A Course In Miracles and Unitarian Universalism - Sacrifice has no role in a faith based on unconditional love.

Do you believe in sacrifice? Do you think it necessary in order to obtain the things you believe will make you happy?

On the path of the ego, egos would have you believe that sacrifice is not only necessary but even required. And so suffering is necessary and required for happiness. Does this make any sense? Is this just one of life's many paradoxes?

A Course In Miracles offers us another thought system, one in which sacrifice is not only not necessay and required but antithetical to walking on the path of holiness.

The belief in the power of sacrifice is based on a belief in sin. The ultimate sin is our separating ourselves from the Oneness of God with the consequential guilt and fear of punishment. In this insane way of thinking, sacrifice is appeasement of a vengeful God who is angry with our separation and arrogance in thinking that we can be the authors of our own lives.

In this crazy rationale we have created, sacrifice makes sense, but to God it is silly because God always has, and continues to, love us unconditionally as the Universalists have taught us.

Jesus was a universalist and would say to his disciples, "Oh, you of little faith. If you only knew how much your Father in heaven loves you..."

And so as Unitarian Universalists, if we really understand our faith at its deeper levels, we could not believe in sacrifice as a vehicle for the happiness of salvation. The idea that sacrifice is necessary is contradictory to our faith.

We look on our brothers and sisters with love and assure them that no sacrifice is necessary. They always have been loved and always will be loved no matter what.

Check out these two paragraphs from the text of A Course In Miracles:

T-21.III.9. Those who believe in sin must think the Holy Spirit asks for sacrifice, for this is how they think their purpose is accomplished. Brother, the Holy Spirit knows that sacrifice brings nothing. He makes no bargains. And if you seek to limit Him, you will hate Him because you are afraid. The gift that He has given you is more than anything that stands this side of Heaven. The instant for its recognition is at hand. Join your awareness to what has been already joined. The faith you give your brother can accomplish this. For He Who loves the world is seeing it for you, without one spot of sin upon it, and in the innocence that makes the sight of it as beautiful as Heaven.

 T-21.III.10. Your faith in sacrifice has given it great power in your sight; except you do not realize you cannot see because of it. For sacrifice must be exacted of a body, and by another body. The mind could neither ask it nor receive it of itself. And no more could the body. The intention is in the mind, which tries to use the body to carry out the means for sin in which the mind believes. Thus is the joining of mind and body an inescapable belief of those who value sin. And so is sacrifice invariably a means for limitation, and thus for hate.

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. p.453

Ask Alexa - Why will the "living tradition" of Unitarian Universalism ultimately fail?

Alexa: Will Unitarian Universalism ever be successful as a denomination when its governance structure allows every congregation its own autonomous authority?

No. It is unworkable for a large organization to operate in any kind of coordinated, efficient, and effective way when every component of the organization can ultimately do its own thing.

Alexa: Did you hear about the aging beautician, 97 years old, who finally eneded her career?

Yes, she dyed in her sleep.

How the 1% celebrate the 4th.

A Course In Miracles and Unitarian Universalism - When you perceive other bodies what do you envision?

Is a person a body with a spirit or a spirit in a body?

Does this sound like a petty and picky distinction or is it very important? In A Course In Miracles this move from seeing a brother and sister as merely a body and instead seeing their spirit is what the Course calls a "miracle."

It is written in the Course:

As they desire to look upon their brothers in holiness, the power of their belief and faith sees far beyond the body, supporting vision, not obstructing it. But first they chose to recognize how much their faith had limited their understanding of the world, desiring to place its power elsewhere should another point of view be given them. The miracles that follow this decision are also born of faith. For all who choose to look away from sin are given vision, and are led to holiness. T-21.III.8:3-6

UU A Way Of Life ministries teaches that the mission of Unitarian Universalism is to facilitate the spiritual development of all people in the world by helping them to decide to switch their focus from bodies to spirit. The Course calls this "vision." It is this "vision" of what Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote as the inherent worth and dignity of every person that helps people become holy and sanctifies the world.

When you perceive yourself and your fellow brothers and sisters, what do you see?

Is President Trump coming for UUs who affirm and promote democracy?

President Donald J. Trump has declared on July 4, 2019 that democracy has died and in its place he is declaring that the country hence forth is a military dictatorship with himself as the supreme leader and commander in chief.

The Republican senators and congress people were on hand for the declaration ceremony and demonstrated their obeisance by kissing the supreme commanders ring as they genuflected before his eminence in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

President Trump stated that he should be worshiped as a deity because he is a "really smart person" and the country under his administration is "doing great!" especially for rich, white people for whom things have never been better.

President Trump pointed out the tanks and the air force jet fly over as proof of his power and might. 75% of Republicans were in awe of the spectacle and called out "Hail to the Chief!!!" When President Trump mentioned the dissenters and critics, he led a chant of "Lock em up! Lock em up!" He invited the crowd to turn on the protesters and beat them up and said if they were arrested he would pay their legal fees and if they were found guilty, they were not to worry because he would pardon them.

The glory of America is unparalleled according to other dictators and foes of democracy around the world.

July 4, 2019 will go down in history as a great turning point in America's history as they see their hopes and dreams come to fruition which they voted for in 2016.

Targets of hate and animosity were not only Mexicans, and Muslims, but also Unitarian Universalists who plot and conspire together to affirm and promote the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process. President Trump declared that he would build a great wall to keep Mexicans, Muslims, and UUs out of the country and the ones who are here he will order his ICE agents to deport immediately. Many of the UUs were panic stricken saying, "I don't know anybody or anything about Transylvania. I hope they are nice and will welcome and help us."

Trump's base cheered and raised their arms in salute to their esteemed leader.

Is exemplary public service a good example of the application of Unitarian Universalist sixth principle?

Michael Lewis, in his book, The Fifth Risk, describes how Max Stier collaborated with Samuel Heyman to create the Partnership For Public Service which would give awards every year to people in public service who exhibited exemplary service. These awards became known as "The Sammies."

The first time I had heard of this program was in Lewis' book. I wonder why "The Sammies" don't get the news coverage that the Oscars and the Golden Globes get? It's like the Noble prize for public service in the United States.

Had you heard of them before?

What do you think of this idea of giving awards for public service that recognizes and publicly acknowledges outstanding achievements and results in public service activities?

Would the giving of these awards change the public cynicism pioneered by Reagan and Republicans that "government is not the solution but the problem" in a positive direction that public service is commendable and honorable work?

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.

Ask Alexa - What is the mission of Unitarian Universalism?

Alexa: What is the mission of Unitarian Universalism?

No one seems to know very clearly and yet UU A Way Of Life states the mission as helping people become aware of their holiness so that they can sanctify the world.

Alexa: Did you hear about the woman whose rhinoplasty was not covered by her health insurance?

Yes, she paid throught the nose for it.