Guilty As Charged
Sermon given at Brookfield Unitarian Universalist Church
September 7, 2014
Rev. Craig M. Nowak
Are you a Unitarian Universalist? How do you plead? How solid is the case for or against your conviction?
It is perhaps difficult for us to imagine being put on trial for our religious beliefs, affiliation or practice. The Unitarian Universalist Association, of which BUUC is a member congregation, does not charge nor try it congregations, clergy or seminary professors for heresy as the Southern Baptist seminary professor accused of universalism was in our reading today.
That’s not to say our religious forbears were not charged, tried, and convicted of being heretics. Indeed some, like Michael Servetus in the 16th century who challenged Calvinist doctrine, most notably, the theology concerning the Trinity and Norbert Capek, who spoke and acted against the Nazis in the 20th century, become martyrs for the faith we call Unitarian Universalism today.
I think it safe to assume, few, if any or us, aspire to be martyrs..and if you do, you and I should probably have a chat. Still, I do think it is worthwhile to reflect now and then on the question of whether or not there is sufficient evidence to charge and convict us of being Unitarian Universalists.
Statistics repeatedly show a significant number of people identity as Unitarian Universalist in the United States, in fact, many times more than the official count given by the Unitarian Universalist Association which uses data supplied by congregations to estimate the number of Unitarian Universalists. Undoubtedly some of this is explained by the popularity of websites like Beliefnet which happens to feature something called the belief O matic, a nifty little online quiz that tries to match seekers with a religion based on a person’s responses to a series of questions.
I’ve taken the belief o matic quiz and low and behold it suggested I was a Unitarian Universalist. And this makes sense to me when I consider some of the hallmarks of liberal religion of which Unitarian Universalism is a part. most notably, freedom, reason and tolerance. Let’s for a moment, consider each in the context of Unitarian Universalism starting with freedom.
Unitarian Universalism is an heretical faith. This is actually a badge of honor rather than a source of shame for the word heresy comes from the Greek meaning “to choose.” Indeed, UUism has often been called a “chosen faith”. UUism affords its members the freedom to choose their beliefs and exercise the right of conscience in that choosing. This freedom to choose is far reaching and applies not only to one’s beliefs and theology but to congregational affairs including church leadership and the minister. The freedom afforded UUs is not a license to say or do anything one wants at the expense of the others, but a tool intended by our forbears to both encourage and empower people to venture into the depths of their convictions and ideals.
Once in the depths, UUs are asked to test and refine what their convictions and ideals through the use of reason and the wisdom of experience. UUs are not asked to dutifully ascent to the faith claims of others without being able to explore and examine those claims, nor are UUs excused from exploring and examining their own faith claims.
Tolerance is Unitarian Universalism’s call for humility lest the mind and spirit become hardened by too rigid an application of reason or experience. The ideal or principle of tolerance asks us to remain open to and honor life’s diversity (including human diversity) and mystery (a willingness to admit what we don’t or can’t know/prove using empirical data). It continually calls us back to lives devoted to the discovery and service of truth rather than the mere accumulation of facts.
Freedom, reason and tolerance. I have to assume the answers I provided on the belief O matic quiz indicated a high level of resonance with these aspects of liberal religion in order for it to suggest I’m a Unitarian Universalist. And its true these aspects of liberal religion, especially in the context of UUism, resonate deeply with me. Indeed, it is one of the reasons I first visited a UU church many years ago. But is personal resonance with Unitarian Universalist principles and ideals alone what makes someone a Unitarian Universalist? Would that alone be grounds enough to charge let along convict one of being a UU?
Our presence here today in this sanctuary is probably enough to at least get each of us charged. No doubt, some of you would have the charges dropped once it is determined you’re visiting us for the first time or “church shopping” as they say. Sure you recited the Affirmation and maybe sang a couple of hymns but that’s probably not enough to convince a jury at this point.
Those of us still under suspicion would then likely be questioned as to our beliefs. Now as I noted earlier one of the hallmarks of Unitarian Universalism is freedom to choose which includes the right of each UU to determine his or her own theological beliefs. Thus UU’s hold quite divergent theological beliefs and draw from many sources to formulate and refine those beliefs. Of course having a theology informed by many sources and experiences hardly makes one a UU. Anyone can do it, really and increasingly, with the rise of the “nones”, people who grew up with no religious affiliation at all, building one’s own theology is becoming the norm rather than the exception.
Besides, “having the right beliefs”, Robert Walsh reminds us, “ is not enough...to bring in a guilty verdict.”
Walsh is right, of course. Beliefs and this would include resonance with certain ideals or principles are not enough. Merely holding certain beliefs or finding resonance with certain ideals does not make one an adherent of those beliefs or ideas. At best it makes one a sympathizer. It makes me think of the relative or friend we all seem to have who quite freely and passionately expresses their political opinions but doesn’t bother to vote. Its almost jarring, creating a sense of disconnect and leaving one unsure as to where a person really stands or if they really believe what they say.
This is why the seminary professor in our reading was acquitted. He harbored noble thoughts and made lofty claims but in the end they remained just that...noble thoughts and lofty claims...a sort of private religion...bound to nothing...accountable to no one.
“Beliefs, no matter how noble”, writes Walsh, “must be embodied in a living institution or they will have no convicting power.”
With this simple observation, Walsh makes a case for religion both its organization and practice. Though there is hardly consensus on the precise etymology of the word religion, some claim that it comes from a Latin root meaning to bind. And this is what Walsh is getting at in our reading. Religion is a way of binding people together for a common purpose. In most religious traditions people are bound by shared belief often expressed as a creed and the church provides a place and means to explore and live informed by that belief.
UU’s are not bound by a common belief or creed, but by a covenant, a solemn promise we make to one another to encourage and empower one another to discern, test and practice our beliefs and values. It is hard to overestimate the significance of this distinction as a defining characteristic of Unitarian Universalism. The congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association covenant with one another...this is the aspirational statement that includes the seven principles and sources of our faith. And each congregation has its own covenant. Covenantal relationships provides the necessary support to engage and ponder questionable certainties and faithful doubts. They are a means of holding one another accountable, providing parameters for the exercise of freedom of choice, reason and tolerance.
Our BUUC covenant provides the framework in which we discern, embody, and practice not only our individual beliefs, but the aspirations expressed in our Unitarian Universalist principles, congregational mission, and affirmation. It reads:
As we share our lives in this place of blessed community, we promise to unite in an atmosphere of care and support, provide a spiritual home for ourselves and our children, and work together in our search for truth and caring ways to be in community with each other both within and beyond these walls. We seek to embody a welcoming community of
CARING SUPPORT and SERVICE
We therefore promise to:
Treat each other with respect, trust, and compassion.
Actively listen to all points of view on important issues.
Create an open environment for nonjudgmental participation.
Honor dissenting views, agreeing to disagree.
Make decisions with as much participation as possible.
Accept that we will make mistakes. Forgive each other and move on.
Express gratitude for the efforts of others.
Work together to live by our Covenant.
Try to the best of our ability to live by our Unitarian Universalist Principles and Purposes, affirming our tradition of service and justice for all.
Our covenant calls us to community, to that place, in the words of Rudolph Nemser, where we “find what we cannot find alone...do what cannot by ourselves...affirm challenges, sorrows, tasks, joys...not ours only.” A place “where truth acknowledged we’d never left, home.” Paradoxically it is in community that we are best able to discover and practice who and how we are and where we stand as individuals...to know and inhabit our center. Today on this opening Sunday, we are called back to community...that we may know and inhabit our center.
“If they are going to pin Unitarian Universalism on me,” writes Robert Walsh, “they will have to be able to show that I participated and supported a Unitarian Universalist Church. That is the only way to be sure.”
There are many ways to participate and support a Unitarian Universalist church...showing up for worship...participating in its ministries and outreach, pledging, volunteering and of course the one thing that encompasses all of this and more... living into its covenant...thus ensuring the transformation of noble beliefs and lofty ideals into lives lived with purpose and conviction as Unitarian Universalists. Lives that aim to affirm what is good, confront that which is evil and unjust both within and outside ourselves; lives buoyed by hope and tempered with humility; lives that, as our Unitarian forbear, William Ellery Channing once remarked, “preach more loudly than our lips.” And I would add, our thoughts and beliefs.
This is the charge of we who call ourselves Unitarian Universalists. May we ensure we are worthy of conviction…no acquittal, but guilty as charged.
Amen and Blessed Be
(c) Rev. Craig M. Nowak
Sermon given at Brookfield Unitarian Universalist Church
September 7, 2014
Rev. Craig M. Nowak
Are you a Unitarian Universalist? How do you plead? How solid is the case for or against your conviction?
It is perhaps difficult for us to imagine being put on trial for our religious beliefs, affiliation or practice. The Unitarian Universalist Association, of which BUUC is a member congregation, does not charge nor try it congregations, clergy or seminary professors for heresy as the Southern Baptist seminary professor accused of universalism was in our reading today.
That’s not to say our religious forbears were not charged, tried, and convicted of being heretics. Indeed some, like Michael Servetus in the 16th century who challenged Calvinist doctrine, most notably, the theology concerning the Trinity and Norbert Capek, who spoke and acted against the Nazis in the 20th century, become martyrs for the faith we call Unitarian Universalism today.
I think it safe to assume, few, if any or us, aspire to be martyrs..and if you do, you and I should probably have a chat. Still, I do think it is worthwhile to reflect now and then on the question of whether or not there is sufficient evidence to charge and convict us of being Unitarian Universalists.
Statistics repeatedly show a significant number of people identity as Unitarian Universalist in the United States, in fact, many times more than the official count given by the Unitarian Universalist Association which uses data supplied by congregations to estimate the number of Unitarian Universalists. Undoubtedly some of this is explained by the popularity of websites like Beliefnet which happens to feature something called the belief O matic, a nifty little online quiz that tries to match seekers with a religion based on a person’s responses to a series of questions.
I’ve taken the belief o matic quiz and low and behold it suggested I was a Unitarian Universalist. And this makes sense to me when I consider some of the hallmarks of liberal religion of which Unitarian Universalism is a part. most notably, freedom, reason and tolerance. Let’s for a moment, consider each in the context of Unitarian Universalism starting with freedom.
Unitarian Universalism is an heretical faith. This is actually a badge of honor rather than a source of shame for the word heresy comes from the Greek meaning “to choose.” Indeed, UUism has often been called a “chosen faith”. UUism affords its members the freedom to choose their beliefs and exercise the right of conscience in that choosing. This freedom to choose is far reaching and applies not only to one’s beliefs and theology but to congregational affairs including church leadership and the minister. The freedom afforded UUs is not a license to say or do anything one wants at the expense of the others, but a tool intended by our forbears to both encourage and empower people to venture into the depths of their convictions and ideals.
Once in the depths, UUs are asked to test and refine what their convictions and ideals through the use of reason and the wisdom of experience. UUs are not asked to dutifully ascent to the faith claims of others without being able to explore and examine those claims, nor are UUs excused from exploring and examining their own faith claims.
Tolerance is Unitarian Universalism’s call for humility lest the mind and spirit become hardened by too rigid an application of reason or experience. The ideal or principle of tolerance asks us to remain open to and honor life’s diversity (including human diversity) and mystery (a willingness to admit what we don’t or can’t know/prove using empirical data). It continually calls us back to lives devoted to the discovery and service of truth rather than the mere accumulation of facts.
Freedom, reason and tolerance. I have to assume the answers I provided on the belief O matic quiz indicated a high level of resonance with these aspects of liberal religion in order for it to suggest I’m a Unitarian Universalist. And its true these aspects of liberal religion, especially in the context of UUism, resonate deeply with me. Indeed, it is one of the reasons I first visited a UU church many years ago. But is personal resonance with Unitarian Universalist principles and ideals alone what makes someone a Unitarian Universalist? Would that alone be grounds enough to charge let along convict one of being a UU?
Our presence here today in this sanctuary is probably enough to at least get each of us charged. No doubt, some of you would have the charges dropped once it is determined you’re visiting us for the first time or “church shopping” as they say. Sure you recited the Affirmation and maybe sang a couple of hymns but that’s probably not enough to convince a jury at this point.
Those of us still under suspicion would then likely be questioned as to our beliefs. Now as I noted earlier one of the hallmarks of Unitarian Universalism is freedom to choose which includes the right of each UU to determine his or her own theological beliefs. Thus UU’s hold quite divergent theological beliefs and draw from many sources to formulate and refine those beliefs. Of course having a theology informed by many sources and experiences hardly makes one a UU. Anyone can do it, really and increasingly, with the rise of the “nones”, people who grew up with no religious affiliation at all, building one’s own theology is becoming the norm rather than the exception.
Besides, “having the right beliefs”, Robert Walsh reminds us, “ is not enough...to bring in a guilty verdict.”
Walsh is right, of course. Beliefs and this would include resonance with certain ideals or principles are not enough. Merely holding certain beliefs or finding resonance with certain ideals does not make one an adherent of those beliefs or ideas. At best it makes one a sympathizer. It makes me think of the relative or friend we all seem to have who quite freely and passionately expresses their political opinions but doesn’t bother to vote. Its almost jarring, creating a sense of disconnect and leaving one unsure as to where a person really stands or if they really believe what they say.
This is why the seminary professor in our reading was acquitted. He harbored noble thoughts and made lofty claims but in the end they remained just that...noble thoughts and lofty claims...a sort of private religion...bound to nothing...accountable to no one.
“Beliefs, no matter how noble”, writes Walsh, “must be embodied in a living institution or they will have no convicting power.”
With this simple observation, Walsh makes a case for religion both its organization and practice. Though there is hardly consensus on the precise etymology of the word religion, some claim that it comes from a Latin root meaning to bind. And this is what Walsh is getting at in our reading. Religion is a way of binding people together for a common purpose. In most religious traditions people are bound by shared belief often expressed as a creed and the church provides a place and means to explore and live informed by that belief.
UU’s are not bound by a common belief or creed, but by a covenant, a solemn promise we make to one another to encourage and empower one another to discern, test and practice our beliefs and values. It is hard to overestimate the significance of this distinction as a defining characteristic of Unitarian Universalism. The congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association covenant with one another...this is the aspirational statement that includes the seven principles and sources of our faith. And each congregation has its own covenant. Covenantal relationships provides the necessary support to engage and ponder questionable certainties and faithful doubts. They are a means of holding one another accountable, providing parameters for the exercise of freedom of choice, reason and tolerance.
Our BUUC covenant provides the framework in which we discern, embody, and practice not only our individual beliefs, but the aspirations expressed in our Unitarian Universalist principles, congregational mission, and affirmation. It reads:
As we share our lives in this place of blessed community, we promise to unite in an atmosphere of care and support, provide a spiritual home for ourselves and our children, and work together in our search for truth and caring ways to be in community with each other both within and beyond these walls. We seek to embody a welcoming community of
CARING SUPPORT and SERVICE
We therefore promise to:
Treat each other with respect, trust, and compassion.
Actively listen to all points of view on important issues.
Create an open environment for nonjudgmental participation.
Honor dissenting views, agreeing to disagree.
Make decisions with as much participation as possible.
Accept that we will make mistakes. Forgive each other and move on.
Express gratitude for the efforts of others.
Work together to live by our Covenant.
Try to the best of our ability to live by our Unitarian Universalist Principles and Purposes, affirming our tradition of service and justice for all.
Our covenant calls us to community, to that place, in the words of Rudolph Nemser, where we “find what we cannot find alone...do what cannot by ourselves...affirm challenges, sorrows, tasks, joys...not ours only.” A place “where truth acknowledged we’d never left, home.” Paradoxically it is in community that we are best able to discover and practice who and how we are and where we stand as individuals...to know and inhabit our center. Today on this opening Sunday, we are called back to community...that we may know and inhabit our center.
“If they are going to pin Unitarian Universalism on me,” writes Robert Walsh, “they will have to be able to show that I participated and supported a Unitarian Universalist Church. That is the only way to be sure.”
There are many ways to participate and support a Unitarian Universalist church...showing up for worship...participating in its ministries and outreach, pledging, volunteering and of course the one thing that encompasses all of this and more... living into its covenant...thus ensuring the transformation of noble beliefs and lofty ideals into lives lived with purpose and conviction as Unitarian Universalists. Lives that aim to affirm what is good, confront that which is evil and unjust both within and outside ourselves; lives buoyed by hope and tempered with humility; lives that, as our Unitarian forbear, William Ellery Channing once remarked, “preach more loudly than our lips.” And I would add, our thoughts and beliefs.
This is the charge of we who call ourselves Unitarian Universalists. May we ensure we are worthy of conviction…no acquittal, but guilty as charged.
Amen and Blessed Be
(c) Rev. Craig M. Nowak
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