Who are our sisters and brothers? To whom are we related? Do we believe other creatures are bereft of concern for their compatriots? Do we think only large-brained humans can enjoy beauty, can understand how to solicit help, can grieve, can display thankfulness; in short, can demonstrate many of our presumed higher human attributes? More and more […]
Our UU faith tradition was grounded in Christianity. As such, the Bible and its many interpretations have largely shaped UU history. Yet, for many of us the Bible is a strange, largely unknown book that we rarely, if ever, open. Yet, English authors over the centuries have presumed that their readers were Biblically literate. In […]
This talk is not an examination of anyone’s sleeping habits. Nor am I concerned whether or not some of us occasionally doze off at UU. Rather, we will consider whether our lives “bring us to the point where we become part of creation rather than merely observers of it.” The Benedictine abbess, Joan Chittister, an […]
Can we possibly glimpse a desired future by recalling the past? Has the environmental movement in the United States failed? A noted authority thinks so. Do we understand that “Nature is no conservationist?” What legacy might we wish to leave for our descendants? Dick Smythe is an entomologist retired from the research division of the […]
This question has been asked and debated for thousands of years. When I first talked at UU on October 30, 2011 my topic was “Our World of Wonder.” I suggested then that an appropriate human response to the fact that we exist at all would be an attitude of wonder, awe, gratitude, and humility. This […]
As the title suggests I am going to reflect on two dates – 8 days apart – that I believe are pivotal dates in our nation’s history. These events occurred 51 years ago, in March, 1965. For a variety of reasons they are not only important but personal for Mary and me as we moved […]
Upon seeing this title some of you may be thinking, “Are you putting us on? This is 2015 and we are a UU Fellowship, not a monastery or convent. You can’t be serious…are you?” I am serious. Maybe, just maybe, we might be both surprised and reminded of a few worthwhile thoughts and practices. Dick […]
History tells us that war, politics, disease, deforestation, and drought have all contributed to societal collapses that punctuate human history. But there is another factor of at least equal importance. In fact, Wes Jackson of the Land Institute is persuaded that it may pose a more serious threat to human life than does climate change. Yet, […]
Most of us would probably agree that forgiveness is almost always a good quality and judgment of others is often ill-advised. And yet, don’t many of us struggle at times with both behaviors? I know I do. We will review two real-life stories illustrating almost unbelievable examples of forgiveness and non-judgment. Then we will end […]
By some measures the USA is the world’s most religious country. Yet, Americans are the least religious now than they have ever been. We will briefly examine the views of three exceptional people – a famous preacher, a famous scientist, and a highly regarded physicist turned Anglican priest. We will conclude with a brief story […]