Universal Life Church - ULC Seminary

Discourse on Four Gospels Course by Rev. Taras Bobiwsky

I’ve never been very good at writing, but here goes. Before I begin I’d like a few moments for some background. I initially heard about the ULC on some TV show where the host got himself ordained online and performed a wedding ceremony for some of his production staff. I decided to do the same, however the certificate that spat out of my printer looked kind of cheesy and I didn’t do much with my new status as Reverend, until recently. I had a chance to perform my first wedding so I ordered a wall credential to show the county. I must be a shallow person because seeing my name on a fancier document suddenly triggered a change in me, the ordination suddenly stopped being a joke and that’s when I decided to start taking some seminary courses.

To get some “street cred”. I hope to start my own ministry some day, but until I get some more classes under my belt I have no business occupying a pulpit.

As for the course, kudos to who ever chose the text, it was an easy read. It was much like a novel. I didn’t get any particular trouble or comfort from the course, instead I got perspective. This was a particularly difficult time to pursue studies. My father-in-law became very ill and succumbed to the illness and passed away. It was difficult for us to watch him suffer and we frequently asked God why? This may seem like a cold response but why not? In John 3:16 it is said that God sent his only begotten Son for our salvation, and roughly 33 years later he died for all of our sins for now and forever. Where does the perspective come in? I’ve always been confused why if Jesus suffered and died for our sins then why do we centuries later have suffering? My only answer is this, God has a reason for everything he does, perhaps the suffering he allows is as a reminder of what his Son went thru for us. After all any discomfort we “mere mortals” go thru is but a small fraction of the humiliation and suffering that Jesus went thru for our salvation.

I enjoyed the course and can’t wait till the next one which will likely be the Comparative Religion Course.

by Rev. Taras Bobiwsky

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Universal Life Church Seminary

Paganism for a New Age

Final Essay

Having been a practicing pagan for several years I decided to take this course for three reasons, none of which were to actually learn anything new. I took it to see what kind of courses and what quality of courses ULC Seminary offered, to reaffirm the ideals and beliefs that I had already had and ultimately as a step towards completing the ULC Seminary Program. Having taken the course I can honestly say I learned some new things that I had not originally thought I would.

After practicing for almost ten years and doing a fair amount of research on my own I thought I knew a fair amount. However, I discovered through the course that there are far more faiths and ideologies than I though and that the ideals held by some of those groups are very different from my own. Lessons 15 and 16 for example which cover the “Great Rite” brought out some differences in the way I see things as a Druid versus the way that Wiccans; of all sects, not just traditional Gardnerians, see things.

The course also brought about some thinking on my part and led me you set new goals for myself. Lesson 20, Daily Life, for example pushed me towards creating the goal of implementing things more in my daily life instead of just on the major holidays. Now I’ll admit that my life isn’t as easy to fit some of those things in as the authors was but I feel that I can do quite a bit towards implementing my faith and rituals more into daily activities. Some of the things mentioned are things I already did while others were things I had never even thought off.

In short, while I went into this course feeling that I wouldn’t truly learn anything and that is was just a simple step on the way toward my goal; I discovered a wealth of knowledge and view points I hadn’t seen before, which caused me to open my mind a little further and refreshed my thirst for knowledge.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Spirit Quest Final Essay by Revd John A Simpson

My essay is by way of response to the course and how it has affected me for good.
Techniques: I found the various techniques of value, as often programs do not always address the ‘how to’ component of metaphysics. The Rope as a way to ground myself and let go of unwanted ideas; The centre of my head - sitting in a space ship and seeing the screens before me helped me visualize; Protection Rose - visualizing a Rose and letting negatives flow into it and then destroying them. Later techniques.

These all enabled me to tap into my Intuitive side for spiritual growth. The creative, is one way into the intuitive self.

Teachings: Some concepts really challenged me, among them:
I am a perfect spiritual being on a unique course.

Me taking charge of my life instead of my life taking charge of me.

Setting goals at other levels than the final one, e.g. to become exposed to simple Visualization.

Your intention drives the force of my being.

I am forgiven for EVERYTHING! after using the forgiveness letter.
Love is what comes around. What ‘comes around goes around’. The energy I’m Created from is eternal. This was brought home when my daughter paid for our accommodation when we visited her in Italy!

I was able from these to get a better sense of myself, as unique, able to grow and change, potentially perfect and forgiven by God, the All. Since then I have been realizing my goals and helping others to set and reach theirs.

My Beliefs � what I call my �operational theology�. As a former minister, I thought I had worked my way to what I believed in my heart, what I really operate from. Questioning my decisions and thoughts, Discourse #15 showed me how much they are based in relationships, the way I�ve been responded to. As I step back and see the people involved, I am thankful for their interest in me without having to accept any longer their values. Example: An elderly couple encouraged me in my Christian faith as a young man. It was a fundamentalist faith. Gradually I moved away, yet inwardly their kindness kept pulling me back to their faith. I have been able to visualize them and my telling them my truth now � which they accepted with love. Life is a complicated game!

How Spirit Communicates was very exciting for me, as I have loved colour and music, worked with it and used colour to communicate to others the aliveness of all things. I had not thought of numbers before. This is communication on the spiritual level, especially when I mix and match things, make connections using colour and music. I�m working on the numbers as a way of communication.
I�ve learnt that I�m becoming a present time person, putting energy into what I want. Looking to the past, previously, has helped me gain from it. Forgiveness has set me free from having to obey its impulses. Keeping my goals in the present time has progressed using the rose grounding method. I�ve changed my feelings about myself from bad to perfect � the mantra- : God loves you. You were created in perfection, by perfection, for perfection. Your success is guaranteed - Has enabled this.

Overall I have got freed up to use my energies creatively, to imagine what I want to become � �a fully alive, fully divine man�. I watch my words as they are powerful to attract, so that I say more of what I want. In short this course has brought me onto new ground where spring has broken out!

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Spirit Quest Final Essay by Rev. Terry G. Rempel
Yes I do choose to accept it.

Its been an amazing 8 months and I’ve learned a lot. I like the idea that we are all perfect spiritual beings on a unique course. We only get out of life what we put into it. Seems to Me my Mother taught Me that as well.

I really enjoyed the lesson on forgiveness. It certainly is true that “holding onto a grudge is like drinking poison and waiting for that person your holding a grudge against to die.” Learning how to forgive is something we should all strive to work at a little more. I know from My own life experience,starting with My parents and now with My Wife forgiveness has always been hard for Me,but yet so essential for My health,peace and well being. With all the conflicts in the world today it is My hope and My prayer that more forgiveness is used and tried for the sake of the human race.
When I read the lesson on affirmations I learned that we should only tell are selves things that are true to us. I’ve done affirmations off and on all My life with only moderate results. It only makes sense now that I think about it to only use affirmations that ring true for yourself or your deep subconscious mind won,t accept it. In the back of My mind I know I’ve read about this affirmation method before,just never really tried it,DA! I certainly will be using it more now though. I guess that’s what a spirit quest is all about.

Getting unstuck,discourse#23 was beneficial for Me as well. I can remember being stuck in the past in certain situations and even today there’s certain things I,m stuck in. Life is certainly about learning there’s no way around it. Life will present us with the same lessons over and over again until WE catch on,its that simple. Life in a way is like a school of hard knocks one way or another we are all going to learn,some a little slower some a little faster. If we find ourselves stuck in a situation in life,life is teaching us something and we have to dig ourselves out an learn from it.The tools discussed in discourse#23 will help with this I have no doubt.

Well it truly has been a spirit quest,I’ve learned a lot and its been fun. One thing I will never forget!
“You are a perfect being.
God loves you.
You were created in perfection,
by perfection,
for perfection.
Your success is guaranteed.”

by Rev. Terry G. Rempel

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, St Paul, 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.

Master of St. Paul Final Essay By Rev. Dennis Walter Zerull

“Master of St. Paul”. The subject and title seems a bit ironic because of St. Paul’s service and dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. None the less I found this course to be informative and I enjoyed the weekly assignments. The teaching techniques used are effective in that they make the student research the course material. I do find however that Lesson 16 “Admitting that you are a Sinner”, to be more of a sermon and less of a lesson. It seems to be a bit more personal to the instructor than to the student. The lesson would be better served in my opinion if the focus on sin was from various perspectives using more study on actual transgression as in the Old Testament on the transgression of law.

However when studying the life of arguably the greatest missionary, theologian and writer of the early church this course does a good job of covering Paul as one of the most important figures in the New Testament. Paul’s gospel indicted all of humanity for the crime of rejecting God and His rightful authority. Under the influence of Adam’s sin, mankind plunged into the depths of depravity so that they were utterly unable to fulfill the righteous demands of God and deserved only the wrath of God. Consequently, the sinners only hope was the gospel which embodied God’s power to save those who had faith in Christ which was the focus of Paul’s gospel. Paul affirmed Jesus’ humanity and His deity and the fact the Jesus was a physical descendant from the from the line of David.

In his years as a Pharisee, Paul’s initial and adamant rejection of Jesus as the Messiah may largely have been motivated by Jesus’ ignorable death. Death by crucifixion was indicative of divine curse. Certainly the Messiah could not have died under the curse of God. But when Paul wrote his first epistle, this death curse was recognized as the grounds for substitutionary atonement. (Gal.3:10-14) Paul explained that the idea of a crucified Messiah was a stumbling block to the Jews. This gospel would later lead to plotting his death and several attempts on his life. Yet through all of his life’s challenges after his conversion he never spoke in anger or arrogance but always in love and patience. But he knew that he would suffer after his vision from God, “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles, kings and the sons of Israel. I will certainly show him how much he must suffer for MY name!”

Paul’s missions were initially met with suspicion from Church leaders but Barnabas intervened in is behalf and when meeting with Peter and James, the Lord’s brother, and he is on his way to teach for several years. The pillars of the Church Peter, John, and James approved the no-Law gospel preached by Paul and his focus on Gentile evangelism. “No-law” of course referring to Paul and Branabas’ journey to Jerusalem to settle the circumcision matter. Still as a result of this matter, the Law-free gospel does not encourage unrighteous behavior in believers.

History tells us that Paul was probably a man of above intelligence considering his years of Rabbinic training and by his own words in Gal.1:14, “I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors”. Though zealous, his knowledge would have taken a great deal of reading, work and study. Yet after Christ appeared to him as the resurrected and glorified Christ in blinding radiance on his way to Damascus, Saul immediately surrendered to His authority and went into the city to await further orders. There his blindness was healed and he received the Holy Spirit and accepted believers baptism.

I take great solace and comfort in the example set by Paul. His amazing display of courage and faith to endure the prison’s, the death threats, ship wrecks and other situations that may have never been recorded in the annals of history are truly are a testament of his never ending faith and belief in God’s work. His gospel of salvation that is so freely given to humankind through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our union with Jesus through faith is our liberation from sin, death, and allows us to help one another mature, to serve Christ, and glorify Him, which is the highest purpose.

I thank you once again for offering this course.

God’s blessings upon you all.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Dr. of Wiccan Studies Final Essay by Jayne Morrison

This essay will be a three part essay. The first part will be about things that I have learned from the course. The second part will be about things I already knew. The third part will be about things I had hoped to learn but didn’t.

In the very first lesson, in the history of Wicca, I learned all about the significance of planting the crops to the point that men would take small portions of their blood to put in with each seed. If that is something I already knew, it has been buried deep within the archives of my brain, but I think it was a new insight for me.

I also learned a little more about Gardnerian Wicca versus Seax Wicca; particularly that Raymond Buckland had been in Gardner’s original coven and had branched out on his own, forming the Seax Wicca Trad.

Also, after learning about some of the practices of Gardnerian Wicca, such as the secrecy, Seax Wicca suddenly started making more sense to me. I�d already known a little about other Trads; Dianic Wicca, for example. Now, the more I know, the more closely I relate to Seax Wicca, rather than any other Trad.

I also learned about dowsing. I was unable to make any distinguishable differences in the definition of dowsing versus the definition of scrying. What the course instructor referred to as dowsing, some of those methods used, I had thought were scrying. I�m still confused as to whether there is a difference, or if it is one of those things in which it depends upon where you are coming from that determines how you name it. For example, one person in one part of the country may pronounce tomato completely different than a person in another part of the country. Could, in fact, some of Lord Starwalker�s dowsing techniques also be considered scrying?

As for things I already knew, I�ve cast many circles and many spells. I�ve actually gotten quite adept at the art of spell writing. I already understood the concept of not leaving your circle until you are done, or if you have to, you must cut a doorway.

I had also already become quite familiar with how to set up an altar and how to position things the way I liked them. I had to agree to disagree with the instructor�s ideas of how an altar should be set up. I follow the very traditional set-up of East = Air, South = Fire, West = Water, and North = Earth, with Akasha, the Spirit, and fifth element, somewhere in the middle, towards the north. My circles have followed this East to South to West to North to the altar many a time. In this, I am set in my ways.

Another thing about me is that I do not use, or even own, a wand. I use my athame for all circle and spell-casting purposes. I feel more as one with steel. I know that is somewhat of a controversy amongst witches and Wiccans. Many swear by their wooden wands. But I�d like to remind that steel also comes from within the Earth too. I don�t think it�s so much the tool that you use as the intent behind the spell and the Spirit that one is in when casting the spell.
One major thing that I did not learn that I had hoped to is how to perform handfastings and Wiccanings. I was directed, by a fellow minister, to a good website containing information on handfastings. I also found several websites with suggestions on Wiccaning ceremonies.

Perhaps not having all the answers was good in this course. It made a person think; to search out one�s own answers. If I didn�t know something, because the lesson wasn�t specific enough, it would lead me to do research on my own to get the answers.

Overall, I would rate this course positively but would caution that, if you�re taking it just to learn how to perform a handfasting, you should visit www.handfasting.info. The course was very well worth it and I will miss receiving the weekly emails. It is time to choose another course and move forward.

Special thanks to all who helped me along the way.

Brightest Blessings!

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Insight Into Awareness course is based on the ten insights presented in the Celestine Prophecy. It is a wonderful course that can be easily applied to provide intense spiritual growth. I loved this course!

The First Insight is the awakening. It talks about an awakening that is currently occurring on the planet. There is a critical mass of people who are experiencing their lives as a spiritual unfolding through meaningful and mysterious coincidences. As we begin to pay attention to the coincidences, we notice more of them. This is the realization that the divine is leading us in a particular direction to fulfill our mission. Many times we do not recognize the ‘blessing in disguise’ until later. An example in my life was when I decided to take a class in herbal medicine. I loved it and thought it was fun, so I became involved in an herbal apprenticeship class for 7 months. I still wanted to know more after that 7 month class, so I decided to look for a degree program and found one that fit my needs (and budget). Five years later, I have a doctorate in natural health and will open a business in a few years when the finances allow for it. This will help me fulfill my mission of helping others with their health and stress.

The Second Insight is called the �longer now�. People are becoming more aware of the purpose of our lives on this planet and the real nature of the universe. We are spiritual beings with a spiritual nature. This new focus replaces the preoccupation with technology and the gaining of material comforts. In the past, I was always focused on my career, being promoted and being a super-achiever. At a point in time (when my Dad passed away), I became much more focused on spirituality. My focus increased considerably when my mother passed away a couple of years later.

The Third Insight is about energy and the fact that our universe is composed of dynamic energy, not matter as we had previously thought. This energy is sacred and through projections, people can focus this energy and increase the number and pace of the coincidences. Wherever we focus our energy, is where the energy flows. I became aware of this truth with my Reiki training and am now a Reiki master. With the constant use of Reiki, my understanding of this truth expands.

The Fourth Insight makes us aware that we are in a struggle for power. Too often we cut ourselves off from the source of energy. We tend to compete for other people�s energy by wanting attention. This competition for scarce human energy is what causes conflict. This insight explains why there is conflict within families�especially between parents and children.

The Fifth Insight teaches us that when we tap the source of divine energy within us, all of the conflict and violence ceases. This is the message of the mystics. Once we make this connection, we feel light and a constant sensation of love. I have found one way of making this connection is through meditation and Reiki.

The Sixth Insight show us when we tend to lose connection� usually when we are under stress. We become aware of when we manipulate other people�s energy and steal it. The more we become aware of when we are connected and when we lose connection, the more connected we will stay.
We also must recognize what our parents gave us, how we are using it and then clear the past so we can eliminate our control dramas. This opens us up to aligning with our spiritual path more clearly. I find I lose connection when under stress. I am trying to become more aware of every situation in which I do this.

The Seventh Insight is about engaging the flow of energy once we become aware of our personal mission. Once we are in the flow of energy, the coincidences increase, we daydream and have meaningful dreams to find answers to our questions. At some point there will be synchronicities that when we have a question, it will be answered intuitively by another person. This has occurred for me on several occasions. Usually, the answer comes from my husband a day or so before I ask the question!

The Eight Insight teaches us the interpersonal ethic and how to conduct our relationships. We need to uplift everyone that comes into our lives and be careful not to lose our inner connection with our romantic relationships. It is easy to become co-dependent on another�s energy. It teaches how to project energy to others and handle family situations. This is one insight that I will use from now on.

The Ninth Insight is about our evolution to spiritual beings through synchronistic growth and attainment of higher energy states. We will eventually end the cycle of birth and death and will unite the afterlife dimension with the physical dimension of earth. I work with Reiki to continually attain higher energy states.

The Tenth Insight is about fulfilling our birth vision in remembering how to live this spirituality on earth. This spirituality is what all humans have strived to accomplish. Once we remember that we are here on assignment, we will pull a fuller vision of what we wanted to accomplish while on earth and be able to live it. I have the vision of what I wanted to accomplish and that is helping others through counseling. Living it on a daily basis is a challenge.

As I have a strong interest in the Celestine Vision, I went a little further and found that there is now an Eleventh Insight that talks about extending prayer fields. Every religion and sacred writing refers to the power of prayer, positive thinking, etc. Using a prayer form of holding a vision of intention for a spiritual world, we are helping to transform the world into spiritual form. I have been participating in a global prayer forum where many people hold a positive vision for the world together.

There is a Twelfth Insight under development. Stay tuned!

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Spiritual Awareness, 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.

My spiritual awakening began in December of 2004 in Scottsdale Arizona. I met another spirit who, for some reason, made me remember that I existed before I was born into this life in 1968. He did not say these words to me, in fact, he did not feel the intense connection between us as I did. This was very confusing to me for sometime.

As time went on, I realized that the universe gives us opportunities to see beyond this earth - and state of mind, timing, physical well being are all factors that effect whether we see what the universe is showing to us or not. I saw what the universe showed - and decided to act on finding out more and more about it.

My meeting with this spirit was only 2 days. However, it has been the foundation that I have built 4 years of an intense spiritual journey. On this journey one of the first things I did, thankfully, was to join the Universal Life Church as an Ordained Minister. Next, I enrolled in the Master of Metaphysics Program. I could not have made a better choice. This was a well thought out, comprehensive explanation of everything that I had suddenly become aware of and was feeling overwhelmed with. The course overall, helped me to be calm about what was happening to me.

The most important thing I have learned, is that we create our own realities here on this earthly plain. That sounds great! What else do we need to know right? Just think it and it happens. What I have learned in the past 4 plus years - it takes a lot of energy and focus and work to really make things happen around you. Grounding, protecting yourself from outside energies, running energy - all the exercises the course taught me was the very beginning. I did these things regularly, however, I saw little results. And even the results I did see were temporary.
What I learned for me, in my journey - I had much cleansing to do both emotionally and physically. These things were blocking me from achieving positive results. You cannot create what you can not feel that you absolutely deserve. This must be the reason why the course was constantly reminding me that the universe loved and supported me. That I did deserve great things.
Emotionally, I had issues that had not been resolved from childhood with my dad. Even though I was creating things around me that I loved, they would soon disappear. In hind-site, I see this was mostly because I pushed them away. At the time, however, I had somewhat of a breakdown in 2005, where a hospital stay was involved. One of the diagnosis made was literally - Trouble Adjusting. They got that right! I was convinced that what I was reading was real - but it was not working. Things were going away - just like my dad and this all made me deal with my abandonment issue.
It was a long road, but I worked on and healed the wounds that were caused by my relationship with my father during childhood. Meanwhile, I still took many classes online, read several books about metaphysics, and periodically reviewed my emails from The Masters of Metaphysics course. I began reading tarot cards for my friends and they were amazed at my accuracy. I took the show online - and now, I am an expert psychic/tarot card reader on a very large website. I incorporate a lot of what I learned from the ULC Master�s course in my readings to advise how clients can do energy work on their own. Things are progressing slowly but steadily. I have accumulated several positive feedback scores. However, about 2 months ago, I hit yet another wall..
For some reason, all of a sudden, I could not connect with as many people as I once could. I felt somewhat �off�. I couldn�t understand it. A quick reading on my own - showed that there was something difficult coming up for me - but I would overcome it.
Something was wrong - and I didn�t know what. Using the techniques of meditation, the protective rose, speaking with my spirit guides and angels I searched for the source of the block. Turned out that I was physically ill. I have a chronic condition that interfered with my life subtly for years - without me noticing. Within a month I was in the emergency room diagnosed with colitis from chronic chrone�s disease. This disease has been with me for a long time. Depleting my system of needed nutrients to supply optimum energy and ultimately, blocking me from obtaining the maximum amount of connection with my clients. Now that I found out this information about myself - and have done everything I can to correct it - I have begun reading again with even better results than before.
Spirituality is an never ending road for us human beings. When I first began, I had no idea what I was getting into. A constant process of cleansing this human body in mental and physical ways to get to the truth of spirit. It has for me, been a very difficult road. I am grateful though, that I did have the information in this 30 week course to always reflect on and give me strength and hope that in the end, the universe is taking care of me.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The discipline of comparative religion is a field that studies the practice and evolution of religion. There is little emphasis placed on the personal practice of religion, nor is there any pressure to follow a particular religion. I must say that this is one of the finest courses offered by the ULC Seminary and I would very highly recommend it to anyone seeking a greater understanding of the abstract practice and the functional phenomenon of religion.

Rev. Kythera Ann takes a very mature and exceptionally delicate approach to what could be a very volatile subject and provides an exceptional amount of information in a manner that allows to student to observe and analyze not only the information about world religions, but also their how own beliefs and belief system came into being, in both an academic and personal manner, allowing for the individual to develop a greater sense of what their own beliefs really are, and how they practice their chosen religion.

I gained a much greater understanding of the active exercise of religion and how religion is practiced both historically and world-wide. The instructor�s ability to collect, analyze and connect related themes from diverse religions, times and cultures; and then present these concepts in a manner that does not offend, is quite impressive. I looked forward to the many links and other ancillary information the instructor provided for me to examine and consider and I actively studied and researched as much as possible to gain a greater understanding of both the concepts she presented in her discourses and the underlying themes that connected these sometimes disparate-seeming concepts.

Although the amount of work required is difficult to coordinate into an already overburdened schedule, it is well worth the effort � I went with less sleep, was late for work, missed meals and still felt rewarded and satisfied, knowing that I was being provided an excellent education on a topic that has been my interest for many years.

Rev. Kythera Ann�s discourses on sacred space and place were a marvelous overview of what makes a particular location important to a religion. The opportunity to examine maps, numerous images, extensive links and thoughtful descriptions really opened up the concept of �holy place� for me, allowing me the opportunity to more fully develop my own sense of what is sacred space.

Regretfully, the only way I can suggest to make this course any better would be to have it occur in real-time � this would allow for students to actively engage in discussion about the finer points of the discourses. But, with the hectic schedules that many of us have, the luxury of logging on to an live e-course regularly is just not feasible. I believe that the ULC Seminary message boards will have to remain the compromise solution on this.

I would gladly take other courses from this instructor and would strongly recommend that others do so as well. I cannot state strongly enough how through, sensitive and well presented this course was. Without reservations, I would recommend this course to everyone within the ULC Seminary.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

I just concluded the Four Gospels Course. I am now to write a paper on the course those that know me say it should be easy for me. Many moons ago I sat in a classroom for two years being taught this same course, only from the prospective of the founder of my religious denomination, one that I was not to question their teaching. This Four Gospels Course was all questioning, designed to make you question preconceived notion that you may or may not have. To bring away a personal prospective, it is well written and easy to understand. I took this course looking for some answers, I found some and I found some more questions to take a deeper look into.

Our Christian Bible is a Jewish book born out Judaism. At the time of Christ there was no such religion as Christianity; Jesus was a Jew, as were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Mary Magdalene, and Paul all twelve of the chosen were Jewish. Christianity accepts the fact of only one being a Jew Judas Iscariot.

Jesus was a Galilean Jew and lived his entire life within the boundaries of Judea, the mountainous southern part of the historic Land of Israel an area now divided between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and, in a few geographical definitions of Judea , Jordan. Historians and Four Gospels generally describe Jesus as an itinerant preacher and leader of a religious movement within Judaism. The followers of Jesus composed an apocalyptic Jewish sect during the late Second Temple period of the 1st century. Some groups that followed Jesus were strictly Jewish, or those strongly attracted to Jewish practice, including the church leaders in Jerusalem. The Roman Centurion Cornelius is the first Gentile (non-Jewish) convert Paul of Tarsus, after his legendary incident on the Road to Damascus, he had success in proselytizing among the Gentiles.

According to biblical reconstruction, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, taught in parables and aphorisms, challenged pious traditions, legalism and social hierarchy. Is that what we who are Christians are doing in the Universal Life Church — challenging the established church? Is that challenging pious traditions, legalism and social hierarchy the reason some say that we are not Christian enough? It is not until we throw of the chains of oppression of fundamentalism and legalisms of today�s church will we find the freedom in Christ.

What the Church does not tell you is during Jesus’ time and for 20 years after his death; converts to the Christian sect of Judaism were required to convert to Judaism first to become Christians. The very fact then becomes Jesus was Christianity’s greatest spokesman, but not its originator.

As such I study the course through Midrash a modifying adjective, Midrashic. For me the Four Gospel Course drove me deeper into the course than ever before. Do you know how delighted I was when my eyes were opened to a simple fact that I missed so many times. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, is a midrashic creation! The name Zechariah stemmed from the fact John had been identified with prophet Malachi, whose immediate predecessor in the Bible was the prophet Zechariah!

The more I study the Four Gospels I personally question and I am challenged by the concept of the Trinity. I can not find it any where in the Four Gospels. Neither of the words “Trinity” nor “Triunity” appear any where in the Old Testament or New Testament. The Old Testament depicts God as the father of Israel and refers to divine figures such as Word, Spirit, and Wisdom. The Hebrew Scriptures tell us that God is one, and the Godhead a single being. “Hear, O Israel : The LORD our God is one LORD” Deuteronomy 6:4. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” Deuteronomy 5:7 �Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel and his redeemer the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” Isaiah 44:6

The New Testament does not use the word “Τριάς” (Trinity) nor explicitly teach it. Jesus and his followers I did not believe intend to contradict the Jewish Shema Yisrael: “Hear, O Israel : The Lord our God is one Lord” Deuteronomy 6:4

I know some of you may or may not understand at this point of what I am talking about but this part of the course is troubling to me. I would love to get my hands on an out of print book written by Michael Goulder, Midrash and the Lection in Matthew. I now find myself questioning the existence of what some call the Q document because I now see Luke and Matthew are to be understood liturgical and lectionary books. I find some of the themes of Exodus in both Matthew and in Mark. I also see examples in Mark and Matthew of Genesis being a guide for these narratives.

The more I read the Four Gospels I find Christianity to be one way to God not the only way. I find words like ALL and NOTHING being used. Matthew 11:28�come to me all� said the Christ of God. That is an invitation for all to seek God through his or her faith even those of other faiths through their faith. I see infinite inclusiveness of the God whose invitation is not selective. I see the love of God �Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord� Romans 8:39. Nothing and all must mean nothing and all.

Rev Linda Miskimen
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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.