tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post7417645189035831017..comments2023-08-23T08:27:08.039-04:00Comments on UU A Way Of Life: Unitarian Universalism and sex.David G. Markhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08336565533124142690noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-18635927816637728382017-08-31T21:37:13.531-04:002017-08-31T21:37:13.531-04:00Robert -- the overall purpose of the OWL program i...Robert -- the overall purpose of the OWL program is to provide a ministry for parents, children, youth, and adults in our congregations and beyond.<br /><br />I have said in OWL training workshops that OWL provides an example of what UU salvation looks like -- OWL offers salvation from those things that deny life or make life less whole.<br /><br />OWL is designed to be a comprehensive, age-appropriate, and medically accurate program. OWL is based on 4 values:<br /><br />** Self Worth<br />** Sexual Health<br />** Responsibility<br />** Justice and Inclusivity<br /><br />I can't find the OWL 7-9 2nd edition revision of these values online but the OWL 7-9 1st edition version is available online here:<br /><br />http://www.ucc.org/justice_sexuality-education_our-whole-lives-values-and<br /><br />The values in OWL fit very well with our UU Principles. For the United Church of Christ, they fit with the UCC understanding of the Bible.Steve Caldwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12333184436301854794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-55321876401602842362017-08-31T08:51:12.126-04:002017-08-31T08:51:12.126-04:00Thank you Steve for this information. What is the ...Thank you Steve for this information. What is the overall purpose of the program and what is its overall philosophy?Robertnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-79062304184025586982017-08-30T23:38:50.691-04:002017-08-30T23:38:50.691-04:00Any discussion of Unitarian Universalism and sexua...Any discussion of Unitarian Universalism and sexuality should also mention their lifespan sexuality education program "Our Whole Lives" or "OWL."<br /><br />OWL is a series of age-appropriate comprehensive curricula for the following age/grade levels:<br /><br />** Grades K-1<br />** Grades 4-6<br />** Grades 7-9<br />** Grades 10-12<br />** Young Adult (ages 18-35)<br />** Adult<br />** Older Adult (age 50 and older)<br /><br />More information can be found here:<br /><br />http://www.uua.org/re/owl<br />Steve Caldwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12333184436301854794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-19866675813410332702017-08-30T22:02:23.826-04:002017-08-30T22:02:23.826-04:00One of the things that gets overlooked in the reli...One of the things that gets overlooked in the religious discussion of sex is that it is often for sale as in prostitution and other forms of seduction and manipulation. Priests and clergy have sold the promise of divine blessings and heavenly benefits for enraging in sexual behavior with them the representatives her on earth of God. The priest abuse scandal and sexual misconduct of Protestant pastors is often hushed up by leaders of religious institutions less they give scandal to laity. This disingenuous maneuvering by perpetrators and their managers alike has been blamed for the declining enrollments in churches in the 21st century. Sex has been used by churches to manipulate people even as the representatives of these institutions condemn this behavior. The UU denomination has been no exception to these scandals and cover-ups according to some critics. The problem, of course, with sex in the church, is not the sex itself, but the abuse of power and this abuse of power violates UU principles and values. The denominational problem is the lack of centralized oversight and recourse since every congregation has a right to its own governance.Robert Lubowskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-28991775599175909372017-08-30T19:27:45.243-04:002017-08-30T19:27:45.243-04:00As an Irish Catholic I was made to feel guilty abo...As an Irish Catholic I was made to feel guilty about sex and then when my 15 year old sister got pregnant out of wedlock in high school she was disowned by my father although my father continued to see her without my father's knowledge. The irony is that I knew about my father's affairs and my mother did too although she would never acknowledge them to anyone because I think she felt so ashamed. After 40 years my sister and I are good friends and I love my nephew who is only 5 years younger than me and we have become good buddies. Now we can laugh at the judgment, shame, and suffering brought on our family by the Catholic Church's teachings about sex. My conversion to Unitarian Universalism has been one of the best things I have ever done in my life. My friends and I refer to ourselves as "recovering Catholics."Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-19106966727318408962017-08-30T17:55:00.361-04:002017-08-30T17:55:00.361-04:00Sex for some people is a compulsion. Hormones asid...Sex for some people is a compulsion. Hormones aside, the person thinks they can't live without it, and if there is no partner, self gratification becomes the strategy. Sex can be, no doubt, mood altering and it can become addicting. This of course can become a problem and sublimation is to be encouraged. I am not sure what UU has to teach us to help us with these situations other than the encouragement to spiritual growth involves the management of these compulsions. Sin, guilt, and fear should have nothing to do with it. Learning how to control and manage one's emotions to develop more fulfilling activities is probably the path to a higher quality life.Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-90168929775026577102017-08-30T15:59:32.144-04:002017-08-30T15:59:32.144-04:00Ditto for me as well.Ditto for me as well.Barbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-64016604948046308172017-08-30T15:58:07.588-04:002017-08-30T15:58:07.588-04:00For the most part I have enjoyed my sex life more ...For the most part I have enjoyed my sex life more with some people than with others. I have enjoyed it most with the father of my three children and the man I married. As I have gotten older, our sex life has slowed down but we enjoy our time together in so many other ways that it makes less difference to me than it does to him. I have been to UU churches and I like the more open minded less judgmental attitudes towards people with multiple life styles. Different strokes for different folks as they say along with live and let live.Barbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-80178119365473883962017-08-30T15:38:08.999-04:002017-08-30T15:38:08.999-04:00I was taught growing up that pre-marital sex, extr...I was taught growing up that pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, masturbation, birth control, abortion, homosexual sex, were mortal sins and are punishable in hell for all eternity. As I got older, I wondered what kind of god is this that would eternal damn people to hell for such behavior. It made no sense. The UU "neutral" position on these behaviors and God's universal unconditional love has been such a miracle in my life that I am extremely grateful. This is a good article.Marianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-82899894292588107282017-08-30T12:23:54.831-04:002017-08-30T12:23:54.831-04:00The other guiltless religion is Buddhism. Buddhism...The other guiltless religion is Buddhism. Buddhism teaches that we create our own hell by our attachments that create suffering. Becoming attached can lead to possessiveness, controlling behavior, manipulation, jealousy. Engaging in a sexual relationship often makes this attachment, especially for women, even more intense and increases suffering for both partners.Surrindanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-76957601256402214372017-08-30T11:52:07.007-04:002017-08-30T11:52:07.007-04:00What about sexual behavior between same sex couple...What about sexual behavior between same sex couples? There is no procreative element in this behavior and so perhaps there is not any unconscious guilt as you put it for stealing the creative power from the Universe to create new life. Perhaps UU being a guilt free religion led to it being one of the first to welcome same sex couples because the procreative element of their sexual orientation has been removed.Lewis Deckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-92222613663285036852017-08-30T11:43:31.560-04:002017-08-30T11:43:31.560-04:00Jesus says very little or nothing about sex and a ...Jesus says very little or nothing about sex and a great deal about how to treat the poor. Christians don't seem to understand the teachings of Jesus very well. He tells the adulterous woman to go on her way and straighten up when the people who wanted to stone her walked away.<br /><br />Sex is great but I think, upon reflection, most people would agree, highly over rated when it comes to life's biggest joys and satisfactions.Tom K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647562459433740241.post-38058198449769124052017-08-30T11:06:03.448-04:002017-08-30T11:06:03.448-04:00It is amazing the complexity of the ideas you are ...It is amazing the complexity of the ideas you are dealing with in the Uncle David letters. Thank you for your efforts.Helennoreply@blogger.com