Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Emerald Coast

“Our hope of immortality does not come from any religion, but nearly all religions come from that hope.” Robert Green Ingersoll

“Many have quarreled about religion that never practiced it”. Benjamin Franklin

Like an old friend, I often return to a book that’s sat on my bookshelf for decades. “Adventures of the Mind” contains an essay by existentialist theologian Paul Tillich. In it Tillich says,”Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of existence and being able to receive the answers, even if the answers hurt. Such an idea of religion makes religion universally human, but it certainly differs from what is usually called religion”

Humanism’s my questing tool, but what sent me scurrying back to Tillich, apart from the waves of political evangelism washing over us, is the plight of 57,000 American Catholic women finding themselves under a Vatican onslaught for daring to delve into such heresies as (gasp) LGBT, or contraception ( practiced by most Catholic females), and even life’s beginning and end issues. How dare the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) claim such inspiration to explore the “radical call of the Gospel”?

Yet hardly a “Catholic problem” within our country’s generic belief system (the belief in Jesus’ divinity), as we find Believers of every ilk and persuasion asserting their specific church’s teachings are more correct and absolute. Nonetheless, we’re still God’s chosen nation. Presumably including our mosques and temples as well. Yet somehow a Deity that created trillions of celestial bodies does seem somewhat trivialized in prescribing how we dress, eat, enjoy ourselves, and now – how to vote!

Kind of makes our little fellowship of free thought seem, well – a little heavenly, doesn’t it?

“Ignorance worships mystery; reason explains it; the one grovels, the other soars.”- Robert G Ingersoll (the “great agnostic”)

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” - Charles Darwin

In these exhausting times of change we UUs are frequently accused of being too thoughtful, too cerebral. Head people. We’re simply not “feeling” enough, and are guilty of that unspeakable crime of thinking too much. Even thinking about thinking too much! Yet given our current culture and environment, that hardly seems worthy of even a misdemeanor classification.

Somewhat machine-like, our very physiology needs, demands, we engage in self-talk to determine our actions or re-actions. Our thoughts. There’s little respite from them. Even as we sleep, our mind’s engrossed in sorting and filing things away. Often as not, in the wrong drawers! Small wonder soothsayers and dream wizards were favorites in the royal courts. Extending down to our own times, like Nancy seeking protection for the house of Reagan from creatures great and small.

Admirable as Eastern thought can be, I still find it lacking in some respects. Even though I’ve practiced meditation on occasion, philosophically the idea of emptying one’s head of all thoughts and cognitions seems somewhat counter-productive. Understandably, it’s well known to lower blood pressure, which even the normal activity of speaking has been shown to raise. Small wonder I’ve been on blood pressure medication half my life! Probably read somewhere that silence, even though golden, implies consent. Rene Descartes thought, therefore he was. Guess I’ll have to think about that.

Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on a spiritual fantasy. - Carl Sagan

I cannot accept any concept of God based on the fear of life or the fear of death or blind faith. I cannot prove to you that there is no personal God, but if I were to speak of him I would be a liar. – Albert Einstein

For some time our daughter Janet’s been running a program that’s attempting to alleviate the difficult suicide problem within the military. One solution being explored is “Resilience,” which strikes me as avoiding putting all one’s eggs in one basket. Strikingly similar to the atheist pounding on a table saying, “There is no god!” while an evangelical at the other claims, ”Yes, there is, and I talked to him this morning!” Can we assume that’s the voice in our heads we all hear? Clearly absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, so debate rages on.

From cave scribbles to the Sistine Chapel, humans with their awareness of “tomorrow” have ceaselessly attempted to control it – principally by agonizing over religious speculations and dogma. Perhaps informed agnosticism (or resilience) helps us avoid the “black and white” basket plague. We of UU or humanist persuasion actually encourage attempts to change others, or of being changed by them!

Unlike most of our religious contemporaries with their ancient traditions and baskets of truth, we may well be better equipped (often painfully so) to explore the central meanings of life, from cave wall to cathedral. Including the “bottom line” in any humanist life stance. Namely, “The survival, even flourishing, of our species, planet and its creatures.” What a remarkably freeing and timely pursuit that, appropriately, will never fit in one basket! Preservation of our stunningly beautiful island in space. A spiritual quest worthy of any god…

SHALOM

“No evil is without compensation. The less money, the less trouble, the less favor, the less envy. Even in these cases which put us out of wits, it is not the loss itself, but the estimate of the loss that troubles us.”          -Seneca 

It could be argued that our 21st century is heavily weighted with loss. No Pollyanna, author Karl Pillener interviewed over 1500 elderly folks (ages 60 to 90) for his book, “30 Lessons in Living. Two principle themes he encountered: Yes indeed, life IS short. But edging closer to death, he found little fear for this natural conclusion to life among the old folks. Apparently, no one wants to bow out accidentally or in pain.  

However some things REALLY are gone. Homo Sapiens are so murderously adept at extinguishing other species… even our own! Yet the privileged masses are no longer set adrift or relegated to the front porch rocker. For us, it’s hundreds of TV channels and the endless reaches of cyberspace. Losses seem more hospitable.  

And we have remarkable symbols to remind us that little is really lost. Consider the beautifully balanced Tao. Re-cycling. Nature’s symbol. And, a favorite of mine is the “Happy Humanist,” abbreviated \()/. Body language suggests either, “Wow, this is great!” or the converse, “Shheeez, what a mess!” Euphoria or loss? We humanists tend to view Homo Sapiens as a nice species – but capable of terrible things while major religions cast us in the sinful mires of our own natures. Warren Buffett, that virtuous gazillionaire, recently made the Times cover. Even he feels the loss of something important. So, especially with loss, we could say, perception is everything. Bringing to mind a quaint t-shirt the kids gave me inscribed, “It’s not WHAT I perceive, but HOW I perceive it.” Now what did I do with that old shirt?   

SHALOM 

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils.  

                               - Francis Bacon 

Everyone thinks about changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.  

                                 - Leo Tolstoi  

The first decade of the new millennium seem to differ little from the old one.  Einstein’s insanity definition- doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results– makes it apparent that insanity is still commonplace. Doubtful now even thinking outside the box will suffice when circumstances demand we actually move out of the box!  

Across the whole spectrum of human activities change appears not just desirable, but vital. From religion to education, to economics and politics. Rather than book keepers crunching numbers, we must begin crunching concepts to decrease threats we pose to ourselves, other creatures, and our planet. This destructive species, Homo Sapiens.   

In short, justice and equity, reason in service to compassion, must become our bywords. Less emphasis on holy spirits, more on flagging human spirits under these immense pressures of profit over people. As Unitarian Universalists we have, or should have, a step up in all these domains compared to many other denominations and belief systems humans have devised. Just walk into any church down the street and you’ll likely encounter that warm, tribal smugness so comforting to our kind. You’ll be welcomed with assurances your search is over. They’ve found the answers, now you’ve found them. Look no further. Welcome home.   

We, on the other hand, though equally welcoming, hold out no answers. Easy or difficult. Just a simple invitation to join our search. You’re welcome here, with all your doubts and questions. Perhaps we need one of those digital signs out front flashing our message. “To question IS the answer”. But wayside pulpit’s work too. All furthering San Francisco longshoreman, philosopher Eric Hoffer’s declaration in his 1950′s book, “True Believers,” in which he tells us, if you run into someone with all the answers – run like hell!     

SHALOM 

Christmas, a humanist celebration? You betcha! Light and hope lengthen, and we find all those most human of feelings flooding over us. Feelings that are shared by Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus – well just about everyone. We dream that bullets and drones no longer fly, munitions and explosive vests safely tucked away in some dark corner. If only to stay.

Humanists, appropriately, celebrate “Human Light Day” on Dec 23rd (Bell’s and my anniversary) with music, dancing, story telling, scientific reflection, readings, candle light events, and social awareness for helping the needy and community. Hardly unique. For example, here are two beautiful meal blessings borrowed from Buddhist meal gatha (1) and Native American thanksgiving (2).

(1) “We receive this food in gratitude to all beings who have helped bring it to our table – and vow to respond in turn to those in need with wisdom and compassion.”

(2) “We give thanks for the plants and animals who have given themselves so we can enjoy this meal together. We also give thanks for our friends and family who have traveled here today. May this meal bring us strength and health.”

Humanistic songwriters John Lennon and Yoko Ono express so much reverence and vision for the world in this, another holy song: “Imagine there’s no heaven. It’s easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky! Imagine all the people living for today… sharing the world! You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one…”

So remarkably seasonal! It is said that religious buildings are really superfluous to the soaring spirit of human fulfillment held within. Perhaps Christmas trees, gilded decorations and wrap, sparkling lights, much as we love them, may be superfluous to this season, too! Capturing our mind’s eye, and hearts, just warmly familiar bricks in the uncertain edifice of our being.

I leave you with our family’s sincere wishes for a warm, happy, safe, and thoughtful season.

SHALOM

The following little parable was plucked from the Internet:- 

At a hotel in a small town whose residents were all deeply in debt, a stranger checked in. Laying a $100 bill on the counter, he asked to check out the rooms first. Once gone, the owner grabbed the $100, and ran next door to pay his debt to the butcher. The butcher, in turn, ran to settle his bill at the Co-op. The Co-op manager quickly took the $100 to the town prostitute, who’d also come on hard times, settling his bill for “services rendered”. The hooker rushed over to the hotel to pay her delinquent room bill. The relieved owner quickly placed the bill back on the counter just as the stranger returned. Finding the rooms unsatisfactory, he plucked his money from the counter, and left.   

No one actually produced anything. No one earned anything. Yet the town’s now out of debt, facing a more optimistic future! Laughingly dubbed a stimulus program, this “fair trade” parable demonstrates a favorite topic of mine. Economics arranged in CA’s.. Exchanges based on ”Creditable Activities.”   

Countries close banks, banks don’t close countries. How ironic that our staunchly “Christian” nation is run in large part by the very folks an enraged Jesus cast out of the temple! Surely points out the drive for justice and equity, that deeply spiritual aspect drawing tens of thousands to our streets - beginning at the “Wall.” Among them, workers, church goers of all stripes,  and human rights activists.  

Closing words from our own Peter Morales:- ”Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to join the Occupy Boston protesters in this city’s financial district. Unitarian Universalist ministers from several of our Massachusetts congregations came together to organize an evening vespers service at the Occupy Boston encampment, offering spiritual support and encouragement to the hundreds of souls gathered there.”   

The hundred dollars make its rounds again   

“The worst vice of the fanatic is his sincerity”   -Oscar Wilde 

An extraordinary 9/11 special by PBS “Frontline” dealt with the religious and secular sides of the catastrophe. The falling projectiles, finalized humans, could scarcely be mistaken for soaring angels when hell surfaced to earth that day. An old priest, many years in the cloth, watching the grotesque scene unravel, recognized (even then) a religious footprint. Familiar to him, this statement of passion and conviction gone horribly astray! 

A sense America would never be the same was born that day. Our “Fifties” Norman Rockwell sketchbook smudged, if not erased, forever. Crusader comparisons quickly faded, perhaps to be replaced by a stronger  insistence that we live in a Christian nation, founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Unlike nameless (or named) “others!” 

Yet any casual glance around our Capitol reveals symbols in word and stone of pagan Greece and Rome, long pre-dating Christ’s arrival. Philosophies of the non-Christian “Enlightenment” tumble from the lips of Toms (Paine and Jefferson). Most UU’s are intimately familiar with the Deism that prevailed among the founders. Following a 1500 year absence of democracy in Europe, we even borrowed council from the Iroquois far to our North. President John Adams, with senate approval, stated in the “Treaty of Tripoli” (1797) that our government “is in no sense founded on the Christian religion.” Indeed!  Find one reference to God in the Constitution. For 180 years our national motto was the secular “E pluribus unum” (from many one).  How appropriate for our times! 

Perhaps it’s true, and we’ll never be the same again.  When 9/12 dawned there had been an unprecedented outpouring of sadness, sympathy and affection from our human family. That may well have been our greatest loss. Since that fleeting moment, we have lost the COMMONS. 

And seem to have stopped looking. 

SHALOM 

“Standing in the presence of the Unknown, all have the same right to think, and all are equally interested in the great questions of origin and destiny. All I claim, all that I can plead for, is liberty. Liberty of thought and expression. That is all. I do not pretend to tell what is absolutely true, but what I think is true. I do not pretend to tell all the truth.” Robert Ingersol  

Challenging words when beliefs clarion as fact of political truths woven on moonless nights, blinding us to daybreak. So what joy discovering “The Christian Century”online.  Their motto: Thinking Critically, Living Faithfully.  More exciting, their article by Kimberly Winston titled, “Study of secularism sees boost on college campuses.”  It quotes prominent sociology professor Phil Zuckerman’s complaint, “We’ve been studying religious people for years, but there is a huge chunk of humanity who are not religious. Who are they? I would like to study them with the same vigor we study religion.” 

Amen!  Hallelujah!  

This year the Humanist Institute will establish the country’s first master’s program in Humanism, a philosophy substituting human morality and reasoning for belief in the supernatural. A few Sundays back I tried to emphasize compelling 21st century myths and traditions necessary for times never encountered by humankind. Also an Op-Ed piece, brazenly suggested tucking away the Constitution, leave the bible bedside – and consider how eventually machinery replaces even Indian and Chinese workers. Professionals too!.  

The MAJOR quandary of our century? How humans “make a living?” Our planet’s youngsters experience ANY degree of security without adequate medical care and education? To question,  truly MUST be the answer! 

Even lacking a UUFEC  Humanist chapter, secularism’s essential to modern minds. A worldview likely to invigorate even liberal arts education. For that new humanity we ALL share. 

SHALOM 

Humanism is a rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion. Affirming the dignity of each human being, it supports liberty and opportunity consonant with social and planetary responsibility. Free of theism and other supernatural beliefs, humanism thus derives the goals of life from human need and interest other than from theological or ideological abstractions, and asserts that humanity must take responsibility for its own destiny. 

Thus reads the preamble found on the inner cover of each issue of “Humanist” magazine. If you find yourself in agreement, odds are you’re a humanist and may want to identify as one. That’s why we’ll try to bring our chapter, ”Humanists of Greater Fort Walton Beach” back from dormancy. After all, Mack and Ann Piper, our fellowship’s founders, were charter members and card carrying humanists. 

This is NOT a revival of the “Philosophy” group or “Free Thinkers”, and certainly no competition with Alex’s fine following of thinkers and atheists meetings. The re-birthed chapter will likely meet monthly, as determined by its membership. Format, whether an open forum, book discussions, issues activism, or any other activity promoting the humanist life stance; also up to its members. A necessary prerequisite, at least ten individuals must demonstrate interest - which will include signing up as active members of the American Humanist Association.  

Introductory AHA membership’s $35, cut $10 from regular fees. This includes a subscription to the “Humanist”; “Free Mind” (the membership newsletter); special conference and merchandise discounts, and a vote in all AHA elections. UUA has a long association with humanistic thought.  Many signatories to the first “Humanist Manifesto” in 1934 were UU clergy and lay people. So it’s also been with UUFEC.  

I can be reached at u2rhuman@earthlink.net or phone (850) 243-5247.  

SHALOM