06-26-2008, 05:33 PM
SOME THOUGHTS
I have a vision of a revitalized Unitarian Universalism, a true liberal religion, that will embrace the meaning of its parent religions, as well as truly embracing the meaning of 'Christian'. This hypothetical Unitarian Univeralism has almost nothing in common with the UUA save for the name. Instead, this religion is defined by a simple statement, a statement I have written about before in The American Unitarian: "We believe in One God Known by Many Names; and trust that all are loved by God, our Source and Destination".
What does this mean? The Unitarian piece is first: Namely, that there is One God, one Almighty, one Supreme "I AM". Unitarianism is perfect theism, the kind that James Freeman Clarke has written about. It avoids the dangers of both idolatry and pantheism, instead emphasizing the Unity of the Creator, the Spirit, the Truth, Reality, Love, Life, Intelligence, Soul, Principle and so many other qualities. God is utterly beyond, utterly "other", utterly beyond our comprehension, completely Transcendent-and yet completely Immanent, a pervading Presence in our lives and world. God is personal and yet more than personal. The True God is the God of no man and every man. And this God has been known by many names-Brahman, Yahweh, Allah, the Great Spirit, the Tao that cannot be named. This is the One God.
God is revealed in many ways-first through the nature attributes of human nature: Through Reason, our life Experiences, through Mysticism (our spiritual senses), through Emotion, through the still small voice. Both the rational Deist and the mystical Transcendentalist elements of Unitarianism are incorporated. Beyond ourselves God is revealed in the Universe, Nature, Creation (the universal book). God is known through human traditions, cultures, religions of all stripes, through various holy scriptures and holy persons, through philosophy and theological expression, through science and discovery, through the arts and human creative expression. The Great Religions have all grasped elements of God, from Hinduism to Buddhism to Islam (especially the Sufis) to Native American religion to our own Western Tradition. God is known by many names, and respect for these ways, seeking to learn the best from each, to freely and responsibly seek truth, this is the Unitarian way.
The new UUism is perfectly Universalist for it sees all of humanity-without a single exception-as having a common Source in God. Our spirits are shards of the Divine, little God sparks, we are literally "born of the Spirit". Our bodies are part of God's creation, evolved from the Earth and the Animal. Our minds and emotions reflect our Creator's. Everyone is a child of God, humanity is linked by a universal brotherhood, a common worth and dignity. We also have a common value in God's eyes-we are loved, each possessing a great role and worth. As we are loved by God so we must love one another-from this common value stems the fruits of love of neighbor, the Golden Rule, justice, compassion and the outreach to our neighbors.
And we have a common destination in God. From dust our bodies came to dust our bodies shall return. But from God came the spirit, and to God the spirit shall return. Universalism affirms that all humanity possesses the spark of what Quakers call the "Inner Light" within, and that we possess the opportunity to be enlightened, transformed and reborn in this life. If not we affirm the work of Karma in whatever the Afterlife may bring-but that ultimately God will reconcile, redeem, restore and save, for that is God's way. All will be restored and humanity is part of All. This Universalist teaching affirms Mystery as to how this will be accomplished but reinforces Love, Mercy, and Justice. And given that all of humanity possesses a divine core the teaching of a return to God suggests the attainment of peace, bliss, and ascension to a new, virtually divine state-divinization if you will.
The distinction between "Christian" and "Non-Christian" is false to true UUism, as true UUism practices the religion OF Jesus, not the religion ABOUT Jesus. Freed of the burdensome doctrines of orthodox Christianity (the Trinity, Eternal Damnation, the Atonement) it instead affirms the early understanding of Jesus as the moral/spiritual Master, a sacrament of God and embodiment of divinity in its human incarnation, the perfect man, whose teachings are compatible with so many other teachers and religions. The true religion of Jesus-the Great Commandment, Love of God with heart, soul, mind and strength; and Love of Neighbor as Self-THIS is the religion of Jesus, and this IS true UUism. One God loved in different ways. Loving ourselves and everyone else as God's children. This is true Christianity. That's all there is.
True UUism, the reborn liberal religion, is a balance of head and heart, a deeply spiritual faith, a faith marked by respect for different perspectives, a willingness to seek truth and respect free-thought, a religion dedicated to social progress, outreach, compassion and action. This is the religion Jesus wanted-not beholden to politics or over rationalism, but balanced. From where will this religion come? Not from the UUA, for that route is closed. Rather the AUC, the Christian Universalist Association, the Unitarian Community, the Universalist Herald, and most importantly members of liberal churches, those spiritual seekers who are homeless, and those ready for change, must unite.
Such is my vision of true UUism.
I have a vision of a revitalized Unitarian Universalism, a true liberal religion, that will embrace the meaning of its parent religions, as well as truly embracing the meaning of 'Christian'. This hypothetical Unitarian Univeralism has almost nothing in common with the UUA save for the name. Instead, this religion is defined by a simple statement, a statement I have written about before in The American Unitarian: "We believe in One God Known by Many Names; and trust that all are loved by God, our Source and Destination".
What does this mean? The Unitarian piece is first: Namely, that there is One God, one Almighty, one Supreme "I AM". Unitarianism is perfect theism, the kind that James Freeman Clarke has written about. It avoids the dangers of both idolatry and pantheism, instead emphasizing the Unity of the Creator, the Spirit, the Truth, Reality, Love, Life, Intelligence, Soul, Principle and so many other qualities. God is utterly beyond, utterly "other", utterly beyond our comprehension, completely Transcendent-and yet completely Immanent, a pervading Presence in our lives and world. God is personal and yet more than personal. The True God is the God of no man and every man. And this God has been known by many names-Brahman, Yahweh, Allah, the Great Spirit, the Tao that cannot be named. This is the One God.
God is revealed in many ways-first through the nature attributes of human nature: Through Reason, our life Experiences, through Mysticism (our spiritual senses), through Emotion, through the still small voice. Both the rational Deist and the mystical Transcendentalist elements of Unitarianism are incorporated. Beyond ourselves God is revealed in the Universe, Nature, Creation (the universal book). God is known through human traditions, cultures, religions of all stripes, through various holy scriptures and holy persons, through philosophy and theological expression, through science and discovery, through the arts and human creative expression. The Great Religions have all grasped elements of God, from Hinduism to Buddhism to Islam (especially the Sufis) to Native American religion to our own Western Tradition. God is known by many names, and respect for these ways, seeking to learn the best from each, to freely and responsibly seek truth, this is the Unitarian way.
The new UUism is perfectly Universalist for it sees all of humanity-without a single exception-as having a common Source in God. Our spirits are shards of the Divine, little God sparks, we are literally "born of the Spirit". Our bodies are part of God's creation, evolved from the Earth and the Animal. Our minds and emotions reflect our Creator's. Everyone is a child of God, humanity is linked by a universal brotherhood, a common worth and dignity. We also have a common value in God's eyes-we are loved, each possessing a great role and worth. As we are loved by God so we must love one another-from this common value stems the fruits of love of neighbor, the Golden Rule, justice, compassion and the outreach to our neighbors.
And we have a common destination in God. From dust our bodies came to dust our bodies shall return. But from God came the spirit, and to God the spirit shall return. Universalism affirms that all humanity possesses the spark of what Quakers call the "Inner Light" within, and that we possess the opportunity to be enlightened, transformed and reborn in this life. If not we affirm the work of Karma in whatever the Afterlife may bring-but that ultimately God will reconcile, redeem, restore and save, for that is God's way. All will be restored and humanity is part of All. This Universalist teaching affirms Mystery as to how this will be accomplished but reinforces Love, Mercy, and Justice. And given that all of humanity possesses a divine core the teaching of a return to God suggests the attainment of peace, bliss, and ascension to a new, virtually divine state-divinization if you will.
The distinction between "Christian" and "Non-Christian" is false to true UUism, as true UUism practices the religion OF Jesus, not the religion ABOUT Jesus. Freed of the burdensome doctrines of orthodox Christianity (the Trinity, Eternal Damnation, the Atonement) it instead affirms the early understanding of Jesus as the moral/spiritual Master, a sacrament of God and embodiment of divinity in its human incarnation, the perfect man, whose teachings are compatible with so many other teachers and religions. The true religion of Jesus-the Great Commandment, Love of God with heart, soul, mind and strength; and Love of Neighbor as Self-THIS is the religion of Jesus, and this IS true UUism. One God loved in different ways. Loving ourselves and everyone else as God's children. This is true Christianity. That's all there is.
True UUism, the reborn liberal religion, is a balance of head and heart, a deeply spiritual faith, a faith marked by respect for different perspectives, a willingness to seek truth and respect free-thought, a religion dedicated to social progress, outreach, compassion and action. This is the religion Jesus wanted-not beholden to politics or over rationalism, but balanced. From where will this religion come? Not from the UUA, for that route is closed. Rather the AUC, the Christian Universalist Association, the Unitarian Community, the Universalist Herald, and most importantly members of liberal churches, those spiritual seekers who are homeless, and those ready for change, must unite.
Such is my vision of true UUism.
What needs to be added is a spiritual practice(s)...be it contemplation, meditation, chant...whatever works...the more the better.