Unitarian Universalists

Ever wonder...

2009-07-17T12:06:52Z

Many talk about the "good news" UUism has to share with the world but are light on specifics. On his blog, Rev. Tittle offers some of examples of good news that we offer

The one that resonates most with me is:

- Good news that human goodness and restoration can and will triumph over human evil and destruction.

The Mosaic Project

2009-07-08T02:52:15Z

Everyone should read The Mosaic Project: An Assessment of Unitarian Universalist Ministry to Youth and Young Adults of Color and Latina/o and Hispanic and Multiracial/Multiethnic descent.

I'm serious - it is just that good.

New book - "The Arc of the Universe Is Long..." & other diversity issues

2009-07-03T18:56:04Z

Now at the UUA bookstore is The Arc of the Universe Is Long: Unitarian Universalists, Anti-Racism and the Journey from Calgary. I was told by anti-racism leader, Paula Cole Jones, that I should buy this book & that my church & minister was in it. I didn't realize until after I bought it that two columns are also a contribution I made about Learnings - p. 504-505.

You may also be interested in this review from General Assembly (I wasn't able to be there & will share my findings online later): Rethinking our approach to diversity. I hope others will share their favorite parts of GA here, too.

From the new UU President

2009-06-29T19:01:32Z

A Letter From UUA President Peter Morales

June 28, 2009

Friends,

As you know, I have just been elected President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). I have trouble expressing how profoundly I am touched by the confidence people have placed in me. I can only say, in the Spanish phrase, mil gracias, “a thousand thanks."

I am humbled and grateful. The challenges before us are great. We continue to live in a world where fear and hatred cause suffering and violence. Greed and acquisitiveness threaten life on our planet. We are surrounded by millions of people seeking a spiritual home that is free and open. We face historic cultural and ethnic change in America.

We must learn to express our love and values in new cultural contexts. We will build on the great achievement of President Bill Sinkford in social witness. Ours will be a presidency passionately engaged in the great moral issues of our time: economic justice, peace, and human rights. I would like to thank and praise the Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman, the other candidate for president, for her deep insights and inspiring contributions to our faith. Her concerns for spiritual depth, covenantal relationships and stewardship are values I share.

To Laurel's supporters, I offer my warmest welcome. There are no divisions in our movement, only complementarities. Your call for spiritual depth has always been a call that leads us to work together to make a better world. Together, we are answering the same call heard by Servetus, Ballou, Channing, Parker and Susan B. Anthony—a call to leave behind what is outmoded and to let compassion guide us as we shape a future together.

The challenges we face are great. However, together we have the passion, the spirit, the determination and love to face the tests of our times. Together, we can grow our faith and help heal the world. We can be, we must be, the religion for our time. Together we are beginning an exciting new chapter in Unitarian Universalism. We are on a journey of faith together.

—Peter Morales

Last updated on Monday, June 29, 2009.

LifeNow Radio

2009-06-29T13:07:19Z

The Life Now Radio podcast came up as I searched for UU related items. Thought others might be interested

Check out uuworld.org : General Assembly Blog: June 2009

2009-06-27T21:59:35Z

Title: uuworld.org : General Assembly Blog: June 2009 [Discontent with revision to Article II / posted by Christopher L. Walton]

Link: http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=673766542693918631411

My issue has been mostly the removal of the poetic expression of the "Six Sources" in favor of a three paragraph uninspiring prose piece.

God and Prayer

2009-06-18T17:58:34Z

Do you believe in God?

Do you pray to God?

What is the nature of God?

How is the God you believe exists like the God favored in other religions? How is God different?

What do you expect will happen when you pray to God? Do you think God answers prayers?

chalice_circle @ 2009-06-18T05:49:00

2009-06-18T12:50:40Z

I am trying to find out if there is a UU group anywhere near Bullhead City, Arizona.
I searched the UU site, but came up with nothing. Maybe there is a small house group?

Sources Supper and what makes a UU?

2009-06-16T00:41:10Z

So I'm trying to put together a sermon about UU identity, and I'd love to hear some thoughts if you have them!

A group in Minneapolis has created something called the "Sources Supper" whose purpose is to do something for the UUs "similar to what the Seder does for Jews: tell the UU story as our story, in a way that is home based, binds us to our past, and speaks to our struggles today. It is a ritual designed to be celebrated year after year until its themes, figures, and stories get into the consciousness of the congregation and the hemoglobin of our members..."

Here is what they have developed for the overarching frame of Unitarian Universalism:

The universe is one, it's good, and we are it's children. So we are open to all sources of revelation, and we push back with courage against the forces that block spiritual growth and human flourishing in our time.

We learned that our ancestors were rebels against the established order, and they created new ways to be religious by absorbing the special sprit and knowledge of their times - such as the spirit of individual freedom and knowledge about the Bible or the science of evolution. Revelation for them was open-ended and everywhere. Our ancestors were always restless; they kept resisting, getting in trouble, and then building something new. They were skeptics and idealists, critics and creators - and they took many risks along the way. To our surprise, we also found that many of our ancestors were mystics, people of the spirit who experienced the oneness and goodness of all creation. Both reverence and reason - affirmed, integrated, fought for, and sacrificed for.

Thoughts?

What do you think makes someone a Unitarian?
Is there more to it than just believing the seven principles?
Is it alienating tonew UUs to talk about "our ancestors"?
When is one's "claim" to the identity an authentic one?

GA 2009 on Streaming Media!

2009-06-11T17:44:58Z

Through Facebook I got the following notice about GA being broadcast for those of us who cannot be there. It's not clear to me if these will be archived for viewing at later times or not. (Can't imagine they wouldn't be...)

Can't be at General Assembly (GA) this year? The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) 2009 GA will come to you via live streaming media. Here are the events we'll cover, live. Additional programs may be captured for later video broadcast; these will be added to our schedule as they are made available.

Note: All times listed are Mountain Daylight Time. All programs will be delivered in Flash.

Wednesday, June 24

* Banner Parade & Plenary I
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
* Opening Worship featuring Rev. William G. Sinkford's President's Speech
* 8:30 - 9:45 p.m.

Thursday, June 25

* Plenary II
8:00 - 8:45 a.m.
* Candidates Forum I
7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
* Synergy Worship
8:30 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.

Friday, June 26

* Plenary III & Candidates Forum II
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
* Service of the Living Tradition: Rev. Mary J. Harrington, preacher
* 8:30 - 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 27

* Sermon Award Worship
8:00 - 8:45 a.m.
* Plenary IV
8:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
* Plenary V
1:15 - 3:00 p.m.
* Worship
8:00 - 8:30 p.m.
* Ware Lecture featuring Melissa Harris-Lacewell
* 8:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 28

* Morning Sing
8:45 - 9:00 a.m.
* Sunday Worship: Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, preacher
9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
* Plenary VI
1:15 - 5:30 p.m.
* Closing Worship
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

For more information contact web@uua.org.

UU Military Handbook: Assistance Needed

2009-06-10T11:50:37Z

It came to my attention, through our district newsletter, that there is a fundraising effort going on to print a pocket-size book that will contain readings, prayers, hymns and worship resources from UU and non-UU sources for free distribution to interested US service men and women. So far they have reported raising $7,500 of $25,000 needed before June 30. So here is a chance to support those who have chosen to serve in the military with our particular message.

Unitarian Universalist Military Handbook

First Lieutenant David Pyle, U.S. Army Chaplain Candidate and MOD Minister writes, “In our ministry with the Basic Trainees at the Great Lakes Naval Station, there is a hunger among our recruits for ways that they can identify as Unitarian Universalists…If we had such a devotional collection of liberal faith, our recruits could claim UU identity, have the inspiration they need in the difficult time of Basic Training, and take that inspiration with them into the rest of their military career and life.”

More Equality Organizations

2009-06-08T15:23:31Z

Just came across this group: WhiteKnot.Org. It looks interesting. The also have twitter & facebook pages.

YES! Magazine

2009-06-02T12:51:15Z

31 Ways to Jump Start the Local Economy: by Sarah van Gelder

Check out some interesting ideas about acting locally for a new economy. They're grouped by individual, smal group, and community actions.

Invitation to make a blog post to celebrate a woman philosopher!

2009-06-02T08:25:44Z

Everyone (of all genders) is invited to participate in Theano's Day, an event to celebrate and rediscover women's contributions to philosophy throughout the centuries.

Blurb from the Pledge Bank signup site, which you may find here: http://www.pledgebank.com/theanosday

"I will blog to spotlight a woman, living or dead, who has made an important contribution to philosophy but only if 100 other people will do the same."

Also there's a Facebook group for Theano's Day to discuss the project with other participants: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=526821601&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=74564828672&ref=mf

More information, from the website: http://www.pledgebank.com/theanosday

Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras' wife Theano was a scholar and intellectual in her own right. Along with helping him raise five children, she put together writings on mathematics, art, beauty, philosophy, and child raising. She is credited with developing the Golden Mean, a crucial idea in aesthetic theory.

By taking this pledge, you sign up to honor and celebrate important women such as Theano by promising to create a blog post on June 24th concerning a female philosopher. As with Ada Lovelace Day, spotlighting women's contributions to technology, the woman you select may be from any nation, culture, or time period, living or dead...and you may blog in any style or format, using any software in any language.

I selected Theano as a mascot as she represents a work/life balance, an apparently decent and loving wife and mother as well as a scholar and professional. Throughout history and on average women have worked very hard in the background keeping things going by raising children, cooking, maintaining households, helping to earn a living through day-jobs...all very respectable activities. And many have made contributions to philosophy or other fields which may have been overlooked because the women are primarily known for work they have done in their other roles. So Theano's Day celebrates the philosophical contributions of women and attempts to bring their ideas out in the open to help inform modern society.

Also - when we think of philosophers, I've found that most people keep going back to the same list of the greats...Kant, Hume, Plato, Aristotle, etc. Of course not to say there isn't great wisdom from the greats...but honestly right now the world is facing a whole set of problems. Right here in the U.S. we're at war with three different countries with no end in sight, we're going down in a global economic crisis, etc. So - maybe looking at new ideas from any source might help us stumble on some which may be useful. And encouraging people to look at female philosophers will bring out lesser-known people and lesser-known ideas.

You may define 'philosopher' as you choose - someone need not have specialized in the field to be discussed in a blog for Theano's Day. For example, a female novelist, businesswoman, teacher, politician, nun, homemaker may have created a philosophical outlook worth discussing that is apparent through the values that come out through her work in other fields.

Some women to start with if you need help thinking of someone: Hypatia of Alexandria (mathematician and scholar), St. Catherine (mystic and humanitarian), Sor Juana (Mexican nun and intellectual) and Florence Nightingale and Jane Austen, each of whom developed a worldview and philosophy through their writings on various subjects.

We encourage as many people as possible from around the world to participate this June 24th and will set up a system to link the blogs so you may read each other's blogs. Please also pass on the word about Theano's Day!

Holocaust Denier & a UU Church?

2009-05-30T17:36:10Z

Anyone know more about this? Berkeley fellowship of unitarian universalists sponsors Holocaust denier (by rahula Friday, May. 29, 2009 at 10:11 AM).

I admit being of two minds on this. 1: Sunlight is the best disinfectant - Let him speak his peace so that people can see how far off the grid he is. 2: Sponsoring is akin to approving his views.

A third possibility: Rahula is incorrectly charactarizing his positions.

A new poll...

2009-05-30T12:00:19Z

Many BGLT people beat up on "Christians" in general because we percieve them as a threat to us. But, as good politicians have pointed out on many issues, the truth is more nuanced than that. The organization Public Religion Research has published a survey Clergy Voices Survey Part II: Views on Theology and Gay and Lesbian Issues. There are a range of interesting issue that are supported by mainline protestant (not evangelical) clergy. 46% of clergy support marriage equality when they have assurance that churches will not be required to perform marriages contrary to their beliefs.

On a range of policy issues, Mainline Protestant clergy are generally more supportive of LGBT rights than the general population, and mostly in line with Mainline Protestants overall. Two-thirds of Mainline clergy support hate crimes legislation (67%) and workplace protections for gay and lesbian people (66%), and a majority (55%) supports adoption rights. Same-sex marriage is the only major LGBT public policy issue that does not enjoy majority support from Mainline clergy; on this issue, one-third supports same-sex marriage and nearly a third (32%) supports civil unions.

And there's a whole lot of room to make allies among "the uncertain middle," defined as "clergy who support some gay and lesbian rights but are ambivalent on others."

To me this shows that progress is possible, and that Evangelical isn't the only only way to be Christian.

Now available: Summer issue of UU World

2009-05-27T14:39:12Z

The Summer 2009 issue of UU World is now arriving in subscribers' mailboxes. In this issue, Scott Kraft reports on the explosive growth of Unitarian Universalism in Africa and UUA President William G. Sinkford talks about his eight years in office.

Also in this issue: a Unitarian church's unique murals depicting "liberal saints," lessons from an elephant sage, the value of staying put, thoughts on human brokenness, and the story of one of the founders of American Universalism.

You don't need to wait for your copy to arrive to start browsing the issue online!

Members of congregations affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association in the United Stated receive a subscription to UU World as a benefit of membership, but others can subscribe for only $14 a year.

The American Dream

2009-05-19T11:18:01Z

From the SPEAKING OF FAITH Facebook page. An interesting montage of faces and dreams.

Palestine: A Challenge to Humanity

2009-05-13T00:37:50Z

Last Sunday the Melbourne Unitarian Church had an address from Michael Shaik from Australians for Palestine entitled "Palestine: A Challenge to Humanity". I conducted the service selecting the opening words, reading and closing words from Bishop Desmond Tutu, a recent article from the Christian Science Monitor, and Avhram Burg respectively. The text of the service is available and your comments invited.

bylaw revisions at the UUA. What do we think?

2009-05-07T03:42:45Z

http://www.uufkw.org/principles.pdf
I invite all UUA members to review this document. What do we think about currently proposed changes to the UUA bylaws? It will be voted on at the upcoming GA, and then go on to be voted on again at the next.
If your congregation is sending delegates to the convention, I especially suggest reccommending that we get this discussion going more strongly throught our community.
Thanks,
Enku

Pondering...

2009-05-05T11:33:53Z

Reading a blog about decisions to turn down some of the stimulus money the question rises up, again: Can a decision be non-racially motivated but have a racial impact? Can ~~one~~ an act be non-racist in intent but racist in effect? If so, does the actor (Governor in these cases) deserve to be tagged as a racist?

Is the world no better than when the Kenndy's were killled? When King was killed? When Malcom was killed? When Ghandi was killed?

"We have to admit that we've come a long way," [Dr. Maya] Angelou says. "Young people must be told yes, things are better, but not nearly as good as things will be when you put your children to the wheel."

5-4-09: Edited

My upcoming presentation on UU History and Heritage

2009-05-01T20:40:34Z

the below is the text of the presentation i will be giving in the Unitarian Universalist congregation of Oxford....
I admit that I did not follow strict sourcing guidelines...
Much of the history is stuff that I have studied before, but some comes from other sources and *sadly* Wikipedia.
On the part of our main sources of knowledge, the format and much content was borrowed from John A Buehrens and Forrest Church in their "A Chosen Faith"

Today: We may be post-christian, but it does matter what we are “post.” We encourage the participation and insights of humanists, Buddhists, Jewish people, and those who follow earth based religions. However, our institutional history in the United States lies within a stream of liberal and radical Christian thinking which has shaped not only us, but our society at large.

From Allen, Joseph Henry:
We can look at religious thought (indeed all thought) in 2 ways.
1. As a fixed type of opinion set in creeds and symbols…or
2. a state of a movement that began long before there was any record of it and will continue evolving into the future.
In taking the second, we can look at the history of a movement, not the attitude of a sect. This is what I would like to do today. “It is important for our own honesty and self-respect that we should know” our history. The question of method is far deeper than that of application or result.” As we look to the past for inspiration and information, and look to the future for hope through our shared vision, we must live fully in the present, together. Our history calls each of us to a shared ministry charged with collective leadership and prophetic vision which springs from our histories.
As we have already reviewed our contemporary principles, let us look at our histories and the sources from which we draw inspiration and insight in our larger fellowship today.
Unitarianism and Universalism in the US began on two different ideological and social trajectories.
Unitarianism: Views God as “one” with Jesus being an example of a godly life, not a messiah. The implication here is that all humans have the capacity to become “children of god” not through salvation over our inherently sinful nature, but rather through our pursuits to live in accordance with “God’s will.” This lent Unitarianism a certain degree of progressive ideological tendencies both at the individual and societal levels.
Strains of Unitarianism go back to at least the 2nd century, and arose in different times throughout the history of Christianity. These became especially evident with the Protestant Reformations of the 16th century, as Christian communities were able to question the official dogma of the Nicene creed, which allowed the Catholic Church to define its beliefs in reaction to heretical challenges, including those of Unitarianism.
Unitarian communities existed in the congregational churches throughout the northeast, but generally did not create theological or social waves until the evangelical revival movement, the “Great Awakening” in the 1740s caused early Unitarian leaders to define their positions in opposition to what was seen as overzealous emotionalism which rocked the Christian church of the time. Unitarianism had its strong hold in Boston, and had important influence at Harvard Divinity school, which was deeply Unitarian from 1816-1870
Unitarians in the early 19th century saw themselves as reacting against Trinitarian deviations of faith, with the formation of the American Unitarian Association in 1825 describing its purpose as diffusing knowledge and information about “pure Christianity.”
By the 1830s, Unitarianism (heavily influenced by Trancendentalist thought) moved in a more rationalistic approach to religious belief. Unitarian Christians in 1865 formed the National Unitarian Conference to affirm that its members were “disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ” while other Unitarians (of whom I would place our personal heritage) would form the Free Religious Association “to encourage the scientific study of theology and to increase fellowship in the spirit” without specific references to Christian beliefs. The Western Unitarian Conference later accepted the same position, and based its "fellowship on no dogmatic tests, but affirmed a desire "to establish truth, righteousness and love in the world." In addition, the WUC claimed belief in God was not a necessary component of Unitarian belief.
This was in full accordance with our earlier US Unitarian forebearers, such as William Channing, who in the 1830s “ceased requiring creedal affirmations, evidence of personal conversion or acceptance of specific doctrines by those who wished to join his church. This practice was denounced as “unitarian herassy” by the orthodox, and Channing accepted the name.

UNIVERSALISM:
The basic belief of Universalism within the history of US Christianity is the idea of universal salvation or reconciliation. Universalists, therefore, reject the dogma of Hell and eternal punishment. Historically, universalism has been more working class and has had more presence in the Southeast and West (with national expansion). Universalism had many strains, which were often in conflict. According to some, punishment for sin was exerted over a time (like the teaching of purgatory) and then all souls were united with God. For others, there was no intermediary period of punishment. For these ultra-universalist teachers, the basic nature of sin was in question. Instead of an act against God which would lead to further punishment, sin itself was an act of rebellion and alienation from a person’s true nature (which was God). Therefore, a sinful act carried its punishment with it – it was a punishment in itself.
A much, quoted view of the Unitarians and Universalists was given by Thomas Starr King: “Universalists believe that God is too good to damn people, and the Unitarians believe that people are too good to be damned by God.”
Sources of knowledge:
As UUs, we accept many sources of knowledge. While both Unitarian and Universalist Christians of the past and today recognize the message of Jesus as found in the New Testament as their primary source of spiritual insight, we in the UU fellowship, based on our historic tendency toward rational acceptance of thought, have the following, which I will give with additional detail. I invite each of us to reflect on these.
The living tradition we share draws from many sources….
1. The first is the “direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life.”
DH Lawrence, who was not a Unitarian, gives us an illuminating passage on this source. According to Lawrence, people are “born again” or “born to humanity” in their maturity. Such travelers are “born to a consciousness of all the laughing, and the never-ceasing murmur of pain and sorrow that comes from the terrible multitude of our human family. One gradually formulates one’s religion, be what it may. A person has no religion who has not slowly and painfully gathered one together, adding to it, shaping it; and one’s religion is never complete and final, but must always undergo modification.
All experience is religious experience, both the mundane and those transcendental moments of elation or sorrow and compassion which we find.
As we emerge from the physical and social world and unfold within the interdependent web of existence, our experiences serve us as our first fountain of knowledge, which embodies our religious experience. While we may reject the conclusions of doctrinal religions around us, perhaps they ask the right questions. “Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going? How do we attain salvation, or spiritual health and wholeness? How can we live a life befitting our promise? How should we face death? And how can we be sure our lives are worth dying for?
Our experience, however, is not only individual, but social. In our chosen congregations may we find a community which, to paraphrase Channing again…
Does not stamp views on our minds, but stirs them up, to inspire a fervent love of truth, to prepare us for impartial, conscientious judging of whatever subjects may be offered, to quicken and strengthen the power of thought and awaken the conscience, the moral discernment. The great end is to awaken the soul; to bring understanding, consciousness and heart into earnest vigorous action on religious and moral truth, to excite and cherish spiritual life”
2. We also draw inspiration from…”words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love.
a. This focus on histories bent toward justice and compassion compels us today to seek the best within the world. Prophecy in this point is not limited to those who would call themselves “prophets” or even “religious” but rather refers to those who spoke and acted with conviction in the face of oppression and exploitation. Within the history of our faith, we find Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross; Susan B. Anthony; and Theodore Parker, a Unitarian minister from Boston who ushered escaped slaves along the underground railroad and once attempted to storm the Boston courthouse with a group of freedom fighters to free an escaped slave, Anthony Burnes. As we fight for freedom, may we remember the words of another Unitarian Anthony Burns: “Freedom, whether political or religious, has no power to do anything…It merely leaves the faculties free to act.” While the problems today facing the world may seem unsurmountable, we are called by our tradition not to fall into cynicism, resignation, or egoism through unceasing “self-improvement” without carrying justice throughout the world.
b. John Buehrens suggests 4 ways in which we can, individually and in community, attempt to live in the spirit of prophetic women and men of our past:
i. Concrete acts of human kindness and compassion from which we both nourish and are nourished serve as the base.
ii. The second is social moral responsibility and education in our fellowships
iii. Third is in supporting individuals in our communities who are called to social action.
iv. Fourth is in supporting social action as an institution.
v. We cannot, however, allow social action to be a “church thing,” allowing us to “care” without acting individually and collectively, or expecting a social action committee to take the responsibility for being active in the world. Our actions of compassion, mundane and divine, individual or collective, confronting the evils of the world directly whether they be hunger and poverty, torture, war and occupation, etc., joined with humility and intelligence, might serve as the basis for truly understanding our prophetic heritage and embodying our charge in the world.

3. Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspire us in our ethical and spiritual life
a. As we learn from diverse religious traditions, we should avoid tokenism and cultural misappropriation, shallowly adopting beliefs and actions without understanding their cultural roots (or ours). With this in mind, the history of religious and ethical thought is a precious and multi-sided jewel which, when viewed sincerely and deeply from many angles, may provide endless wisdom.
b. Jacob Trapp writes:
i. Each of the great religions has a distinctive note, to be likened to the strings of a harp.
ii. In Hinduism it is the note of spirit – a universe throbbing with divine energy and meaning
iii. In Buddhism it is the wisdom of imperminance: quenching the fire of desire and attachment in the cool waters of meditative insight and compassion
iv. In Confucianism it is reciprocity: mutual consideration as the basis of society
v. In Taoism it is to conquer by inaction: be lowly and serviceable, like a brook, becoming rich by sharing
vi. In Judaism it is exodus from bondage: the covenant of responsibility in freedom
vii. In Islam it is the note of submission: “our god and your god is one, to whom we are self-surrendered
viii. In Christianity it is sacrifice of love: This is my body broken for you…Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these, so you have to me.
4. Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves
a. Our roots in Jewish and Christian teachings remind us of hospitality and service for the greater good. Although we have different interpretations of what the Bible is, or it’s place as a source of spiritual authority, many of us can recognize the concrete demands of love and action, not theological submission, which is at the heart of many Biblical teachings. The prophet Micah asks “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your god?” Isaiah says our charge is to “loose the bands of wickedness, undo the thongs of the yoke, let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke…to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house”
b. We are also called by the Beatitudes, which remind us:
5. Blessed are the poor: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
6. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
7. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
8. 6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
9. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
10. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
11. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.
12. 10 Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

13. Humanist teachings which council us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit

a. According to the Humanist Manifesto (written largely by Unitarians in 1933) “Today our larger understanding of the universe, our scientific achievements and deeper appreciation of the kinship of all people have created a situation which requires a new statement of the means and purpose of religion.”
b. The goal of humanism is a free and universal society in which people voluntarily and intelligently cooperate for the common good. Humanists demand a shared life in a shared world and endeavor to establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not merely for a few.
c. In warning against “idolatries of the mind and spirit” we are reminded that dogmatism, absolutism and inflexibility, whether in religious or secular thought, limits not only our imagination but also our relations with others who think differently or come from different cultural backgrounds from ourselves. In keeping the entirety of humanity in perspective, with our diversity and our struggles, both personal and collective, we are called to be truly humanitarian.
14. Spiritual teachings of earth centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
a. Like our transcendentalist forebearers, to take the whole of our world in consideration in our religious lives can enrich us and awaken us to a deep wonder of the ever pulsating, changing, evolving process of life all around us.
b. Earth based religions call us back to both the environment and our true natures. Without tokenizing, I feel all UUs can encourage and support religious organizing both within our faith and without which takes as its teachers the stars and rivers. Solidarity with people who have faced religious and cultural persecution in the face of their practices and beliefs is also, I think, a core way in which we can live our charge as Liberal people of faith.
c. While some in our ranks may set the natural world as their main spiritual teacher and others may see beauty in a universal creation from which we spring within an interdependent web of existence, I think the majority of us have at one time or another felt great humility and awe in the complexity, delicacy, and beauty in the world around us. In this time of Spring and renewal, with the passing, sequential blooms of flowers and fruit across Oxford, I don’t think this is a point on which I must elaborate extensively with words. But I invite each of us to step out of this hall today with the wonder that we are entering an unfolding of >>>>>>>
Democratic religious polity – based in Congregationalist ideas: We have no bishop, we have no pope. From the Puritian, Congregatioinalist churches in which early Unitarian churches flourished, we receive the wise process of our democratic congregational polity. While we have ministers and lay leaders facilitating our religious movement across the country, the final authority in our communities rests in ourselves. Our faith gives us an opportunity to come into a community based covenant in which we can actively and democratically build not only our congregations, but also our movement as a whole. May our growing insight and love for one another and the world inspire us to build our faith(s) collectively and individually, for the sake of religious freedom which encourages in us the responsibility and faculties to bring justice to our world.

Detroit BGLT Community Center Needs Help

2009-04-25T11:40:45Z

Please help us with our back door!

If you've been to Affirmations recently, you've seen the obstacle facing Affirmations guests: our back door, which faces the parking lot, broke several weeks ago.

Affirmations guests, volunteers, and staff must travel around the block to the front door in order to access our vital programs, resources, and services. For many, this is an inconvenience, but for our friends with disabilities, this is a major barrier, as there is currently no accessible entrance to the Center.

Unfortunately, the $2,725 needed to fix the door is not in our budget. To repair the door today would require us to reallocate funds that support the crucial programs and services, meeting the needs of more than 1,000 people each week.

Your contribution today, combined with the support of others in our community, will help us keep both of our doors open - quite literally - to all.

x-posted to personal journal

Marriage Equality = Religious Freedom

2009-04-23T12:08:13Z

A point by point examination of arguments against marriage equality.

Humor - A Different Chain Letter

2009-04-20T17:35:14Z

If you are unhappy with your minister, simply send a copy of this letter to six other churches who are tired of their ministers. Then bundle up your minister and send him / her to the church at the top of the list. Add your name to the bottom of the list. In one week you will receive 16,436 ministers and one of them should be a dandy. Have faith in the letter. One person broke the chain and got the old minister back.

-- Unknown, but not forgotten