Do you see the inherent worth and dignity in yourself and every person?

Your resurrection is your reawakening. I am the model for rebirth, but rebirth itself is merely the dawning on your mind of what is already in it. God placed it there Himself, and so it is true forever. I believed in it, and therefore accepted it as true for me.T-6.I.7:1-4

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition.

 

The non dual Oneness is from where you came and to which you are returning. This non dual Oneness can be described as the Tao and the Unconditional Love of God, and  the Transcendent Source, and the Infinite. Jesus tells us that this Ground Of Being is already within us although, being caught up in the separation of the ego, we have forgotten about it. Jesus knew it was there within him and he taught others it is within them as well.

In Unitarian Universalism some of us join together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This inherent worth and dignity of every person is the message of our faith which is a goodness that never changes.

Today it is suggested that we look at ourselves and others and recognize the inherent worth and dignity which resides in every person.

Don’t play the victim.

You are not asked to be crucified, which was part of my own teaching contribution. You are merely asked to follow my example in the face of much less extreme temptations to misperceive, and not to accept them as false justifications for anger. There can be no justification for the unjustifiable. Do not believe there is, and do not teach that there is. Remember always that what you believe you will teach. Believe with me, and we will become equal as teachers.T-6.1.6:6-11

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

Christians are often told to “take up the cross” meaning that their suffering is something which God wants and approves of. Jesus tells us that this is a false interpretation of the meaning of the crucifixion. Jesus tells us that we are not asked to be crucified but rather not to play the victim when we are persecuted. Playing the victim is a choice we make in the face of persecution, but the soul cannot be persecuted only the body.

When we play the victim what do we teach others? We teach that our souls can be attacked, persecuted, and destroyed. Jesus’ crucifixion should teach us the opposite, that our souls can not be destroyed but will live on as his has for over 2,000 years.

In Unitarian Universalism some of us join together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. It is our souls, the Divine Spark that has inherent worth and dignity, not the body.

Today it is suggested that we reflect on our body and our soul and consider which has inherent worth and dignity. Making the distinction we can choose not to play the victim.

What is currently making the UUA tick?

Stanford law professor Randall Ralph Richard Banks says that many things are going on in society and that “focusing only on race is a mistake. Once you start to divide society into the oppressor and the oppressed and the black people are always on the downside and the white people are always the possessors of privilege, I think that’s a mistake. It’s a mistake to fixate on the idea of white privilege because most white people in American society are not and don’t feel themselves to be privileged. Most white people in American society are actually struggling. They’re struggling to raise their children. They worry about whether their children’s lives will be better than their own. They confront all manner of illness and distress and economic anxiety. So it’s both analytically wrong and politically misguided to promote an ideology that suggests that all white people have it good and all black people have it bad.” (Manhattan Institute 2021)

Cycleback, David. Against Illiberalism: A critique of illiberal trends in liberal institutions, with a focus on Unitarian Universalism (pp. 41-42). Center for Artifact Studies. Kindle Edition. 

Some Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. In light of these two principles it would seem that accusing whites of privilege automatically making them racist undercuts these two principles.

Spiritual intelligence can be thought of as being manifested in twenty one skills according to Cindy Wigglesworth in her book, Twenty-One Skills Of Spiritual Intelligence. The first skill of spiritual intelligence is the ability to observe and monitor one’s own worldview. To what extent does an individual know what makes them tick? The idea of the ability to observe and monitor one’s own worldview can be extended to families, organizations, and cultures.

The skill of observing one’s own worldview can be pursued by answering these questions “What makes you tick? What makes your family tick? What makes your organization tick? What makes your culture tick?”

David Cycleback’s book, Against Illiberalism takes a look at what makes the UUA and some congregations tick as they shut down the free and responsible search for truth and meaning in the face of the imposition of Critical Race Theory as the current dogma of the UUA being imposed on its member congregations.

Cycleback and others have argued that the current policies and programs of the UUA regarding governance with the imposition of CRT  are antithetical to UUs principles. This is a major problem interfering with the good functioning and growth of the denomination.

What is to be done?

The first step is to name the problem why Cycleback does very well. Be able to state it in your own words in one sentence.

The second step is to work with others to diminish the UUA’s policy of shutting down the free and responsible search for truth and meaning by shaming, marginalizing and excommunicating UU members.

The third step is to support and lift up all ideas and observations for consideration in the articulation of our faith.

The fourth step is to continue to practice the UU principles in one’s daily life, in one’s family, organizations, community, and culture.

Twenty-one Skills Of Spiritual Intelligence by Cindy Wigglesworth will be the UUAWOL book of the month for September, 2022

If you would like to join the UUAWOL book discussion group via email send a request and your email to davidgmarkhkam@gmail.com

UUAWOL Book Discussion - Against Illiberalism by David Cycleback

 

Our spirit is immune to persecution.

As I have said before, “As you teach so shall you learn.” If you react as if you are persecuted, you are teaching persecution. This is not a lesson a Son of God should want to teach if he is to realize his own salvation. Rather, teach your own perfect immunity, which is the truth in you, and realize that it cannot be assailed. Do not try to protect it yourself, or you are believing that it is assailable. T-6.I.6:1-5

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus said to turn the other cheek. When the Roman Soldiers came to arrest him he told his disciple to put away his sword. Jesus knew that while his body could be assaulted and killed his spirit was free and immune.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person which cannot be destroyed because it comes from our Transcendent Source.

Today, if you feel persecuted, remind yourself that your spirit is immune to persecution.

The end does not justify the means.

Once you start to divide society into the oppressor and the oppressed and the black people are always on the downside and the white people are always the possessors of privilege, I think that’s a mistake. It’s a mistake to fixate on the idea of white privilege because most white people in American society are not and don’t feel themselves to be privileged. Most white people in American society are actually struggling. They’re struggling to raise their children. They worry about whether their children’s lives will be better than their own. They confront all manner of illness and distress and economic anxiety. So it’s both analytically wrong and politically misguided to promote an ideology that suggests that all white people have it good and all black people have it bad.” (Manhattan Institute 2021)

Cycleback, David. Against Illiberalism: A critique of illiberal trends in liberal institutions, with a focus on Unitarian Universalism (pp. 41-42). Center for Artifact Studies. Kindle Edition. 

Well yeah, white people, like all people, have things tough. But in the United States social policies have been rigged to favor white people from 1619 to the present day. To deny the evidence when one looks at the social inequities of multiple indicators is to be biased. 

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion because they also affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of all people, a principle which has been contradicted throughout American history by the ruling classes which enslaved and interred and discriminated against the Native American, the kidnapped and enslaved, and the immigrant populations.

To deny that oppressors have not gained privilege from their oppression and subjugation is to deny reality. Problems cannot be ameliorated if they cannot be identified.

Most of the privilege is unconscious, shadow phenomena and so to blame the beneficiaries of the rigged system is met with denial, minimization, guilt, and fears of retribution if the privilege is recognized and acknowledged.

It is not healthy to keep the privilege granted by social policies and practices submerged in the unconscious shadow and it is not appropriate to blame the beneficiaries for their benefits especially when the benefits are not recognized or enjoyed.

The key to moving forward as a society is honesty, awareness, and the development of constructive intention and action. How well does the Unitarian Universalist denomination facilitate this forward movement? Some might say not good because their attempts to undo oppression are oppressive in and of themselves. Others might say their intent is good but their methods leave a lot to be desired and the end does not justify the means.

What is forgiveness?

I have made it perfectly clear that I am like you and you are like me, but our fundamental equality can be demonstrated only through joint decision. You are free to perceive yourself as persecuted if you choose. When you do choose to react that way, however, you might remember that I was persecuted as the world judges, and did not share this evaluation for myself. And because I did not share it, I did not strengthen it. I therefore offered a different interpretation of attack, and one which I want to share with you. If you will believe it, you will help me teach it. T-6.I.5:1-6

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus of Nazareth was tortured and crucified by the Romans. He chose to not play the victim but rose above the attack on his body, and his spirit soared demonstrating the power of unconditional love for everybody, even his executioners.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person, even our enemies.

Today, it is suggested that we decide to give up making other people and circumstances responsible for our unhappiness. We call this forgiveness.