I was watching the CBS Morning News today. I often switch
between Fox and CBS to get a broader perspective.
Jeff Probst was a guest. Probst is the creator and host of
the long running reality series, (the Grandaddy of em all), “Survivor”. The
show has been on 15 years which I didn’t realize since I quit watching after
year one. I really didn’t care for the
show’s concept that the best liar, cheater and manipulator was worthy of a
million dollars.
It was Probst’s comments at the end of the interview that
raised my blood pressure. One of the hosts pointed out that Probst was an
ordained minister. I wanted to see how he was able to reconcile his role in
this show with his role as a man of God….. wasn’t really a stretch for him.
Probst viewed his ordination as a joke, which was correct
since he received his certification from the Universalist Life Church Monastery
over the internet for a $35 fee. It’s not real hard to be ordained by ULCM. You
just tacitly agree to follow the laws of the government and can follow any
faith (or lack of) you choose as long as you don’t infringe upon the freedom and
rights of others. Oh, and for less obvious
reasons, you must be more than 13 years old.
To make your ordination more official, ULMC has a variety of
products for sale including a minister’s t-shirt, bulk packages of marriage
certificates, a card for your wallet and my favorite “Minister in a Box” which
even includes a parking placard for your car.
Probst admitted that he only obtained the ordination to
perform a renewal of vows for his parents' 35 wedding anniversary. It’s what he
said next and the reaction to it, that set me off.
Probst said that he had performed a few other ceremonies over
the years for friends as well. To paraphrase – Why would you go to a church and
a minster that you don’t know, to marry you when a friend can do it for you?
My question is – why bother with a supposed religious or
spiritual ceremony in the first place if the act of marriage is so meaningless
to the parties involved and you don’t practice or participate in religious
beliefs?
By the way, some other ULCM ministers include: Conan O’Brien,
Kathy Griffin, Lady Gaga and Stephen Colbert and marriages performed by these wahoos
are valid in most states, including Mississippi.
I’m not going to express my opinion further. You either see
or you don’t.
