Upcoming Sunday Worship Services
Unitarian Universalism: Path and Practice
My original intent was to deliver a sermon on the principles of our Unitarian Universalist tradition in September, because there are apt to be newcomers among us who are only for the first time exploring our liberal religious tradition, and, also, my thought is that many of you appreciate having an occasional remedial course in how to explain our elusive faith to others. Unitarian Universalism is hard to explain because we have historically rejected the notion that it is possible for humans to possess any timeless, unchanging doctrine. We are a liberal religion- that is, a religion that keeps an open mind to the religious questions people have struggled with in all times and places. We believe that personal experience, conscience and reason should be the final authorities. Religious authority, therefore, we feel lies not in any specific book, person or institution, but in ourselves. There is and can be no litmus test of belief within Unitarian Universalism.
We do, however, affirm a set of seven principles and purposes which are found on the first page of your hymnal. They represent the wisdom of our current community as a whole. These principles were put forward and affirmed by vote at our General Assembly as part of our denomination's democratic process. Although it is fair to say that they express the best Unitarian Universalist spiritual insight at this time, one does not have to say one believes in them to be part of this community, and, it is important to note that they are subject to be changed as our collective wisdom evolves. When I have been asked by clergy of other faiths how we get along with a variety of beliefs under one steeple, I point to the seven principles as our guides for living. These principles allow us both flexibility and common ground in practicing our faith.
Several times every year people are apt to confide in me that they have been asked what we UU's believe and then feel they have done a poor job explaining - even though they are thoroughly knowledgeable UU individuals. The Principles and Purposes don't necessarily roll off one's tongue if you're put into that situation when you're not expecting it. I have placed some cheat-sheets, some wallet-sized Principles & Purposes cards on the Parlor table for anyone who would like to have one.
A UU colleague put forward an unusual device to help us remember the seven principles. The fellow has an obvious sense of humor. He said he asked himself what sort of foundation one should build a faith on and decided it should be both flexible and firm. Given these as his considerations, he said, an appropriate foundation on which to build a Unitarian Universalist faith might be, of all things, a Teflon Pan. But, yes, your smiles and skepticism mirrored my own. His reasoning was as follows: The Trans America building in San Francisco - one of the "earthquake proof" buildings in California, is built, he explained, on a giant sheet of Teflon. If there is ever an earthquake, the building will slide back and forth on the sheet of Teflon and will not collapse. T E F L O N P A N, he said, just happens to have the right letters to use as a mnemonic device to help us remember Unitarian Universalist principles.
"When someone asks you what a Unitarian Universalist believes, think "Teflon Pan," and then you can say:
"Unitarian Universalists believe in (T) the search for Truth and meaning. We believe in (E) the Equality of women and men and all people. We believe in (F) Freedom and using the democratic method in our congregations and in society at large. We believe in (L) Love which has been taught by all the great religions of history and all prophets. We believe in striving for (O) One world of peace and justice. We believe in (N) Nature. We believe that we are part of the interdependent web of all existence and as such we must take care of Mother Earth. We believe in (P) persons: the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We believe in (A) Acceptance of one another and encouraging one another to grow spiritually. And then when you're done, you come to the (N) Now what do you think?
These seven principles do not constitute a full set of religious beliefs by themselves. Far from it. This sermon is entitled "Unitarian Universalism: Path and Practice." Our principles are guides we need to help us walk the Path of our lives together with our varying beliefs. They represent the Path part of this sermon.
So far so good.
Many people feel, walking in to a Unitarian Universalist church, a tremendous and delicious sense of religious freedom. After long periods absent from religion altogether (out in the cold, so to speak) or attending a church that no longer filled their needs, it can be a very heady feeling to be in a religious community where you fit - where no one makes assumptions about your beliefs or demands on your beliefs.. Many of you have shared with me your dissatisfactions about a previous religious experience and a corresponding pleasure in finding a Unitarian Universalist congregation. This can be a safe place to shed your childhood religious assumptions. You may be won over not only by the freedom you find here, but also by the friendliness and warmth of the people. We experience celebrate religious freedom here, yes, but if that is all we do, it is not enough. And we build friendships here and find ways to be of service to each other and the community, here. But if that is all we do, it is not enough. Our principles may be the fullest measure of what we believe in common, but they are not enough to build a life around.
I'd like to share a story with you. Our eldest daughter Annie, after 9th grade, at the tender age of 14, wrote Larry and I a letter requesting, essentially, to drop out of high school. She wanted to leave public high school in order to read, study and prepare herself for college - she wanted to home school herself. There were many aspects of traditional schooling that she felt were intrinsically harmful. Annie learned that it was possible to thrive outside of a traditional school setting and prepare oneself well for college from a book called The Teenage Liberation Handbook . She told us there were ways to get admitted to college without a traditional transcript. Frightened as she was, she wanted to try. Larry and I were also frightened to allow her to step out of the mainstream of life into uncharted waters. Our decision to say 'yes' was more spiritual than anything - there was something so earnest about her request - saying no would crush her spirit - the most valuable part of her being. Annie didn't call leaving dropping out - she called it rising up.
After a fairly lengthy period of exhilaration that followed leaving, Annie found herself struggling internally. She summed it up this way: It was easy to know who she was when she was in high school, because her identity was formed by knowing that she was different from most everyone else. Essentially, she knew well who she wasn't. But once she could let go of all of that, she discovered that the freedom to construct a positive identity - to learn who she really was, and take responsibility for it, - was a difficult thing. She was in awe of that burden and that responsibility. At times it seemed almost too much and she would have occasional lonely nights of the soul. But Annie was motivated and serious about life and learning. If anything, Larry and I worried that she studied too hard. The scope of her reading was enormous.
Annie went on to college without incident and has been a fine and reasonably traditional student ever since. When the occasional parent and child approach her to inquire about "rising up" out of high school and going it alone because they are unhappy with 'the system' she does not automatically assume that this move will be right for them, although it might be. She listens to their questions carefully and answers as thoughtfully as she can. The path, which looks so wonderful from a distance because it is so free, is difficult in practice because of that freedom.
Many people have joked to us that their children would have dropped out with glee - but never have picked up a book again. Our two boys saw Annie walk away from High School. Neither of them loves school, but they didn't ask to home school. Done right, as Annie had done it, it looked too hard.
Do you know where I'm going here? We Unitarian Universalists have moved to a place where we are free to construct our spiritual/religious identities. Outsiders may see our freedom as an easy path but the opposite is true. What are you doing to grow your the spiritual part of your being? You come to church on Sundays to hear and ponder a sermon and listen to the choir. Perhaps you have developed an openness to other beliefs and theological opinions and traditions. Have you done anything else to create a healthy spiritual life? Have you read any spiritual literature? Taken any adult RE classes? Have you allowed yourself to retreat a bit - done any focused thinking and reflecting on your life? Do you perform any service to others? Do you feel your life is too busy for these? How about some charitable giving, then? If your answer is no to most of these questions, then perhaps you would benefit most from carving a few moments of your day for some quiet centering and getting your spiritual house in order. Talking about the spiritual life is not the same as living a spiritual life.
An important job of this church is to encourage you in your spiritual practice - to assist your search, to listen, to provide or suggest resources. Toward that end we have a library here and courses on various topics are given throughout the year. I have in my personal library many audio tapes for self-help and spiritual growth which you may take home by signing them out. This morning I put them all in the library on the top shelf for them to be better available to you as you need them They range from tapes on meditation, grief work, prayer, how to cope with illness and even poetry. There is a clip board with a sign-out sheet on the table. Please borrow whatever will help you grow.
In this church we have a meditation group. Some here see the world through a Jungian lens. Here there are UU Christians, and UU Jews. There are individuals whose spirituality is goddess-centered and there are humanists and nature-centered pagans. Some of you hold a merely theoretical alliance with one or more of these groups - others are habitual practitioners whose pursuit of growth has both form and substance. Without work, without some intentionality, you may be consoled here and develop friendships - you may find your world-view justified by the support of others - but your spiritual growth will be limited. Spiritual freedom is your burden and your responsibility. Spiritual life growth requires practice.
One kind of practice some of you may want to consider is preaching. Here are opportunities to share your beliefs from the pulpit both in summer services and during occasional Sundays when I step down. Lay preaching does more than fill the pulpit when the minister is away. It is an opportunity to take a stand, put some of your thoughts into words and share them with others. You enter into conversation with this congregation and with yourself in a new way. If you are interested in ever doing this, please speak to me or to Cindy Benard, chair of the worship committee.
Religion requires both path and practice. Unitarian Universalists are united in quest and in having taken on the burden and responsibility of our own spiritual growth. Let it be, for you, good work.