Culture Archives - Universal Life Church Monastery Blog
December 19th, 2022
From a Black Santa Claus to a commercialized Target version of Hanukkah, the holidays look a bit different this year. Are these efforts to boost representation “woke” pandering, or simply a step toward inclusivity?
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November 14th, 2022
Should Native American children up for adoption be taken away from their culture and religion? That’s the question at the heart of a monumental Supreme Court case that could reshape how adoption works.
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November 8th, 2022
Break out your lighters, the Thai Lantern Festival begins today! This two-day festival celebrating positivity and prosperity for the new year is tied to the lunar calendar and has a fascinating history to explore.
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November 3rd, 2022
A billionaire music mogul has seen the empire he spent 20 years building crumble in a matter of weeks following the intense controversy over his public promotion of antisemitic views. What's going on with Kanye West?
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October 8th, 2022
The Lantern Festival is a Chinese holiday marking the conclusion of the Chinese New Year celebrations (also known as the Spring Festival). But what is the story behind this holiday, and how did it begin?
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October 1st, 2022
Oktoberfest is famous worldwide as a festival packed full of lederhosen, cheer, and yes, lots and lots of beer. But what exactly is this festival, how is it celebrated, and why isn't it held in October?
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September 20th, 2022
Humanity has constructed many monuments to observe the sun's annual transit through the sky. The Autumn Equinox is a time to observe this change, though different faiths and cultures celebrate in their own ways.
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July 23rd, 2020
Trader Joe's is the latest company to announce that they're changing branding many find offensive. "Trader Jose" now joins the ranks of Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben's Rice, and Mrs. Butterworth, all of whom are being retired.
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November 18th, 2019
You’ve heard of the "War on Christmas," but this year the battle has apparently opened up a second front. That’s right: the "War on Thanksgiving" has begun. See what kicked it off, and where we're likely to go from here.
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