Is UU dividing its members by catering to special interests?

 Topic Eight

Unitarian Universalism catering to special interests.

Fortunately, Unitarian Universalism need only recall its roots to embrace an ethic based upon our common humanity. Even so, at this crossroads in our history, it has become a choice we must make. Will we abandon this principle as part of the “institutional change” our denominational leaders are now initiating, replacing it with the divisive philosophies of safetyism, identitarianism, and political correctness, or will we wholly embrace it that we might wholly embrace each other? Will we listen to the voices of our ancestors calling us forward, or, even while claiming not to believe in Hell, pave our way there with good intentions?

Eklof, Todd. The Gadfly Papers: Three Inconvenient Essays by One Pesky Minister . Kindle Edition. 

Rev. Todd Eklof ends his first essay in the Gadfly Papers, “The Coddling Of The Unitarian Universalist Mind,” with the idea that if Unitarian Universalism is to survive it must mature, grow up, and overcome its current dynamic of siding with those who want to play the victim at everyone else’s expense.

There is a difference between a rebel and a revolutionary. A rebel separates and divides and attacks as a victim those it perceives as oppressors only to take on the role of the oppressor themselves. The revolutionary, on the other hand, transforms and brings about healthy systemic change.

The political climate of Unitarian Universalism over the last two decades has been to identify with the victim and attack their so called oppressors indiscriminately thereby overlooking the good of the whole.

Eklof is calling for a more systemic understanding manifested as cultural maturity among UU leaders and members. This cultural maturity is facilitated by the “acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations” which is UU’s third principle which has been overlooked and set aside by the current UU leadership. As Eklof suggests, it is time to get back to basics and start living our principles, not some social justice agenda promoted by special interests.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #293 - All fear is past and only love is here.

 Lesson #293

All fear is past and only love is here.

It is written in the introduction to A Course In Miracles, “The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim however at removing the blocks to awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance.” The Course encourages us to look beneath fear to Love. It is always there but hidden by our forgetfulness and what the psychoanalysts call “repression.”

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we improve our conscious contact with the Divine through prayer and meditation and what, today, we are now calling “mindfulness.”

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person which we can apprehend when we get past the fear to the Divine Spark within every person.

Today, it is suggested that we get past the fear and see the Love that is our natural inheritance.

What's really important in Unitarian Universalism.

What's really important in Unitarian Universalism

Since, and this again is the point, there is no consistency regarding when or how a word might be determined offensive, PC also has a chilling effect on any kind of meaningful dialogue, as, again, is its purpose. “In our identitarian age,” Shadi Hamid, of the Brookings Institute, says, “the bar for offence has been lowered considerably, which makes democratic debate more difficult—citizens are more likely to withhold their true opinions if they fear being labeled as bigoted or insensitive.”[70] 

Hence, within the deafening, though comfortable, echo chamber political correctness fashions for itself, in which its practitioners hear only their own unchallenged and unexamined absolutisms bounced back to themselves, real people are silenced, publicly shamed, demonized, or have their motives and minds uncharitably and unethically psychoanalyzed by those with no qualifications for doing so.

Eklof, Todd. The Gadfly Papers: Three Inconvenient Essays by One Pesky Minister . Kindle Edition. 

Under the banner of “Political Correctness” speech and thinking is squelched. This is antithetical to the Unitarian Universalist principle of affirming and promoting  the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

Many times in Unitarian Universalist meetings people seem to be afraid to say what they think. There is judgmentalism in the rooms that leads to a lack of genuineness, sincerity, and authenticity. How is spiritual growth to be nurtured and encouraged when participants are not free to explore their own souls? Once again in the pursuit of social justice, spirituality is marginalized and repressed. This is another example of how Unitarian Universalism has lost its way and forgotten its mission which is primarily to encourage and nurture spiritual growth. It is a religious organization not a social justice agency.

The perversion of UUs mission and vision is a failure of leadership in all components of the organization. Unitarian Universalism needs a revival, a self reckoning, which, hopeful, would help the organization refocus on what’s really important, which is facilitating the search for the Divine in all aspects of our human experience.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #292 - A happy outcome to all things is sure.

 Lesson #292

A happy outcome to all things is sure.

In the ego world where we believe in our willfulness hell is created. In  the world of Spirit (Love) a happy outcome to all things is sure. Which would you choose and rely on?

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out. Pretty clear suggestion, right?

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. Perhaps we should add the word “Love” also. Peace, liberty, justice and love for all. Okay?

Today, we are encouraged to remember that turning our wills over to God’s will, a happy outcome to all things is sure and God’s kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven today, right now. Wow!

What happens when the bullied bully?

 

Topic Six

What happens when the bullied bully?

This, understandably, has also led to an emerging pattern of “defensive self-censorship”[63] by those anxious about the possibility of being called out and publicly demonized or humiliated. In addition to making it more challenging for students to “practice the essential skills of critical thinking and civil disagreement,”[64] Coddling says, “Many in the audience may feel sympathy for the person being shamed but are afraid to speak up, yielding the false impression that the audience is unanimous in its condemnation.”[65] It is based upon a few private conversations I’ve had with a small number of other Unitarian Universalist ministers that I anecdotally infer this same trepidation also exists among some in the UUA. There are those deeply concerned about what’s going on at our Boston headquarters, in our theological schools (Meadville-Lombard and Starr King), during clergy gatherings, and, increasingly, in our congregations, yet are afraid to say anything about it for fear of being ostracized. Yet it is my hope enough of us will find the courage to voice our concerns so our religion might enter into a genuine dialogue about these difficult matters.

Eklof, Todd. The Gadfly Papers: Three Inconvenient Essays by One Pesky Minister . Kindle Edition. 

What happens when people who complain of being bullied become bullies themselves? It is not just the reactive bullying which is a problem but the self righteous indignation which seems to serve as a justification for such behavior. This kind of polarization is destroying the espoused covenantal relationships that so many UUs pay lip service to.

It is time to move the covenant forward with leaders who are differentiated enough that they can develop relationships with all parts of the whole. This kind of cultural maturity is what Charles M. Johnston calls “parts work.” It is what family therapist Boszormenyi-Nagy calls “multidimensional partiality”, and it's what Dr. Dan Papero and Dr. Carrie Collier at the Bowen Center For The Family call “systems thinking.”

Will UU leaders be able to develop the maturity and skills to lead such a multifaceted denomination as Unitarian Universalism? It remains to be seen. There is some glimmers of light on the horizon with leadership popping up in disparate places and the formation of such groups as the Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unity Action Council (UUMUAC)

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #291 - This is a day of stillness and peace.

 Lesson #291

This is a day of stillness and peace.

What do we want: hell or heaven, fear or love, war or peace, attack or compassion? It’s our choice. In order to become aware of this choice which we have, we need to develop perspective. We need to rise above the nonsense in the world of the ego. This rising above the ego world is what A Course In Miracles calls “forgiveness.”

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step three, that we decide to turn our willfulness over to the will of God. “Let go and let God” the slogan reads.

In Unitarian Universalism we join together to affirm and promote a respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part and in this awareness we experience stillness and peace. All is one. Ohmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Today, it is suggested that we let the shit go. As Bobby McFerin sang, “Don’t worry. Be happy.” Hum the tune along with me. What if the whole word were to sing this song together in one magnanimous chorus?

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #290 - My present happiness is all I see.

 Lesson #290

My present happiness is all I see.

Winston Churchill said, “When you’re in hell, keep going.” Churchill seemed to be saying that we will get through hell and arrive at peace and joy, what some simply call “happiness.”

In Alcoholic Anonymous, it is suggested in step eleven that through prayer and meditation we improve our conscious contact with God which is Love. As the Beatles sang, “Love, love, love, love is all there is.” Today’s lesson could use this Beatles song as its theme song.

In Unitarian Universalism we join together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and this truth and meaning we are searching for is found, guess where? In love which, if we choose, can be all we see.

Today, it is suggested we be mindful of what we choose to focus on. Will it be hell or heaven, the world of the ego or the world of Spirit (Love)?