Race Archives - Universal Life Church Monastery Blog

Black Clergy Say It's Time for "White Churches" to "Pay Up" on Reparations

March 29th, 2024

Should reparations be given to the black community? A group of Boston clergy are asking the city and local churches to pay out $15 billion in reparations to atone for the city's role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Christian 181 Comments

The Real History of the Little Mermaid

May 26th, 2023

With the release of Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid on the horizon, some are criticizing the casting of black actress Halle Bailey as unscientific or inaccurate to the original Danish folktale.

Political & Religious Controversy 105 Comments

Time for Reparations? Faith Leaders Meet to Discuss

January 12th, 2023

Should reparations be paid to African-Americans? The idea is growing in popularity, and a group of interfaith leaders in Philadelphia are meeting to discuss how to implement reparations in the city of brotherly love.

Political & Religious Controversy 179 Comments

Should Churches Pay Royalties for Slave Spirituals? One Congregation Says Yes

January 6th, 2022

Following the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, one Boston church came up with a way to uplift their community by paying 'royalties' every time their church choir or congregation sing a slave spiritual.

Christian 96 Comments

Adios, 'Trader Jose' – Brands Are Ditching Problematic Labels

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.

Political & Religious Controversy 16 Comments

Goodbye "Redskins" – NFL Team Announces Name Change

July 14th, 2020

After years of protests and pleas from activists and Native Americans alike, the Washington Redskins are finally changing their name. The change comes as part of a larger cultural reckoning with racism in America.

Political & Religious Controversy 142 Comments

Catholic Abuse Victims Claim They Received Lower Settlements Because They're Black

September 5th, 2019

Two African-American victims of Catholic Clergy abuse allege that the church is taking advantage of them yet again. Victims La Jarvis Love and Joshua Love say that the church offered them a laughably low settlement.

Political & Religious Controversy 26 Comments

Was Jesus a Palestinian? Scholars Debate

April 26th, 2019

Forget the fair-skinned, blue-eyed man that still adorns many stained glass windows and paintings. Jesus was most likely a Palestinian, say archaeologists and theologists.

Christian 230 Comments

Who Are the Black Israelites? Inside the Obscure Group That Fueled the Covington Catholic Controversy

January 22nd, 2019

Amid the media firestorm surrounding the standoff between students from a Catholic high school and a Native American man, the role that Black Israelite protesters played in starting the conflict was largely overlooked.

Political & Religious Controversy 36 Comments

Report: White Evangelicals Are Biggest Opponents of Immigration

November 2nd, 2018

A Public Religion Research Institute survey reveals that white evangelicals are the demographic most likely to view immigration and racial diversity as "threats" to American values. Why is that?

Political & Religious Controversy 319 Comments

The Universal Life Church proudly welcomes all who feel called to get ordained, regardless of creed. We enable all faiths; Christian, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, Pagan, Wiccan, Atheist – and more – to join our growing non-denominational congregation. Underlying everything we do is a simple core belief: that we are all children of the same universe.

Ready to share your thoughts? Click here to log in to your account. Not yet ordained? You can sign up in just minutes by filling out a free ordination application.