Ask Alexa - Why am I afraid of love?

Alexa: Why are people afraid of love?

People are afraid of love because they feel vulnerable to being hurt if they let their guard down, take down their wall.

Alexa: Did you hear about the guy who was looking for a bigger high than cannibis and but afraid of heroin?

Yes, he finally decided that methamphetamines was just his speed.

Osho and the UU fourth principle

The fourth principle of Unitarian Universalism is to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Having adopted the principle, how does one apply it to their life?

Spiritual reading - Maturity - What is the role of the arts in spiritual development?

All music is an effort to bring this silence somehow into manifestation. The seers of the ancient East have been very emphatic about the point that all the great arts—music, poetry, dance, painting, sculpture—all are born out of meditation. These arts are an effort to in some way bring the unknowable into the world of the known for those who are not ready for the pilgrimage—they are gifts for those who are not ready to go on the pilgrimage. Perhaps a song may trigger a desire to go in search of the source, perhaps a statue.

Osho. Maturity: The Responsibility of Being Oneself (Osho Insights for a New Way of Living) . St. Martin's Press. Kindle Edition.

Comments:

The Protestant revolution did away with the arts in Catholicism. The iconography, music, architecture, paintings, statues were declared idolotrous. Protestantism brought an austerity to religious practices and worship.

To this day, when I compare my experience of my former Catholicism with my now Unitarian Universalism I miss the expression of the religous experience in the arts. The passion, the inspiration, the joy is not present in UU worship the same way it is in the liturgical rituals of the sacramental churches.

Osho ays that the arts are an effort to bring the unknowable to people's awareness. The arts are the hook that attracts and engages people in the religious experience and practice. Without the inspiration of the beauty of the arts the religious experience is intellectualized and falls flat. Intellectuallization does not open the heart the same way the arts do.

What's your favorite piece of religious art?

Editor's note:
You are encouraged to get a copy of Osho's book, Maturity, and read along with us and comment. Feel free to comment even if you have'nt read the book.

Famous UUs

What do following people all have in common: Albert Schweitzer, Rod Serling, Herman Melville, Joanne Woodward, William Howard Taft, Steve Allen, Susan B. Anthony and millions of others? They are all Famous Unitarian Universalists. United in a belief in 7 UU Principles.


Video lasts 4 minutes.

Ask Alexa - What does it mean to have your shit together?

Alexa: My therapist asked me how much of the time do I have my shit together and I wondered how to answer?

Your therapist is asking you how much of the time you experience peace and contentment - 0 to 100% of the time and only you can answer that question.

Alexa: Did you hear about the person who insisted that Islam is not about terrorism but about doing good works around the world.

Yes, the Islamists have created, manage, and maintain the Mecca Wish Foundation.

New Hampshire is 21st state to abolish the death penalty

From The Week on 05/31/19 Ten Things You Need to Know Today

New Hampshire senators vote to abolish death penalty

New Hampshire lawmakers on Thursday voted to abolish the death penalty in the state. The state Senate passed the measure, apparently with enough votes to override a veto by Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who blocked a similar bill last year. The vote ended months of uncertainty by making New Hampshire the 21st state in the country to outlaw capital punishment. It was the last state in New England to do so. The decision was largely symbolic, as New Hampshire did not have an active capital punishment system and last carried out an execution in 1939. The state has just one prisoner on death row — Michael Addison, who was convicted of killing Manchester police officer Michael Briggs more than a decade ago. Nine states now have abolished the death penalty since 2007. [The Washington Post]

Editor's comment: UU A Way Of Life ministries has long been an anti death penalty advocate. Slowly the United States is catching up with other countries in the free world that have abolished the death penalty Pope Francis has come out against the death penalty. The second priniciple of Unitarian Universalism asks us to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.

The helpers - Brooke Ochoa reaches out to a lonely woman in restaurant.

The Helpers is a regular feature of UU A Way Of Life ministries blog which appears on Fridays.

The third principle of Unitarian Universalism is the acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations (and around the world.)