A bigger tent, science fiction theology, Freedom from Religion, and more

Freedom from Religion ad

Bloggers continued to weigh in on the ad on the inside front cover of the current UU World.

The Rev. Kit Ketcham responded to UU World business manager Scott Ullrich's statement about the Freedom from Religion Foundation ad.

I didn't blog about the offensive ad in the new UU World, but I weighed in on it in comments on others' blogs and it looks like we all made a difference. ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," September 4)

The Rev. Cynthia Landrum also responded to the statement. ("Rev. Cyn," September 4)

"Earthbound Spirit" gives the ad campaign credit but is still bothered by it.

I know this organization. I support its mission to maintain the wall of separation between church and state. Its co-president, Dan Barker, has spoken at my UU church a couple of times – as well as other UU churches in the area. Knowing that Barker has a reputation for being… provocative, I’m not surprised the FFRF uses clever and provocative quotes for bus sign advertising – and you’ve got to admit, they’re catchy. Whoever is responsible for this ad campaign deserves some credit.

Is the ad offensive? Well, I think a few of the quotes are guaranteed to offend someone. I'm bothered by the ad for other reasons. ("Earthbound Spirit," September 4)

JohnFranc considers what the response of UUs to the ad says about UUs.

In my limited experience, the real tension in Unitarian Universalism isn’t between theists and non-theists. It’s between those who find meaning and value in traditional religious language, stories, forms and practices and those who are so offended by their association with conservative religions that they don’t want anything to do with them. ("Under the Ancient Oaks," September 5)

"Chalicechick" asks a ten-year-old for a response to the ad:

"People should be able to believe what they want without other people being mean about it." ("The Chaliceblog," September 4)

Chip, a senior pastor from Traverse City, Michigan, puts religions in different categories.

Freedom from certain types of religion, perhaps. Freedom from certain behaviors done in the name of religion, absolutely. Freedom from all religion, perish the thought. ("The Yes Church," September 8)

Politics

Amongst the many political topics UU bloggers take up (healthcare reform among them), I will highlight two here.

The resignation of Van Jones, who gave the 2008 Ware Lecture, certainly drew out the contrasts in political opinions among UUs. The Rev. Christine Robinson is mad at Van Jones for accepting the government position ("iMinister," September 6) while Joyce at "UU Mom" says "I don't know if I'll ever understand politics." (September 6) Bill Baar has a summary post, "The problem with White House Czars is no one does a background check on 'em." ("Pfarrer Streccius," September 7)

Joel Monka wonders:

How is it that this story could percolate for months, the blogosphere going crazy over it, with the embarrassing videos being embedded in every post, and not one word be reported by ABC, NBC, CBS, NY Times, Washington Post, and CNN? Is it any wonder the right wing believes the mainstream media is merely the propaganda arm of the Democratic Party, if a scandal can be big enough to force a resignation and not be covered? Ask yourselves honestly the question every conservative blog is asking today: do you really believe that they would have been equally silent if it were a Republican appointee serving under Bush? ("CUUMBAYA," September 7)

The subject of American racism engaged the Rev. W. Frederick Wooden.

Racism is not about bigotry.

I say this because the intense hostility to our president, yes ours and I do mean all Americans, is profoundly racist. Questioning his citizenship, calling him a socialist, labeling him a fascist, fearing he will brainwash our children, would not happen if he were white.

Saying all the protesters are racist invites howls of protest, of course, because most people who disagree with him are not doing so because he is black. Not consciously at least. Doubtless many of them have black friends and brown friends. They are no[t] hiding under hoods or other foul things.

It is important to see that racism is not about bigotry, because bigotry is a personal feeling while racism is a social system. Our society, not just ours I hasten to add, but ours no less than any, is based on racial privilege. Our constitution inscribed it in the provision for counting people in bondage as 3/5 of a person when enumerating the population. Only black people were in bondage by then. No white people were slaves. But that's only an illustration. ("Aside from the Obvious," September 8)

Joel Monka doesn't buy it.

This makes no more sense to me after the election than it did before. If you recall, before the election many UU bloggers were saying that racism was the issue because then-Senator Obama wasn't poling as well as they thought he should have. The fact that he was polling better than President Clinton had been during either of his campaigns didn't impress them; any opposition to Obama showed institutional racism. And now people seem shocked that there is intense hostility to the President... as if there hasn't been intense hostility to the President- any President- for decades now. ("CUUMBAYA," September 8)

The purpose and nature of worship and religion

The Rev. Matt Tittle answers a reader's question about why we worship.

I believe that every religion does offer a personal relationship with God and the divine, however conceived. As far as worship is concerned, I agree that God doesn't need it. Using the parental analogy of many religions, I don't want my children to worship me. I want them to respect me, to heed my advice, to learn from me, and so on. But it would be arrogant at best to expect them to "worship" me as a God. I may be their immediate creator, but I don't "need it." ("Keep the Faith," September 5)

David G. Markham is involved in starting a new UU congregation, and he invites people's thoughts and comments on the purpose of church.

The purpose and function of religion in a post modern society is primarily to help people make sense out of their existential experience, and provide an emotional support system especially at times of phase transition in the human life cycle.

Other purposes of religion in modern society are to make money for the ministerial class and their minions, to provide entertainment for the masses, and to provide a platform and audience for people striving to be upwardly socially mobile to maintain and achieve higher social status.

Religion also provides an organized, institutionalized vehicle for political and social control to societal leaders who wish to influence and control the populations they govern. ("UU A Way of Life," September 6)

A bigger tent

"Lizard Eater" wants a bigger tent:

I want a tent where I can point out, as Rev. Christine did, that we are all at a spot on the agnostic spectrum without a God-Person (G-P) hollering, “Don’t call me an agnostic!”

I want a tent where I can talk about the Holy Spirit without a Non-God-Person (N-G-P) hollering, “Stop talking about God!” ("The Journey," September 6)

Paul Oakley has one word to describe the bigger tent Lizard Eater asks for:

The bigger tent she describes is one that can be summarized in one word: civilized. People listen to each other, not expecting a ditto machine. People respect the differences they find, rather than trying to shame them out of each other. ("Inner Light, Radiant Life," September 6)

The Rev. Tony Lorenzen responds to the current UU World cover story, "The Gospel of Inclusion."

The first lesson is that of Universalism. It’s a grand lesson to revisit for Unitarian Universalists and a great idea for non-UU’s to be introduced to for the first time. A loving God doesn’t send people to hell. Forever. Doesn’t make sense. It isn’t reasonable.

The second is the point made by Rev. McNatt at the Berry Street Lecture (and I paraphrase): UU Culture is keeping us from being multicultural. ("Sunflower Chalice," September 8)

Around the blogosphere

David Pyle admits his "personal geekdom" and credits "a decent amount of who I have become to my encounter with science fiction over the years."

Science fiction, or at least the best of it, is a study in theology, in humanity, in sociology, and in philosophy. Science fiction that becomes classic almost always has within it deep questions about the nature of existence, about the purpose of life, about the nature of what is viewed as sacred. It asks political questions that are dangerous to ask, it challenges institutions and structures that are dangerous to challenge… all while seeming to some (not me) a frivolous adventure of the imagination. ("Celestial Lands," September 5)

And on September 8 he asks, "If I were to teach a class on Theology in Science Fiction, what books do you think should be in the course?"

The Rev. Amy Freedman looks to children for deeply theological questions.

Adults have confided in me that they are surprised and challenged by children's deep questions. So often these simple inquiries touch on complex ethical or theological issues. Children can sense when grown-ups are uncomfortable and can learn to stop asking. Even if we do not have all the answers, it is important to nurture curiosity and reverence from a young age. ("Rev. Amy Freedman's Blog," September 5)

Rebecca Hecking writes about her practice of creating sacred space indoors.

I have found it helpful to create several sacred spaces around my home. Since my work requires me to spend most of my days inside (sound familiar?) I find that creating/maintaining sacred space indoors helps me to remain grounded and mindful as I go about my daily tasks. It also helps me stay connected to the natural world despite spending so much time surrounded by the trappings of twenty-first century life. ("The Sustainable Soul," September 7)

Laverne Coan shares a practice of stilling herself.

There are several places in the Bible where the writers urge us to "Be still" (I'll talk about that next post). This is a favorite phrase of mine, because I have Monkey Mind at its best and I complement that with an obsession to accomplish as much as I can in the least amount of time. Whenever you need some calm, try this meditation technique that I learned years ago and has been part of my spiritual practice ever since. ("Lifting the Spirit: Experience of a UU Christian," September 8)

The Rev. Cynthia Landrum ponders evangelical atheism.

I think the idea of Atheists going door-to-door, or even standing on the corner in Royal Oak passing out literature is pretty funny. But, at the same time as I see the humor in it, and I see where people get really irritated, as the author of that video did, at people coming to their homes to talk about their faith, sometimes I think as Unitarian Universalists we should be willing to go a little bit further than we do in sharing our own faith. ("Rev. Cyn," September 7)

Chalicechick and her husband plan eventually to adopt, possibly transracially.

TheCSO and I do not care what color the child is (though we'd be happy to do things to help the kid feel attached to his or her culture), we care that the kid is nerdy. Because nerdy kids likely have a rough time in foster care* and because we're nerdy and nerdy kids like and understand us and vice-versa. If the kid has read some Asimov, that's instant bonding right there. ("The Chaliceblog," September 7, follow-up post September 8 responding to a comment)