Sin is not a topic we discuss very often. Do we even remember the “seven deadly sins” of Christian theology? Are they relevant today? If not, how would we answer the question posed by the title of today’s talk? How about some other questions: If you believe in God, what is your god’s job description? […]
Along with Judaism, Hinduism is the world’s most ancient wisdom tradition. And it is exceedingly wise. Hindu theology offers a non-Christian trinity, a more useful list of “commandments” and understands that God always enters a person’s life through a private door. Huston Smith, the great religious scholar, wrote, “I was perfectly content with Christianity until […]
Bodhisattvas, “enlightening beings,” embody the core values of Mahayana Buddhism. The Bodhisattva ideal is what fuels a Zen practitioner’s approach to life. The talk on September 30th will answer some important questions: How did the Bodhisattva ideal emerge? What are their great vows? And, finally, who are today’s Bodhisattvas and can that include us? Rev. […]
Thoreau once wrote, “Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.” We’ll consider what the natural world teaches us about faith, wonder, and hope, especially […]
Tony’s sermon will explore the subtle power of threesomes—in religion, psychology, and philosophy (to name just 3 areas!). You could also learn a little about our Unitarian history from this sermon. Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen recently retired as pastor of the Olympia Brown UU Church in Racine. He served this role since 1975 (yes, that’s […]
Some religions say the answers are already given. (“It’s in the Book. I believe it. Period.”) Others say revelation is not sealed. (“Don’t put a period where God has put a comma.”) What difference does it make?! Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen recently retired as pastor of the Olympia Brown UU Church in Racine. He served […]
What happens when we hide from our true self? Blanche Brown is an art therapy/counselor practitioner who believes in the power of art to heal. She is a supporter and facilitator of the changes that people seek to make in their lives. Brown serves survivors of abuse, violence, and disaster as a trainer in the […]
Why is it that some people see a resort to violence that destroys human lives as a first option, or see it as an option at all for that matter? Why does a person who has been mistreated feel a compulsion to take the lives of others? I pursue this question in two ways. First, […]
When our friends are hurting, it’s hard to know what to do or to say. We are often left feeling helpless and useless when we can’t fix our loved one’s hurt. How does one empathize in ways that can truly help our friends or even ourselves when life brings us to our knees? Rev. Karon […]
What exactly is this thing called Grace? It is something we have all experienced at times in our life, but where does it come from? Who or what bestows it? Is it always available to us or is it something that only happens on occasion? Join us as we look more deeply into the sacred […]