Buddhism

Final Essay Master of Buddhist Studies Rev. Gio Sugranes One major question always asked is what exactly is Buddhism and what is a Buddhist? Even within the corpus of texts and books available now a day, this question still needs to be answered in a way that is less technical and less confusing. With so many different traditions, teachings, texts, and Masters who teach from those texts, it can be difficult to understand and get a clear vision of what Buddhism is and what a Buddhist follows or accepts. Put simply, Buddhism is the Path of Awakening. Plain and simple. Within this path we find that there are many steps one can take to "Awaken". These steps are known as the Dharma, or Teachings of Universal Truth, as offered by a Buddha. In our case it was the historical Buddha Shakyamuni, former Indian Prince. He re-discovered the Truth and as such declared, that for the benefit of all beings still "asleep", he would expound, share what he had learned. It is for this reason that Buddhist are grateful for his efforts, compassion, and wisdom. Another question would be what is Awakening? What does one Awaken to? The answer is to awaken to Reality, Truth, and the Oneness in all things. To put an end to the illusion of separation and the grasping of a centralized ego. Through methods of developing wisdom and compassion we start the see unity. We awaken to the boundless nature of all things and develop  inner peace through the realization of truth. Through the many methods, Buddhist learn to understand feelings and emotions and how they develop. One learns to look deeply at the habituated actions that have lead to suffering in the past, and how to transform them into methods of the path. One learns to understand the plight and afflictions of others and though compassionate actions, helps all beings. A Buddhist has a simple nature. One that develops the heart of compassion and seeks to gain wisdom through direct experience. Armed with this wisdom and compassion, A Buddhist understands reality and develops inner calmness. A Buddhist will also seek to help, guide others to discover their own way and ultimately, enlightenment. The goal is to look at the world through the eyes of wisdom that see all things as interdependent. One understands that there are many actions that lead one to experience the Present Moment. This is the true blessing. To see how many things take place in just one life in the present. Through this, we learn to be more compassionate to our neighbor. We are more willing to lend a hand because we cannot survive without the graces of others. And finally, a Buddhist learns to be aware, mindful of the moment. Knowing this, we can learn to appreciate this life more. We can understand the issues that arise within the mind. A Buddhist has also been described as one that takes on many practices and vows or precepts. However, I feel that these elements do not define one as a Buddhist. The vows and precepts are just another guideline or practice we take on to be able to stabilize the mind and bring about inner peace so that one can attain wisdom through looking deeply at reality. A Buddhist is also a constant student of the Dharma, Teachings. Always engaged in the "Beginners' Mind", a Buddhist is always looking at Teachings as if they were new to him. Never settling for "I know all", for this is just a projection of the ego. A person of this  nature is constantly striving to learn without grasping to attitudes like; "I have learned it all". He is constantly learning and listening deeply to the Teachings of the Buddha. But what is the path to Enlightenment in Buddhism? Is it the practice of Zen, Mantra recitation and visualization, or simple and basic reflection and meditation? I feel the answer to this question lies in the heart of each individual practitioner. Looking beyond tradition and customs, one must look deeply at what makes sense. The Buddha spoke 84,000 teachings which were based on the many needs and mental capacities of sentient beings. He knew that we are all different and as such, would take on different practices. The Buddha is known to be like a Doctor who is able to treat the illnesses of this life. He was able to prescribe a medicine based on the afflictions and turmoil of his patients. Knowing the issue at hand he prescribed a Dharma teaching, which only we can take and fulfill. So, in essence, it's like saying that some medication can and will work for some, but others require a different medicine due to difference in ailment. The Sangha, the community, was like the nurse who would guide you in taking such prescription so that they would be great benefit. It is a very individual choice to seek out what "medicine" the Buddha offered and would be of benefit to us. It is a personal journey of discovery. Ultimately, whether Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, or what ever other spiritual journey one may take in this life, the goal is the same. To return to a natural state of being. Free of delusions, anger, hatred, and dualistic grasping. It is the goal to return to the Oneness, the Thusness of this great Universe. This should be the "glue" that binds us all together. The Journey! *******************************   The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.  Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.   The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. 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Gnosticism

Final Essay for Gnosticism For Rev. Linda Francis                  Fifteen years ago my late husband and I began to read about the Gnostic religion.  We read a dozen or more books before his death, and  discussed them by the fireplace or on the back porch each night.  Missing our studies together I enrolled in a couple of local classes and several discussion groups.   Like myself and my late husband, I found that the others that also had an interest in this religion had one major thing in common.  We all were highly formally educated and were seeking to keep our minds informed long past our formal education years to achieve a career goal.  The second factor that we shared was a thirst for truth, or at least information from all sides of an issue to make the best choice possible, and this not only had to do with religion, but political and ethical issues, as well. Needing one more class to complete my sixty hours I decided to take one more class in Gnosticism. After some of the early classes I was disappointed and almost dropped the study.  It at first seemed as if the teacher was finding the faults within Gnostic teachings to show how wrong they were. The lesson on Hitler as a Gnostic was the one lesson that actually made me sign up for another class to complete my study. It was a class in the Gospel of Thomas  For some reason I did not drop it right away and in a few weeks I decided perhaps the teacher was like myself and was only trying to show both sides. By the time I reached this last lesson I had no doubts that the teacher liked as many things as I found that I liked about the Gnostics. I especially, enjoyed the idea the teacher tossed out about many scholars believing that Buddhism was a forerunner of many of the Gnostic/Christian ideas.  I too had wondered about the two.  I studied Buddhist meditation for many years and read much that I liked about that faith, as well, even taking some formal classes in this field. I have a little Buddhist sculpture where he is bent over weeping in his lap. One day after finishing my class I picked the Buddha up and said to myself. "I wish I had one of Jesus weeping, too. For surely both weep at what mankind kind and his egoic dogma has done to both of their teachings."  For these reason I find it harder and harder to call myself Christian anymore than I could claim I am a Buddhist.   And when I read one of the last lessons that stated that Gnostics felt they were the only ones with the real truth about God, I thought to myself, well there are the Jews, the Muslims, Baptist and Catholics, etc each believing they are the only right ones and that is why mankind has been killing each other with one war after the other all their lives.                 However, I will agree that a major part of enlightenment is seeking knowledge which was highly promoted by the Gnostics  and part of the narrow vision from other faiths is they refuse to study and open themselves up to the ideas of others, accepting only what their parents, community and the faith they were born into teaches.  The less formally educated the faith as a whole is (both women and children as well as men), the more dogma seems to appear in their rules and the more fearful and violent they are at defending these rules, even at taking the life of those different from them, to speak nothing of the shunning and refusing to show love to those different from themselves.   The study states that today, "If one desires to become a Gnosis you must seek your path to find your truth and understanding. In order to do this one must clear their mind of all barriers, to include their own ego. Finding the truth for one's self can be obtained numerous ways, meditation, dreams, and yoga among other practices."  I think of myself as on a spiritual path (a personal one) rather than a religious one (founded by an egoic group seeking control and claiming they know God's mind.)                 Our minister was away last Sunday and the sermon was delivered by a local writer and college professor.  Dr. John Nash, from East Tennessee State University.   He spoke of Sofia, wisdom and the Gnostic faith. He ended with a pondering thought. He stated, that at one time in the early foundation of the Christian faith that there was a Gnostic called Valentenus that was suggested  as a good idea as the next Pope.  He lost by just a vote or two. His name  was Valentinus.  Church father Tertullion reported that he narrowly lost the election.  Valentenus was educated in Alexandria, but moved to Rome in 136 AD.  He lived there for nearly 25 years.  The informaiton is in Dr. Nash's textbook,  called Christianity: the One, the Many," vol 1, p 258. The thought he left us to ponder was how might the world have been a different place to live in today, if Vllentinus had been elected … where ego was put aside and power, guilt and fear were not used a tools of control for not just the government, fathers ruling their families and  the Christians. ******************************* The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion. It is an applied philosophy.  It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama who through enlightenment became The Buddha and started teaching people how to end suffering and pain in life by living them the eightfold path of Buddhism.  It is a path(middle path) that will help all living things each enlightenment and true happiness which will stop their suffering in life. Life will still be full of suffering and pain but we will be able  to be happy by understanding it, and what causes it, and what to do to live with it in our lives.  Most happiness does not last forever. There are parts of it that we can have always through Buddhism. Buddhism does not endorse an  existence of a soul or a supreme being .  Even Buddha is just a man.  He is no God.  Buddhists do not pray to him.  We all can become Buddhas and reach the same enlightenment that the Buddha had.  Buddhism teaches that worldly things are not permanent.  We must not cling to them.  This contributes to our sufferings in life if we do cling to them.  Buddhism corrects our views about life and we learn to see it as it really is and to understand it and except it for what it really is. It is not completely pessimistic or optimistic.  The core aim is to help us see things as they really are.  We can not change life but we can change ourselves and our attitudes toward the world.  This will lead to wisdom and happiness.  Buddhism helps us develop self reliance, moral responsibility, tolerance, compassion, wisdom and many other qualities that can enrich our lives and give life meaning and add to our happiness in life.

Buddhism does not believe in a soul so when we are reborn it is not a soul moving to a new body in a new life. It is the life force from the past life that enters a new body.  This life force we are all part of.  We take what we learned with it to a new body and also the karma from past lives to it.  It is like ripples on water.  There is no conflict between Buddhism and Science.  Buddhists believe parts of Buddhism has been proven by science.  Buddhism is a strong faith and it is still growing today.  Buddha did not believe it would last this long. It is about 2,500 years old.  Buddhism teaches that we are all responsible for our own actions and that dedication and self discipline and wise judgement are keys to reaching our highest goals in life. It teaches to care for the sick and distressed among us.  We must all try to develop the qualities of the Buddha by experiencing it in life by learning the nature of humanity and suffering and the true nature of things.  Things like contentment, freedom of enjoyment, and being good are parts of happiness we can have even in pain and suffering times. Buddha is our guide and Dharma is our path and Sangha is our traveling companions on our journey to enlightenment.  These qualities are precious like a gem.  That is why they are called the Triple Gem. A Buddhist meditates on the Four Immeasurables which are Loving Kindness, Compassion, Appreciative Joy, and  Equanimity. The happiness of one depends on the happiness of all.  This includes our enemies.  When we meditate it is for all things not just for us. To become a Buddha we must take refuge in the Triple Gem.  We do this by repeating to a image of Buddha or a monk these lines; I go to the Buddha for Refuge.  I go to the Dharma for refuge.  I go to the Sangha for refuge.

Buddhists do not believe in a reward and punishment system that comes from a Supreme Being.  They believe what you reap you have sown and you are sown what you reap.  It is a circle of cause and effect with no 1st cause and life has no beginning or 1st cause.  Present actions in combination with past actions condition the future for each of us.  The law of Karma explains suffering and pain and the mysteries of fate, inequalities of man, infant prodigies, ignorance and cravings and much more in life.  We are all an indefinite number of states of being and this earthly life is just one episode among many others. Someone can be a murderer in one life time and a saint in another one.  Buddhism teaches us how to approach our responsibilities in society, and our families , and on contemporary issues in life.  It influences the everyday life of people who practice it.  Buddhists have symbols and a Iconography.  There are the eight Auspicious symbols and Dharma wheels, a symbol of a lotus, Malas, a prayer wheel, symbolic gestures of the hands, foot prints of the buddha, ritual mandalas, and bells, a Buddhist flag, seed syllable and a Vojras and others.

Buddhists are concerned with technologies, globalization, and the environment.  Many are vegetarians but some do eat meat.  The Buddha said women can be enlightened too.  They can be nuns too.  Like other religions they are discriminated against in Buddhism but this is due to societies and things that were added after Buddha died.  The new teachers teach them that they should work on being able to come back as men.  I disagree with this. I do not believe the Buddha meant for this to be the practice in Buddhism.  I believe women can be born LLamas.  This is something I do not like about Buddhism or most religions that men control.  In nature worshipping religions women are able to be priestess too.  Women are close to nature because they can give birth.  They are very in tune with it and the life force is neither male or female. It can live in both bodies once it enters them but it is sex less. We are all one and for that reason I believe we should have the same levels in all religions.

Enlightenment is Nirvana.  You have to experience it to understand it. It can not be explained very well. You know it when you get it!  It is supreme happiness and perfect wisdom.  It has no form and is uncreated.

You can not measure it or really explain it to others.  It is beyond the earth or Sun or Moon.  It is beyond fire, water or air.  It is freedom from conflict and selfishness and eradication of cravings, hatred, and delusions.  You have no ill will, ignorance, or desire. It is bliss. You can get it in this life time or some other one.  It is in your reach in any life time to find it.  I learned so much from this Buddhist class and I did research beyond the class. I am still learning about it.  I hope my paper does not come across as ramblings. It is hard to know where to start or stop and what to say about Buddhism next for me. I could write a book about what I have learned so far about it.  The class was interesting and I enjoyed it.  I am taking Spirit Quest now.

It is about Spirituality which I believe you can have with Buddhism and any religion or belief system as well.  Buddha delivered a lot of discourses to lay people about their responsibilities to family and society. In one called the Sigalovada Sutta he defines ideal relationships in the family and society.

They are based on reciprocal responsibilities between people.  By Honoring the six directions of east, south, north, west, above , and below we can honor the six kind of relationships we have also. By doing this we can achieve harmony, security, and prosperity both in our families and society.

It is a ritual where you bow to these six areas or relationships.  East is parents, south is teacher, west is spouse, north is friend, above is spiritual teacher, and below is employee. 

Suffering cannot be avoided in life. It is physical and Mental. It comes in all forms like happiness. We suffer from birth,old age,sickness and death as well as from loss of loved ones through separation and death.

We suffer when our needs and wants are not met.  We feel uncomfortable around unpleasant people or people we do not like. We suffer in various degrees.  We have suffering from desires we can not satisfy.  The list is endless.  After Buddha's experience as a prince and traveling monk he realized that we all have one thing in common and that is we see that life is full of suffering and even all the kinds of happiness we also experience does not last for ever.  The Four Truths teach us a lot  about suffering and what causes it and how to cease our suffering by following the eightfold  path.  Also by not clinging to things and viewing life right. Intention is important in Buddhism and right livelihood and concentration too.  I learned about the life of Buddha as a Prince and monk and as the Buddha after enlightenment.I learned about his interactions with his contemporaries and his disciples. I learned that the Jataka tales are stories that buddha taught with. I learned about meditation and positions, and insight meditations.  I learned about sitting and walking meditations. I learned about Loving Kindness meditations. I learned Buddhism history and time lines, and Monastic life style and Pilgrimage and the spread of Buddhism. I learned about different types of Buddhism and the four holy sites, and festivals of Buddhism, and early disciples of Buddhism. I learned about Buddhist Holidays and dress in different countries. I learned that there are different rules for monks and nuns and lay people.  That there are different kinds of Buddhists. I am a provisional Buddhist right now.  Buddhists do not lie, steal, or gossip ,or say hurtful things even if they are true.  They do not kill and they do not exploit animals or work in jobs where they slaughter animals or buther them.  Buddhists believe we come back in higher and lower forms and that animals are people too.  The Tipitaka was written in 83 BCE at Sri Lanka in Pali language and Sinhala Script and is 11 times bigger then the Bible. It is a documented record of Buddhism.

The eightfold path teaches us to have the right view and to understand wholesome deeds,unwholesome deeds, and comprehend the laws of Karma.  It teaches us about right intentions such as non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion.  We learn right speech like abstaining from false speech, malicious speech, harsh speech, and idle chatter.  It teaches right action like not killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct.  We learn right livelihood by not making a living by doing wrong and corrupt things.  Right Effort is important.  This means awakening zeal for abandoning of unwholesome states, and arising and susstaning of wholesome states.  It teaches Right mindfulness.  The four foundations of mindfulness are contemplation on body, feeling, mind, and mind objects.  We learn right Concentration by abandoning the five hindrances of lust, ill will, sloth-torpor, worry-agitation, and doubt through jhanas.  Satipattana is the four foundations.  You do not have to read the whole Tipitaka from beginning to end to understand the Four Noble Truths.  Each chapter is a sutra(synopsis), which Buddha would use to explain the Four Noble Truths to his audiences under different circumstances.  The purpose of attainment of enlightenment is to attain final liberation called Nibbana from the life death cycle.  The birth,enlightenment, and parinirvana which is death with no rebirth took place on the day of the full moon during the month of May.  It was declared Buddha Day by the United Nations.  Buddha was born in 623 BC in Napal. He was a Prince and his father was a King.  He gave up being a King to be the Buddha and live a middle life rather than a rich life.  He had compassion and hated seeing people and animals suffer.  His name means wish fulfilled. His name was Siddhartha Gautama.  He lived a sheltered life until he left the Place.

Suffering cannot be avoided in life. It is physical and Mental. It comes in all forms like happiness. We suffer from birth,old age,sickness and death as well as from loss of loved ones through separation and death.

We suffer when our needs and wants are not met.  We feel uncomfortable around unpleasant people or people we do not like. We suffer in various degrees.  We have suffering from desires we can not satisfy.  The list is endless.  After Buddha's experience as a prince and traveling monk he realized that we all have one thing in common and that is we see that life is full of suffering and even all the kinds of happiness we also experience does not last for ever.  The Four Truths teach us a lot  about suffering and what causes it and how to cease our suffering by following the eightfold  path.  Also by not clinging to things and viewing life right. Intention is important in Buddhism and right livelihood and concentration too.  I learned about the life of Buddha as a Prince and monk and as the Buddha after enlightenment.I learned about his interactions with his contemporaries and his disciples. I learned that the Jataka tales are stories that buddha taught with. I learned about meditation and positions, and insight meditations. I learned about sitting and walking meditations. I learned about Loving Kindness meditations. I learned Buddhism history and timelines, and Monastic life style and Pilgimage and the spread of Buddhism. I learned about different types of Buddhism and the four holy sites, and festivals of Buddhism, and early disciples of Buddhism. I learned about Buddhist Holidays and dress in different countries. I learned that there are different rules for monks and nuns and lay people.  That there are different kinds of Buddhists. I am a provisional Buddhist right now.  Buddhists do not lie, steal, or gossip ,or say hurtful things even if they are true.  They do not kill and they do not exploit animals or work in jobs where they slaughter animals or buther them.  Buddhists believe we come back in higher and lower forms and that animals are people too.  The Tipitaka was written in 83 BCE at Sri Lanka in Pali language and Sinhala Script and is 11 times bigger then the Bible. It is a documented record of Buddhism.

Rev. Deidre K. Hays   

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive and affordable online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, a beginning course on  Wicca, as well as a beginning course on  Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is a free and lifetime ordination, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. We also make available many free wedding ceremonies for your use, as well as funeral ceremonies and other types of ceremonies.

 

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Metaphysical Healing

Master of Metaphysical Healing

Final Essay

We need to integrate all of ourselves into all of ourselves!

In the holistic healing approach the spirit of the individual is considered pure. The balance of energy is vital for holistic healing, as the individual is viewed as an organic whole with mental physical, emotional and spiritual aspects actively contributing to the state of health or illness. Imbalance of any sort in the body, mind and soul causes disconnection and distortion of energies. To attain harmonious whole personhood, the working energy of body, mind and spirit must be correctly realigned and balanced. Healing can bring balance between the physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioural activities, and the spirit; through spiritual awareness and self-knowledge. Knowing who we are, as well as understanding how we are interconnected with the universe and with each other creates the life force energy necessary for restoration and spontaneous healing.  Therefore the concept is to provide an opportunity to rediscover this space and to explore and develop specific interactive skills, knowledge and competency, within metaphysical healing. 

There is a lot more to healing than physical symptoms, as many illnesses are a result of emotional and mental energetic imbalance.  Healing can be used to stimulate and revitalise the whole being using vibrational energy.  It improves the quality of life and has no side effects.  Although the medical profession is sceptical there has been a massive shift in consciousness and the government is now giving holistic healing a place alongside Western medicine.  Healers are channels who absorb healing energy which is sent through the hands as positive energy into the client.  Traditional Priestesses and Priests healed way before 'doctor' was an established profession.  Healers are highly trained, qualified and professional people who undergo years of training to be in private practice.  Research proves that healing is a potent therapy that delves deep into a person's being.  However, healers do not 'diagnose' they 'observe' problem areas.  If Western Science took metaphysical healing approaches seriously there could be a huge impact on medical costs and patients.  It can cut medical costs and utilise the power of the mind to heal itself.  It is important to recognise that medical intervention is necessary sometimes and that self-administered care speeds up recovery, as a broken bone cannot be fixed by the mind alone. 

We can reclaim and heal ourselves by understanding our purpose in life and living it. In doing so we find opportunities to create balance and uncover the universal truth-'know thyself', an essential tool for healing and embracing the true oneness of the universe. The holistic healing approach views therapy not as a 'cure to crisis', but as support on the journey. Crises are not seen as problems, but as stepping stones for spiritual emergence and growth. Holistic healing builds on traditional theories, as well as recognising and accessing higher consciousness through such tools as meditation, imagery, metaphor, visualisation, creative arts, awareness, intuition and inner attunement. Within all of us is a space that holds our potential, our aspirations and dreams. It is the space that we enter for strength and stillness; it is from this space that healing comes. Within this space is our future, pain and healing.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this course and feel ready to go out there and heal with my hands.  Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to finally know myself and have the confidence to share my calling with the world. 

Rev. Yemaja-Ixchel Sophia Sekhmet-Maat

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.  

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.    

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Christian Studies

A Review of the Christian Religion

Final Essay for the Master of Religion Course

by

Daniel L. Moore

            This is a good, basic, overview of the Christian religion.  The course begins with a few lessons centered on the Bible.  This makes sense as the Bible is the key sacred document of the Christian faith.  What makes it more interesting is the differences between the Old Testament among the three major groupings of Christendom (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) and yet there is no differences when it comes to the New Testament. 

            The Christian religion began as a sect or cult of Judaism.  Jesus, the founder, was a Jew.  About 90 percent of the first generation of followers was of Jewish origin.   The study of this founding is similar to many other cults that ultimately become "main-stream."  The elements of this are:  1) A charismatic founder and leader; 2) A strong core of followers in the beginning; 3) Some authoritative source (prophecy, holy writings, and miracles); 4) Tension or division already existing in the religion system; 5) People seeking a new way of hope.

            The early Christian sect met these conditions and then some.  Unlike many other religions or cults where there are some skepticism about the claims of the leaders, the New Testament record and other historical records support the authenticity of Jesus and His followers.  There are too many coincident between the Old Testament prophecies concerning the promised Messiah and the accounts of Jesus Christ.  There are those who are skeptical of the miraculous conception and virgin birth of Jesus Christ.  How else could a "son of god" be explained?  Miracles are an important part of the Jesus story. 

            The New Testament was a product of the first generation of the church leadership.  It is believed that all the 27 documents were originated within a period between 45AD – 100 AD.  The early church did not consider writings after this period to be part of the canon.  Key is the understanding of the apostolic doctrine developed by the apostles who were appointed by Christ.  They could hold each other accountable in the writings and thus keep consistency in their message of the Gospels, the instructions to the churches (the epistles) and a consistent hope (Revelation).

            The key mission of the church was to reveal God who forgives sin through the Son and keeps the people in His kingdom by way of the Holy Spirit.  The Bible teaches that all are born in sin.  Sin has a penalty – death.  The person who comes to believe in the Gospel message – Jesus Christ dying as the substitute for every person who believes, was buried and resurrected from the dead – is forgiven of sin.  The Christian then is encouraged to live a life that is consistent with the Gospel message and be a messenger of the forgiving message of peace to all he or she meets.

            With the growth of the church there came organization, ritual, and sacraments.  What was a simple fellowship meeting for learning, a love meal, and scattering to tell others became a formalized institution.  This primitive religion, as it grew, needed a group of leaders.  They would be called bishops (who replaced the apostles), priests, and deacons.  Bishops became the pastoral leaders of the many congregations within a city or region.  They also served as missionaries taking teams of priests with them to establish new congregations.  Priests, or pastors, would serve local groups alongside the deacons who provides the practical, administrative support.

            The rituals of worship grew out of the Jewish synagogue system with the reading of scriptures, the prayers, singing the hymns, reciting litanies, and teaching or preaching.  The sacraments were those rituals that were designated to symbolize a special grace.  There is an internal debate over what constitutes a sacrament or ordinance.  Protestant and Baptist groups support baptism and the Lord's Supper.  Catholic and Orthodox have up to seven sacraments.

            The instructor believes, and I disagree, that denominations developed in the 16^th century.  The first major split was between the eastern and western factions of the church in the 10^th century.  The Celtic church developed independently from the 4^th century until the 8^th century when it was absorbed into the Catholic Church.

            The last few chapters of this course were a history lesson.  I would prefer an expansion on ministry and highlight the mission work of the church instead.  ULC has an excellent Master of Christian History Part I that covers this well. 

            I do recommend this course for those who are unfamiliar with the Christian Religion.  It is a good basic overview.

           

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As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  As an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've enjoyed watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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