Spirituality Course

Spiritualism

This course was very informative, thought provoking and enlightening. It reminded me of past knowledge renewed and also new knowledge learned.

This essay will state and confirm what I have learned and agree and disagree with and also the thoughts it provoked.

I believe this is a very worthwhile and important course for ministry.

Scientific-minded people are left wanting more meaning in life. This lack of meaning in their life drives such people towards spiritual enlightenment.

Science it self has progressed to the point that it has it self proven that mysticism is at the heart of all things. Some scientists believe that we are but a collection of atoms. Science-minded people think that all things can be known and explained by man.

This would be very much God like, but to think that we are but a collection of atoms and no more than that. Where's the meaning to life if we are but atoms? The utter lack of meaning to life is known as nihilism.

Have we so deluded our selves to think that there is such a thing as a soul, a mind and a life without meaning? I think not !

Along that line of thinking, I would agree that this type of thinking in a person is definitely an open invitation to minister to those needing guidance and meaning in their life.

With out purpose and meaning, why live? I agree that existentialism is one of the 20th century philosophical frauds that embraced diverse doctrines.

I believe that we can help these people through knowledge and compassion.

Einstein helped with his theory of relativity, in viewing the universe in relative terms opposed to mechanical terms, this mechanical term way of thinking was every thing being machine like that started as a collection of matter that would one day come to nonexistence. This was Nietzche's philosophical view. His famous statement was that 'God is dead.'

Bah hum bug I say !!!

He thought that he had learned so much that God was unnecessary, he disregarded moral values, he believed that will and power ruled for a self serving purpose. Not Jesus like at all.

Altruism was not his belief, unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.

Then this led to further refinement up to our day. Existentialism is the big bang theory.

This theory is that the big bang created the universe. There was a creation of stars that die, planets form, elements combine forming life.

Man evolved conscious thought. Then the belief is that mysticism and God were created

(made up) because man could not face his own morality.

This was to appease the ego.

Descartes had reduced the universe to a mere giant machine, but at least he still realized consciousness as coming first in creation. His famous saying was 'I think therefore I am'.

This implied that the soul of the man came first and all other things followed.

I was not at all surprised to learn that atheism was influenced by Descartes after reading about his beliefs. He only recognized what the human mind can acknowledge exists

Werner Heisenberg discovered the true nature of matter and changed the world.

He discovered that people can not predict the form that matter will take when it comes into existence. This is known as the uncertainty principle.

God is forever creating the world we see through the consciousness that we think of as being our own. We are in fact a small part of the collective consciousness of God. We are all a part of the whole.

I also agree that in regards to the power of thought and how our minds interact with the energy of the universe to create the world we live in. It is like prayer, it works wonders.

I believe that this is why science is one of those wonderful wondrous miracles that manifest.

If you think about all those minds concentrating on the same out come, it makes sense that it will come to be. There with in their faith lies (scientific faith ) and in understanding the science minded faith, as being parallel to our faith, we begin to understand how to minister to them. Science gives different names to God. Ultimately they can come to see the similarities of their faith and a God based faith and the wholeness they can have through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

The idea of the power of thought was shared by good old Aristotle in his belief that there only had to be a potential of form for it to exist.

God creates the world through us. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is our savior.

It states in the Bible that no man comes to the Father but through him. ( John 14:6)

This is how we speak to God, through Jesus.

I agree that there is two kinds of people in this world, those seeking and those who have found the truth.

Socrates said 'the most important thing you can do is know thyself' His wisdom was based on not knowing anything absolutely. The realization of only being able to believe in and live in the moment at hand.

I believe that we are in very trying times, as has been prophesized to come to pass in the Bible. B= Basic I= Instructions B= Before L= leaving E= Earth

As you can see, I rely on my Bible based faith and the Holy Spirit to guide me through life.

I agree that we do place limits on ourselves as God is not bound by human limitations.

I also agree with your statement about greatness coming from an upheaval, pain and suffering. I believe that there must be a test for there to be a testimony. God will get our attention one way or another. This is not always something that is pleasant nor understandable by us.

This is not because he is angry at us or dislikes us, it's because he loves us and desires a close relationship with us. We at times may feel forsaken, but we are always forgiven and loved. One must be willing to accept the forgiveness to receive it, you must be able to forgive yourself and to leave it at the cross.

Arrogance, pride and strife only render and limit our closeness to God.

We are to be ambassadors of Christ. We are to be Jesus like, this is also God like in our thinking, talking and actions.

We as children of God are striving for the same purpose, no matter the name or title you place on it. It does not matter if it be Buddha, Allah or the energy force of the universe.

We are sure to make great strides and become less limited in life if we only walk, talk and speak out of compassion and love. W. W. J. D.

What would Jesus do.

I am the type of person to plant a seed, an idea and let God help it grow with in that person.

If this person is open to ministry and I feel that the door has been opened up for a work to begin, then I am in there with all I can offer that is of use to this brother or sister.

I will only debate another's thoughts and opinions to a certain point. If they are open to knowing what I have to share then as I stated before, I am all for it.

This of course is always done with compassion and love guided by the Holy Spirit.

I had never really thought about the white garb worn by the doctor's and scientists as ceremonial before, but if you think about it, it is a recognition type of thing.

I do know that all that is available to these people have been made available to them through the elements on this earth created by God. As far as them being great and magical with healing powers and superior minds, I have to state that the great physician is Jesus, he heals, he has and will continue to heal, as is stated in the Bible. Rather these doctors and scientists realize it or not, they have been blessed with their abilities to do good with the gifts provided to them by God. This would include but is not limited to their minds, not all of us are cut out to be and do what they are and do. Also as stated all the elements made available to them to do their work. We can not make herbs, nor can we make any of the minerals that come from the earth and etc. You get the idea.

I had not ever thought about the ego as controlling part of a person

but I definitely agree after reading about your thoughts and mulling it over in my mind, that the ego is a constant battle within that I now understand.

I have in just the past year, since my call to ministry come to realize that we are the body, a part of the grater whole. I also had not viewed evil as something that does not exist.

I can see how it is absorbed by good and therefore becomes non existent.

I was very enlightened by the platonic view of science minded and spiritually minded people, how they are holding onto only half of reality and not applying the other half. How the mind has created what is and is not at the same time into being by a mere thought. Wow !!!!

This was deep and food for thought to say the least. The thought of symbols being created by man for the things that language can not define.

I have learned in a different way in regards to the representation of the reconciliation of opposites.

These are all one:

Good & Evil, Life & Death, Physical & Non-Physical, Physics & Metaphysics,

God & Energy, Prayer & Meditation, ect….You can come up with many more if you try.

I was also enlightened by what I learned about Saint Augustine, how he merged the philosophy of Plato and Christian ethics. Platonic doctrine had a profound influence on Christianity that is still influential to this day. Christianity had no philosophy per say of it's own, Augustine gave it one through the incorporation of Platonic doctrine.

He outlined concepts such as heaven, the soul being a perfect form of ourselves and when we die we will go to Heaven and live in perfection and harmony for eternity.

Jesus did state that the Kingdom of heaven is within you, but I do have to state that I believe in scripture as it is written in the Bible. In the New Testament it is written in the book of John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. In the Old Testament Genesis 1:1 it does state that God created the heavens and the earth, also Revelation10:6 states “and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it and the earth and all it contains. I could go on and on in regards to this topic of heaven being written in the Bible, but I choose to merely state that I am not stating that you are wrong or that I am right, just quoting scripture. It all just depends on what you believe in. We all know that the Bible has been changed, how much is a question that I believe will remain unanswered.

I totally agree that there are some definite problems with organized religion that turns a lot of people away from churches. I myself am considered to be non-denominational and I attend a non-denominational church as a result of my past experiences in organized religion churches. This is as I have witnessed a huge cause of people loosing their faith.

I agree that Jesus would not give his blessing of the torture and burning of so called heretics.

Nor would he bless the Inquisition. Stereotyping all people that refer to them selves as Christians is not a practice of mine. That would be like me stereotyping bikers I am part of an organization called Bikers For Christ, it is a motorcycle ministry and I have experienced the stereotyping involved with this title.

I enjoyed the food for thought about how the unconscious mind is able to make you act with out conscious thought, even drawing on past conscious acts and experiences. Wow !!!

Neat stuff, the human mind is so awesome.

I totally agree in regards to social interaction and recognition being a very necessary part of the human well being. I believe that with out this interaction you become a very unhappy, discontented person. With the motorcycle ministry my husband and I have experienced a lot of people needing this social interaction. This an awesome experience, because not only do we minister to this person, but we also make a new friend. We have swapped a lot of phone numbers and made a lot of new friends. I consider these and all people to be my sisters and brothers in Christ. 

After all, we are all connected, we are all a part of the whole.

Schopenhauer was definitely on the right track in regards to us all being of one.

It's too bad that he didn't realize that this also included a oneness also in a spiritual way.

He then could have experienced the peace and joy found by having faith in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Until reading this I had not realized that Buddhism and Atheism shared the same belief that our existence ends into nothingness, back to the universal energy where it came from.

I found it intriguing that the eastern and western peoples came to the same belief of consciousness is an illusion that fools a person into suffering.

I agree with the power of manifesting what we allow our conscious mind to focus on.

I have found it is important to know that the great philosophers have proven that science can not define any laws with any concrete certainty, with time and the thought process changing, so does experimental out comes, so called proofs.

In lesson # 13 I thought it very thought provoking, but complex to ponder a thought of the universe being a projection of our moral selves and that we are beings existing in some plane other than what we believe to be the real world.

Schilling in my opinion was missing the rest of the thought of what we are part of. Nature, as you put it, could easily be called God. Is it not also part of the whole?

I take great joy in stating that we as humans do eventually mature to a total acceptance of a state of forgiveness and self realization. I imagine there are and have been and will continue to be those who sadly enough do not reach this maturity level. Hopefully those are put into our paths to minister to. Be it God's will.

As far as Hegel's philosophy of us being a combination of spirit and mind, being the ultimate form, being the makeup of existence,this is some what parallel in my opinion to the mind and thought process guided by the Holy Spirit that was sent to guide us. Some refer to this as a conscious. I agree with his idea of us all being connected, a part of the whole. Hopefully he is right in his thinking about there being a balance in conflict and strife some day.

I have learned that Marxism was the intellectual foundation of communism, most of the Marxism views were taken from Hegel. True Marxism is a materialist philosophy and completely atheist. Hegel believed in the spirit. Marxism denied the realities of human nature and painted a picture in his mind that is not possible because of human nature, but yet because of the harmonious picture he painted, it is imaginable.

I disagree with the existentialists mind set. I believe that there is another plane, level or what ever you want to call it, after the body dies there is more to come. This is just in my opinion a part of our existence. The soul, energy, spirit or what ever you'd like to call it goes back as part of the whole.

Darwin, I think is as far off the map as can be and any one accepting his beliefs are yes, probably very depressed and trying to figure out what their purpose, if any they have in the grand scheme of things in life.

It has to say the least been interesting to learn how modern society has been influenced by philosophical ideas from the past. I agree that everything influences every thing else, even time has had no barrier on human beliefs.

Things are forever changing in the realm of cause and affect, today is tomorrow’s history.

I had not until now, after reading this course pondered the idea of self analyzing myself for any unconscious or conscious driven self serving purpose when ministering to a person I think is in need. Hmmm. Food for thought.

I really felt that your sharing of your own personal experiences and the journey that led you to the call of ministry was very thoughtful of you and not unlike, I would think so many other people's calling that also includes lessons to be learned, heart ache and a humbling of mind and spirit.

As I have learned through my own personal journey that led to ministry, and it did include all of the afore mentioned, God will get your attention one way or another. If you choose to hear and answer the call is a personal choice. I can only imagine that it would be very unsettling to not answer that ever present, divine calling.

As it is written in the New Testament, Revelation 3:20, Here I stand at the door and knock.

If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.

As far as the trials that are endured, it is written in 1 Peter 1:6, In this you greatly rejoice, though for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. So as you can see trials sharpen your faith.

As you stated in the lesson, the gates will be opened with much to be endured, we will be tested, gleamed each time and made stronger.

I have been very enlightened by this course in defining spiritualism and believe it will serve me well along my never ending journey of enlightenment. I have definitely realized that I know that I know nothing for certain.

I strongly recommend this course to any one who wants to be an affective contributing human being in society, it is in my opinion a must read for ministry.

God Bless and thanks for sharing all you have.

Your sister in Christ,

Reverend

Jeanette Buschman

Ordained 12-28-2005

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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.

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A Course In Miracles Class

In what way am I attached to results or desperate to attract what I desire into my life?

A: Lately, I have been wanting more students in my Yoga classes.  I am also in a life transition stage and want the changes needed to come my way fast.  I have always wanted things to happen fast when I know change is needed.
In what ways am I asking for magical change in my life instead of praying for the strength to handle whatever circumstances I am now in?
A:  And I would say to this question that I know that other directions are needed since I am not seeming to get what I think I want right now.  I do pray and meditate for the strength to handle what is happening now.  I have always said that when life brings me lemons I will make lemonade.  I guess that at times I have to taste the lemons a long time before I realize that I need to make the lemonade.  This is, of course, related to not accepting the lemons in the first place.  One of these times is presenting itself now and I am realizing that it is happening for important reasons.  I need to accept what is happening and appreciate the lessons and the gifts that are here now for me.
How may this be working against me?   A:  It is working against me because it causes me to get stuck in fear thinking.  Anytime I do this, I am miserable, not in a state of love.
How will my life improve when I ask for the go's fear to be replaced by God's peace? and What will be the evidence to me that I have done this?
A: I will know that all things happening are happening for specific and real spiritual reasons.  There are no accidents.  I will be released to get on with what God has in store for me.  I will know I have replaced the Ego's fear with God's love when I am feeling loving and energetic and serving myself and others.  It is about being at peace and in Love allowing the changes to accrue as the need to for my highest good.  The negative circumstances that we "think" are negative are just messages that we need to do something else or head in another direction.
How will the peace I feel when I release attachment to results help me to transcend my problems?  

A:  Peace will help me to transcend my problems because peace thoughts are positive with all the cells in the body getting loving and peaceful messages of release and joy.  It is only when the present is accepted and celebrated that I am able to open to the changes that may be needed.   The other possibility is that there are not changes needed in the current situation, but in other places in life.  Things will flow only when there is acceptance which replaces resistance.
Write a prayer that requests a release from fear and asks to accept the peace that is already mine through surrender of attachment to results.  

 

A:  Help me to accept the current circumstances in my life with peace and love.  I thank God and the universe for all life's experiences and know that you have my highest good as a focus of experiences that you send my way.  I release my little ego from fear and please give me the grace and compassion to accept the present moment, all present moments as perfect just as they are.  In this way my body, mind, spirit will be able to integrate these experiences and allow natural transitions to take place that would not have if the current experience were not present here now.  Blessings to All. 

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The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers and lots of free online sermons for your use. 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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Prayer Course

Response 6: Dr. of Spirituality

Denise L. Graves

 1.       What is meant by the concept communication and creation are synonymous?

This concept implies that communication and creation are interchangeable, that each produces the same outcome.  The Course states that: Because Father and Son are one, undivided self, the communication they share is perfectly united and perfectly understood.  It needs no translation because nothing comes in between God and Son that could ever distort their communication. It also makes no request because God and Son are already perfect, pure and abundant.  They have no needs.

This seamless communication stream creates as it communicates. The world and humankind were made in the mind of God in the same fashion, God thought and substance appeared, creation.  Prayer is creative.  It is a worldly label for how we communicate with God.  As expressions of God, we the sisters and brothers of Jesus have the same option of experiencing the seamless concord of love with God. Since prayer begins with God and not with us and we are a manifestation of the thought of God, then God is always communicating with us.  God is always making Its intention known though humankind.  Our challenge is to move through the illusions and return to love.  In this practice of prayer, we will sing the song of loving thanksgiving as Jesus did with God. We, the created will agree with the divine plan and will of God. We, the created will hear, remember and say “yes and amen” to the intention of God. Thusly, the good intended by God becomes manifest because of the reciprocal relationship between the creator and us, the created.  This single harmonious voice is endless.  It is connected by love and extends throughout eternity.  At no time is the relationship of communing and creating not present.  What keeps us from experiencing the good of it is our inability to attune ourselves the truth about our perfection, pureness and abundance, consequently we historically prayed to get a “Need” fulfilled.  This practice of prayer is not in agreement with the truth God knows about each of us.

2.       The definition of prayer to a friend.

According to the Course; True prayer is communion for the sake of sharing mutual love and thanksgiving. It acknowledges what has already been given and accepts what already is. It is not about asking for things such as cars, houses, clothes, jewelry ,vacations, furniture, the lottery; removable from bad situations, harm to others, validation from some false accusation, acquisition of positions, attracting friends and/or spouses.  The absence of these is not the real problem.  The real problem is the lack of love.

The Course says; we would rather see that these problems originate outside of us and that the circumstances and people who caused the problem are out of our control.  In reality, we have the power to choose these problems and we do.  As we allow these problems to remain, become complex, overwhelm us and make us impotent; we remain separate, living in a lack of love and unforgiveness state. Consequently, what happens when we ask God to provide things, opportunities, positions and or vindication, we are telling God what to do. This is a usurpation of the authority of God and binds us to our problems. 

God knows we do not know what the best solution to our problems is outside of love, thanksgiving and forgiveness. We do not know the ramifications of our requests. True prayer recognizes our ignorance.  That is why the Holy Spirit is present for us.  We have the opportunity to forget the things we need. When we ask to be shown the real problem and surrender to the Holy Spirit, all we have to do is wait for the real answer.

3.        What is true prayer to person praying for a spouse?

True prayer is asking for God’s answer regarding the desire for a spouse.  It is a stepping aside; a letting go, a quite time of listening and loving.  It is realizing that you need nothing.  Everything you need is already provided.  God has already granted us Gods’ happiness, all of Gods’ love, joy and peace.  Since God made each of us out of these things, they already exist in us.  What is the request for spouse about? If it is about love, then God gives us the wherewithal to draw it to ourselves.  If it is about separation, then God through the Holy Spirit  reminds us our oneness with God.  True prayer is actually a way of asking for help to remove all the obstacles that prevent us from realizing the happiness, love, joy and peace that is already ours.

How could a Son of God need anything?  As offspring of God we already possess of all of Gods’ fullness.  We have no needs of any kind. Our true prayers are songs of thanksgiving for what we already are and already have.  Prayer asks for nothing and receives everything.

Dear God,

You are the source of my life.  I have every good you intended.  I am grateful for love, joy, peace, happiness, companionship, abundance and all the good given to every offspring.  There is nothing in the way of my receiving my good.  Please show me what is present in my life that blocks me from remembering that my good that already exists.  Thank you for the opportunity to hear from you and experience your many gifts.  I surrender this lack of love, happiness, and forgiveness to the Holy Spirit and wait patiently for your reminding answer.

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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 and lots of free online sermons for your use. 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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Spiritual Awareness

Michael S Barth

Master of Spiritual Awareness

            Humans today are experiencing a spiritual awakening.  With the technological advances made over the few centuries, the world is becoming more connected through advances such as the internet, airplanes, medicine, cell phones, faxes, etc.  These advances have allowed for speedy transmission of information allowing people to access information that would have otherwise taken a longer time to obtain.  Also, with the airplane, humans can travel to almost any place on Earth in a considerably short time which might have taken months on a ship.  People are thus able to learn more about other cultures and to actually experience the culture first hand.

            Many teachings from different cultures have made their way to places on Earth where they may not have occurred.  These teachings include such things as Transcendental Meditation which was introduced to the West in the late 1950's by His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Buddhism which is becoming ever more popular in the West especially since His Holiness Dalai Lama was exiled from Tibet in the late 1970's.

            As far as the First Insight of Awareness is concerned, coincidences that occur just do not randomly happen.  People are trying to awaken themselves to the unseen power of this universe.  In the past, I have experiences where I had gone somewhere and remembered being there before.  One example is when I was in the Boy Scouts and attending the National Jamboree at Fort A. P. Hill in Virginia, just outside Washington, D. C.  Our troop was touring the area and we stopped off to tour a Navy ship.  When we started walking up to the ship, I was flabbergasted when I had memories of being there before as a child.  I asked my mom when we had been there but she told me that I had not been to the Washington, D. C. before attending this Boy Scout Jamboree.

            Also, in the West, our lives have become more complicated and more fast-paced that sometimes we do not have the time to think about what we are experiencing or what exactly we are doing.  I have lived this way for a long time as well as many people I know.  Things would happen where I did not think about it much.  Things that I experienced while living this fast-paced lifestyle is thinking about calling someone and they called me first or thinking about writing a letter or e-mail to someone I haven't talked to in a long time but I get something from them first.  For along time, I just wrote these events off as coincidences and never gave them much thought.  Now I give these events some thought onto why it occurred.  Now-a-days, my thought is that these coincidences were supposed to happen and might have been planned by unseen divine forces that humans are not consciously aware of.

            I have been incorporating this First Insight of Awareness of the last three years without realizing it.  I learned Transcendental Meditation and I have started going back to church.  Also, some attitude changes have occurred but have only realized it recently.  For many years, I partied hard and I did not care about anything or anyone, including myself.  About three years ago, I decided to quit partying because I realized that I was bored of that lifestyle since it was the same people doing the same thing over and over again.  After I quit partying, I started thinking about life and what I was supposed to be doing with my life.  Then a series of meeting the right people and some events, I got to thinking more.  This is how synchronicity has worked in my life.  I did not know this at the time but these events were the action of divine forces.

            I did not know at the time that I was starting on a new journey that I would not have considered at an earlier age.  When I was younger, I was almost obsessed with material possessions and trying to accumulate as many items as I could.  This started changing the farther down the road I got.  The items I was hording sometimes I did not even need at the time I got the item.  Now, I have either given these items away to people I know that needed these items or I donated the items to charity.  Also, I started making new friends and these friends are on their own journey.

            One of the other lessons in this course that I learned and was not aware of it until I read it was the Fourth Insight which is the tendency of humans to take or steal other people's energy.  I did not realize that I was trying to do this in my own life.  My energy level always seemed higher when I tried to force or manipulate other people to do things my way.  This was done a lot at work and at home.  I was not aware why I had more energy when I did this but I now know why.  Now, my energy level is higher when I connect to God.  I connect using the Transcendental Meditation that I learned and through prayer.  Prayer was hard at first because I learned I was not praying the right way, but now that I have learned the right way I am trying to keep do the right form of prayer.

            With connecting with God on a daily basis, I am less likely to anger problems, my attitude is better, and my mental/emotional illness is getting better.  Also, I have a lot fewer days where I am symptomatic of my mental illness.  Also, connecting with this universal energy, I feel more secure about myself and have had a lot less conflict in my life.  Before, I was always feeling insecure about myself and I was in these conflicts with people that do not happen as much now as they did before.  Today, I do not worry about how I look or if I make a mistake.  I do not worry about being corrected in front of people nor do I worry about making the right impression just to feel better.  With conflict today, I do not correct people like I did in the past.  In the past, I would correct people in front of other people in a demeaning way just to make myself look good.  I would purposefully start arguments just for the heck of it.  Now, I correct people by pulling the person to the side or if I have to do it in front of people, I do it in the most respectful way.  I do not go around starting arguments just for the heck of it.

            These results are not by accident.  When I started this course, I did not know exactly what I was going to be learning.  Going through this course was thrilling because I learned about why I was doing things like starting an argument.  It was like being in the Child state saying "I didn't do it" or "Everybody hates."  These actions (e.g. TM, prayer, etc.) have helped me realize this and I have incorporated these actions into my daily life.

            I enjoy sharing my experience and journey with other people.  I tell them the path that I took to get to where I am today.  When telling other people about my experience/journey, I do not shove anything down their throats like I use to.  If people have questions, I give them an honest answer or point them in the direction of someone who can give them a better answer.  I also have allowed people to disagree with me and not starting an argument at the same time.  My relationships are better with people.

            In the past, I would have told people that there is only one way to get to where I am or how to do things and that was my way doing things.  Now, I let people walk their own path and I let them decide now how to walk whatever path they would like.  I just try to provide with the tools for that journey or try to help them to locate those tools.  Also, I let people know that I love them no matter what even if they make mistakes no matter how big or small or even if we disagree with each other.

            Before taking this course and others offered at the ULC Seminary, I would have thought that only losers get into this area.  But now I know that people explore courses like this to live better lives and that these people are winners.  This course was very helpful to me in many ways.  I was able to look at my behavior with a new light.  My behavior before I started this journey was less than ideal.  Now, my behavior is more ideal.  This course was time well spent.  It was laid out very well and can tell that the instructor really knows this subject well.  There are things that I am still incorporating into my life from this course.  This course has a lot of useful information in it.  Now I can share my journey better and can add new things too.  I would definitely recommend this course to anyone.

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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.

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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A Course In Miracles

Dr. of Spirituality

Lesson 9 response

Denise L. Graves

1.        Mind over matter versus matter over mind conversation my understanding of how the ego has the power over the mind.

People in this conversation said that “matter and mind” are symbiotic.  One cannot happen without the other.  For this group there was no need for further discussion.  The idea that the physical must exist for the mind to have something to respond to and the mind must exist for the body/physical to act in and react to.  People spent considerable time restating the phrases over and over again.  Eventually, each consulted the dictionary to agree upon a common definition for each word. I heard in this group that conscious thought informed by truth always yields the mind desired results for every person.  Each participant agreed that our truth content is what is in question.

I surrender to the mystery of God and depend upon the Holy Spirit to do what it does.  As a person of faith I remember the vision God has for its’ creation.  That vision is for only good.  I accept that I do not know my good in the collapse of time, but I do know God, the Holy Spirit and my elder brother, Jesus.

2.       Explain how giving reinforces what is given.

The currency of miracles is an exchange of love that actually reverses the laws of this world.  This exchange says to give the world what you have and the world will give it back to you more times over. This reminds me of the parable regarding the talents in the Bible. Three people were given something to use.   Two people invested those talents and had a great return. They gave what gifts they had. 

The course states that giving love reinforces and multiplies.  I just celebrated my birthday in New Orleans this year.  I came here to serve as an organizer around health care ethics and environmental justice.  I spend long hours listening to stories and strategizing with grassroots leaders and clergy.  They have the practice of pinning money on a person for their birthday. Everywhere I went people who were complete “strangers” pinned ones, fives and tens and some twenties on my shirt.  Their many expressions of love were overflowing. This lesson brought to mind the ways I have shared resources with others.  On this day, I received far more than I believe I have ever given.  As a medium for miracles, I have been reminded that these miracle impulses are opportunities to give love.  As men gave to me, I looked to them with eyes and words of gratitude knowing that there was no need to offer sex or any other pleasure than the love of God.

I have learned in prayer to focus on love and forgiveness to clear up a way for miracle impulses to come through me.

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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 and lots of free online sermons for your use. 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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Prayer Course

Lesson 8 Response

Denise L. Graves

1.       What is my understanding of choosing between serving two masters; Truth or illusions?

I understand that the manifestations I witness in my life are directly related to what I accept in my mind as true.  The content of my thought is informed by tyrannous or true Authority.  When my mind chooses to serve illusions or wrong-minded thinking, it places itself under tyrannous control.  As a result it imprisons, because such are the dictates of tyrants.  When my mind chooses right- mindedness I am listening to the Holy Spirit, I forgive the world and overlook what has happened.

I understand that through the power of prayer that every though has alchemical power because every thought is joined to the Thought of God.  I now realize that every thought that keeps me separate from God takes away my knowledge of my own power. This places me, the created, in the position of producing manifestations that are limited, assaultive, incomplete and deadly.  Any attempt to live in wrong-mindedness robs me of the abundant life that is mine already by the Thought of God.

The Course reminds me that all thinking produces form at some level.  There are no idle thoughts.  The mind cannot be impotent. What is a stake is what are we thinking about that produces what we want and do not want.  The alchemical power of thought works like an antenna.  It picks up creative frequencies and magnetizes them into the world of form where they take shape.  The mind can choose to listen to the voice of right-mindedness or wrong mindedness.  The brain needs direction.  It will respond the strongest thought and belief of the mind.    Whatever I spend time giving thought to, will manifest.  The manifestation is the effect of my thinking cause. This manifest is present in my bodily functions and earthly tangible illusions.  I can choose the wrong-mindedness or illusions or I can choose the right-mindedness or truth. 

I am challenged to explore my thoughts and their source.  I am also challenged to take responsibility for my thought impact in my life and the universe.  I am overwhelmed with the historic right thinking arguments of my cumulative faith journey.  I am comforted that this work is the work of the Holy Spirit.  I am informed and affirmed that taking the course was the perfect answer to a thought to know God through prayer.

2.  How does perception and projection work to dilute the power of prayer?

  Projection and perception work together to keep me separate from God. As they work in concert, they keep me from seeking the healing of my mind, asking for God to show me how move through the circumstances of the world and asking God to remove obstacles the keep me from knowing Gods’ truth.

Projection uses perception to recoil from what it fears.  Once projection occurs, what we see outside ourselves appears to be independent of us.  It seems to be happening to us rather than made by us.  This is how projection allays our guilt but at the cost of making us impotent.

Partial awareness is perception. Knowledge knows the Thought of God’s All Encompassing Love and extends that Love.  Perception no longer knows Love. In the realm of perception, the power of thought works opposite.  This occurs when I accept wrong-mindedness as the truth.  In this separated state my thoughts appear to have diluted power because I do not guard my thoughts carefully. In the world of dreams and beliefs, perception employs the senses to gather information. Since senses can only recognize concrete things or things that have dimension, they cannot transcend the concrete, three dimensional realm.  Perceptions scope is limited to what the eyes and ears can verify and to the choices the mind has already made.  Separated from all Knowledge, perception can now merely analyze parts of the whole and make judgment and comparisons about it.  Its level of thinking can only operate in a world of multiplicity were eternity appears to be divided into past, present and future, where oneness seems to be comprised into separate, spatial compartments consisting of here and   there.  The mind that perceives does not solve problems; it blames and puts responsibility on others and things. Perception attacks.

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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 and lots of free online sermons for your use. 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

A Course In Miracles

Assignments:  Not really, but I decided to do them anyway.
Are there changes you intend to make in your life?  Yes.  I want to change the fact that I am in love with a man who lives 2500 miles away and I have not the freedom to seek another relationship and don't want  to in the first place.  I want this man and no other, but I want to get resolution on it so that we are not so far apart physically.  We are so close spiritually and emotionally,but the physical distance is driving me nuts.  So I intend to change this.  This is also mentioned in one of my desires in previous homework assignment on Desires, attracting and manifesting

Do you intend to be released from the past?   And what are you going to do to accomplish this?!   Boy, this is a good one.    I do attempt to live in the present, that's for sure.  I love my lover in the present and I loved him 50 years ago.  We feel that it's as if there were not 50 years since we were together.  Sometimes it is almost spooky since we don't feel that time passing has anything to do with our love.  I want to be released from the past and desire to be released from the past and know that all is actually happening in the present and that the present is all that actually exists and that all power and change are in the present moment and that the present moment is all we have in the first place.   Linear time does not really exist and life only happens in the present.  The time frame we live in has been created by us in order to attempt us from going insane!

Anytime I do not enjoy the present moment I do something about it, make a change in thinking.  I heal relationships and feel important the way I feel around others and demand that relationships remain positive.  I have been fortunate in my life to be able to consciously confront a person in a positive way and turn the relationship around so that we communicate more loving and considerate of each other.        I value the present moments so much and this is one reason that I now practice several arts that require me to be in the present moment or I could not do them:  examples are balancing poses in Yoga, teaching and doing T'ai Chi Chih and teaching and doing Meditation and doing dance and teaching dancing aerobically and creating projects that require concentration.  It is easy to give "lip service" to being in the present moment, but I believe that we have to actually DO things that require us to be in the present moment.  Even washing dishes can be a present moment Meditation if you are "one with the dish' as Tich Nhat Hanh says.  I think we grow only when we are experiencing the joy of the present moment and that we are only actually alive when we are in the present moment.    

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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 and lots of free online sermons for your use. 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

Spirituality Course

Defining Spiritualism Essay

Rev. Baudouin B.

I must first of all say that this course was one of the most learned in the Seminary, and that it would be interesting for any reader, even non-ministers. The discussion on the history of Western thought, although obviously shortened and simplified, was very accurate, and the analysis of how modern physics and how it questions ‘standard’ scientific beliefs was very right. The parallel between science and religion was very well explained.

Every scientific theory of the past has been proven at least partially wrong. The gravitation equations of Newton are correct as long as speed remains far smaller than the speed of light, but Einstein demonstrated that they were simplified versions of other equations in which time and space are no constants as speed comes close to the speed of light. One day will come (if it did not already) when someone will prove that the equations of Einstein were only correct under certain conditions, and so on. Science, like religion, is based on belief.

As a continuous learner, I particularly liked the idea that the fundamental obstacle to learning is to believe that one already knows. That form of pride is very common at all levels of society, but people fail to realize that by wanting to be right, they often waste an opportunity to grow. Every dedicated researcher, learner or student will realize that the more he or she studies, the more he or she realizes that he or she knows nothing. Even in one particular area, there is always more to learn. In that sense, I disagree with one of the last conclusions of the course, which is that there is nothing to know. On the contrary, I believe that there is an infinite amount of knowledge, and that we should not shy away from this knowledge, but that we have to be sufficiently humble to realize that we cannot know all, even in one particular area. We will actually end-up knowing only an infinitesimally small part of the infinite knowledge, which is and will remain the domain of God. This is particularly true of the social sciences, working with humans and groups of humans who are all different, but also of the hard sciences as well, as I showed above. In that sense, instead of saying that ‘there is nothing to know’, I would say that ‘what any man can ever know amounts to nothing’, which is not far from the well-known saying of Socrates.

Another major conclusion of the course with which I agreed wholeheartedly is the fact that there is no actual objectivity, and its corollary that there is no absolute understanding. Eisenberg discovered his Uncertainty Principle (and not ‘principal’) by realizing that it was impossible to measure at the same time the position and speed of an electron: the act of measuring one would modify the other. In more mundane terms, this means that the simple fact of observing something changes it. To give an even more mundane example, do we not often act differently when we notice a beautiful person from the opposite sex looking at us? 

Likewise, understanding is not absolute, only relative. As someone said before: ‘understanding is a three-edged sword: my side, your side, and the truth’. However, this truth can never be fully grasped. In that sense, there is not so much difference between Socrates and the Sophists, because the ontological truth cannot be known, and therefore, in a way, it does not exist. Only one’s relative truth can. What people think as an absolute truth is actually an epistemological truth shared by a majority. David Hume was right when he said that there is no absolute truth – but this is only my personal epistemological truth.

Good and evil similarly are relative concepts. An act can be evil or good depending on the specific circumstances, on the point of view of the participants, or on the society among which it is performed. In the mind of most people, killing in the defense of others is good, but killing for personal gratification is evil. Killing in itself is therefore neither good nor evil. Killing Jews under the Nazi regime was good (by the Nazis), but would be considered evil in most societies today. Executing criminals is seen as good in some countries, and evil in others. Absolute principles of good or evil do not exist. Good and evil are actually one, and no act or person is fundamentally good or evil. This is another evidence of the fact that objectivity does not exist.

Likewise, life and death are just events in a continuous cycle of death and rebirth. I believe that death is not the end of the life of the soul, although some would say that death is the end of all. Therefore, death is also a subjective concept. In any case, life feeds on death as death feeds on life. In my view, being afraid of death, or feeling sad for it, is meaningless or egoistic, as in every death there is a purpose, and after every death there is a rebirth. Life and death are one.

And all of this is not an absolute truth. It is my own truth. The truth of someone who, as anyone else, knows nothing.

Yes, this course was one of the best of the Seminary. The only part I did not really found fitting was the self-flagellation story of the author during the last lesson. I failed to see what it added to the overall course content and its message. Despite what happened in his past, the author should be proud of the course he put together. Even though he would probably agree that it is only an infinitesimal part of the overall knowledge, it can be an important guiding light for others.

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

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

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

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Spiritual Awareness

Dr. Of Spiritual Awareness

Rev. Anne Marie Brooks

The course was very well written. It was organized and flowed well. The lessons all went together each supporting the one before and after. The course seemed to easily fit in spiritual development and psychic development. It supported very well the information I have learned in my parapsychic science. They validate each one very well. There some things already knew from previous work but there were also some aspects that went deeper than I had previously.

I thoroughly enjoyed the ideas about Karma as a teacher, and souls having lifetimes.


Reincarnation allows us the luxury of learning the lessons we missed the last time around, and paying off past karmic debts. The use of active versus passive mediation helps people know there really is no way to do it incorrectly. The different types of mediation such as visualizations, soul trip with your guardian angel and regression mediation, which as he describes it sounds much, like self-hypnosis. I agreed with his perception of good and evil and how important it is to know yourself.

Clairvoyance, telepathy, guardian angels and Reiki spirit guides ring true to me in that I find these perceptions in all the studying I've done. As a Reiki Master Teacher, I loved his description of the Chakras and colors as these are incorporated in to energy healing sessions I do. Once he notes that we are "child of Divine Creator", which reminded me some much of the part in the Desiderata that states, "You are a child of the Universe…"

Finding your own answers is frequently done by learning and trying other religions and he suggests the use of a mentor. From my lifetime and just plain common sense there are good people in any religion and bad people in any religion, which is why it is so important to know yourself and listen to your intuition. You have all the answers in you if you will just listen and be aware of signs around you.

We also get guidance from spirit guides, guardian angels, ascended masters and animal spirit guides. I enjoyed and appreciated his discussion on high spirits versus low spirits. That is a point not made often enough.

In the chapters, that deal with the Laws, I will only comment on the one's I either hadn't heard of it before or disagree with or did quite "get". Most of the laws have been part of my training with either Reiki or parapsychic science. The law of cycles made sense but maybe too much. It just seemed like good old plain common sense. I didn't quite under his description of the Law Of Gender. In his explanation of the Law of God Will, I found myself thinking it was much like Albert Ellis' work on Rational Emotive Therapy. Beliefs cause filling, feeling cause behavior therefore if your belief is faulty than it is likely that your actions/behaviors will be wrong and not in anyone's best interest. The Law of Lotus didn't remind me of anything I'd read elsewhere and seemed to be vaguely described for to agree or disagree. I would have to say that all in all the laws he discusses I agree with and for the part have become familiar with in other areas of study. This made me feel good in that it validated previous learning.

The discussion on Ley lines was nice to see. He explains it well and how to protect yourself as well letting you know you can always call for help from guides, Archangel Michael and the use of a mirror. This was good information and area where I believe I can never have too many ways to help people know how to protect themselves if necessary. He explains Kundalini , prana, the I AM presence in terms that are easily understandable and again fit nicely with other teachings I've had. In the chapter, in which he discusses the 7 rays, their colors etc. was much like the chakras. His description of how each ascended master is associated to each color and virtue was the perfect way to wrap up the course. Although I knew a lot of this before the course I learned so much more and I must add I love the way he writes. It is down to earth and often quite humorous.

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Ordination with 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 Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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