How do UUs respond to the racism at Charlottesville with moral authority?

Rev. Marlin Lavanhar at All Soul's Church in Tulsa Oklahoma gave a wonderful sermon on Sunday, 08/20/17 entitled "Charlottesville: It's not so black and white." It is well worth listening to and sharing.




There are many take aways from Rev. Lavanhar's message the most important of which is the importance of nonviolent resistance not something to be done lightly without the knowing possibility of injury and death.

Rev. Lavanhar supports resistance and protest, but also encourages people to be smart about it and prepared.

He also supports the rights of the Nazis and White Supremacists to free speech. As usual the moral calculus isn't always simple but requires thoughtful reflection and then strategic action.

I wished that Rev. Lavanhar might have spent a little time and effort in explicating the moral philosophy of the action he is recommending such as the inherent belief in the inherent worth and dignity of all people. If we truly believe this how does that value inform appropriate action?

Lack of security contributes to UU unhappiness

Dear UU A Way Of Life:

I don't find UUs an especially happy group. If anything I find them the opposite. They seem ready to argue over every little thing and they aren't good at resolving conflict which often degenerates into passive aggressive game playing and leads to schisms. It seems to me that the reason that UU congregations are so small is that people become unhappy and then walk away. I don't know what the answer to this is for individual churches and for the denomination. I am curious what you might think given your current theme promoting the ideas that UUs are above average in intelligence and happiness.

Sincerely,

Tom Kowolski

Dear Tom:

Your observations are accurate and the data supports your concerns. The problem, as is usually the case, is multidimensional. In other words, there is not a single answer, no silver bullet, no magic key. However, having said that, I think, we might say that the problem lies in the lack of security in UU congregations, and the lack of security comes from no clear agreed upon rules, and the lack of nerve when it comes to enforcing the rules.

In any sport, there are rules and a referee who calls infractions. The players agree in advance to abide by the referees decisions and if players or coaches disruptively object they can be ejected from the game. Without a referee and rules, professional sports could not exist.

 Unitarian Universalism suffers from a lack of accountability. Nobody seems to be in charge and so the fight is on for power, control, and dominance. UUs have been encouraged to believe that if they think it, feel it, want it, then their thoughts feelings and desires are as good as anyone else's and they should not have to defer and if they have to in the moment, they carry on resentfully, and aggrieved until they leave or a schism occurs.

The UUA has been derelict it its duty to not develop and implement accrediting standards and hold its member congregations accountable for quality operations. Unfortunately, this has not happened and the denomination and most of its churches continue to suffer like the Israelites wandering in the desert. Security comes from knowing where one stands and who's in charge. In UU, there is very little accountability and guidance and so people flounder, are confused if not perplexed, and then become aggrieved. These UUs are not very happy people, and unfortunately, the denomination is not a very functional organization contributing to its small size and dwindling membership.

David G. Markham
UU A Way Of Life

How are UUs happy?

Osho teaches that there are four stages of well being: pleasure, happiness, joy, and bliss.

Pleasure is when we scratch an itch or engage in some other tension reduction like eating when we are hungry, drinking when we are thirsty, sleeping when we are tired, engaging in sex when we are horny, getting our fix when we are having cravings. Whether tension reduction which Freud called the pain/pleasure principle makes people happy has been studied and while the satiation of physiological needs is pleasurable and often necessary for life, it does not necessarily lead to happiness as experience teaches, but sometimes distress especially from overindulgence.

So what about happiness? Happiness comes from satisfaction and fulfillment of a job well done or an activity that provides a sense of well being. Happiness is situation specific and can be transient.

What, then is joy? Joy is an abiding sense of optimism, and well being. It is an enduring state of awareness no matter the shifting sands of fortune.

And bliss. What pray tell is bliss? Bliss is ecstacy. Is being one with the all. It is being in, what psychologists call, a flow state.

Our blog is called "UU A Way Of Life", and it's title is based on the premise that Unitarian Universalism, when practiced as a way of life, contributes, if not necessarily to pleasure, although the ritual of our coffee hours does that, certainly to happiness, and more importantly joy, and maybe occasionally to bliss although the mystical element of UU is rarely recognized, acknowledged, and celebrated.

Unitarian Universalism has been said to not be as interested in getting people into heaven as heaven into people. And how does UU do that? We will be sharing some ideas about how UU helps people become more intelligent and happy in future articles. Please share your ideas in the comments.

By their intelligence and happiness you will know them.

Bob asked Phil if he thought he was smarter than other people because he claimed he was a Unitarian Universalist.

“Without doubt, “ replied Phil. “UUs have the seven principles and they aren’t for dumb people.”

“Not for dumb people,” asked Bob?

“Right, dumb people aren’t smart enough to understand the higher values which the principles entail. They are still unaware and operate out of a place of self centeredness and fear. It’s like they are stumbling around in the dark,” said Phil.

“Isn’t that view condescending and patronizing,” asked Bob?

“No, It’s the truth meaning that it’s an accurate observation that can be tested,” replied Phil.

“How?”

“Simple. Just ask  people if they believe in hell and a God who would send a sinner there. Most people would say, ‘yes” and such a belief is counterproductive and antithetical to the magnificence of human potential and the benevolence of a loving creator which has given us Life. Most people live in fear  and shame of being defective and inadequate in some way and it being only a matter of time until their fatal flaw is discovered and they are punished.”

“UUs don’t feel that way too, “ asked Bob?

“Of course not,” said Phil, “not if they’re real UUs.

“Sounds like quite a religion,” said Bob.

“Oh it is,” said Phil. “As I said, ‘UUs are smarter than everyone else.’ UUs are God’s messengers who will save the world.”

“Okay,” said Bob, ‘Maybe I’ll look more into it.”

“Good,” said Phil. “What you will find is that while UUs know they are smarter than other people, they are very compassionate and truly want other people to join them in their joy. You see, UUs are not only smarter than other people, they are happier too.”

“Really?” asked Bob.

“Oh yes,” said Phil, “by their happiness you will know them.”

Does Donald R. Trump promote the teachings of the Anti- Christ?

The White Supremacist rally and violence in Charlottesville should come as no surprise to people who have watched Donald J. Trump's presidential campaign and presidency. Trump has consistently engaged in hate speech and promoted an ideology of racism and xenophobia which has attracted and gained the support of people who live in fear of being marginalized and disenfranchised by people that they perceive as "other." His marketing slogan of "Make America Great Again" gives whites the hope of returning to an era when America engaged in enslaving and subjugating people based on racial and ethnic characteristics.

The desire for power and superiority as a means of dominating others is a sickness that infects not only the United States but other countries as well, indeed, most of humanity and other animal species. Most animal species have the so called "pecking order" and Donald J. Trump's appeal is enhanced with his tough guy projection of the Alpha male. This projection of an Alpha male persona is very attractive to people who desire to be protected and lead, and relieved of responsibility for initiative and self awareness.

In some circles the persona of Donald J Trump has been called the persona of the Anti-Christ because of the qualities and beliefs he manifests which are at odds with the teachings of Jesus and other enlightened beings. To beings of higher consciousness, the dichotomy which Donald J. Trump's teachings and behavior present to the spiritual teachings of Jesus and other spiritual teachers are apparent, and a cause of concern because of their appeal to beings of lower consciousness who have been infected by virulent values which lead to the harm of the Body of Christ and the At-One-Ment of  existence created by the Spirit of Life.

The incentive for the development and maintenance of a racist and exclusionary value system is the desire for power. This desire for power is the driving force and energy of the ego which wishes to exalt in its willfulness, which it calls freedom, to do as it pleases. Any restrictions or constraints on this willfulness, aka freedom, is interpreted as a threat, and the source of the threat is attacked to diminish or eliminate its constraint.

As so it is that the less conscious attempt to hold on to or regain that which was never theirs truly but only criminal behavior justified under the self serving guise of freedom which was only theirs while they domineered, subjugated, and stole the dignity and respect of others whom they considered of lesser value and consideration.

Unitarian Univeralists and beings of higher consciousness appear on the horizon of history with a witness and voice so marginalized and silenced that it is hardly recognized let alone acknowledged and appreciated. And yet the witness, no matter how anemic must continue because it is a marker of sanity and the health of humanity that gives hope and satisfaction of a higher quality life of the spirit if not of physical well being.

Resistance to the teachings of the Anti-Christ is not enough. A more authentic vision of the real spiritual world must be promoted with a missionary zeal as long as life permits. So join us in promoting a vision of equality, respect, dignity, and justice for all. Simply put, love your neighbor and people more distant in foreign lands and sing with the Beatles, "Love is all there is."

The mission of Unitarian Universalism is to teach forgiveness

We teach what we believe about ourselves. What do Unitarian Universalists believe about themselves? Do they believe they are special living in a hostile world? Do they believe that they are defective and unacceptable in some way and therefore are attempting to create a safe space into which they can feel like they belong? Do they believe they alone have a progressive message that the world would benefit from hearing?

Life presents us with a curriculum which we are to learn and we find ourselves repeating the lessons until we do learn them and then we desire to teach them to others to save the world from its suffering.

And what is the primary lesson we need to learn by teaching? It is an existential lesson which is simply that our suffering comes from our attempts to separate ourselves from our creator by building up and protecting our egos. Our mission is to teach that we are not our ego but a part of something far more mysterious, glorious, and awesome. The path to happiness is to eschew the ego, forgive ourselves and others and join the rest of Life in the At-one-ment. This involves looking for the divine spark, the Great Rays, from all living things and encouraging others to do the same.

The mission of Unitarian Universalists is to teach not only a respect but a love for the interdependent web of all existence and the most important step in this direction is to forgive our own trespasses and the trespasses of others against us.

Take away = The basis of our Unitarian Univeralist faith is forgiveness and this requires awareness and generosity. How can you teach the value of forgiveness to others so that you better learn the lesson yourself?