What is God? God is All That Is, and the Whole (naturally enough) is more than the sum of Its parts. Others might say God is a concept, the highest of all human ideals. Still others might say God is the personification of what is highest and best in life. Some would equate God with life itself or they might say that God is the Source and Substance of life or that God is the process of life as it evolves. Infinite Intelligence, Perfect Love, Interconnected Web of Existence...these various philosophical ideas are represented by the one, simple word: God.
What is the Devil? The Devil is a literary character meant to personify evil, which is the manifestation of the false belief that there is a power that could oppose the Allness which we call God. To focus on evil or to believe it to be ultimately real is to give it power in one's experience of life.
Who is Jesus? Jesus represents for us the Christ Idea...the human being at her or his very best. Though highly romanticized and mythologized, Jesus is for us the symbol of humanity's potential to realize unity with the divine.
What is the holy trinity? Divine Mind, Perfect Idea, Ideal Expression...this is the New Thought experience of the Holy. The Trinity is one of many images that point toward the Allness of God. Some people will find it a useful image, and others won't. If it helps one feel united with the divine Reality, then it is an appropriate way to discuss the ultimate.
What about the bible? The bible is a story of the human search for God. The bible shows the development of a people's concept and experience of God. It is neither a rule book, an argument against science, nor a literal history, but rather creative attempts to find meaning in life and to commune with the Source of life. The journeys of the people and characters in the bible can empower and encourage us as we move forward on the journeys of our lives.
What are Sacraments? A sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace. The traditional Christian sacraments are baptism (initiation) and holy Communion (a symbolic feast representing God's love for all people). The use of water for baptism and bread and wine for the Eucharist are helpful tools in acting out the message of grace, but the grace (unconditional, unwavering divine love) is an internal, universal reality.
Do miracles still occur? If they ever did, they still do. A miracle is a change of perception. Whenever we broaden our view, we see possibilities that we didn't see before. The new vision opens us up to new experiences which we may call miracles. Some people believe that all Good is available to all people and so there are no miracles, only the abundance of life that was kept at bay by limitation thinking that was finally released by developing a healing, prospering consciousness.
Does God answer prayer? Prayer is recognizing the divine Presence. Sensing the availability of divine power, we change our thoughts. New thoughts change our feelings. New feelings change our motives. New motives change our actions. New actions bring about new results. So, learning to pray powerfully does bring about desired results, but that isn't because a god separate from us chooses to grant some favors and not others. God is universally present and when we tap into that presence and choose to think creatively, we attract our Good. In this way prayer is answered, consistently and dependably. Prayer is the way we become receptive to the goodness of life.
Can we be healed through prayer? Prayer, meditation, counseling, rest, nutrition, medication, surgery, energy work, chiropractic, massage...there are many ways to experience healing. Whatever helps us express our wholeness is an agent of healing. Prayer can certainly help us change our thinking and our feeling so that we experience more of life and its goodness.
What is sin and atonement? Sin is missing the mark. The "mark" is knowing our oneness with God. When we forget or fail to know our divine nature, we have missed the mark. Atonement, or at-one-ment is learning or remembering that we are one with God. At-one-ment is our natural state, our oneness with our Creator.
Is there a heaven or hell? The details of the so-called after-life are the stuff of much speculation. But many people believe that like all energy, life and consciousness can't ultimately be destroyed. Living a life of hope, love, and joy will mean that if death is the end of life, we can conclude our lives without regret. And, if death is but one more experience in a life that never ends, then living with hope, love, and joy is the best way to prepare for whatever is beyond the experience of death. Heaven is being in the presence of God, and hell is separation from God...so, whenever we realize our unity with the divine, we are in heaven. When we forget our unity with God, we are in hell. Heaven and hell are states of consciousness and we can be saved from hellish thinking whenever we choose to return to the heavenly reality of being aware of God's presence within us.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Peace
Blessed are the peacemakers. Four years into an immoral, ill-conceived, and unwinable war, perhaps we can finally consider peace. In this largely "Christian" nation, why in the name of the Prince of Peace have we not demanded peace sooner? War is ugly, costly, and devastating. We shouldn't start them. But if we make mistakes, can't we at least try to correct them? We started something we shouldn't have, let's pull out and "go and sin no more." Peace already. It's time. It's time.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
A Prayer for the World
Dear God -
I'm sure you are aware of the wars, the attack on civil liberties, the homophobia, the poverty, the on-going AIDS crisis in the developing world, the unequal sharing of resources, global warming, and the rest that can be quite frightening. And after billions of years, its quite clear that you are unable or unwilling to wave a mighty hand and fix the mess once and for all. But if you live in the human heart as imagination or as conscience or as compassion or as hope, perhaps you could rise up in human awareness so that more of us do more to make a difference.
Really, aren't we smart enough to fix some of this? Isn't it in our best interest to correct some of this? Maybe it's too big for any one of us or even for a few of us, but surely if enough of us put our minds and efforts to solving these problems, the dreamed of utopian possibilities promised by most religions would actually come to pass, at least in part.
And so God, my prayer is simple...will you please stir a bit within the human spirit to nudge more people toward social action, justice, goodwill, and caring? It's apparently up to us, so, maybe you can whisper into our souls the need to do more and to do better.
It's time for equal opportunity and equal protection. It's time for peace and for healing. It's time for unity and for a recognition of human dignity in all people. It's time for diseases to be cured and for human sexuality to be celebrated and for diversity to be honored and for poverty to be ended and for education to be universally available. It's time, isn't it God? Help us to help ourselves and each other. Help us to do what you obviously cannot do alone. Amen.
I'm sure you are aware of the wars, the attack on civil liberties, the homophobia, the poverty, the on-going AIDS crisis in the developing world, the unequal sharing of resources, global warming, and the rest that can be quite frightening. And after billions of years, its quite clear that you are unable or unwilling to wave a mighty hand and fix the mess once and for all. But if you live in the human heart as imagination or as conscience or as compassion or as hope, perhaps you could rise up in human awareness so that more of us do more to make a difference.
Really, aren't we smart enough to fix some of this? Isn't it in our best interest to correct some of this? Maybe it's too big for any one of us or even for a few of us, but surely if enough of us put our minds and efforts to solving these problems, the dreamed of utopian possibilities promised by most religions would actually come to pass, at least in part.
And so God, my prayer is simple...will you please stir a bit within the human spirit to nudge more people toward social action, justice, goodwill, and caring? It's apparently up to us, so, maybe you can whisper into our souls the need to do more and to do better.
It's time for equal opportunity and equal protection. It's time for peace and for healing. It's time for unity and for a recognition of human dignity in all people. It's time for diseases to be cured and for human sexuality to be celebrated and for diversity to be honored and for poverty to be ended and for education to be universally available. It's time, isn't it God? Help us to help ourselves and each other. Help us to do what you obviously cannot do alone. Amen.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Live and let live.
Same-gender love and attraction.
Mutual attraction is euphoric, delightful, life-giving.
Genuine love is obviously good.
So really, what's the problem?
Aren't we bored with homophobia yet?
Isn't it time to get over it already?
Live and let live. It's still damn good advice.
Mutual attraction is euphoric, delightful, life-giving.
Genuine love is obviously good.
So really, what's the problem?
Aren't we bored with homophobia yet?
Isn't it time to get over it already?
Live and let live. It's still damn good advice.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Top UU Confronts Top Marine
PRESS RELEASE
March 16, 2007
Unitarian Universalist Association President Calls for Repeal of "Don't ask, Don't tell."
A Statement from Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association
I am deeply disappointed by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s recent homophobic
remarks. General Pace’s comments were profoundly disrespectful to gay, lesbian and bisexual
Americans, including the thousands in uniform who are serving with honor in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and elsewhere.
What saddens me the most is that Pace’s comments, while offensive, are well within the bounds
of the US armed forces’ anti-discrimination guidelines. Under the current “Don’t ask, don’t tell”
policy, discrimination is thriving in our military. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual personnel may legally
be denied employment or later discharged solely because of their sexual orientation. Last year,
this policy allowed the Department of Defense to fire 612 service members. Others are subject to secrecy, fear and harassment, and many of these are fighting men and women who are already in harm’s way every day. Unknown numbers of qualified and patriotic men and women choose not to join the military for these reasons, and this sad loss is one that our nation can ill afford.
It is immoral for an overextended and depleted military to throw away the contributions of brave and talented service members. A military operating under a discriminatory employment policy fails the soldiers whose sacrifices guarantee the American ideals of liberty and justice for all. It fails all of us.
It is immoral to ban lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons from serving openly in the military, and the policy which mandates such discrimination must be overturned. I call on all Americans who objected to General Pace’s remarks to join me in demanding the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The Unitarian Universalist Association is a faith community of more than 1000 self-governing
congregations that bring to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance and social justice.
For more information about the UUA and Rev. William Sinkford, please visit www.uua.org
www.uua.org.
March 16, 2007
Unitarian Universalist Association President Calls for Repeal of "Don't ask, Don't tell."
A Statement from Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association
I am deeply disappointed by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s recent homophobic
remarks. General Pace’s comments were profoundly disrespectful to gay, lesbian and bisexual
Americans, including the thousands in uniform who are serving with honor in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and elsewhere.
What saddens me the most is that Pace’s comments, while offensive, are well within the bounds
of the US armed forces’ anti-discrimination guidelines. Under the current “Don’t ask, don’t tell”
policy, discrimination is thriving in our military. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual personnel may legally
be denied employment or later discharged solely because of their sexual orientation. Last year,
this policy allowed the Department of Defense to fire 612 service members. Others are subject to secrecy, fear and harassment, and many of these are fighting men and women who are already in harm’s way every day. Unknown numbers of qualified and patriotic men and women choose not to join the military for these reasons, and this sad loss is one that our nation can ill afford.
It is immoral for an overextended and depleted military to throw away the contributions of brave and talented service members. A military operating under a discriminatory employment policy fails the soldiers whose sacrifices guarantee the American ideals of liberty and justice for all. It fails all of us.
It is immoral to ban lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons from serving openly in the military, and the policy which mandates such discrimination must be overturned. I call on all Americans who objected to General Pace’s remarks to join me in demanding the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The Unitarian Universalist Association is a faith community of more than 1000 self-governing
congregations that bring to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance and social justice.
For more information about the UUA and Rev. William Sinkford, please visit www.uua.org
www.uua.org.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Dare to Begin!
I have a friend who has diabetes. She struggles with her weight and she believes that if she could control her weight her diabetes would improve. But she won't seek support in her weight loss efforts. She won't join an exercise class because she's embarrassed to be in a class with people who are more fit. Consequently, her fitness doesn't improve. She won't join Weight Watchers or Nutrisystems or some other supportive organization because she's afraid others might lose more rapidly than she will or that friends will think she is weak for needing the extra help. So, she tries to diet alone but she won't tell her friends. They would of course want to encourage her, but she's afraid she'll fail and then they will judge her harshly for not sticking with it. Her fears keep her from making important efforts that could prove beneficial. And, the weight remains; the diabetes rages, and she remains stuck in a situation that leaves her unhappy.
I'm not picking on my friend. Many of us struggle with weight or health or other life issues. I'm sympathetic to her plight. The point in bringing up her situation is that fear of failure keeps her from trying things, and the refusal to try limits her opportunities for success.
After I finished my Bachelor's degree, I pursued ordination. My denomination did not at the time require a Master's degree and after taking classes from an unaccredited institution and doing an extensive internship, I was ordained. But I always regretted not having a master's degree. After seven years, I finally enrolled in seminary.
Fear that others would judge me for not doing it sooner and fear that as a working adult I wouldn't be able to be a good student had kept me from trying. And as long as I didn't try, I continued to be without a graduate degree. Finally, with the encouragement of a counselor, I took one class and then another. I left seminary to pursue a secular Master of Arts degree (and loved every minute of it), and then, returned to seminary to finish a Master of Divinity degree. I now have two masters' degrees and I'm pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree. If I hadn't wasted 7 years being afraid, I might have that doctorate already. But fear sabotaged my goals until I risked failure and thereby enjoyed success.
When we imagine the worst case scenario without also imagining more promising possibilities, we limit our options. When we are so afraid of failure that we won't try to succeed, we can't succeed. When in the name of being safe we wind up doing nothing, nothing winds up being our reward. I've seen it. I've lived it. I know.
Fears pop up. They seem to have a life of their own sometimes, but how we respond to them is where we find or lose our power. Enroll in that one class. Show up that first day at the Weight Watchers office. Take that first step. It may not be easy, it may not even work out. But how is not taking the step working out for you? The status quo is risky too. By doing nothing we risk stagnation, decline, boredom, regret...Why not do the thing that has the possibility of paying off? And if it doesn't, wasn't it an exciting adventure to try?
I have two friends who tried to be dancers in New York. The City was frenetic, of course, and living conditions were harsh for the struggling artists. Competition for jobs in their field was fierce. After a difficult time, both left, one for Arkansas, the other for Texas.
The one who went to Texas taught dance in a studio and danced with a local professional company. She wound up living her dream even though New York didn't work out. She always had her stories about her days in New York, and she had her success as a dancer in Texas.
The dancer who settled in Arkansas also started teaching, both in a studio and in a university. She, too, had great stories about her New York adventure, and she, too, lived her dream of dancing, teaching and choreographing professionally. Both dancers "tried" to "make it" in New York. They didn't do especially well in New York, but because they tried they went on to do very well in other places...and they got to be proud of their bold effort in New York as well.
Whatever the goal or the dream is, no matter how difficult it is or how long it may take to achieve, dare to try. There is power in the effort and where it will lead may be amazing. At least effort will lead somewhere, whereas refusing to try leads nowhere. Let's dare to begin!
I'm not picking on my friend. Many of us struggle with weight or health or other life issues. I'm sympathetic to her plight. The point in bringing up her situation is that fear of failure keeps her from trying things, and the refusal to try limits her opportunities for success.
After I finished my Bachelor's degree, I pursued ordination. My denomination did not at the time require a Master's degree and after taking classes from an unaccredited institution and doing an extensive internship, I was ordained. But I always regretted not having a master's degree. After seven years, I finally enrolled in seminary.
Fear that others would judge me for not doing it sooner and fear that as a working adult I wouldn't be able to be a good student had kept me from trying. And as long as I didn't try, I continued to be without a graduate degree. Finally, with the encouragement of a counselor, I took one class and then another. I left seminary to pursue a secular Master of Arts degree (and loved every minute of it), and then, returned to seminary to finish a Master of Divinity degree. I now have two masters' degrees and I'm pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree. If I hadn't wasted 7 years being afraid, I might have that doctorate already. But fear sabotaged my goals until I risked failure and thereby enjoyed success.
When we imagine the worst case scenario without also imagining more promising possibilities, we limit our options. When we are so afraid of failure that we won't try to succeed, we can't succeed. When in the name of being safe we wind up doing nothing, nothing winds up being our reward. I've seen it. I've lived it. I know.
Fears pop up. They seem to have a life of their own sometimes, but how we respond to them is where we find or lose our power. Enroll in that one class. Show up that first day at the Weight Watchers office. Take that first step. It may not be easy, it may not even work out. But how is not taking the step working out for you? The status quo is risky too. By doing nothing we risk stagnation, decline, boredom, regret...Why not do the thing that has the possibility of paying off? And if it doesn't, wasn't it an exciting adventure to try?
I have two friends who tried to be dancers in New York. The City was frenetic, of course, and living conditions were harsh for the struggling artists. Competition for jobs in their field was fierce. After a difficult time, both left, one for Arkansas, the other for Texas.
The one who went to Texas taught dance in a studio and danced with a local professional company. She wound up living her dream even though New York didn't work out. She always had her stories about her days in New York, and she had her success as a dancer in Texas.
The dancer who settled in Arkansas also started teaching, both in a studio and in a university. She, too, had great stories about her New York adventure, and she, too, lived her dream of dancing, teaching and choreographing professionally. Both dancers "tried" to "make it" in New York. They didn't do especially well in New York, but because they tried they went on to do very well in other places...and they got to be proud of their bold effort in New York as well.
Whatever the goal or the dream is, no matter how difficult it is or how long it may take to achieve, dare to try. There is power in the effort and where it will lead may be amazing. At least effort will lead somewhere, whereas refusing to try leads nowhere. Let's dare to begin!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
A Crazy, Alternate Universe (right?)
Weekly Devotional by Rev. Durrell Watkins
A cartoon without pictures:
A: I hit my kids.
B: Nobody's perfect.
A: I cheated on my wife.
B: She should forgive you.
A: I never give money to charity.
B: That's a growing edge for you. You'll do better.
A: I'm not sure I believe in God.
B: That's OK...God believes in you.
A: I drink too much.
B: You should try to stop.
A: I push baby buggies into busy streets and kick old people down stairs.
B: Tee hee. You're funny.
A: I think I'm gay.
B: Yuck! Gross! Faggot! Reprobate! Sinner! Godless scum! You'll burn in hell.
A: Huh?
(c) Durrell Watkins, 2007
www.kweerspirit.com
A cartoon without pictures:
A: I hit my kids.
B: Nobody's perfect.
A: I cheated on my wife.
B: She should forgive you.
A: I never give money to charity.
B: That's a growing edge for you. You'll do better.
A: I'm not sure I believe in God.
B: That's OK...God believes in you.
A: I drink too much.
B: You should try to stop.
A: I push baby buggies into busy streets and kick old people down stairs.
B: Tee hee. You're funny.
A: I think I'm gay.
B: Yuck! Gross! Faggot! Reprobate! Sinner! Godless scum! You'll burn in hell.
A: Huh?
(c) Durrell Watkins, 2007
www.kweerspirit.com
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