Unitarian history goes back a long way. Our tradition is deeply grounded in reason and religious tolerance, concepts that were once radical, and are under attack again today by the same kinds of forces that attacked them then. 

Many of our social challenges are complex predicaments that are not easily solved, if they can be ‘solved’ at all. Many solutions create more problems than resolutions. But what if thinking we have solutions is part of the problem?

Bill Watterson’s classic cartoon characters often faced weighty existential problems, while their namesakes (French theologian John Calvin and English political theorist Thomas Hobbes) continue to shape our views of human nature with their gloomy estimates of society. Are people basically trustworthy and cooperative, or otherwise?  Is life really as Hobbes described it, “mean, nasty, brutish … Continue reading Calvin, Hobbes, and the Meaning of Life

A Gallup poll quizzed church-goers on what sermon topics they found most useful.  Dealing with adversity and coping with grief were at the top of the list.  No wonder.  I recently spoke with a member who, in the space of a few months, lost both his parents.  His partner fell down a flight of stairs.  … Continue reading What To Do When Your World Turns Upside Down

One of the meanings of “to bless” is to sanctify or make holy, but traditional religious language and practices can be challenging for Unitarian Universalists. Nevertheless, giving blessings is a necessary and important part of our lives, or should be. Let’s explore the why and the how of it.

How do we navigate our values in a time of xenophobia and extreme tribalism? What does radical hospitality look like? How deep does our generosity extend to those not of our tribe? There are no easy answers.  As one of my teachers used to say, don’t simplify, complexify. 

Online Service only – join here As America struggles to reckon with its legacy of racial inequality, Critical Race Theory has become a flashpoint for controversy.  Amid the noise emanating from Fox News and certain right-wing politicians, the signal has been lost.  What is CRT, and can it help us walk with greater clarity, intention, … Continue reading What Is Critical Race Theory? Or Shall The Fundamentalists Win?