Abortion, conversion, a UU TV network, and more

Abortion and other 'UU World' topics

The Rev. Christine Robinson talks about the Rev. Scotty McLennan's article offering a theological justification for abortion in the Winter 2009 issue of UU World:

So iMinister, a woman, thinks it's pretty irksome to hear him opine that her decision to decline to provide her uterus, which is to say, a whole lot of her body and that huge medical drama called childbirth, to a developing fetus is only ok because he thinks that the fetus isn't a human being yet. He just so doesn't get it! It doesn't matter whether the fetus is a bit of tissue or a full person. It doesn't have a right to use my body unless I want it there or consent to be its hero and provide my body for its use. ("iMinister," November 16)

James also posts about the article at the progressive North Carolina blog "BlueNC":

No matter what side you're on in the Great American Abortion Debate, you'll find this article of interest. I discovered it this week in UU World, the Unitarian Universalist monthly magazine. It traces the history of religious practices around abortion, including the Catholic Church's radical change in 1917, driven by Pope Pius IX who said that centuries of previous Popes had gotten things wrong. ("BlueNC," November 19)

You can find the article here: Breath is Life

Sara discusses a 2003 UU World article and Sunday School activities:

Church and school don't have to be totally passive experiences, and we can learn a lot from active games. There are several good resources out there for classroom games that are actually meant to teach something (like cooperation, listening skills, etc), so we should all be making our classes more active, also-known-as-boy-friendly. ("The Curriculum of Love," November 16)

You can find the article here: What should we do with the boys?

Nile Tallman refers to the Rev. Cynthia Landrum's essay in the Winter 2009 issue of UU World when considering her non-deist beliefs:

I have never had any faith in any gods. Does that make me a threat? Does that make me a bad person? Am I contributing to the downfall of Western Civilization? I would never force my beliefs on another person. I respect the rights of others to believe as they see fit. Why do some seem to need an "enemy" to make their belief stronger? The "in group" gets the prize and the "out group" gets things like eternal damnation. When one minority group can't be targeted anymore, another is put in its place. ("The World is Afire," November 18)

You can find the article here: If there is a God...

"Lizard Eater" addresses Annie Laurie Gaylor's response, in the Winter 2009 issue of UU World, to the criticism of the FFRF ad:

They, and I, were mind-boggled by YOUR ad. Respect has always been a part of Unitarian Universalism. Mocking and belittling others is NOT a part of my religion -- is it a part of yours? Oh, I forgot. You want freedom from religion. ("The Journey," November 14)

Crisis of faith and conversion

Thomas R. Beall has been having a crisis of faith:

Maybe I have this all wrong but, if this is a good description of modern UU'ism, if this is why we "come to church", then where is the faith - the collective belief in something? Of course, many UU's would say that the "something" is our seven principals. This brings me to the crux of the issue for me and the reason I am undergoing this crisis of faith. For I question if we truly embrace these principals as a church even as many UU's do individually. ("Living the Prophetic Imperative," November 25)

Bill Baar wonders what actually happens when someone converts to Unitarian Universalism:

Now, if someone believes they are converting, we as a Church are not particularly equipped to find them wrong on it either. We don't see into the soul. It's not what were about.

So what exactly is happening when we covenant with a Church? ("Pfarrer Streccius," November 18)

Paul Oakley responds:

I prefer to look at the word "conversion" in a more Catholic sense, meaning a change of life. Many of us contemporary UUs speak of our religion's transformational power or its access thereto, of our worship and other shared activities as a locus of transformation. If people experience transformation rather than mere emotional flux, they are converted. ("Inner Light, Radiant Life," November 18)

UUMA Convocation

Rev. Cynthia Landrum blogs about a performance at the UUMA Convocation by native Canadians:

They performed a number of songs, explaining each one, and then had all of us try throat singing. If you can imagine a hall full of Unitarian Universalist ministers, paired into two teams, throat singing and trying to make the other team laugh, well, you're likely to laugh yourself at the image. But even funnier was the sight of UU ministers trying to do the dance. ("Rev. Cyn," November 13)

Rev. Kathryn Bert says she was too tired to attend that performance, and blogs about conflict:

The word "conflict" may give you the wrong impression about what this work is about - in many ways, it's simply about learning to live with difference - especially in congregational life. How do we notice difference, honor it, and engage it - without insisting everyone be the same, or share the same opinion or have the same politics or even religious beliefs....? I think this is at the core of conflict transformation work. ("The Stole'n Word," November 13)

Around the blogosphere:

Peter Bowden imagines a brand new UU TV network:

I can imagine a web based UU TV network with a wide range of content for those new to our faith, existing members, leaders and more... Internet connected televisions will be able to connect to it the way we connect to a website today. Only it will be a TV channel. Scheduled program. Full HD picture... ("The UU Growth Blog," November 15)

Rev. Gary Kowalski talks about the film 2012 and Americans' fascination with end times:

If films like 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow are any indication, the "world-is-coming-to-an-end" message will always draw a big audience. Global warming, AIDS, H1N1, shifting weather patterns and similar threats will be seized upon as evidence that all is lost. The task for our time will be to recapture the faith of the founders, not to abandon hope, but to take melting ice caps, nuclear proliferation, economic recession and all the rest as problems for human ingenuity to solve. ("Revolutionary Spirits," November 14)

"Suttonhoo" believes conflict isn't a bad thing:

Conflict originates in the struggle for power, something that, frankly, all of us should grasp for. Owning our own strength, claiming our will to power, is what makes us human and gives us the courage to find the capacity to fulfill the dreams that drive us forward. ("Detritus," November 17)

"DairyStateDad" offers his opinion on hate crime:

Dead is dead. Beaten is beaten. Maimed is maimed. Raped is raped. Doesn't it make sense to punish people based on the consequences of their actions, rather than the thoughts in their heads? If a mugger kills me for my wallet, or kills my friend because he's gay, does the reason for the killing really warrant a different kind of sentence? ("DairyStateDad," November 19)

John discusses morality:

Morality is, at its very core, a function for the survival of social creatures. During the dawn of humanity, morality meant to have loyalty to one's family, clan, or tribe. A moral person had to defend their people against outsiders, who brought with them disease and war, or at best were competition for valuable resources. Men were expected to hunt, women were expected to bear children, and life was short and violent. This isn't the best possible condition we can expect today, but with their limited technology, it is the best that could be hoped for at that time. ("The Pageless Book," November 19)

The Rev. Colin Bossen posts letters he wrote to U.S. senators to urge them to support the health care reform bill:

I am writing to urge you to support the Patient Protection and Affordable Act now before the Senate. The United States needs health care reform and while this bill is far from perfect it will ensure that around 94% of Americans have health care coverage, a major improvement over the current situation. Importantly it will also help to curb health care costs over the long run. ("The Latest Form of Infidelity," November 20)

UUMA Convocation, growth and reform, Ft. Hood, and more

UUMA Convocation

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum blogs from the UU Ministers Association Convocation in Ottawa, Canada:

Here at the UUMA Convocation in Ottawa, Ontario, a continent-wide gathering of Unitarian Universalist ministers. The last Convo was in 2002 in Birmingham, AL, so it's been seven years since we've had this meeting. Our keynote lecture is from Thomas Moore. ("Rev. Cyn," November 12)

"Katabert" also blogs from the Convocation, excited to learn how to incorporate technology into the ministry:

UU ministers in Canada, whenever they travel to the U.S. to attend UUMA meetings, have to worry about cell phones working, kilobyte costs, and exchange rates and all that. We're meeting in Canada to show solidarity with our Canadian colleagues, even though the Canadian Unitarian Council and the Unitarian Univeralist Association have officially split. ("The Stole'n Word," November 11)

Blogging from the Convocation, "Ginger Root" talks about the sometimes fine line between privilege and addiction:

And I realized- the line between ritual and addiction and privilege is very thin. The fact that my morning doesn't feel right without that quiet moment, without the warm cup is both ritual and addiction. What a privilege to have a reliable moment of quiet peace and warmth each day. ("Carrots and Ginger," November 12)

Rev. Sam Trumbore is keeping a running blog of the conference. ("Rev. Sum Trumbore")

Growth and reform

Peter Bowden is enthusiastic about the monitoring aspect of the UUA's new Policy Governance model:

Given the resources we invest collectively as an association in our ministry, and given the importance of this ministry, we have to know. Personally I think that if we care we need to measure it. Without it it's hard to have transparency and accountability. This is also an essential component of policy governance - the board sets the vision and ends to be achieved and the staff, in this case under the leadership of UUA President Peter Morales, works towards these end. ("The UU Growth Blog," November 7)

Paul Oakley brainstorms ways ways to implement a UU educational program, remembering that it should serve those with the greatest need:

But I would draw attention to something we should not forget in making such plans to assist the at-risk succeed in their education: if our aim is to help those most in need, we need to make sure that the effort is not directed at the not-so-bad public schools in our own neighborhoods or the middle-class school children who are going to get what they need from their family and school combination without the addition of our extra efforts. Rather, it's the kids in the worst schools and in the worst neighborhoods that most need any educational mission we may offer. ("Inner Light, Radiant Life," November 9)

Elizabeth wonders if the ordination process for UU ministers should be reformed:

I'm sure it has occurred to people before that one of the reasons our congregations are so un-diverse is because it is a pretty un-diverse privileged crowd of people who can afford to become our ministers. It seems to me that this would be something on the priority list to reform, but it is my sense that it is not. I wonder if it is because we have enough ministers so there is the sense that making fellowship and ordination more accessible would just flood the Association with too many ministers? Or there are just other financial/reform priorities? ("Elizabeth's Little Blog," November 6)

Other UU issues

Thomas R. Beall says that his Jesuit upbringing opened the door for his embrace of Unitarian Universalism:

I think it is also true that my Jesuit education made it possible for me to become a Unitarian Universalist. While UUs do not use the Christian term "Kingdom of God," we do speak of an imperative to work for the Beloved Community — arguably the same imperative embraced by the Catholic bishops in 1971. "Living the Prophetic Imperative," November 7)

"Lizard Eater" explains why and how she preaches without a manuscript:

I mean, they liked it, it seemed to go well. But for me, it was like the difference between giving pastoral care over the phone versus sitting next to the person. There is an intimacy that comes from eye contact, and when you have less time looking down at notes and more time with the eye contact ... and even better, when you can roam down next to people ... it's addictive, I tell ya. ("The Journey," November 8)

"ChaliceChick" talks about understanding religion through children:

As many times as I've corrected UUs of various ages (mercifully skewing towards kids) on the specifics of refining belief through reason, I can totally see why "you can believe whatever you want" is a little kid version of UUism. ("The Chaliceblog," November 8)

Ft. Hood

John Michael Crovis comments on Ft. Hood and prejudice:

When I hear pro-life advocates call pro-choice advocates "murderers," I understand it as condoning the slaughter on both sides. When right-wing talk show hosts deprecate Democrats as being Nazis and Communist, I hear them inciting another bloody civil war. Whenever one group of people demonizes another, they not only endanger the lives of those "other people," but also endanger their own. If there is any sense to be of the massacre at Fort Hood, I think it should be that hatred always yields violence. I fear, however, that many will only think of this as another reason why not to trust Muslims. ("The Pageless Book," November 6)

David Pyle wants people to truly investigate the causes of the Ft. Hood shooting, rather than blaming it on race or religion:

I find it fascinating that some of the individuals profiting the most from promoting fear are even willing to use this tragedy to promote their fear based racist agenda, such as calling for investigations of every Muslim in the military. What they do not realize is that the fascination the 24 hour news cycle has with sensational stories and the culture of fear they have created are as much the source of such mass shootings as any ideas, values, or intentions of the killer. ("Celestial Lands," November 8)

Veterans Day

On Veterans' Day, Jaqueline Wolven remembers why some people choose to enlist:

I know that the shift has been made where we thank those who serve/served for what they sacrifice. And I do. I just think that there needs to be the realization that it is still poor kids who are fighting these unscrupulous battles. They come from Arkansas, New Mexico, Mississippi - and the countless neighborhoods where money is always tight. They want to make a difference in their lives and the military gives them that chance - but at what cost. Why are we sending our poor to fight wars that have no real end in sight. ("MoxieLife," November 11)

The Rev. Dr. W. Frederick Wooden wonders whether soldiers should be called heroes:

Truly some are heroic, facing dangers and rising above and beyond. But most are not heroic in any personal sense. By calling them all heroes, however noble the intent, we subtly tell ourselves they are exceptional, atypical, special.

This is wrong. Serving one's nation should not be exceptional. It should be normal. Behind all our genuine desire to honor those who serve is a deeper shame that we do not all serve. ("Aside from the Obvious," November 11)

Around the blogosphere

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum uses a Frederick Douglass speech to discuss the recent Maine vote against marriage equality:

Would you have me argue that gay and lesbians are people? That their families are families? That their partnerships are true marriages? That their love is love?

Would you have me argue that people are entitled to love whom they love? That they are the rightful deciders of whom they shall spend their lives with?

What, then, remains to be argued? Is it that hate is not divine, that God does not hate? That which is not love cannot be of God. Who can reason on such a proposition? The time for such argument is past. ("Rev. Cyn," November 6)

Jaqueline Wolven believes sometimes people need to be forced to do the right thing:

Knowing that I look at the landscape of people shouting about health care and I wonder if this is a similar case. A case where the people will need to be forced to do the right thing. My senators are both reluctant to vote for health care, even though a large percentage of our state's population are already on some form of federal health care system (AR Kids, Medicare). They are afraid that those that oppose the "right" to health care won't vote for them and that their jobs will be lost over this decision. I say that they need to stand up and do the right thing and that sometimes the people need to be forced - an unfortunate thing, but one that has been proven in our state's history. ("MoxieLife," November 7)

The Rev. Daniel Harper sympathizes with this year's crop of college graduates:

I've been wondering about the people who will graduate from college this year. How difficult will it be for them to find a job? How will the recession shape this assumptions of this year's graduates? And I wonder how this year's college graduates will cope with their student debt. ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," November 7)

The Rev. Kit Ketcham discusses the role of sadness in life:

The sadness that is part and parcel of human life doesn't go away; it forms a foundation upon which we build our lives, recognizing that sadness is not necessarily bad. Sadness makes me think. Sadness makes me appreciate the dear ones whose lives are ended. Sadness helps me recognize how valuable people are, how much they have given me and others. Sadness reminds me that we are all in this together, that the only way out is through, that out of sadness can come action. ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," November 10)

"Smijer" talks about ethical eating:

I already know there is much wrong with the way we produce and consume food in America, there is a steep learning curve for me on the various difficult, subtle & complex issues. So another thing is to try learning a tad more about it. And as I do, I'll try to share with you what I learn. ("Tete-a-Tete-Tete," November 10)

Technology, voting, same-sex marriage, and more

UUism and Technology

Bill Baar advises fellow UUs to look past the movement and remember that they're part of a church:

Marking life's passages. Comforting a spirit. That's what Churches do. Movements don't. (I've belonged. They grind and take. They don't give.)

Maybe when trying to stick to visitors, we ought to spend some time explaining just what Church is about. Tell our visitors what we do very well. ("Pfarrer Streccius," October 31)

Peter Bowden discusses the usefulness of Twitter in growing congregations:

My take on Twitter? I find it is helping me to keep in touch with the reality of the people our congregations are serving. It is almost like a technological version of being mildly psychic. Activate that UU twitter-sense and all of a sudden I'm tapped into what hundreds of UUs, UU friends, organizations and other denominations are up to. It is especially useful for exchanging resource links. ("The UU Growth Blog," October 31)

The Rev. Sean Dennison reflects on the lessons he learned during his negotiated resignation:

14. I learned that the "technology gap" can be dangerous in several ways: first, it can make some people feel as though the minister is less accessible to them because they do not use technology; second, it can be used to spread rumors that are impossible to counter; third, it blurs the lines between professional and personal time and information.

15. I learned that my call to ministry is strong and though this was a painful experience, I still feel confident in my skill and commitment to this work. ("Ministrare," November 2)

Kari Kopnick was excited to share her views on the direction of UUism with President Peter Morales and the Rev. Harlan Limpert, UUA vice president of Ministries and Congregational Support:

And this is what I got to tell Harlan Limpert as we ate our dinner and chatted about our beloved community. He listened. He took notes. He asked questions. This is the best part of serving on the LREDA board, a chance to share my story with people who need to hear it. To sing my canary song! It's not dark and gloomy and dangerous here. In fact, I think maybe we've found the path to the sun. We can bring our lost family members back, make them welcome. Expect them. Be ready. ("Chalice Spark," November 4)

Voting and same-sex marriage

The Rev. Thom Belote encourages people all around the country to get out and vote:

Around the country there are a number of elections worth watching. In Maine, voters are heading to the polls to vote on whether or not to repeal a decision allowing Gay Marriage. In New Jersey there is a hotly contested Governor's race between incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie. In the Virginia Governor's race, Republican Bob McDonnell is expected to defeat Democrat Creigh Deeds. ("RevThom," November 3)

The Rev. Daniel Harper bemoans the repeal of same-sex marriage in Maine: "With nearly 90% of precincts reporting in, looks like Maine voters have repealed same sex marriage. Crap." ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," November 3)

DairyStateDad believes that over time the tide will turn in favor of same-sex marriage:

And I think that's what it's going to take: More and more people finding out that people who live near them and interact in their lives just happen to be gay. Over time, I hope they'll come to see that the rights and privileges all of us get who are fortunate enough to be able to marry the partner of our dreams belong to those whose partners, and dreams, are different from their own. ("DairyStateDad," November 4)

The Rev. Michael Tino discusses all the extra costs he and his partner have to pay because voters chose to reject same-sex marriage:

It is, to be frank, entirely too painful to once again realize that voters somewhere in this nation are only too willing to deny my civil rights. It is made more painful, not less, by the fact that Washington voters were willing to give same-sex couples there second-class citizenship (like the kind already available in New Jersey)...but they probably wouldn't have passed marriage equality. ("The Arc of the Universe," November 5)

Around the blogosphere

The Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell offers her solution to funding universal health care:

In fact, if we made all these changes, we'd probably take care of the health care crisis and have enough money left over to solve global warming. We wouldn't even have to stop spending billions of dollars on foreign wars--which, in truth, would be my very first choice of a smart cost-cutting measure. But, hey, I'm trying not to dream too big. ("Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell," November 5)

Thomas R. Beall talks about peace and repairing bridges:

If you have gotten this far, you are probably thinking, "Did it take you nearly 50 years of life to figure out the importance of individual peacemaking?" Perhaps it has, reminding me once again that I am not as smart as I thought I was. As one who wants to see humanity end war, however, I am coming to realize in my heart that to begin to do that we also need to end all the little wars we fight with each other. ("Living the Prophetic Imperative," October 31)

The Rev. LoraKim Joyner uses coyotes to talk about the precarious balance of life:

Coyotes, birds, cats, and humans all end up harmed in some way no matter how we live or die and this earth is all our terrain. How then do we negotiate this complex arrangement we call life? For me I see an example in the pain of this daughter and this mother. We risk to be in beauty and keep our hearts open to one another, no matter the loss. In this way we may dare to care. ("Liberating Wings," November 3)

Discussions on UUism, Hate Crime legislation, and more

Discussions on UUism

UUA Trustee Linda Laskowski has been posting a series of reflections about the October meeting of the Board of Trustees over the course of the last week, including posts on a possible youth leadership training program, reconsidering policies, and the UUSC's humanitarian projects.

Peter Bowden discusses Peter Morales's recent announcement to do a comprehensive review of UU ministry:

I'm glad we're going to take a hard honest look at our ministry. Does UU congregational participation correlate with spiritual growth? What ARE the stages of Unitarian Universalist development? Do we know what these are? What are our ministry objectives? What ongoing struggles within our association of congregations are connected to a failure to understand the way we develop and mature as people of faith? ("The UU Growth Blog," October 27)

Kim Hampton responds to criticism of her criticism of Unitarian Universalism:

Next, if you will notice I never single out any particular UU congregation for criticism. That's not my job nor my point. (and I believe my mother taught me better than to do that) When I talk about something, I'm talking about what I see as wider trends-not something that any one church does. It is not my intention to call out any particular church, because in my life right now all I'm going to see is the periphery. The periphery gives me a pretty good view of the wider world, not how it is applied in any particular church. ("east of midnight," October 25)

Daniel Harper posts a link to a San Francisco radio talk show that had a discussion about Unitarian Universalism:

On Sundays, KGO has a weekly radio show called "God Talk," hosted by Brent Walters, who actually has a post-grad degree in religious studies. Yesterday, Walters did a three-hour show on Unitarian Universalism... ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," October 26)

Devin Murphy explains what he sees as the three stages of development in people raised as UUs:

For a child being raised in UU community the First Stage of spiritual development is the stage of scientific scepticism and inquisitivity. And one in this stage does not accept things on faith but only accepts them if convinced logically. ("Ramblingsofmymind," October 28)

Hate Crime legislation

The Rev. Ricky Hoyt has mixed feelings about the new hate crime legislation:

The motivation doesn't make the act more violent. The victim doesn't suffer any additional physical hurt. If the attacker is screaming "nigger" or "queer" during the act it may cause some additional mental suffering, but it is not, in fact, illegal, to yell "nigger" or "queer" (unless it's perceived as an actual threat to do violence). So the only act that hate crimes legislation actually punishes is not an act at all, but a thought: the mental state of the attacker, the contents of their mind. ("One More Step," October 29)

The Rev. Gary Kowalski believes Christian pastors should support the new law, rather than condemn it:

The rationale for hate crimes legislation, of course, is to protect whole classes of people. When a synagogue is defaced by a swastika, or a church is burnt down, it harms not only the individuals who belonged to that particular congregation. It terrorizes an entire category of citizens and chills their ability to gather and worship according to their own conscience. ("Revolutionary Spirits," October 29)

Biblical literalism

"Chalicechick" believes that a biblical story's meaning and value shouldn't be judged on whether the story is true:

To me, the idea that a religious story's meaning and value should be evaluated separately from its literal truth makes perfect sense and I'm not sure why anything else would be the case. After all, Jesus himself acknowledged that not all of his stories were literally true. If inventing a story to get a spiritual point across was good enough for Jesus, one would think it would be good enough for the Reverend Wilson. ("The Chaliceblog," October 29)

"DairyStateDad" responds, posting a reflection on mainline Christians' relationship to biblical literalists:

I do wish sometimes that mainline Christians would be more willing to directly confront and critique the more negative and even destructive interpretations of Christian doctrine held by some of their evangelical bretheren and sisteren. I know many Christians who despair at the way fundamentalists and conservative evangelicals have appropriated the term "Christianity" to the exclusion of more progressive Christians... In the end, though, I can understand why they don't. As DairyStateMom puts it, it may feel a little too much like airing dirty laundry in public -- about matters that for them just aren't that important. ("DairyStateDad," October 29)

Around the blogosphere:

James Ford shares thoughts on New Humanism, and links to a brand new online magazine entirely devoted to the topic:

Greg Epstein's approach is an attempt to shift humanism away from the rhetoric of that hard atheism and toward all those other aspects of a fully engaged life in this world--and in particular those concerns that are part of the religious or spiritual quest. This New Humanism is about meaning and depth in life without reference to a creator/sustainer/destroyer divinity. ("Monkey Mind," October 30)

The Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell discusses religion and economics:

Do I, a minister, know enough to speak about economics? Am I a citizen? We cannot leave this crucial area to the "experts," who have overlooked the poor among us, saying "that's just the price we have to pay for prosperity"; who have called the bleeding of the earth an "externality"; who have been enamored of formulas in books and have not been concerned that children are hungry. No, we can't leave economics to the experts, because economics is all about how we divvy up resources and therefore it is fundamentally a moral issue. ("Rev Dr. Marilyn Sewell," October 28)

"Lizard Eater" debates the idea that having a daughter with cancer makes her a better minister:

It's been a difficult thing for me to work my way through, as I had to get past my maternal emotions -- I don't want to benefit, or the world to benefit, in any way from my baby daughter getting cancer! -- and my confusion as I tried to reason it all out:
a) There was something deficient in you before that only childhood cancer could fix
b) A person who has experienced childhood cancer is inherently a better ministerial prospect than someone who hasn't. ("The Journey," October 25)

John mourns the death of his step-father, but also celebrates his life:

I would like to think that some of my better traits I learned from him. He was a stoic quiet man who could find off-color humor in any situation, but had a genuine kindness to him and towards his fellow man. He was strong in the face of adversity; I never knew him to panic or worry much; if he did, he hid it from sight and wouldn't let anyone else know it. He was slow to anger, but stood his ground when needed; wasn't a fighter, but wasn't afraid to fight. ("The Pageless Book," October 27)

As she and her family succumb to seasonal illnesses, Shannon contemplates the quilts that they find refuge in:

I myself come from a pretty creative family, but not one of us is much of a quilter. However, I was lucky enough to marry into a family rich in heirloom quilts that have kept us warm together all these winters. I love the quilts more as each year passes. ("Unmitigated Bliss," October 28)

"Politywonk" compares New York City to Afghanistan to explain why military action isn't the whole answer:

Afghanistan isn't any different from America. Except that a lot more Afghans -- especially women and children -- are dying of things we now treat in the emergency rooms. I won't say "the elderly" because they only expect to live to 50. That means they are dying not OF old age, but IN middle age. ("PolityWonk," October 30)

UU growth, Afghanistan, lies, and more

UU growth and change

Peter Bowden, the new growth consultant for the UUA's Ballou Channing District (southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island), created a new blog detailing strategies and successes in growing congregations:

A place to explore the potential of Untiarian Universalism.
A place for sharing relevant ideas, experience, and resources.
A think tank for those working to support healthy, growing congregations.
And, like a Bob Ross painted tree, let this be a happy little blog! ("The UU Growth Blog," October 21)

Daniel Harper proposes two scenarios for "franchising" UU churches:

If you think this post is about you, you're wrong. I'm interested in exploring the fundamental issue of church growth and church planting as it relates to our system of congregation polity. I'm also interested in bringing to the surface some of the problems inherent in congregational polity. ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," October 14)

"Boston Unitarian" believes the reason Unitarian Universalism doesn't grow is because of a lack of a unified message. He thinks it should stay that way:

The reasons why Unitarian Universalism does not grow are legion and fairly well known. To me the most significant is one that is also inherent-our lack of a unified message. Since this really cannot (and should not) be "fixed" it seems fairly clear that significant growth will never happen. ("Boston Unitarian," October 21)

"Strange Attractor" wonders why people are trying to change Unitarian Universalism:

Often it seems like the exact things that attracted me to UU fellowship are the things that desperately need to change and that makes me feel like maybe I'm not the kind of person you are trying to attract. ("Strange Attractor," October 21)

Kim Hampton responds to "Strange Attractor":

You're a middle-aged white woman who listens to NPR, votes Democrat, buys organic food and doesn't believe in God. Well....bully for you! But if your congregation, implicitly or explicitly, by word or by deed makes those who are not white, not middle-aged, don't listen to NPR, vote however they feel, doesn't buy organic food and maybe just maybe believes in God feel as if they are unwelcome, then I'm going to continue to bitch. ("east of midnight," 10.22.09)

Thoughts on Afghanistan

Thomas R. Beall recounts all the failures of Western nations in Afghanistan, starting with Great Britain in 1838:

I hope that President Obama has also learned the lessons of history and has listened to the words of Colonel Dennie, Surgeon Brydon, and General Gromov. Afghanistan has never been kind to the nations of the West. When will we learn that clear lesson of history and find another solution in Afghanistan - one that doesn't involve more troops, more bombs, more killing? ("Living the Prophetic Imperative," October 18)

Jacqueline Wolven believes the situation in Afghanistan can change if we stop the violence:

If we changed our strategy of fighting an unseen enemy to build schools, hospitals, clinics, farms, wells, and whatever else the people need to rebuild their society we would be making LONG TERM changes to the country that would benefit generations and plant the seeds of respect and trust. ("MoxieLife," October 17)

Lies and costumes

The Rev. Cynthia Cain uses the Balloon Boy to discuss deception and lying:

A "hoax" sets off lie after lie after lie. The father in this case not only sat in front of TV cameras and lied repeatedly, he coached and encouraged his children to lie! ("Just a Jersey Girl," October 18)

"Ms. Kitty" talks about costumes and wonders why people are attracted to religious rituals that are not native to them:

But Kimc questioned the word "affected" and I've realized that I used this word to describe my sense of disconnect between conventional costumes and costumes selected to play a role. That's probably not fair! Why should my conventional costumes and my choice of red boots be any less "affected" than a dervish's swirling skirts (or a fashionista with fancy boots and tucked-in pants)? I guess it's a continuum of choice and my judgment doesn't matter a hill of beans! ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," October 19)

Around the blogosphere:

Shawna Foster responds to a story about a stained glass window recently renovated at First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans which depicted the Gordon sisters:

I think, particularly from the vantage point of our religion and that church, we should affirm them for exactly who they were. Racist. The Gordon sisters were racist Unitarians. Yes, they fought and did worthy things. The article takes careful note of all their achievements. But what the article does - and what it sounds like the church does not do - is acknowledge them for exactly what they were, detailing their immoral positions in society. ("Vessel," October 19)

The story itself was recently noted in the UUs in the Media blog on October 9.

Devin Murphy discusses the perceived discrimination against believers in God within Unitarian Universalism:

So why would they have a problem with us, the God loving UUs trying out we have discovered and are discovering? Well one reason for this is likely the fact that many UUs came to UUism fleeing Christian denominations, like Roman Catholic and Anglican, and as a result have negative associations linked to the concept of God, to which many who come from a different back ground, take me for example, who was raised UU may not have. ("Ramblingsofmymind," October 17)

The Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell wonders why a large group of people would let themselves be pushed to death by a single authority figure:

That such an tragedy should have happened is reprehensible. Ray is responsible for these deaths, and I feel certain that he will be charged with some variation or other of homicide. But the larger question that remains with me is, why did so many people ever allow this travesty to occur? (Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell, October 22)

Jeff Liebmann discusses trauma:

A valuable lesson for me in this ordeal has been the reminder of the delicate connection between body and mind, between physical and mental health. I'm not sure all the pills in the world will help me reclaim my pulpit, and spiritual practice alone will not cure the electrical failings of my heart. Like many things in life, I must find a balance if I am to achieve an equilibrium that will sustain my prophetic voice and my passion for ministry. ("uujeff's muse kennel and pizzatorium," October 19)

Shannon writes a letter to Alzheimer's:

So, I write this letter. I throw it to the world and just really cry out that all I really want to do is understand this disease, and make peace with why this happens to people. I don't want to hate you, or anybody or anything else, but I do want understanding and I just can't seem to get it. ("Unmitigated Bliss," October 22)

Joel Monka uses an article in the Huffington Post about rape victims being denied insurance to discuss health care reform:

This is why requiring all health insurance companies to accept all applicants regardless of preexisting conditions must pass, if nothing else does. Doing that will restore competitive balance; if nobody has to bear the burden of being first, then all insurance companies will have the same mix of customers on average, and so be able to cover any such "condition X" without fear--or outrageous rates. ("CUUMBAYA," October 22)

'Leper status,' social media and ministry, Istanbul, and more

Religion and theology

David Pyle discusses how his bout with swine flu got him thinking about "leper status":

Unlike some people our society treats as "contagious", my H1N1 will go away soon... but for the disabled, for those with HIV, for those with PTSD, for those with the results of chemo-therapy, and even those in hospice, they will not shed their leper status so easily... even though I am much more contagious than many of those who live with this stigma daily. ("Celestial Lands," October 10)

"The Naked Theologian" talks about the Rev. Dr. Forrest Church and his mid-career embrace of transcendental universalism:

The Universalist strand of his faith tradition, with its promise of shared salvation, held particular appeal for Church, especially when integrated with Emersonian transcendentalism. Christian became an important part of his religious identity and he adopted the label of Christian Universalist. As such, he made room in his theology for many religious approaches. ("The Naked Theologian," October 11)

Thomas R. Beall recounts his recent experience at a Quaker meeting:

We sat for one hour with no more than five people speaking for a total of perhaps 10 minutes. Most spoke of peace - peace in the world and the inner peace that we all must find before peace on Earth can be achieved. This was a powerful message for me. ("Living the Prophetic Imperative," October 11)

"Politywonk" wonders if atheism as a faith system has changed:

And all of these sources have led me to wonder: maybe nowadays atheism has moved on, too. Maybe it is based in spirituality rather than critical thinking, just as faith is these days. ("PolityWonk," October 13)

Politics

The Rev. Kit Ketcham ("Miss Kitty") posts a letter to the editor of the South Whidbey Record in favor of Referendum 71, a domestic partnership law, asking people to carefully consider their votes this year:

When we cast our ballots, we take each others’ lives in our hands, in a sense. Successful and unsuccessful candidates for office find their lives and responsibilities changed. Referenda and initiatives also change people’s lives. If we vote one way, we may better our own lives but trash someone else’s. If we vote another, we may improve others’ lives but may have to adjust to changes in society. Therefore, I urge us all to VOTE TO IMPROVE OTHERS’ LIVES. ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," October 15)

Jacqueline Wolven criticizes the current health care debate, saying that instead of talking, Congress should be doing:

So, if anyone is listening to me - I advise them to shut up and get to work. Stop trying to get consensus. Stop trying to get everyone's ideas. Just go do what you want to do. Someone will be happy and someone won't, but if they keep at it like they are now no one will really be happy with what is produced. ("MoxieLife," October 16)

Around the blogosphere

The Rev. LoraKim Joyner believes labeling a person automatically shifts perceptions of them:

I've been thinking about this and here's what goes on for me. If I use the word "jerk" or categorize people in any way, even just in my thoughts, I shift. My heart constricts and I am less open to listening, empathizing, and connecting to other people and the dream of the way I wish to live. ("Beyond Wrongdoing and Rightdoing," October 14)

The Rev. Cynthia Landrum talks about how social media has enhanced her ministry:

Having a blog is a way for me to write more extensively on issues that concern me as a minister but which are not things either large enough, broad enough, or otherwise appropriate as sermon material. ("Rev. Cyn," October 14)

"Strange Attractor" discusses friendship and the all-important connection:

If I were to sum up my sense of spirituality in one word, it would be "connection". It may not be why I am here on this planet, but it is why I can cherish my time here. I am connected to so many things and some of them much more strongly than this one, but life is a little more whole after re-establishing my connection to [a friend I'll call] Space Vixen. ("Strange Attractor," October 15)

The Rev. W. Frederick Wooden is keeping a running blog of his trip to Istanbul, including pictures. ("Aside from the Obvious")

The Obamas, personal religious experiences, and more

The Obamas

Joel Monka can't figure out why President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize:

His only peace accomplishment has been to get a hotheaded college professor to sit down with a hotheaded cop to share a beer. That must have been some beer. ("CUUMBAYA," October 9)

David Pyle believes Obama won because his election signaled the end of the Bush presidency: "Simply put, President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for one primary characteristic of his... he is not President George W. Bush." ("Celestial Lands," October 9)

Thomas R. Beall also criticizes Bush's "peacemaking" policies:

In other words, "Democracy, development, free markets, and free trade are what the peoples of the Earth need and we are going to give it to them whether they like it or not!" ("Living the Prophetic Imperative," October 9)

The Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell uses Michelle Obama's mixed-race ancestry to discuss change and progress:

Things do change. This is the truth I want to always keep before me when I despair of my country and the lack of progress we seem to make on so many crucial issues. Things change. They don't change quickly or easily. Things don't change automatically, or just because time passes. Things change because it is right that they should change, and good people throughout time provide the leadership for those changes. ("Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell," October 8)

Religion

David Pyle talks about how his childhood Pentecostal experiences influence his adult conception of God as the Holy Spirit:

That moment has stayed with me... the feeling that there was a binding force between us, that moved us, and through which we moved. The Pentecostal church we attended had a name for this (besides "The Force"). We called it the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost, and experiencing it was the center of our worship and of our faith. ("Celestial Lands," October 4)

Jacqueline Wolven ponders over the nature of comfort:

I also think that some people just have a need to have answers... and god and the comfort of having a god who is in control at some level provides those answers. I wonder if on some level there isn't so much a god gene, but rather a need for comfort gene. Or a need for answers gene. ("MoxieLife," October 9)

"Boston Unitarian" believes Jesus transcended his soul's imprisonment by accepting his lot in life:

Jesus accepted the conditions of his lot, externally one of the humblest, and exalted himself and it, and made his life divine by perfect obedience to those conditions. He did not aspire to the place of command to which his people gladly would have exalted him, but abode in his native humility and walked with his peasant companions, and found the topics of his duty among the halt and blind and publicans and sinners, and preached his gospel to the poor. ("Boston Unitarian," October 8)

Erik Resly reflects on the Seventh Principle:

When Unitarian Universalists weave a web of intimate relationality, they do so against both a Manichaen dualism of cosmic cleavage and a Neo-Platonic division of the human subject. To enter into a world of interconnection is to move beyond indifference, tolerance, even community, into a metaphysical morass of radical mutuality. ("Embodied Fragments," October 7)

The Rev. Kit Ketcham finds forgiveness difficult to give sometimes:

As I gaze back over my life, there's no way to avoid seeing the bumps in my experience that represent people who made me angry at one time or another and the ones who still make me angry, even though I have not been in contact with them for years. I still resent the behavior of a number of people who hurt or let me down over the past 67 years. Some of them are dead or almost dead. I don't know the whereabouts of some of them. ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," October 6)

Around the blogosphere:

Shannon writes about how a Farm Aid concert inspired her to shop at the farmer's market again:

It seems like I need to remind myself often that whatever it is that I do for good is good, that no matter how lacking my actions might be in any area- doing just that one good thing is helpful. It's helpful, and it counts. ("Unmitigated Bliss," October 8)

The Rev. Dan Harper discusses the different eastern New England accents he's experienced:

Middle class accents differed from working class accents, and had less regional differentiation within the broader Eastern New England region, but there were still broad distinctions in the Boston area between North Shore, urban, and South Shore accents. I did not come into contact with many upper class accents, but they were clearly distinct from working class and middle class accents. ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," October 7)