To Whom It May Concern: the Humanist/Theist Split in Unitarian Universalism

February 18, 2016 By David Breeden

Since I’m an out-there Humanist, I get asked fairly often how Unitarian Universalists might go about healing the theist/humanist divide. My first response is quite simple: There isn’t a theist/humanist divide. Many humanists are theists and vice versa. Fact is, “humanist” isn’t merely a nice word for “atheist.” Rather, the “divide” is a leftover from the beginnings of humanism in midwestern Unitarian congregations back in the 1920’s. It wasn’t the real issue then either—a close look at the theology of... Read more

The heartwork of coming alive

February 16, 2016 By Rev. Deanna Vandiver

“Under all the harsh noise of the world coming in on us, this is how the things that last move: a small wave from the deep moves us on and the more we’re moved, the more we bend and bow and reach for each other. Our very life is the ground of practice by which we struggle to unlock the gate and let life in. It’s the murmur of life that fills us with another chance. Little by little, it’s... Read more

On Prayer

February 11, 2016 By David Breeden

Emily Dickinson wrote, Of Course I prayed And did God Care? He cared as much as on the Air A Bird had stampd her foot And cried “Give Me” (#376) I grew up in a praying family. My parents both got on their knees at bedtime and earnestly prayed. We prayed before each meal: a short, silent prayer before routine meals; a long and complex prayer said aloud before holiday meals or special occasions. I was raised Pentecostal, a tradition... Read more

Love Thy Neighbor As . . .

February 4, 2016 By David Breeden

There’s an old Buddhist story that goes like this: Once a mother found her baby extremely ill. She was afraid it would die. She had heard that the Buddha was teaching nearby, so she grabbed up her baby and rushed to the Buddha to ask that her baby be healed. “Why do you want your baby healed?” the Buddha asked. The mother was aghast: “because my baby is suffering and I’m afraid! This is a tragedy!” The Buddha said, “I... Read more

Carnival Redux, epiphanies too!

February 2, 2016 By Rev. Deanna Vandiver

While revelation is ever unfolding, sometimes it is worth looking back through the transience for some permanent epiphanies, such as those embedded here: http://admin.patheos.com/blogs/uucollective/2014/01/epiphany-continues during an earlier Epiphany Season. And wherever you live, whatever your faith tradition, know that in New Orleans, it is a time of collective creative celebration, culminating in Mardi Gras on Feb. 9th! Happy Carnival, my friends! [And for views of other unfolding revelations, you can visit http://art.blacklivesmatter.com/blackfuturesmonth/ for visions of what is possible in this amazing world!] ... Read more

A Shared Life in a Shared World: #Humanist Economics

January 28, 2016 By David Breeden

Grim Numbers Rising economic inequality. We live in a world in which sixty two human beings at the top own more than the bottom 3.5 billion people. We live in a nation in which—even factoring in the slaves, who owned nothing—the inequality gap today is worse than it was in 1774, two years before the American Revolution. American children born into poverty today have less than a one-in-ten chance of escaping poverty. That isn’t the conclusion of some crazed Marxist... Read more

Relax: #Humanism Is Not Mack the Knife

January 21, 2016 By David Breeden

Small Humanist groups are popping up and organizing around the US, some as independent groups, some as interest groups within larger Unitarian Universalist congregations. This movement has drawn some interesting reactions . . . I know these reactions well, because one of the oddities about my position as a minister at First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis is that many people I meet know up front that I’m a Humanist. Often I get asked to speak various places because I’m a... Read more

Some Accumulated Wisdom for Seminarians

January 14, 2016 By David Breeden

One of the best aspects of being a senior minister is working with ministers-in-training. I have learned far more from seminarians than they have learned from me. Here are some things I’ve gleaned over the years: #1. Hear the wisdom of the congregation. (#hivemind) #2. Be you . . . but be getting better. (#cultured) #3. It’s not about you. (#facepalm) #4. Listen. To. Every. Voice. (#dignity) #5. Long and boring does not equal profound. (#keepithoppin) #6. No one’s as... Read more

Co-Courage

January 12, 2016 By Rev. Deanna Vandiver

I am thrilled to announce to the world that the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal (CELSJR) begins 2016 with Co-Directors! Ruth Idakula has courageously stepped up to co-lead this missional center, which serves as a catalyst in New Orleans and beyond for promoting social, economic, environmental, and racial justice through activism, community engagement, organizing, and transformational learning. It is an honor and a grace to have a companion leader on this journey towards justice. As we work to... Read more

#Apatheism

January 7, 2016 By David Breeden

This year First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis is celebrating a century of humanism. Rev. John Dietrich, often called the father of religious humanism, was called as minister to the congregation in 1916. Dietrich had already been tried for heresy and had declared himself humanist in his previous congregation, so the folks in Minneapolis knew what they were getting. The fact that the Society has been overtly and proudly humanist so long (long for humanism anyway) makes it a unique place.... Read more