Church Universal and Triumphant Puns

I was randomly on their page and it looks like they’ve kind of become an online cult - paywall lessons, etc. I’m curious if anyone knows who is running it at this point or if it’s become more benign. I’m always fascinated with their story because I liked Prophet’s books as a teen before I realized how dysfunctional the group she led was. One of my first lessons in the difference between cult image and reality.

I've done a bit of my own research but I'm wondering if there are any specific, reliable, and robust resources (or testimonials) anyone has about this organization that would help me really understand more about it. Just spoke to a family member who admitted they are part of this church and is very serious about it. I'm skeptical.

Here's a link to the Wikipedia, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Universal_and_Triumphant

State law here in North Carolina prohibits ministers ordained by the Universal Life Church from officiating marriages, but any other organization is fair game. A lot of websites offer “free” ordination, but charge a lot for the documentation (certificates or letters of good standing). Does any organization offer truly free ordination with documentation, that keeps records of ordinations so that mine could be checked out and verified if it came down to it?

New (but committed) Confessional Lutheran belonging to a Missouri Synod church. I apologize for bringing this up again. I've heard it said multiple times that we actually commune alongside those Christians who have fallen asleep, and that's why so many Communion rails are half-circles or half-squares, showing us that the circle is "completed with the understanding that we are Communing alongside them, as well, as Jesus feeds the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant.

I love this idea, and I want to believe it as dogma.

However, I have a hard time fully believing it without good reason. So I've asked on various platforms in the past how we know this is true.

Now, some have said that this belief comes from Revelation, but weren't very specific.

That's a great start. But I also know we as Lutherans distinguish between homolegomena (those books of Scripture that 100% of the Church Fathers affirmed as divinely inspired and from which we can derive doctrine) and antilegomena (those books that various Church Fathers contested, and those which we as Lutherans say that we must understand via homolegomena, and which can't be used to derive doctrine).

This was huge for me. It's so different from how Rome and Protestants see Scripture as all the same (and for Rome, they even have more sources from which they get doctrine).

That said, Revelation is antilegomena.

Is this idea something that can be found in homolegomena, or is it just a matter of wishful, personal piety (which is good and nice and everything, but not helpful when talking to someone of a very different tradition)?

So, a nevermo asked why the church still honors Brigham Young, knowing of his extreme racism. Supposing they gave in and changed the name, what would they name it?

Mormon U? Nope. Win for satan.

The Univerisity of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? (UCOJCOLDS). Can you imagine the sports commentators tripping all over that?

The University of the Corporation of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (UCFPCOJCOLDS). Yeah… same problem.

LDSU? Satan wins again… maybe if you first have to refer to the whole name of the church again? Also, Jesus would be pissed because he’s not mentioned.

Jesus Christ University? Jesus might like it, but it would probably get blacked out as a cuss word. But can you imagine how much fun the commentators would have with that? “Jesus Christ scores again!” “Jesus Christ is really struggling right now.”

Any thoughts?

The Church of Universal Suffrage is an international, officially registered, non-profit religious institution that holds regular, weekly Sunday Service in meditation on the nature of voter suppression.  We also observe every voting day in the United States to be an official holiday reserved the celebration of our sacred right to vote.

The Church of Universal Suffrage was founded in Nashville, Tennessee on June 1, 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic on the belief that all people are created equal and that they are all endowed by their Creator with the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The right to vote is a sacred extension of these rights, because voting is the primary right we use to protect all other rights. The violation of the right to vote through voter suppression is a sin, as is the violation of any sacred right. These beliefs have been around for centuries, but the idea to codify these beliefs into a religion was inspired by a discussion on Reddit about how Tennessee was one of several States forcing citizens to risk their health and lives in order to exercise their sacred right to vote by denying them the ability to safely vote by mail during the pandemic. Protecting the rights and well-being of our fellow people is essential to the pursuit of our own happiness.

Providing assistance and resources to ease the suffering of anyone on the pilgrimage to perform the civic sacrament of voting is a holy ritual that we perform for people in need. Our Church also holds a religious objection against felony disenfranchisement and people having to being photographed in order to exercise their right to vote.

We never ask for or accept any donations, instead we ask that you donate to a local charity of your choice. The Church of Universal Suffrage is capable of existing and expanding simply through passionate members and ministers willing to volunteer.

The Church of Universal Suffrage practices freedom of conscience and belief among our members. Anyone of any other religion may join and all members are free to be members of other religions as well. Our Church also does not support any party or candidate and we do not have an official stance on any political issues or policies. We are a neutral institution and we ask all members to contact us immediately if a Minister ever tries to pressure them to vote a certain way. This is a form of voter suppression and we do not allow it, we only support everyone's freedom to make these

Since being confirmed Lutheran (LCMS) 4 years ago, I've heard it sometimes said that we commune with those asleep in Christ (in heaven) when we partake of the Eucharist. I've heard that's also why so many churches make the Communion rail in a half-circle, with the unseen half representing where the Church Triumphant is communing with us.

But let's say someone outside of our churches asked us to prove it. What would we say? I've heard some people vaguely reference Revelation, but I never got a clear answer there. Others just say such a thought is a matter of personal piety.

But with how often I've heard it said in a comforting and solid manner, I'd hope there would be solid backing to such a believe. And I'd sure love it to be true.

Hey everyone! So, I was recently talking with a friend about why the church believes certain doctrines (the trinity, Christ's divinity, the sacraments, the teachings in the creeds etc.) and I realized that I think I am lacking some understanding about where these doctrines come from and how they developed. Is it fair to say that the doctrines of the church existed more-or-less from the beginning and were later confirmed and established by the Ecumenical Councils and Church Fathers? If not, how would you explain it. To be clear, I don't disagree with these doctrines, I'm just not really sure if I understand where and why they originated or how they became official.

I'm sorry if what I'm asking sounds confusing. I can try to clarify if necessary, but this seems like a complicated issue and I'm not even sure I know how to ask this question. I tried checking the Catechism, but I couldn't find anything that answered my question. I'd appreciate being pointed to any books or other resources that address this though.