That's Absolutely Religulous!

Is the America ready for Bill Maher's latest comedic assault on religion? On Friday, October 3rd, his latest film, Religulous will be released in theaters across the United States.

Comedian Bill Maher examines the presence of religion in many of the big news stories of recent years, from Muslim riots over cartoons to the Ten Commandments in front of courthouses, a born-again Christian in the White House and Scientology in the birthing room.

Needless to say, the controversy already abounds. Do you see this as a piece of offensive propaganda or an important expose? As a member of the Monastery or just an inquisitive individual, please share your thoughts.


- Yahoo Movies

Witchcraft or Witchcrap?

Buzz is swirling around the latest in the series of Sarah Palin news stories. Recently a video of Palin receiving an anti-witchcraft blessing began circulating on YouTube. In the video a Kenyan bishop calls upon Jesus to offer Palin, and her (then Gubernatorial) campaign, protection from all forms of witchcraft.



Some see nothing wrong with the Christian blessing.

The video of a Kenyan bishop asking Jesus to protect Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin from “witchcraft” has turned into a political witch hunt, says one Harvard expert who found “nothing unusual” about the blessing.

(BH)

Some see it as yet another strike against her campaign.

the more stories leak out about her being blessed against witchcraft... the more of an embarrassment for the GOP she becomes.

(USN)

No matter how you feel about Palin's blessing, witchcraft still manifests itself as a serious concern in central Africa. Yesterday, a soccer riot erupted in Congo and left 13 people dead; witchcraft was seen as the catalyst.

The Nyuki System soccer club was losing to rivals Socozaki when Nyuki's goalkeeper reportedly ran up the pitch chanting "fetishist" spells in an attempt to change the course of the match, Radio Olapi said. The station provided no more details...

Many Congolese use charms and other objects to practise witchcraft as part of their traditional animist beliefs, Reuters news agency reported.

(CBC)

One day we will all have to accept that spirituality is a personal matter, and as it harms none, do as thou wilt. Those that do excersize their Pagan and Wiccan belifs are no more or less harmful than their Christian counterparts.

Our hearts go out to those that were lost in the Congolese tragedy.


- Boston Herald
- U.S. News and World Report
- Canadian Broadcast Corporation

e-Love - I R L

Tis the season for ULC weddings. Today we would like to recognize the union of Jodi Jansen and Noa Oliver.

Early in the summer of 2004, Jodi Jansen, a student at Augustana College, went with some friends to a "Welcome Home" party at South Dakota State University.

The gathering was for Noa Oliver, hosted by his brother, William, Jansen's former Lincoln High School classmate.

Jansen and Oliver met at the party and spent the Summer together. When the season turned to Fall, Jansen left to spend a semester studying abroad and the two decided to take a break from their relationship. It turned out to be the separation that brought them back together.

During the separation, the two still communicated daily via e-mail and camera phone.

"It's not like we had to - we ended up choosing to," said Jansen, who found that distance had made the two stronger.

In July 2008, the couple tied the knot:

"Noa's brother, Will, became a reverend with Universal Life Church online and he married us," said Jansen. "He gave a sermon with a speech about how comfortable we were doing the wedding this way, how across different cultures, marriage and ceremonies are different and that these two people make each other better."

A belated best wishes to Jodi and Noa!
-Argus Leader

The Anti-Wedding

In an article from a few weeks back, two writers from the Washington Post set out to help a couple plan the ultimate "anti-wedding".

What if we find a couple who shares our opinion and lets us plan their unorthodox, fabulously cheap anti-wedding, located -- we dream -- in a bus depot or a Laundromat? We envision the glorious reversal of typical wedding cliches: the symbolic release of dirty city pigeons in lieu of doves, bouquets of dead leaves, a buffet of peanut butter or grilled-cheese sandwiches. The wedding itself would be a statement, a metaphorical loogie aimed right at the wispy veil of wedding-obsessed America. It must be anti-industry, but pro-romance, because real love means knowing, This is my soul mate, even if (s)he's wearing a garbage bag.

The writers find a couple, Jaqi Ross and Chris Rossi, who are open to just about anything, and the article chronicles their wedding from the planning stages through to the ceremony. When it comes time to find a minister for the ceremony, who do you think they turn to?

Meanwhile, to save the couple the $300-to-$800 cost of a hired officiant, Chris's stepmom, Mardie Rossi, becomes a minister through the Universal Life Church Monastery -- an online church that sells a "Ministry-in-a-Box"package for $139.99 and will ordain anyone it believes to be alive.

As we love to emphasize, a ULC wedding is not only a more personal wedding, it's also an economical alternative.

Congratulations Jaqi and Chris!

- The Washington Post

New Holy Scriptures Discovered: God Wants *insert candidate here* to be Next President!

This Sunday, pastors from many prominent churches across the country will participate in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, a self described,

:...legal effort designed to secure the First Amendment rights of pastors in the pulpit."

Any participating pastors will be doing so in direct violation of the IRS 501(c)(3) tax regulation. Under IRS tax code 501(c)(3), churches and non-profit organizations can register to receive tax free donations, though 501(c)(3) status is not without its restrictions:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.

The Pulpit Freedom Sunday pastors, and their rallying organization, The Alliance Defense Fund, claim that the 501(c)(3) restrictions are a violation of their freedom of speech.

"I have a First Amendment right to say whatever I want to say, and I've never thought it was appropriate that as a pastor I could not share my political concerns with the congregation," says the Rev. Gus Booth, pastor at Warroad Community Church in Warroad, Minn.

(CSM)

So why would the IRS seek to limit freedom of speech? Simply put, by allowing political endorsements under the umbrella of 501(c)(3), partisan organizations could lobby and effectively 'advertise' in churches that accept their contributions.

"This is not a free speech issue," says the Rev. Eric Williams, pastor of North Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio. "Any person, including a pastor, can endorse a candidate as a private individual. And if a church wants to do it, it can give up its tax-exempt status."

(CSM)

...and that seems to cut to the core of the issue. Any church or non-profit is free to voice their opinion, yet when the organization makes the decision to accept the tax break, free speech is curtailed. The would-be 501(c)(3) organization voluntarily imposes restrictions upon itself, in exchange for lower taxes; sound like a fair deal? As an individual, you are free to speak your mind on the issue.

By opting out of 501(c)(3) status, The Monastery is not inhibited by such limits on speech. We advocate tolerance and acceptance, and 'political' initiatives that further this vision deserve our vocal support, even at the expense of a tax rebate.

- The Alliance Defense Fund

- IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Restrictions

- The Christian Science Monitor

Doth Thou Take Thee?

The beauty of the ceremony radiated from the hills of Crownsville, Maryland:

the cardinal of sin (aka retired government worker Tony Guida, an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church) declared: "For the first time anywhere, Lord and Lady Timothy Zulauf."

The marriage of Timothy Zulauf and Shannon Cary was a joyous occasion attended by family and friends at the Maryland State Renaissance Festival. The happy couple would not have considered having the marriage any other way.

"I don't like (traditional weddings)," Mr. Zulauf explained. "I don't like all the stuff that comes with it; especially the cost. (And) I've always been into fantasy stuff. It fits."

Universal Life Church weddings allow for limitless possibilities. From Renaissance to traditional ceremonies, feel free to let your individuality shine.

Congratulations Tim and Shannon!

- From The Capitol, HometownAnnapolis.com

Be Sure to Bring Sam Adams to the Wedding

This past weekend Portland's Mayor-elect, Sam Adams, officiated a marriage for a close friend in San Francisco; it seems as though he's taken note of our Ecclesiastical Proclamation:

Sam Adams officiated the wedding of former Travel Portland head honcho Joe D’Alessandro and his partner David Jones in San Francisco.

Portland's weekly paper, the Willamette Weekly, talked to him about performing the same-sex ceremony,

"I knew Joe when he was straight," said Mayor-elect Sam Adams.

Now he'll get to know his friend "Joe" as one-half of a married California gay couple.

On Sunday, Adams will officiate the wedding of former Travel Portland head honcho (but now the President and CEO of the San Francisco Convention & Visitor Bureau) Joe D'Alessandro and his partner David Jones who, by the way, share six kids between them.

And no it's not because he's becoming the big guy at City Hall.

It's a little known fact that Sammy has already married a straight couple, photographer Evan Pilchik and Dana Mackin, on April 6.

That was after the couple, who are friends of Adams, bought him his own Universal Life Church minister license (it's the quickie way to become a member of the clergy).

Adams, and his boyfriend, Oregonian scribe Peter Zuckerman, will jet Saturday to the "city by the bay" just in time for the boys big day. The dress code will be suits, no ties. "Very California," said Adams.

When asked if he might "charge" the two men to join in an honest-to-goodness, legal gay marriage, Adams replied: "I am extremely honored to do this for my friends. I do this stuff for free."

Congrats to Joe and David!

Best of luck to the happy couple and to Adams this January!