Editing Church of the Universe (section)

==Theology==
{{Refimprove section|date=July 2009}}
The guiding rules of the church are variations on the [[Ethic of reciprocity|Golden Rule]]:
* Do not hurt yourself. 
* Do not hurt anyone else.

Although often quoting from the [[Bible]] and other scriptures, the church denies a direct connection to [[Christianity]]. It also accepts as valid sources of inspiration ancient and modern sources such as the culture of [[Sumer]], pagan holidays of the [[solstice]]s, [[Canada Day]], the [[Knights Templar]], [[Chaldea]]ns, [[Gnostic]] [[Gospel]]s and the [[Desiderata]].

Their sacrament is [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]], and followers are encouraged to smoke it and use hemp products. They draw on accounts in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] and associate the [[Tree of Life (Judeo-Christian)|Tree of Life]] with the hemp plant, additionally quoting [[Psalm]] 22:30 and [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 22:2,14.

Nudity also finds its origins in Genesis, since Adam and Eve were unclothed until they ate from the [[Tree of the knowledge of good and evil|Tree of Knowledge]] rather than the Tree of Life. However, members are enjoined to cover their heads on any official occasion or when interacting with government agents. Each person is encouraged to do so as God directs. Nudism is no longer practiced in many communities within the Church of the Universe.

Since all members joining the church are simultaneously considered to be [[ordinations|ordained]] as ministers, there is theoretically no distinction made between "clergy" and "ordinary members". However, founder Walter Tucker and leading member [[Michael Baldasaro]] have partially developed a system of structured religious titles derived from [[Order of Precedence (Catholic Church)|Catholic Christianity]], such as [[reverend]], [[archbishop]], [[bishop]] and [[abbot]].