lilithu
The Devil's Advocate
[Note: I actually wrote this about a month ago but am just posting it now. (And no, I still haven't update my RF webpage.)]
Namaste Yall!
First off let me apologize to Davidium as I might embarrass him a little here. Hopefully, any embarassment will be mitigated as I describe my own "conversion" experience.
Second let me explain that by "born again" I do not mean the drastic one-time conversion experience that most evangelical Christians refer to. I am using it in the way that Rob Hardies used it in the GA Sunday sermon that is available online at the UUA ("Born again and again and again"). The recognition that we are not static beings who leave this world the same person that we came in. We are always changing into new persons (hopefully for the better) by the knowledge and experiences that we gain and the choices that we make. The Existentialists the Buddhists understand being "born again and again and again" even if they don't use such terms. (Actually, Kierkegaard did use such terms.)
OK, I recently noticed that David had changed his sign-off. (what do you call the opposite of a greeting?) Whereas he used to end his posts with "Yours in faith and reason" he has shortened it to "Yours in faith." I figured two possibilities: a) he wanted to emphasize faith; or b) he got tired of the extra typing. Either way, for as long as I've known David (which admittedly is not long), "faith" has never been an issue of contention. There was even his recent eloquent post about what faith means to him as a UU. So yesterday, as I was over at his Dynamic Deism forums reading his account of his spriritual journey, imagine my surprise when I read him end with, "imagine the world if reason replaced faith."
This was posted only a year ago, and it seems a lot has changed from then to now. So David, I am hoping that when you have the time (I know you're very busy right now at the Red Cross shelter) that you might continue relating your remarkable story of your spiritual journey. How did you get from where you were a year ago to where you are now?
As for me, two days ago I was looking at my RF webpage thinking that I should update it when I reread these words: "So the only place for me was Unitarian-Universalism, which allows people of all faiths to come together." And I thought, whoa! did I really write that? Did I really believe that? Well, yes I did. Less than a year ago I was still seeing UU as no more than a collection of people of different faiths whose only commonality was their generally liberal political views towards social justice and their openness towards other religions. I thought of UU as a sort of meeting ground for social activism and religious pluralism. Don't get me wrong; I thought that was great, which is why I joined. But I didn't think we could get any further than that. About this time last year, I was a student in our church's adult course on UU Theology and introduced myself to the class by expressing my skepticism as to whether we could say anything definitive about what UUs believe. Afterall, what about freedom of conscience? This coming week, I will begin co-facilitating this same course, and I feel confident that I can speak with sincerity as to what our theology is. Once we can put aside the question of god(s) or no god(s), it is clear that we do share common beliefs and we share them very strongly. Our freedom of conscience, which allows us each to have many different and evolving beliefs, is based on a shared belief that is unchanging. Quite simply, it is as David described in another thread: 1) humanity is good (or all of nature is good); and 2) revelation (or the ways by which we understand the truth) is on-going and it comes from a variety of sources. Knowing that humanity is good, that is why we fight for social justice. Knowing that revelation is on-going, that is why we are open to critique and revision. This is the core of our faith that affects all of our other choices.
At some time, without me even fully realizing it, I came to see us UUs as our own unique religion. We are not just a collection of people who reject the negative aspects of other people's religions. And we are not just a collection of people who are open to "anything." Neither of these would engender commitment and action. What does engender commitment and action is our own positive and hopeful message, our own "gospel" or "good news." To refer to another thread, we are not UUs because "it's the least we can be." We are UUs because that is what our consciences tell us that we have to be. The "good news" for me was that here is a community that affirms what I've always known in my heart - that everyone deserves dignity and respect. The "good news" for me was that here is a community that works to put these beliefs into action - thru good works towards social justice. The "good news" for me was that I was home. Having heard this good news, I couldn't help but respond. Despite the fact that I've always been afraid of commitment, I found I could not help but commit to UU. And I found that I couldn't help but tell others about it.
Which brings me to the "evangelical" part. "Evangelical" today is increasingly associated with the conservative Christian movement that is trying to impose its beliefs on others via organized political efforts. But "evangelical" traditionally referred to a charismatic Christian movement, whose members experienced a conversion experience so personally profound they couldn't help but act on it. They couldn't help but put their beliefs into action. Early evangelical Christians were not conservative. Rather they were at the forefront of the abolitionist and feminist movements. They worked in the trenches on behalf of the indigent. And they couldn't help but tell others about their conversion experiences, which is what, unfortunately, led to their bible-thumping reputation.
Friends, I fear that I have become an evangelical UU. When people tell me that they are dissatisfied with their place of worship, I enthusiastically invite them to come visit mine. When others shake their heads and talk about what's wrong with the world, I talk about what my church and denomination are doing about it. And <gasp>, when others talk about what's wrong with religion(s), I talk about what's right about ours.
In the past, when evangelical Christians tried to explain to me that they weren't trying to convert me; they just were so full of happiness at having found the good news that they had to share it, I thought it was a load of crock. Now, I find myself in their position and worry that I come off sounding the same way to others. In the past, if while flipping channels on the tv, I saw a stadium full of evangelical Christians singing joyfully about being saved, I quickly changed the station, disturbed by what I saw. It wasn't their Christianity that disturbed me. I have no problem with a somber Latin mass or a staid Protestant service. It was the enthusiasm, the boundless joy, the emotion directed towards something that I did not understand. This June, when we gathered for General Assembly in the Ft Worth convention center, tv cameras and all, I clapped my hands, swayed side-to-side, and sang with abandon, buoyed by the shared sense of community. These were my people and we had found each other and I was overflowing with gratitude and joy. Some little voice inside my head said, "you've become one of those weirdos on tv" and a bigger voice shouted back, "Yeah, and I like it!!"
I find that nowadays I am often brimming over with joyful emotion about a religion based primarily on reason. Go figure. And I've decided that there's no reason to be ashamed of this. As Jesus said, what good is a light if it's hidden under a basket? And so I am confessing, nay I am announcing: I am born again! I am an evangelical UU, and proud of it! I will try to spread our gospel of love and respect for everyone as far as it will go. And if people don't want to hear it...
well ok, I'll just move down to the next street corner.
Namaste Yall!
First off let me apologize to Davidium as I might embarrass him a little here. Hopefully, any embarassment will be mitigated as I describe my own "conversion" experience.
Second let me explain that by "born again" I do not mean the drastic one-time conversion experience that most evangelical Christians refer to. I am using it in the way that Rob Hardies used it in the GA Sunday sermon that is available online at the UUA ("Born again and again and again"). The recognition that we are not static beings who leave this world the same person that we came in. We are always changing into new persons (hopefully for the better) by the knowledge and experiences that we gain and the choices that we make. The Existentialists the Buddhists understand being "born again and again and again" even if they don't use such terms. (Actually, Kierkegaard did use such terms.)
OK, I recently noticed that David had changed his sign-off. (what do you call the opposite of a greeting?) Whereas he used to end his posts with "Yours in faith and reason" he has shortened it to "Yours in faith." I figured two possibilities: a) he wanted to emphasize faith; or b) he got tired of the extra typing. Either way, for as long as I've known David (which admittedly is not long), "faith" has never been an issue of contention. There was even his recent eloquent post about what faith means to him as a UU. So yesterday, as I was over at his Dynamic Deism forums reading his account of his spriritual journey, imagine my surprise when I read him end with, "imagine the world if reason replaced faith."
This was posted only a year ago, and it seems a lot has changed from then to now. So David, I am hoping that when you have the time (I know you're very busy right now at the Red Cross shelter) that you might continue relating your remarkable story of your spiritual journey. How did you get from where you were a year ago to where you are now?
As for me, two days ago I was looking at my RF webpage thinking that I should update it when I reread these words: "So the only place for me was Unitarian-Universalism, which allows people of all faiths to come together." And I thought, whoa! did I really write that? Did I really believe that? Well, yes I did. Less than a year ago I was still seeing UU as no more than a collection of people of different faiths whose only commonality was their generally liberal political views towards social justice and their openness towards other religions. I thought of UU as a sort of meeting ground for social activism and religious pluralism. Don't get me wrong; I thought that was great, which is why I joined. But I didn't think we could get any further than that. About this time last year, I was a student in our church's adult course on UU Theology and introduced myself to the class by expressing my skepticism as to whether we could say anything definitive about what UUs believe. Afterall, what about freedom of conscience? This coming week, I will begin co-facilitating this same course, and I feel confident that I can speak with sincerity as to what our theology is. Once we can put aside the question of god(s) or no god(s), it is clear that we do share common beliefs and we share them very strongly. Our freedom of conscience, which allows us each to have many different and evolving beliefs, is based on a shared belief that is unchanging. Quite simply, it is as David described in another thread: 1) humanity is good (or all of nature is good); and 2) revelation (or the ways by which we understand the truth) is on-going and it comes from a variety of sources. Knowing that humanity is good, that is why we fight for social justice. Knowing that revelation is on-going, that is why we are open to critique and revision. This is the core of our faith that affects all of our other choices.
At some time, without me even fully realizing it, I came to see us UUs as our own unique religion. We are not just a collection of people who reject the negative aspects of other people's religions. And we are not just a collection of people who are open to "anything." Neither of these would engender commitment and action. What does engender commitment and action is our own positive and hopeful message, our own "gospel" or "good news." To refer to another thread, we are not UUs because "it's the least we can be." We are UUs because that is what our consciences tell us that we have to be. The "good news" for me was that here is a community that affirms what I've always known in my heart - that everyone deserves dignity and respect. The "good news" for me was that here is a community that works to put these beliefs into action - thru good works towards social justice. The "good news" for me was that I was home. Having heard this good news, I couldn't help but respond. Despite the fact that I've always been afraid of commitment, I found I could not help but commit to UU. And I found that I couldn't help but tell others about it.
Which brings me to the "evangelical" part. "Evangelical" today is increasingly associated with the conservative Christian movement that is trying to impose its beliefs on others via organized political efforts. But "evangelical" traditionally referred to a charismatic Christian movement, whose members experienced a conversion experience so personally profound they couldn't help but act on it. They couldn't help but put their beliefs into action. Early evangelical Christians were not conservative. Rather they were at the forefront of the abolitionist and feminist movements. They worked in the trenches on behalf of the indigent. And they couldn't help but tell others about their conversion experiences, which is what, unfortunately, led to their bible-thumping reputation.
Friends, I fear that I have become an evangelical UU. When people tell me that they are dissatisfied with their place of worship, I enthusiastically invite them to come visit mine. When others shake their heads and talk about what's wrong with the world, I talk about what my church and denomination are doing about it. And <gasp>, when others talk about what's wrong with religion(s), I talk about what's right about ours.
In the past, when evangelical Christians tried to explain to me that they weren't trying to convert me; they just were so full of happiness at having found the good news that they had to share it, I thought it was a load of crock. Now, I find myself in their position and worry that I come off sounding the same way to others. In the past, if while flipping channels on the tv, I saw a stadium full of evangelical Christians singing joyfully about being saved, I quickly changed the station, disturbed by what I saw. It wasn't their Christianity that disturbed me. I have no problem with a somber Latin mass or a staid Protestant service. It was the enthusiasm, the boundless joy, the emotion directed towards something that I did not understand. This June, when we gathered for General Assembly in the Ft Worth convention center, tv cameras and all, I clapped my hands, swayed side-to-side, and sang with abandon, buoyed by the shared sense of community. These were my people and we had found each other and I was overflowing with gratitude and joy. Some little voice inside my head said, "you've become one of those weirdos on tv" and a bigger voice shouted back, "Yeah, and I like it!!"
I find that nowadays I am often brimming over with joyful emotion about a religion based primarily on reason. Go figure. And I've decided that there's no reason to be ashamed of this. As Jesus said, what good is a light if it's hidden under a basket? And so I am confessing, nay I am announcing: I am born again! I am an evangelical UU, and proud of it! I will try to spread our gospel of love and respect for everyone as far as it will go. And if people don't want to hear it...
well ok, I'll just move down to the next street corner.
