Timely Unitarian History Lesson

Dec 19, 2023 | News

In times of unrest and disagreement it is comforting to know that these times are not unique.  We have been challenged by different understanding and goals of our religious organizations in the past and in the present.

In this NAUA Academy video, Kevin McCulloch, details the transcendentalist critique of historical Christianity that created a rift in the Unitarian church. Although the National Conference of Unitarian Churches was founded in 1865, it took nearly 30 years for the conference participants to reach consensus on a statement that defined what it meant to be a Unitarian. 

Blessed are the Peackeepers

Dec 12, 2023 | News, Peace

The recent events in Palestine/Israel and in the Ukraine gives us shocking awareness of the need for peace making. These type of long lived national and tribal warfare are an all too familiar component of our human history.  However, we know from experiences in Bosnia, South Africa, Peru and elsewhere that long standing grievances and wars can be resolved. 

This 12 minute episode from CBC News features interviews with professionals peace makers as well as  leading politicians who have led their countries out of very long standing grievances and wars.  

The video is an adaptation of the 60 minute from the CBC Ideas podcast  Inventing Peace.

Parliament of the World’s Religions

Dec 5, 2023 | News

A recording of the Nov. 2023 NAUA Academy Session is now available.

“We accept all Religions as Truth” are the words spoken by Swami Vivekananda at the founding of the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1893 in Chicago. Our speaker is Bruce Knotts, a Trustee of the Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Bruce discusses the founding and history of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, as well as its Mission to create and cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities, foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a just, peaceful and sustainable world. This same sentiment is reflected in the 6th Principle of Unitarian Universalism, ”the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all”.  

Online Communities – Good enough?

Nov 28, 2023 | News

The link from this page is to the recording of a recent service at UUSpokane. This regular service is not an NAUA event, but given the need in the NAUA and all distributed organizations to create and sustain online communities, I hope it will be of interest. I also am at risk of “blowing my own horn” in that I (Terry Anderson) was the speaker.

The talk is entitled Online and Offline Community – Building Effective, Sustainable and Enjoyable Religious Communities. I overview the ways that religious communities are using the internet to support a variety of personal and ritualized interaction designed to support and build  community.

The service recording is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4aSlnYt5tY  The talk begins at approx. minute 28 of this recording.

Tributes to Rev. Dr. Finley C. Campbell

Nov 21, 2023 | News

In this special issue of UUMUAC”s View from the Mountaintop 11 friends provide memories and pictures of  Rev. Dr Finley C. Campbell, 

Rev Campbell was the founder of the Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unity Action Council. (UUMUAC) 

Finley’s principled anti-racism, so thoroughly uncompromising, led him to an understanding that is still not grasped by many people: that racism in many forms globally is the obstacle that holds back all social progress. 

He fought for multi-racial unity against racism and all other forms of economic, political, social, and cultural discrimination. His work bore fruit, not just in UUMUAC, but in the tens of thousands who have been directly and indirectly influenced by his work and who, in turn, will carry that forward. 

He leaves a hole in the hearts and minds of all who knew him.