Earth-based Religions

Livin on the Edge

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In the Talmud in the tractate Brachot (Blessings), the rabbis raise the question of what is meant by the mishnaic statement “ha oseh tefilato keva, ain tefilato tachanunim – the one who makes his prayer fixed, his prayer is not one of supplication.” One explanation given is that our prayer lacks supplication when it is not done “eem dimdumei chama – with the reddening of the sun.” While on a peshat level the rabbis may be referring to the need for one to be earnest in his or her prayer in order for it to be supplicatory, I think there may be another level to their words. Perhaps here the rabbis are also emphasizing the importance of being awake to the daily moments of transition, of remaining grounded in ourselves through the discomfort of not knowing what will come next and the fear of no longer being rooted to where we once were. Like the gradual shift as the sun reddens and night gives way to day and day to night, praying eem dimdumei chama may be being offered as a daily practice for us to remain present, conscious, and grounded through life’s changes.

Christianity

Lawsuit threatened over atheist city council member

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Did you know that seven states have laws barring atheists from holding political office? I learned this while reading about newly elected Asheville, NC councilman and atheist Cecil Bothwell — both he and the city may face a lawsuit because of his lack of belief in God. Article 6, section 8 of the NC state constitution reads, “The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the Almighty God.” While constitutional experts say the law is not enforceable Bothwell may have to defend himself from civil lawsuits. Bothwell is a Unitarian Universalist who celebrates Christmas and is not opposed to the council praying before its meetings.

Christianity

The Current Rise of the Religious Left = Back to Normal

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Despite its recent prominence, the religious right is only about thirty years old, while the religious left has a genealogy that stretches back more than two centuries. In every generation people of faith have brought their bodies and spirits to the causes of human freedom, racial and gender equality, economic solidarity, and global peace. Catholics and Calvinists, theological liberals and evangelicals, adherents of indigenous spiritualities and immigrants of every faith have worked to extend the radical vision of the American Revolution to all peoples. More here, from “The Religious Left: an Old Tradition for a New Day” in the Unitarian Universalist magazine. Saying the Religious Left only stretches back “more than two centuries” is a little thin, when one thinks of Cromwell’s Ironsides who cut off the king’s head, or the Anabaptists of the 16th century, or the medieval Cathars and Hussites and so on.

Christianity

MLK's God on the Phone Forum tonight! And check out our MP3s of previous ones

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Well, God isn’t personally appearing so far as I know. But we’ll be talking about God as understood by MLK. We will hear insights based on new scholarship, and his theology will very likely surprise you. Almost every Monday night I interview a Tikkun author. Last Monday my guest was the remarkable writer and psychotherapist Kim Chernin, whose article “The Long Path Out of Denial: Zionism, Heartache, and a New Vision of Israel and Palestine” is in the current Tikkun print magazine.

Culture

"Quest" Mentoring, Not Spiritual Direction

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We’ve started a new program named “Quest” at First Unitarian Society (FUS). FUS created Quest in order to help members who want it to develop a deeper commitment to their spiritual journey. Some of the introductory writings about the program describe it as “a journey toward wholeness, holiness, and peace.” It’s a very exciting two-year “pilgrimage,” and I’m blessed to be a part of it as a mentor to two women who are participants. Today one of my partners contacted me.

Culture

Ken Burns/Dayton Duncan: The National Parks–America's Best Idea. See it!!

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A pleasure of doing this blog is the people who write in suggesting ideas and then make good on them. Last week someone I don’t know emailed me with the above heading and the suggestion that we should cover it on Tikkun Daily because “Spiritual Progressives can draw sustenance from it.” I asked him if he could write a post explaining why. Here it is, in three parts, with our thanks, from Jan Garrett, who is a (nearly) life-long Unitarian Universalist and a professor of philosophy at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green KY. I
Like many others in this country, last week I spent my evenings watching “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” directed by Ken Burns and co-produced by Dayton Duncan, on my local public television network.

Culture

Coming Out Day

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Sunday we’re celebrating “Coming Out Day” at First Unitarian in Madison, and I’ve been asked to tell my coming out story. Compared to many, mine is pretty painless. It’s a story of ignorance, invisibility, and ultimately of the ability to pass. You see, I’m a bisexual woman in a committed heterosexual relationship. I grew up in a small town in Upstate New York.

Earth-based Religions

Baking Cakes for the Queen of Heaven

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Teaching the “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” curriculum (and blogging about it) lit a fire under me. The title of the course refers to a story told in the book of Jeremiah. This week I finally recorded the song I wrote about this tale on YouTube. Now others can learn the tune and sing it in their “Cakes” classes. [youtube: video=”m7Mv5bxeDEo&feature=channel_page”]
If you don’t know the story, here’s a synopsis: Jeremiah rants and rails against the Queen of Heaven, telling the people that worshipping Her is a betrayal of YHWH.

Culture

Sarah, the Priestess

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As I told you a few weeks back, the “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” curriculum empowers women in remarkable ways. During last night’s class I discovered that it sometimes empowers in different ways at the same time. Our reading for the evening was a compelling story — the attempted sacrifice of Isaac by his father Abraham (Genesis 22). As told in the Bible, this tale contains no mention of Isaac’s mother Sarah. Instead YHVH tells Abraham to demonstrate his loyalty by making a ritual offering of his one-and-only child.