Violence Archives - Universal Life Church Monastery Blog

IDF Soldier Smashes Jesus Statue in Lebanon, Sparking Outrage

April 20th, 2026

A photo of a soldier in uniform bringing a sledgehammer down on a statue of Jesus rocketed across social media over the weekend. Within hours it had drawn condemnation from religious leaders across faith traditions.

Political & Religious Controversy 76 Comments

Is the Iran War Just? Pope Leo and the White House Disagree

April 16th, 2026

A pope calling for world peace is not typically front page news – until his message gets criticized by those at war. We unpack the conflict between pope and president and explore the tradition of just war theory.

Political & Religious Controversy 135 Comments

"Mortar Jesus" Poster Raises Alarm In U.S. Military

March 23rd, 2026

A black-and-white poster showing Jesus firing a mortar round was recently discovered inside a U.S. Army battalion headquarters. It’s the latest in an ongoing controversy about religious zealotry in the U.S. military.

Political & Religious Controversy 99 Comments

Florida Bill Would Allow Churches to Arm Volunteer Security Without a License

March 5th, 2026

A controversial Florida bill would let churches arm congregants to serve as security, bypassing typical licensing requirements for armed guads. Now, many wonder: Is arming unlicensed volunteers a good idea?

Political & Religious Controversy 178 Comments

Pro-Israel, Pro-Palestine Groups Clash Outside LA Synagogue

June 26th, 2024

Violence erupted between pro-Palestine protesters and pro-Israel counter-protesters in the streets outside a Los Angeles synagogue, which drew widespread condemnation from politicians and public officials.

Political & Religious Controversy 45 Comments

New Report: Attacks Against Christian Churches Doubled Last Year

March 4th, 2024

A recent report shows an alarming increase in attacks on Christian churches, with incident rates doubling from 2022 to 2023. Is a growing discomfort with the Christian faith to blame for the increased hostility?

Christian 72 Comments

Does the Bible OK Corporal Punishment for Disabled Children?

January 4th, 2024

Oklahoma lawmakers hoping to ban corporal punishment being administered against disabled children are running into a problem: Evangelical Christians, who say there's a biblical basis for smacking and spanking children.

Political & Religious Controversy 98 Comments

As Hanukkah Begins, Some Jews Call for a Ceasefire

December 8th, 2023

Hundreds of Jewish people gathered at Columbus Circle in Manhattan for a traditional holiday candle lighting – but also to advocate for peace in Gaza. They lit a nine-foot tall menorah that read “ceasefire”.

Political & Religious Controversy 50 Comments

Catholic Leader Offers Himself For Hostage Exchange in Gaza

October 16th, 2023

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Vatican’s representative in Jerusalem, offered himself to be delivered as a hostage to Hamas in exchange for the release of the children currently being held captive.

Political & Religious Controversy 55 Comments

Pope Francis Calls for Gun Control in the U.S.

May 27th, 2022

Following the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Pope Francis is saying enough is enough when it comes to gun violence in America. He's arguing that America must institute gun reform to prevent this from happening again.

Political & Religious Controversy 219 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.