Looking for a Religion.

UCL is what i was thinking, thank you Jestor

its not secular org; its a church
universal life church

you can be ordained like right now and its really quite inexpensive to have credentials mailed to you

they are legally recognized and their doctrinal requirement is something like "i will do my best to be a loving person and do what i believe is right"
or something to that effect - i remember thinking it was actually a pretty good commitment really - they even have a program/s specifically to train people on weddings

that being said; you might like totjo and it might like you - and if youre interested in those possibilities then hang out for a bit and get to know people

if all you really are looking for is a solution to the marriage issue then the ULC offers an easier and less involved solution, which also doesnt require you to accept or align with something you consider absurd or inauthentic

Sipiri wrote: Politics is who gets what when where and how. Clergy would get sole power to grant a legal status. LGBT and atheist individuals would get the ability for a non-religious marriage taken away. They would need to go through the process of finding someone who is willing to do it rather than just going to a courthouse.

Not necessarily. The linked text will take you to a "Spiritual humanist" site, conferring ordination in a religion "based on reason." Organizations like that, and the ULC, seem more in-line with your original post than TOTJO, glad as we are to have you here.

I believe I know precisely what separation of church and state is...The first amendment of the United States incorporates a notion of separation of church and state, and is left up to various entities to interpret what it says. It says that congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of a religion.

We could talk about constitutional interpretation, but unless there's a supreme court decision I'm unaware of, my state's government doesn't fall under the establishment clause. The supreme court has applied other sections of the first amendment to states, but not, so far as I'm aware, this specific clause.

I know you won't see it this way, but I find your state's decision is actually in favor of both the separation of church and state (as you personally interpret it) and also an advancement of legitimate religious freedom, and not just "religious freedom for fundie Republican Christians." Also, considering that SCOTUS has upheld the federal (though not state) provisions of the FRFRA, the use of Schedule I substances in accordance with spiritual tradition, and animal sacrifice, it's a pretty safe bet they'll tend to side with religion in any situation where it doesn't actively conflict with the constitution--which in this case, is actually getting a free pass to help the country become more progressive, not less.

Incorrect. It merely removes the state's role in conferring the status.

That's still a step in the proper direction.

It seems like the primary objection I'm seeing isn't one of my beliefs, but rather, objection to my intent and the fear of appropriating your belief structure. This is fair to say?

In all honesty, I skipped reading the part about your actual beliefs entirely solely because your intent infuriated me. Yes, that's a fair assessment.

Jestor wrote:
There are many members here who are ordained through ULC... And are working on it here...

I currently hold ordinations from St. Luke's Evangelical, the ULC, and Dudeism, in addition to my Jedi clerical licensure. I've discussed before the fact that my desire to "pokemon" all these random titles is because it helps me temporally be "qualified" to help others as much as is possible. I still have at least two other major ordinations I'm seeking, but they'll be much more expensive and a little more time consuming than the ones I have had previously. But don't let anyone tell you that TOTJO clergy don't work for their clerical status. I can give you a nice, long essay's worth of all the 4-letter words I screamed while trying to slog through a few choice lessons that were entirely over my head for a while. Well worth it, though. Made me a much better person. Or, at least, installed the framework for that person.

Dear Sipiri,

I am going to approach this post from a much different point of view, I will tell you why I joined TOTJO:

All my life I belonged to a Baptist church, and then one day my mother stopped taking us. I never understood why, but I continued to read my bible and believe in God.

My dad was a old-time movie buff : Top Hat, Easter Parade, Show boat, The King and I, so I guess you could say my first teachings of "how to be a gentleman" and treat women with respect came from watching those movies, with the help of my dad teaching me how those movies translates to real-life.

As I got older, I watched movies like Star Wars, Camelot, Tron , Dragon Heart, and began going to National Geographic Lectures in Washington,D.C. with my parents. Though the lectures were long and sometimes boring, they awakened my mind to different cultures and religions and I began learning about religions of all types throughout elementary school, middle school, high school. Religions such as Mormonism, wicca, Satanism, Buddism. Basically, if it was a religion or belief system, I learned about it.

When I finally started to play MMO games, I played "Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire divided" and was a Jedi, I was so helpful and kind, I gained a reputation that extended through two separate servers. I was kidded many times by people "Wow you really are a jedi" I laughed it off at first, but then I started to think about my life, and the friends I've made, the help I've given others in real-life and in the games I played.

I am Disabled, I have epilepsy and cerebral palsy, I live on a limited Income, but yet I go out of my way to help others for no other reason other than it is the right thing to do. I then laughed and said "Oh My God! I'm basically living the life of a Jedi" However, In all fairness there are other religions that teach the same things as well.

I believe the turning point for me was when my Son Aiden was born. I went to the pastor of each church within 50 miles and asked the same thing "Will you please just say a non-formal simple blessing over our son please?" Nothing fancy, just a simple "I bless this child so he may grow up strong and healthy and safe, may he learn the ways of right and wrong, and grow to be a kind, loving child.

EVERY SINGLE PASTOR within 50 miles denied us a simple prayer over our son.

That is when I began my search for churches in other states, and I found TOTJO. I had looked at other Jediism sites, but this one seemed to be the most forthcoming, and honest, and Though I sometimes disagree with certain members posts and beliefs on certain subjects. I find that the Majority of people here are very good, honorable, people and I have been very lucky to consider all of them "Friends".

I am currently doing two types of classwork. The Jedi studies lesson ("The book" by Alan Watts) Though It is considered a very good lesson.
I am also working on getting my Associates degree in Business Administration at Ohio Christian University.

For my opinion and belief of what a Jedi is goes something like this: A jedi is not what is in the movies, a Jedi is like what someone would describe what a hero is "A person who helps another person for no reward other than just because it is the right thing to do" Jediism as far as I know has no rules on wether or not a woman can become a clergy, or a Jedi. Compared to most other religions they don't have many restrictions. I actually admire the Women of the Order, they can give very well thought out posts and can give as good as they can get sometimes too. They are just as formidable as any guy in this place.

So that is my story, that is why I became a Jedi, and why I am staying with TOTJO and going to work on becoming clergy at some point. If you join a religion, it must feel "right" it must feel like family. Speaking for myself alone, TOTJO feels that way for me. So much so that my son wants to learn TOTJO lessons just like daddy ( he is 5) I only wish TOTJO had lessons for his Age.

steamboat28 wrote:

Sipiri wrote:
In all honesty, I skipped reading the part about your actual beliefs entirely solely because your intent infuriated me. Yes, that's a fair assessment.

this made me lmao

steamboat28 wrote: I currently hold ordinations from St. Luke's Evangelical, the ULC, and Dudeism, in addition to my Jedi clerical licensure. I've discussed before the fact that my desire to "pokemon" all these random titles is because it helps me temporally be "qualified" to help others as much as is possible. I still have at least two other major ordinations I'm seeking, but they'll be much more expensive and a little more time consuming than the ones I have had previously. But don't let anyone tell you that TOTJO clergy don't work for their clerical status. I can give you a nice, long essay's worth of all the 4-letter words I screamed while trying to slog through a few choice lessons that were entirely over my head for a while. Well worth it, though. Made me a much better person. Or, at least, installed the framework for that person.

did you ever see that one "MUMMY" movie where the egyption guy has like 100 different amulets?

if not this reference is completely stupid - and i have no doubt are serious and sincere about your ordinations - i dont mean to imply otherwise
i just had a flashback of that scene where the mummy or some demon creature is approaching him and he is holding up all these amulets one after aother looking for the correct religion to ward off this particular evil - like "which god are you afraid of??"

sorry for hijacking- please continue

OB1Shinobi wrote: did you ever see that one "MUMMY" movie where the egyption guy has like 100 different amulets?

Personally, I've always considered it more like the opening exorcism in Constantine .

No offense, Sipiri, but with such a full cup, how do you expect to fill it further?

Makes me wonder then what best purpose human life would have, as understood in that context of say evolution leading 'life' to the evolve humans. Lifeforms devoid of competition which have limited space tend to reach and peak and then all die, so I guess it makes sense for 'life' to evolve something capable of breaking out of the petri dish. But would 'life' really go into space if it knew what was out there and how hard it would be to break the petri dish!!

It probably wouldn't have that extension though, and instead just evolve more complex forms to improve the chances of survival - through Darwinian factors. So I'm not sure how to exert idealism into this model, which limits its usefulness to me. Interesting though, my first thought was wouldn't it lead to just ocean's of bacteria..... but perhaps that is all we are anyway
:blink:
I heard once there is more bacteria in our stomach's then cells in our bodies - such that 'we' are more bacteria with a meat suit, then a meat suit with bacteria. LOL