Celebrate!
July doesn't seem to be a big time for holidays in the religious world—maybe because just being July is holiday enough! But here are a few holidays from around the world—religious and otherwise—for you to explore.
Click on a link below to find out more about the holiday and how you might celebrate it in your family.
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We Honor… |
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| Unitarians and Unversalists who signed the United States' Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, it's a little hard to know who exactly was or wasn't a Unitarian. John Adams, the second president of the United States, had a lifelong relationship with First Parish Church, Braintree (now Quincy). But that church didn't officially become Unitarian until well into Adams's life. Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the U.S., and the main author of the Declaration of Independence, never joined a Unitarian church, but went to services at the Unitarian church in Philadelphia when he was in town. Jefferson also said that the reason he didn't join a Unitarian church was only because there wasn't one near where he lived. (Guess he needed the CLF!) Benjamin Rush, who was a very famous doctor of his time, as well as a signer of the Declaration, wrote in a number of letters about his Universalist beliefs (that a loving God would not send people to suffer eternally in Hell). He frequently attended a Universalist church where his good friend, Elhanan Winchester was the minister, but never officially joined a Universalist church.
Perhaps what matters the most is that all three of these men who signed the Declaration of Independence, and who played such an important role in the early history of the United States of America, were dedicated to thinking carefully about their religious beliefs rather than simply accepting what was given to them. This questioning attitude is still an important part of who we are as Unitarian Universalists today. |
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Nurturing Your Spirit
Here's a simple way to center down and get quiet inside that works especially well for starting family or small group worship. Find a bell or chime that rings for as long as possible—a chime that you strike or a Tibetan singing bowl is ideal. Have everyone close their eyes as one person rings the chime or bell. Then listen as hard as you can for when the ringing actually stops. If you listen closely, you might find that it goes on for a lot longer than you would imagine. When you can no longer hear the ringing at all, just open your eyes.
If you don't have a bell or chime, you can use this one on-line
Or, if you'd like to just sit quietly and listen to the sound of a singing bowl, try these audio files. |
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Practicing the Principles
This month, as many of us are celebrating Independence Day in the United States, seems like a perfect time to explore our fifth UU principle:
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
This principle means that people should be able to make free choices based on what they feel inside to be true and right, and that every person should have a vote on issues that affect them.
The principle talks about having a vote and choosing based on what you think is right in congregations and nations, but does this principle apply to family life as well? Maybe, maybe not. In most families, the parents just get to decide on a lot of issues. Kids can't vote to take a cruise to Hawaii for vacation instead of going to a nearby campground—at least not unless they're paying for it! But there are ways that families can practice the democratic process—and times that kids can ask that the democratic process be used.
There are some family matters that can be worked out by voting. And for some issues it may be even better to work on using a consensus process. Consensus means that everyone shares their ideas, and that everyone comes to a shared agreement about a solution. Unlike voting, sometimes a consensus decision is different—and maybe better for everyone—than the original choices. In voting everyone says which of two (or maybe a few) choices they prefer. In consensus you work toward agreement, taking time to hear everyone's point of view. Everyone tries to find a solution that works for all the people, but if the group is heading toward a decision that is against the conscience of any member of the group (that "right of conscience") then any one person can stop that decision being made. Getting to consensus often takes longer than voting, so it isn't great for all decisions, but it can also lead to more creative solutions which everyone feels better about.
Try using consensus process—or voting—in your family to decide:
- What kind of pizza to order
- Who will do which chores and when
- What to do on a family outing
- What movie to watch for a family video night
- What charity(ies) the family will donate money to
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Ask CLiF
Ask CLiF any questions you have about religion or living
a good life
Dear CLiF,
Who was Jesus?
That’s a really interesting question—and one which different people would answer in different ways. Certainly Jesus was a Jewish man who lived over 2000 years ago, and traveled around the ancient Middle East telling stories and saying that all people should be treated equally, and that the way to love God was by treating all people with love and compassion. Some people think he performed miracles, including healing people by touching them. Some people think that he was the only son of God. Some people think that Jesus in some mystical way was the same as God, but different. Most Unitarian Universalists think of Jesus as a great religious teacher whose words have challenged us and inspired us across the centuries, but some would say that they have an ongoing relationship with Jesus, as his spirit continues to live on. What do you think?
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