange facts where plants could feel.  Scientists hooked up electrodes on plants, and the readings showed that the plants were calm, however when the scientists placed shrimp in boiling water, (they were not in the same room as the plants), the plants reacted, according to the readings from the electrodes.  I always thought that was amazing how the plants reacted.  Things like this keep coming back to me and confirming that there is energy all around us.  We are in this energy, with all this information about divine source, divine energy, and God the spirit; this is what changed my view on traditional religion.  I do not believe in organized religion, because it teaches fear and God is pure love.   When I would question traditional religious views some people would take offense to it and even get argumentative about it and of course I would too, thinking that I was right, one of us was trying to control the situation. 

 

The Fourth Insight is about taking energy or controlling.  By controlling others we feel more powerful and dominate over the other person, which is caused by having controlling or dominate parents.  If parents are dominating, then as we become adults, we become dominating until we or our children are tired of it and strike back, which is usually in a violent manner.  In order for insecurity and violence to end, we must experience an inner connection with divine energy.  The way to do this is that we must see the beauty in life, such as plants, trees, and people.  We need to sit and look at a tree and see its beauty so that the love can flow.  Not a physical love, but a deep spiritual love, and by showing this love you will receive the tree energy.  With people, we need to see features on the person and appreciate them to show love so that person is receiving your energy.  Thus, the energy will reciprocate. 

 

Engaging the flow is what the seventh insight is all about.  To do this, we must take in the energy and have the flow of love.  When we do this, coincidences, dreams, daydreams, and intuitions will lead us to answers.  With this knowledge as a minister, I will be guided to people with answers to my questions, plus I will help them with answers as well.  The spiritual intent and meaning of life is to become one with God.  As for the meaning of life, we are to evolve to a high vibration.  We are to expand the physical world into the spiritual being so that we can walk into heaven, in our same form.

 

Learning what spirituality is and the signs that go with it help me form a clear understanding.  Why people are feeling the restlessness, the control of energy, the control drama, and the loss of energy or disconnect from the divine.  These lessons finally gave me the meaning of what my life is supposed to be.  It also reinforced what and who God is to me.  God is a spirit energy that flows to us and we are in God as he is in us.  If I want to hear God, I have to spiritually get in-tune with him by meditating and taking in all the energy I can, and maintain it.  I have had a lot of coincidence in my life that have guided me and protected me as well.  This lesson has awoken me, spiritually.  Therefore, when things happen like a coincidence, a hunch, or intuition, I know now to pay attention to it.  As for working with people, if or when they come to me, I can at least explain to them what is going on, and help them to understand what spirituality really is.

What I have learned from these lessons is that God is always with us and us with him. 

 

According to the Bible, God has been trying to show and tell us about his energy throughout.  I have also learned that trying to control other people can take their energy from them and how we can become addicted to other peoples' energy instead of divine's.  I have learned to look at the world in a different light and that love is not what we see in the movies, but how divine looks at it; how we need not fear, because fear can suck our energy.  I have also learned how to get energy from plants and trees.  People today are looking for the true meaning of God and what and who he/she is. 

 

I thank you for a wonderful lesson.  Blessings to all!

Rev. Michael Guzman

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Michael Guzman <guzmanmp@yahoo.com>
To: "amy@ulcseminary.org" <amy@ulcseminary.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 10:29 PM
Subject: Insights into Awarenness Final Essay

Final Essay Master of Spirituality

I found this course easy to understand, it leads you right through the historic thinking of man, on the subject of is there, or isn't there? Rev Bynum set this course up following the progression of thought as it happened, as a list of great thinkers, that shaped the way we think today!

As I studied these discourses more, and more, I realized how correct the instructor was when in his first discourse said
"it is designed to aid in your ministerial abilities". Following these discourses, I was able to see how modern thought was shaped, so many centuries ago! Understanding how the scientific mind works, and their thought processes has been an enlightening, and rewarding learning experience. It's helped aid in my ability to spot these different philosophies in people, and use the appropriate technique while ministering to them (still a work in progress).

The first homework assignment blew me away, observing the two different types of people, the heart driven, and the mind driven. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to distinguish between the two when you really pay attention. It's something you always knew about different people, but that lesson brought more thought into why we are, the way we are, and wet my appetite for more!

I had never compared religion and science. I guess I always saw the differences between the two, and it never occurred to me to look for the similarities, and how closely related they really are. How both of them incorporated into ones life makes for such a rich existence of health, and learning ( mental, spiritual, physical) it transcends any former philosophy in my opinion.

How is it possible to go backwards once you see the limitations we put on ourselves for so long with closed minds?

Rev C Watson
Enjoy your next 24, PEACE!