Master of Religion

Master of Religion From Reverend Arthur Strafuss Last Assignment, Lesson 20. For the most part I found the course meaningful and appropriate for the path that I am on.  I enjoyed the course and found most of the subject matter worthwhile. The most interesting course for me was Lesson 4 "The Lost Scriptures" Looking into and reading the scriptures gave me a better understanding of Christianity as it developed.  This was important to me as that I am a reader of the Gospel of Saint Tomas, Mary, and Judas.  I use the Gospel of St Thomas as a guide in my study of the new testament as that the copy I have has a cross-reference to the Apostolic Bibles, or four main Gospels. One of the most important parts for me was the section on forgiveness in the 3rd Lesson.  This is the most important area of Jesus' teaching and from my comparison between non-denominational and main-line churches, it is not cover enough.  Why, because: 1.    This gift maybe the greatness of all gifts given by Jesus.  2.   To have a greater relationship with God to forgive our sins.   From is I have formed my basic message whenever I write a sermon, or a one-to-one counsel with someone who needs forgiveness. I love the use of the different Christian Bibles showing that there isn't much difference between the different churches.  But I used the Torah, (which out of respect for my Jewish brothers and sisters I cover my head), the Qur'an (which I read facing east out of respect for my Muslim brothers and sisters.  The lesson on Religious Titles was a little slow but I did remember the addressing of Roman Catholic Bishops which I forgot.  As for myself I will stay with the title of Reverend. Three lesions on St Paul were too much, in that I am more interested in the Church since Paul, and not in history that I had since grade school Sunday School. I would have to have had contact with the instructor during the course.  I am speaking as an Instructional Designer, I would have liked to have the course more interactive and have feedback.  The use of the forum was great, talking to other students and discussing topics' was helpful.    For me, I will continue my studies and use this course in my Ministry.  I am continuing my study into non- denominational churches, and compare them to main-line churches as that I think they have the "IT" that so many churches have lost.   Thanks and blessing from:   Reverend Arthur Strafuss I plan on taking more courses, but not right away. ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church  materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

The Life of St. Paul

Rev. Judith Lichtenberger Final Essay for "The Life of St. Paul" course:                                                                          In an obscure monastic library in Patmos, a research historian comes upon various copies from "Acts of the Apostles" and more interestingly, pages from "Epistles" by St. Paul. These letters copied meticulously from the originals were written in colloquial Greek, the "koine" Greek of the Apostle's time. This was the Greek used by the common man in everyday language.                                                                                                                            Paul's writings were found to be highly readable, a style much more than communicative- a style of simple wonder. When utilized by the "Apostle to the Gentiles", it spoke volumes. To the newly converted Greco-Christians, it was as if one of their own, not a university-educated type, had happened by to tell them good news. Later on, the Eastern Church Fathers of Orthodox faith would "translate" Paul's epistles into a more formal and grammatical writing style but by then, Paul would have accomplished much of his work. His mission had been to convey Christ's message and his own wisdom in order to cement together the loosely fitted communities of early Christendom. These communities were separated not only geographically and by local dialect but by background and belief. Paul put it all together: the bolstering of courage, the creation of new traditions, introducing new creeds of moral conduct and most importantly of all-an all enduring love and patience in all of these things about which Jesus Christ would have been proud. Paul never lost his faith or enthusiasm, attributes which shine forth in the manuscripts and Paul, peculiar in the Biblical personality sense, remained even in his street-wise Greek, as Christ-centered as ever he was after his experience on the road to Damascus.                                                                                                                                  He was an inspired preacher, a stern but compassionate father-figure to those in Christian infancy. None of this was lost in translation albeit a bit of the local color/flavor so endearing to his audience.                                                                                                               It is a clever and intelligent man who can argue convincingly in government court and then enter a poor man's abode and be made welcome. The Gentiles who benefited most by Paul's efforts were often the poor or middle class citizens, former pagans, never having had the benefit of a classical education. Paul, with the help of a Holy-Spirit-inspired ministry brought his beloved Gentiles into a cohesive community. Where is the measure of success? When donations are made from poor Gentile-Christians for the benefit of famine-stricken Judeo-Christians (considering how some of the Jewish converts mistreated their Gentile brethren) then I believe that is genuine success.                             REFERENCES: THE GREEK WORLD edited by Stonehenge Publishers, Oxford, England 1980      ST PAUL,THE APOSTLE:HIS LIFE AND MISSION by Ronald Witherup,  Catholic Updates July, 2008 ******************************************** To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for Free, for Life, right now, use the Free Online Ordination, button -- Click the link! As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  As an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've enjoyed watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar