I am a retired Unitarian Universalist minister who wishes to make available for those interested sermons, memorial services, editorials etc. Please credit if you use or forward with Copyright 2013 by Rev. Robert M. Eddy, Minister Emeritus, Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola, FL
I’ve just finished reading The Language GOD Talks: On Science and Religion by Herman Wouk. You may remember Wouk as author of The Caine Mutiny and the magisterial novels about WW2 The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, or … Continue reading →
The title is a bit misleading, deliberately. As we were observing the 150th anniversary of the beginning of America’s most costly war (at least 250,000 dead) I examine whether any war can be “civil” in the sense of respectful of one’s adversary. Write me directly if you would like to discuss this.
Continue reading →UUism is certainly not hostile to the best in Christianity as exemplified in the authentic life of Jesus of Nazareth and in millions of his followers. Some of us here accept the answer the greatest Christian theologians give to the great questions but not all. Some of here accept the answers some great Buddhist teachers give to the great questions. Some of us here accept the answers some of the great Greek philosophers or modern philosophers give to the great questions – but not all. As a group we accept no theologian’s or philosopher’s answers. If we did share a common religion or philosophy we would not be UU’s. Diversity is essential to the uu way of being religious. It is not answers that unite us, but the questions we consider most important and the methods of seeking answers. That’s why we recite a covenant each Sunday rather than a creed.
There is no “really real” there are only useful and non useful metaphors, models and maps! That’s frightful to nearly everybody: No firm ground to stand upon, nothing; It’s just metaphors all the way down; nothing, nada, zilch.
Can you live with that? Can you live with the conviction that “there is no ‘there’ out there?” I can and many others have since Job first recognized that we humans cannot know the purposes – if any – of the putative creator and sustainer of the universe. We are like the flea on a dog trying to understand the dog. Or better yet the fleas’ fleas. Or the fleas’ fleas’ fleas. Remember the old verse,
“Dogs have fleas,
and fleas have fleas,
upon their backs to bite them.
And they in turn have smaller fleas
And so ad infinitum.”
“Ad infinitum” meaning without end.
I tell you friends, it’s not fleas, or turtles or subatomic particles, it’s metaphors, models and maps all the way down.
Continue reading →People who suffer from malfunctioning brains are still people. The higher brain functions are not a definition of living. In fact, it would be better if we gave up the words “normal” and “impaired” when talking about brain functioning. As the mother of an autistic child suggested some time ago the words, “common” and “quirky” are more useful. Many people on what is now called the “autism spectrum” have astonishing brain power not exhibited in “common” people. Oliver Sacks in his many books has introduced us to many of these people.
The fact is that the aging process may be altering our brains in ways that put us in touch with possibilities that we could not experience when we were younger. And we don’t need an iron rod or a massive stroke to get in touch with them.”
The saying, ” As a man is, so he thinks” is attributed to William Blake on the 2006 Zen Calendar (May 27th) but a google search indicates it was formulated by Josiah Royce in 1882. Royce, – in his own … Continue reading →
Krista Tippett’s second book is not exactly a collection of transcripts from her weekly PBS program “Speaking of Faith.” It’s better than that. The introductory essay which begins, “The science-religion ‘ dabate’ is unwinnable, and it has led us … Continue reading →
Between strident theism and equally strident atheism, apatheism offers a third way. Maybe there are gods, maybe there aren’t; it doesn’t seem to matter. Both the roots and fruits of a good life are measured by laughter among friends, love among families, and serving compassionate values that can grant us, as the gods used to do a purposeful and satisfying life—here and now, rather than elsewhere and later.
Continue reading →If not morality, perhaps prudence will convince us that, as Quakers teach, “War is not the answer.”
Continue reading →EDED100102 Last Sunday I was scheduled to speak on “Why I am Still a Pacifist” at the UU Fellowship of Panama City, FL. but I actually addressed the question “Is President Obama a Pacifist?” Of course, he’s not. As Obama … Continue reading →