One of the most well-known aspects of the Universal Life Church (ULC) is the ability of its ministers to officiate weddings. Combined with the relative ease of becoming a ULC minister, this makes it an obvious way for LGBTQ couples to marry with help from their friends and loved ones. The motto of the ULC, Read More

The United States is home to numerous religions. In order of popularity, the top five are Christianity, Judaism, Mormonism, Islam, and Buddhism, the religiously unaffiliated outnumber all groups except for Christians. Although these top five religions dominate headlines when it comes to legal developments, they are not the oldest in the United States. Native Americans Read More

Ask any constitutional scholar about America’s official religion, and they will likely tell you that it has none. This is, of course, written into the Constitution, and since its inception, the government has been very careful to separate church and state. However, not everyone agrees with this time-honored principle – and some argue that the Read More

Medical assistance in dying, or “MAID,” is becoming an increasingly common practice among developed nations, and it is beginning to come into conflict with major religions. Although one might argue that MAID is humane, it is still suicide in its most basic form. Some religious leaders have embraced this, while others have refused to participate Read More

For many religious individuals, attending church is not enough. They wish instead to become more active members of the church, and they strive to hold official positions within the church’s hierarchy. For Catholics, one potential option is to become a deacon. But what exactly is a deacon, and how do you become one? What is a Deacon? Read More

Although Paganism has an established history in the United States, the religion has recently experienced a surge in exposure after the January 6th protests. The “QAnon Shaman” famously appeared at the Capitol dressed in a Pagan-inspired outfit with several pagan runes tattooed across his body. Of course, this represents only one example of Paganism in Read More

A veteran recently admitted to beheading a Baphomet statue inside the Iowa State Capital, calling his actions “Christian civil disobedience.” This has not stopped him from facing criminal charges of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, but numerous individuals – including local Satanists – aren’t exactly happy. This has sparked a wider debate over potential Read More

After the Tennessee state legislature passed a law explicitly barring ministers who were ordained online from solemnizing legal marriages in 2019, the Universal Life Church (ULC) immediately filed suit and were successful in obtaining a restraining order blocking the law from taking effect. In August of 2023, the ULC began the trial against the Tennessee Read More

What is the legal definition of a religion in the United States? When you strip away the ideology and tax benefits, religion is simply an organization of people who agree to come together and follow certain rules. With this simplistic view, an obvious question often arises among so-called non-believers: Why can’t I create my own religion and Read More

Since settlers first arrived in North America, churches have served as a central hub for communities. The church was the original community center – a meeting place for discussions, celebrations, and connections. Today, churches in the United States are shutting down at a high rate. With each passing week, it seems like a new church Read More