tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52599500090816036422024-03-13T16:29:23.500+00:00A Dissenting Voice.A British Unitarian shares his views on all manner of religious, social and political issues. Unconventional and honest.Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-15930426130170962762012-09-12T10:26:00.001+01:002012-09-12T10:29:27.630+01:00Perceptions.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament relates His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night after night sheweth knowledge. </b><br />
<b> There is no speech nor language; Their voice cannot be heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."</b> Psalm 19:1-4<br />
<br />
It has certainly been some while since I last posted something, as life has become increasingly busy over the past few months. I have recently extended my working hours which have necessitated a very early start. As can be imagined this certainly has some downsides but it also has given me opportunities for reflection. There is something quite unique about the pre-dawn and immediately post-dawn time of day. The peace and tranquillity so very evident, and the stirring of life with a sense of excitement and anticipation steadily growing. All of this is often framed by beautiful vistas as the sun begins to light up the heavens, and the landscape accepts its first tentative rays, whilst gentle mists hug the fields and trees like the most ethereal of blankets. The soul is elevated and filled with an awe at seeing this, which drives one to express gratitude to the Divine for the gift of simply being alive. <br />
<br />
Popular monotheism and classical physics have shaped the way we view the world quite profoundly. On viewing the beauty of the night sky; a sunrise/sunset; the immense power of a thunderstorm or the destructive violence of a tornado, hurricane or earthquake, we tend to think of ourselves as observers looking at a scene, whose Artist is also thought of as a creative observer. It is as if we and God are outside the cosmos looking in. Both ourselves and God removed from the subject observed. Classical physics has contributed to this with its view of creation as consisting of separate and individual 'bits' interacting with each other to produce all the effects of nature, with humanity being able to observe it without affecting it. Popular monotheism, with its single God, 'up there somewhere' views God as the architect who gazes down on His creation from a lofty vantage point, and who, in orthodox Christianity, even had to become literally flesh and blood in order to dwell here amongst us in the world. This has and will continue to satisfy many, but it does not speak well to me.<br />
<br />
While classical physics has proven to be one of the most successful conceptual models in human history, it does not really tell the whole story. Quantum physics (a subject on which I openly admit to being a complete novice) has been steadily revealing a new way to understand the fundamental nature of reality. In the book '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wholeness-Implicate-Routledge-Classics-ebook/dp/B000PLXCKE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1347436196&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Wholeness and the Implicate Order</a>', by the late quantum physicist David Bohm, and in the lectures of the British quantum physicist Basil Hiley you find a view of reality that is rooted in wholeness, in unity, where all phenomena are manifestations of an underlying unified movement. Separation, distance, subject vs object are useful at a certain level, but are ultimately illusory. The main analogy used is that of a stream of water, in which there are many ripples and eddies in the movement of the water. These ripples and eddies are not at all separate from the water that surrounds them, but are born from, intrinsic to, and shaped by, the collective flow of the river. They are an expression of the overall flow.<br />
<br />
With that understanding in mind, we can look at the world quite differently. When I experience the exquisiteness of dawn, I am not viewing a scene that is separate from myself. Both myself and the sky glowing with the sun's warming light; both myself and the mist-enfolded landscape; both myself and the stirring life are not separate or distant, but are manifestations of a greater wholeness, and closer to each other than is imaginable. Just as with the holographic image, in which every part of the image is encoded in every part of the photographic plate, so I and that which I view are at a fundamental level rooted in the underlying unity. Existence is a process of unfolding and manifesting that concealed flowing unity and both ourselves and that which we view are part of that stream of movement.<br />
<br />
This way of perceiving has practical benefits. When I view the gentleness and beauty of the landscape, I know that I too can find gentleness and beauty within me for we come from the same source. When I see the strength of the wild beasts, I too know that such notions of strength are within me. We can learn so much about ourselves and the path we should walk from studying everything we see and experience. Nature and experience as well as Scripture and the example of Jesus are revelations. Indeed Jesus himself taught that people should consider the lily of the field or the birds of the air to better know how to live.<br />
<br />
And what of God? Do we continue to view the Eternal One as the artist or designer who stands apart from Her creation? To maintain that the Omnipresent is limited to 'out there' in some way? For me this is impossible. For me the Implicate Order, the underlying unity, is the first manifestation of the infinite and eternal Unity that is God. To me the cosmos is theophany, an appearance of God. We exist, so to speak, in the mind of God and there is no distance between us and Her. While the essence of the Divine cannot be contained in any part of our world, or even in the whole of it, there is no part devoid of His holy presence. When I view the sunrise I am not looking at a painting separate from myself and created by a distant Artist. I am seeing the presence of God, and in that presence I am seeing myself and everyone, and everything else. A true symphony of Unity.<br />
<br />
"We live in succession, in division in parts in particles. Meantime within man is the soul of the whole; the wise silence; the universal beauty; to which every part and particle is equally related; the eternal One. We see the world piece by piece, as the sun, the moon, the animal, the tree; but the whole, of which these are the shining parts, is the soul." Ralph Waldo Emerson.<br />
<br />Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-13964478677069267602012-06-23T15:38:00.002+01:002012-06-23T15:38:48.501+01:00Midsummer's Future Dream.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven"</b>. Ecclesiastes 3:1<br />
<br />
Something that many people, across the divisions of culture, race and creed, have in common is a distrust if not a fear of change. The majority of us like things to run smoothly and to a certain extent predictably with a minimum of rapid or significant alteration. Religious communities themselves are some of the most resistant to change, fearing that even a small amount may rapidly undo the very foundations of their faith. Some of us may have even been familiar with groups or congregations who resisted change even as they realised that without it they would certainly cease to flourish or even exist. And this verity of human nature is not new, but reaches far back into the mists of human history. Our ancestors were perhaps even more aware of, and fearful of, change and it is therefore not surprising that during those times in the year when one season begins to change into another they created rituals to ward off danger or to secure good fortune for the times to come. Midsummer was one such occasion.<br />
<br />
Midsummer festivals are found in many countries and testify to the power this time of year had on the imagination of countless peoples throughout history. In many European countries these traditions continue to this day, and are perhaps one of a small number of rituals that originate in the times before Christianity inspired the imagination of millions of Europeans, profoundly altering their ways of life. There are many customs associated with this day some unique to individual places and others shared across many borders. Two traditions seem to be widespread, one being the gathering of certain medicinal (magical) flowers and plants (in Galicia where my family originates, the custom is to collect rue, mallow, foxglove, rosemary, St John's Wort and elder, leave them outside in a bowl of water overnight and wash with that water on Midsummer day itself, 24th June) and the other to light bonfires. Fire, believed to purify and destroy evil, was presumably believed to be at its most powerful when its kin, the Sun was at its zenith, and hence fires were lit at this time, to banish away any harm from the growing crops.<br />
<br />
Such customs and observances, and the beliefs that underpinned them, may seem a world away from the lives of many modern, and especially urban people, but I think that Midsummer contains a valuable lesson all can benefit from. At this time of year the sun is at its highest point in the sky, the days are at their longest, and from now on, almost imperceptibly at first, the days get ever shorter as we begin the journey back to the darkness of winter. And yet the bounty of the harvest is yet to come. The warmest weather of the year, the warmest sea temperatures of the year are yet to be felt. Indeed what we think of as quintessentially 'summer' is to be found mostly after the sun's strongest point. (The Cornish say it wonderfully in a proverb of theirs: "Gwave en Have tereha Goluan". Winter in Summer until Midsummer.) The customs of this time testify to the need to "strike while the iron is hot", to utilise periods of blessing wisely to benefit times when things may not be so good.<br />
<br />
Life is not a smooth journey, but like nature itself, has its cycles and seasons. The Bible in Numbers 33 enumerates the 42 encampments of the children of Israel's journey through the wilderness. Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Alter, the founder of the Gerrer Hassidic dynasty pointed out that the names of these encampments allude to journeys and experiences we undergo in our lives. Sometimes we camp at 'Marah' bitterness, sometimes we are in 'Miskan' sweetness. At times we are in 'Makheloth' to congregate, surrounded by friends, and at times we feel that we are at 'B'Kitzei HaMidbar' edge of the wilderness, lonely and isolated. We sometimes reach 'Har Sinai' mount Sinai, where it is easy to grow spiritually and at other times we find ourselves in 'Kibroth-HaTaavah' graves of desire, where we struggle with some of our desires. Each of us walks a journey through the spectrum of moods and emotions.<br />
<br />
There are days in our lives when everything seems to go perfectly. We wake up nice and early, get ready for work with plenty of time, have a delicious breakfast and glide to work without traffic problems or delays in transport. All our efforts succeed and our relationships with people are filled with laughter, happiness and kindness. Then there are those other days, when we wake up late, immediately stub our toes getting out of bed, hampered in getting ready when the children are in an uncooperative mood. We miss our bus or get stuck in traffic. We are reprimanded by our boss or end up losing our purse. Our relationships with people are fraught and tense and we just long for the sanctuary of our beds and sleep. Sometimes these good or bad streaks can last days or even longer, this is the stuff of life; alternating cycles of success and frustration.<br />
<br />
The message of midsummer is to grab hold of those times when things are going well, when the sun of fortune is at its highest and one's life is flooded with the light of success and happiness and to invest effort at these special times for the sake of a better future. During these opportune moments, these auspicious times when life feels blessed, don't squander them, use the positive energy to inspire your personal and spiritual growth. Give more charity, undertake a new study course, burn away the malevolent powers of hatred by reaching out to someone you dislike or whom dislikes you. <br />
<br />
The majority of european Midsummer observances happen on the
traditional anniversary of the birth of John the baptist; 24 June. It is
quite likely that John was for a while (even during the life of Jesus)
an even greater and influential figure than Jesus himself. Josephus
says about him:<br />
<br />
<br />
"Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's
army came
from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against
John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good
man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness
towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to
baptism......[many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very
greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words"<br />
<br />
<br />
The Gospels themselves paint a picture of a hugely influential figure. Even our teacher Jesus is said to have said about John:<br />
<br />
"I say unto you, among them that are born of women there is none greater than John" Luke 7:28<br />
<br />
A
comment so troubling to later Christians that, in the opinion of scholars, they had to add the
qualifying phrase "yet he that is but little in the kingdom of God is
greater than he". <br />
<br />
<br />
John made the most of the unique times and circumstances in which
he lived. A time in history whose circumstances would not be repeated again. And he struck while the iron was hot, and those sparks are still felt today. There is little doubt to me that it was John's message,
proclaimed with such passion, that ignited roaring fires of inspiration
and spirituality in Jesus' heart, and which after John died, shone from
Jesus during both his short but sacred ministry and horrific death and which
continued to burn in the resurrected hearts of his disciples and
followers long afterwards, fires which have continued to illuminate the world to this
very day.<br />
<br />
Nothing lasts forever, for all, but God, is finite.Yet properly utilised there are moments that can be almost alchemistically converted into eternal good for oneself and for the world entire.<br />
<br />
A Blessed Midsummer to you all.<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black;">The hedges are all drowned in
green grass seas,<br />
And bobbing poppies flare like Elmo's light,<br />
While siren-like the pollen-stained bees<br />
Drone in the clover depths. And up the height<br />
The cuckoo's voice is hoarse and broke with joy.<br />
And on the lowland crops the crows make raid,<br />
Nor fear the clappers of the farmer's boy,<br />
Who sleeps, like drunken Noah, in the shade.<br />
<br />
And loop this red rose in that hazel ring<br />
That snares your little ear, for June is short<br />
And we must joy in it and dance and sing.<br />
And from her bounty draw her rosy worth.<br />
Ay! soon the swallows will be flying south,<br />
The wind wheel north to gather in the snow,<br />
Even the roses split on youth's red mouth<br />
Will soon blow down the road all roses go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><i>'June' by Francis Ledwidge </i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">.</span> <br />
<br />Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-85511629877927295852012-06-03T00:27:00.000+01:002012-06-03T00:32:46.251+01:00Jubilee Reflections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfYbpQnCunCf_91yPr2ArPN5W-WFZaYx9T5ZgOegM-OBFNu1B197PMdhfhf_bMG_D2xEc5dHJNNO4iHyQbEm4fLNBkHs48bZeHoPlvhjWATFSuPoojpZfBHVs7EWXDPKYsUYwkaBmu6k/s1600/her_majesty_queen_elizabeth_ii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfYbpQnCunCf_91yPr2ArPN5W-WFZaYx9T5ZgOegM-OBFNu1B197PMdhfhf_bMG_D2xEc5dHJNNO4iHyQbEm4fLNBkHs48bZeHoPlvhjWATFSuPoojpZfBHVs7EWXDPKYsUYwkaBmu6k/s320/her_majesty_queen_elizabeth_ii.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
"<b>Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and you shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family...And the land shall not be sold in perpetuity; for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me, and in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.</b>" Leviticus 25:10. 23<br />
<br />
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee weekend has finally arrived. The streets of our towns and villages, many of our homes and public buildings are festooned with bunting, flags and images of our monarch. There is a genuinely joyful air of excitement as communities make their final preparations for eagerly anticipated street parties and gatherings. Even our recession-gripped economy and the usual rainy threat of our temperamental weather does not seem to be limiting the festive atmosphere. The considerable warmth of regard in which the Queen is held by the British people is evident and as we review the past 60 years of her reign we are reminded of the splendid job she has done.<br />
<br />
It is safe to say that people will only ever see one Diamond Jubilee in their lifetimes. The last one to be held (indeed I believe it was also the first to be held) was Queen Victoria's in 1897. This idea, of a national event occurring only once in the lifetime of people, brings to my mind that other famous Jubilee, the one mentioned in the Biblical text with which I opened. There are I believe some interesting lessons that can be drawn from both.<br />
<br />
So much has changed over the past 60 years in which our Queen has been on the throne! Countries have come and gone. Technology has touched almost every aspect of our lives and has played a large part in reshaping our society. Successive governments have arisen and struggled with the economy, with circumstances and with the opposition, then disappeared into history leaving behind legacies both good and not-so-good. Countless events of the most exquisite joy and the deepest grief have made their presence felt in the lives of millions. And the Queen herself has aged, gained in experience and witnessed both felicity and tragedy in the life of her family and her nation. Those whose own lives have encompassed this span of time can, like the Queen, contemplate the changes they too have seen. Those of us for whom Queen Elizabeth II has been a constant presence in our life, can be made powerfully aware of a time before we existed. What a lesson in impermanence, and what a lesson in humility.<br />
<br />
The Yovel (Jubilee) year of the Bible, which was to be observed in the Land of Israel every 50 years would have carried several lessons. The weekly Sabbath rest, the once every 7 year sabbatical rest of the land together with the effectively once in a lifetime Jubilee observance would explicitly illustrate the words "the land is mine, you are strangers and sojourners with me". This world and everything in it, excepting the choices we make, belong to the Eternal. It is not unreasonable to see ourselves, including queens and presidents, as characters (deeply important ones however) in a single chapter in a very long book held in Divine hands. The Owner of this Book of Life is also its Author and can be found in every page and every character. The humility this should engender extends unto the monarch who is as much a stranger and sojourner in this world as the citizens over which he/she rules. This particular idea embodies the radical and revolutionary power of monotheism, which challenged the ancient pagan deification of the status quo. It forces, in the words of Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, "a radical split between God and the people, the God of the Israelites is not only the God of the Israelites but of everyone. His power extends not only over their territory, but everywhere". The monotheistic idea takes a stand against all absolute rulers who claim to be god, child of the gods or chief intercessor with the gods. It demythologises and secularises power. In time with this vision monarchies were toppled or in the case of our own, reformed and restricted.<br />
<br />
The Yovel also teaches us of our position vis-a-vis the earth itself. The Bible, unlike the Code of Hammurabi or the legal works of other ancient middle-eastern societies, is unique in containing laws regarding animal welfare or regarding the welfare of land and flora. (Those other ancient law codes did contain similar legislation but in every case it was only about the financial loss to owners such damage would cause, not about the animal or plant itself.) To the Near Eastern pagan religions in which the gods are the forces in nature, nature and its forces are seen as separate from humans, on a different plane of existence to be appeased and appealed to. In Biblical religion nature and humanity, both equally created by one Divine mind, are all on the same plane of existence, and being part of nature, we become responsible for it to the Being that created it. What will our world be like when the next Diamond Jubilee occurs? Would we have discharged our obligation to the land and to our environment? <br />
<br />
No one can have failed to notice the community aspect of our current celebrations. Even those thoughtful people who are opposed to monarchy and who wish our country to be a republic, do generally appreciate the 'coming together' such an event is bringing about. I happen to think this is one of the prime values of our monarchy; that our head of state, who symbolises the history and splendour of our nation, is above the divisive nature of our inestimable democratic politics. A divisiveness that even that ancient lover of democracy; Demosthenes, noted when; "speakers (of the Athenian assembly) do not offer advice about the business before you, but accuse and revile one another."<br />
People and churches are working with each other in their neighbourhoods to ensure that a good time is had by all. Race, creed, gender and age and sexuality are being transcended, even if only momentarily, for the sake of a common celebration. The Biblical Jubilee, with the declaration of liberty throughout the land, and the command that land be returned to its original owners, slaves be released and people be redeemed from debts, had at the centre a concern for the restoration of social and economic stability and the common good. Over time wealth and land can become concentrated in the hands on one small sector of society, with injustices, building upon themselves and being passed on to following generations. The Yovel year, remarkably non-judgemental as to the causes of an individual's troubles, allows for a periodic correction of the system, granting a fresh start to society. We ourselves have a rare opportunity to take this national spirit of unity and goodwill that surrounds us and together, translate it into a real attempt to make the necessary changes that will ensure that the generation to follow, the next chapter, is not fettered by the cords of our own error and unfairness. Let us now take action to release the most vulnerable in our society, the poor, from the cords that bind them and instead give them fresh starts to be able to build up their lives with dignity. Let us all truly see ourselves as all in this together. As individuals let us consider the words, both their literal and the figurative meanings, that were uttered by our master Jesus that we often say in prayer:<br />
<br />
"Forgive us our debts as we forgive those who are indebted to us" Matthew 6:12<br />
<br />
<br />
I once heard some beautiful words that were said at the funeral of a man who had lived a very long life. The speaker suggested that, on occasion, people are given very long lives in order that they may serve as a witness to the values of a previous age; sacred values that are in danger of being overshadowed or rejected. At this wonderful time, I am reminded of the words of our Queen, spoken at the first ever televised Christmas Broadcast in 1957, only a few years after her coronation. Words which serve as a reminder to us all over 6 decades later:<br />
<br />
"The trouble is caused by unthinking people who carelessly throw away ageless ideals as if they were old and outworn machinery. They would have religion thrown aside, morality in personal and public life made meaningless. Honesty counted as foolishness and self interest set up in place of self restraint. At this critical moment in our history we will certainly lose the trust and respect of the world, if we just abandon those fundamental principles which guided the men and women who built the greatness of this country and commonwealth."<br />
<br />
May these Jubilee celebrations be filled with great joy, weaving a beautiful tapestry of memory for all involved in them. And may Queen Elizabeth II be blessed with continuing good health and many more years of wise rule over our beloved country. <br />
<br />
"Almighty Lord, of whose righteous will all things are, and were created; who liftest the islands out of the deep, and preparest not in vain the habitable world; Thou hast gathered our people into a great nation, and sent them to sow beside all waters, and multiply sure dwellings on the earth. Deepen the root of our life in everlasting righteousness; and let not the crown of our pride be as a fading flower. Make us equal to our high trusts; reverent in the use of freedom, just in the exercise of power, generous in the protection of weakness. With all thy blessings bless Thy servant, our Queen; and every member of the Royal House. Fill her heart and theirs with such loyalty to Thee, that her people may be exalted by their loyalty to her. To our legislators and counsellors give insight and faithfulness, that our laws may clearly speak the right, and our judges purely interpret it. Let it be known among us how Thou hatest robbery for burnt-offering; that the gains of industry may be all upright, and the use of wealth considerate. May wisdom and knowledge be the stability of our times: and our deepest trust be in Thee, the Lord of nations and the King of kings."<br />
From the Unitarian Orders of Worship. <br />
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<br />Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-26281238272741161272012-04-23T12:04:00.000+01:002012-04-23T12:14:30.520+01:00Love In The Face Of Difference.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkqJoVg2vxYkpB_4_kp_deAspFxaAcSqmN9Jk8cJKjxaYJHEGp1dnfFXKndFsK46Wn5lzzxWV8K-EZvcuJfA1nse6gVzE-yNI0dgZoVnO5rwwNk6R_gzPHI541TGozE2RPVN5HipYnFQ/s1600/darwin-portrait-lo-res-twinsmall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkqJoVg2vxYkpB_4_kp_deAspFxaAcSqmN9Jk8cJKjxaYJHEGp1dnfFXKndFsK46Wn5lzzxWV8K-EZvcuJfA1nse6gVzE-yNI0dgZoVnO5rwwNk6R_gzPHI541TGozE2RPVN5HipYnFQ/s320/darwin-portrait-lo-res-twinsmall1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
"<b>And if I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all
knowledge; and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. </b><br />
<br />
<b>Now I know in part, but then shall I know fully, even as also I have been fully known. But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three. But the greatest of these is love.</b>" 1Corinthians 13:2-12-13<br />
<br />
A phrase that we Unitarians like to use in order to describe our religious approach is; "We need not think alike to love alike." This is often attributed (very likely, incorrectly) to Francis David the 16th century founder of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church. This attitude has been present in Unitarianism from the beginning and has been given ample opportunity for testing. From the differences between the Arian and Humanitarian Christologies of our forebears to the doctrinally Unitarian vs Free-Christian philosophies of our mid to late 19th century co-religionists we have always had a variety of beliefs and thoughts in our movement and yet have always valued mutual regard and love. In our contemporary movement we have an even greater spectrum of beliefs and approaches, from those who faithfully strive to keep burning the light of classical Unitarian Christianity, to those who find their spiritual sustenance and nourishment in beliefs and ideas drawn from outside Christianity or even theism altogether. The challenge to love alike despite not thinking alike continues, perhaps not always smoothly, but I believe it is being met by us in ways that can serve as an education to a world unfortunately still divided by animosities brought about by differences in religious, political and social perspectives.<br />
<br />
It is, of course, only natural that most of us gravitate towards, and prefer the company of, people who think like ourselves, all the more so is this true amongst those who harbour doubts about our their own beliefs. It is comforting to have your opinions reinforced by those who share them and to not have to listen, too much, to those views which throw your own into doubt. It is far easier to find unity of purpose and a common direction when you share certain basic assumptions and ideas. Even amongst ourselves, a fellowship of religious seekers and dissenters who are amazingly open to new thinking and who usually relish debate and conversation with those who differ from us spiritually, we still enjoy the company of the like-minded and always have. Forming little societies or publications within our wider movement that focus on a particular approach is just one way we have done this.<br />
<br />
Some religions even base their regulations regarding marriage partly on this aspect of human nature. Frowning upon any marriage conducted between a member of their faith and someone of a differing religion, and very often finding a scriptural support for their stance.<br />
<br />
We, however, are fortunate to have a couple in our Unitarian history, whose lives and affection can serve as an education in how love can transcend differences in even the most deeply held and important beliefs. That couple is Charles and Emma Darwin.<br />
<br />
Emma Darwin was a scion of the famous Wedgwood family, and had inherited Josiah Wedgwood's pious Unitarian faith. A free-thinking, intelligent and independently minded woman, who loved her family very much, became, after the death of her sister, even more attached to the beloved teachings and beliefs of our religion. Over time she became enamoured with Charles Darwin, himself of Unitarian stock, and gradually began to admit to herself and to others the feelings she had for him. <br />
<br />
Charles differed in many ways from Emma; he was very organised and ordered, she more relaxed and happy with clutter. She was optimistic and carefree; he filled with anxieties and concerns. He was sentimental while she was much less so as illustrated by their respective descriptions in letters to family at the birth of their first child William Erasmus Darwin, whom they called Doddy. Charles wrote that his son was "a prodigy of beauty and intellect", while Emma wrote "a very nice looking one (baby) it is, I assure you. He has very dark blue eyes and a pretty, small mouth, his nose I will not boast of, but it is very harmless as long as he is a baby." Their differences were the perfect example of complementarity, each providing what the other lacked, each becoming whole only once they found the other. This stood them in good stead during the tragedy of their daughter Annie's death in 1851. Emma's love for Charles shines through in the words she wrote in a letter to him on the day Annie died.<br />
<br />
'You must remember that you are my prime treasure (and always have been) my only hope of consolation is to have you safe home, and weep together.'<br />
<br />
But there was one difference which was far less complementary and which has driven and continues to drive many others apart. Her and Charles' differences in matters of religion. Charles, although having once considered a position as minister of religion, had over the years and partly as a result of his scientific studies began to have serious doubts as to the existence of God and the truth of the Christian religion. As he grew close to Emma, and despite the advice of his father, he revealed some of these doubts to her, but happily, this did not prevent he and Emma from getting increasingly enamoured and when he proposed to her by the fire in the library of her country home, Maer, she said yes without hesitation. (Indeed the shock of that lack of hesitation was felt and recorded by both Charles and Emma long after the event). The potential difficulties created by their difference in the core facet of their beliefs was, however, evident to each of them, and Emma in writing tried to remedy it:<br />
<br />
"When I am with you I think all melancholy thoughts keep out of my head but since you are gone some sad ones have forced themselves in, of fear that our opinions on the most important subjects should differ widely. My reason tells me that honest & conscientious doubts cannot be a sin, but I feel it would be a painful void between us. I thank you from my heart for your openness with me & I should dread the feeling that you were concealing your opinions from the fear of giving me pain. It is perhaps foolish of me to say this much but my own dear Charley we now do belong to each other & I cannot help being open with you. Will you do me a favour? Yes I am sure you will, it is to read our saviour's farewell discourse to his disciples which begins at the end of the 13th Chap of John. It is so full of love to them & devotion & every beautiful feeling... This is a whim of mine, it would give me great pleasure, though."<br />
<br />
Charles for his part did as his wife asked and strove to be open to the beliefs he now found so difficult to accept. He was so moved and touched by one letter written by his wife, a letter I might add which encapsulates both the tolerance and the reason that are the hallmarks of the Unitarian approach to faith, that he wrote on it; 'When I am dead, know how many times I have kissed and cried over this.' These are some excerpts from that letter:<br />
<br />
"The state of mind that I wish to preserve with respect to you, is to feel that while you are acting conscientiously, and sincerely wishing and trying to learn the truth, you cannot be wrong....It seems to me also that the line of your pursuits may have led you to view chiefly the difficulties on one side, and that you have not had time to consider and study the chain of difficulties on the other, but I believe you do not consider your opinion is formed. May not the habit in scientific pursuits of believing nothing till it is proved, influence your mind too much in other things which cannot be proved in the same way and which if true are likely to be above our comprehension... I do not know whether this is arguing as if one side were true and the other false, which I meant to avoid, but I think not. I do not quite agree with you in what you once said that luckily there were no doubts as to how one ought to act. I think prayer is an instance to the contrary, in one case it is a positive duty and perhaps not in the other. But I daresay you meant in actions which concern others and then I agree with you almost if not quite....I am rather afraid. my own dear (Charles) will think I have forgotten my promise not to bother him, but I am sure he loves me, and I cannot tell him how happy he makes me and how dearly I love him and thank him for all his affections which makes the happiness of my life more and more every day." And from another letter: "<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">I do hope that though our
opinions may not agree upon all points of religion we may sympathise a
good deal in our feelings on the subject".</span><br />
<br />
Charles and Emma went on to live an exemplary life together at their home in the (then) small Kent village of Down, supporting each other through life, raising their children in an atmosphere of love and joviality (despite Charles' chronic health problems) and being the greatest comfort to each other when life's difficulties came their way. It was this secure love-filled home that gave Charles Darwin the strength to write and publish his 'On the Origin of Species' that forever changed our understanding of human development, and to cope with the criticisms that followed. Their theological differences never drove a wedge between them and never even came close to straining the bonds of love and respect that bound them together. They are truly worthy of admiration by us all. By individuals learning how to relate to those who disagree with them, by couples who are building a life and family together and who may not see eye to eye on fundamental issues, and for our special religious community that strives to build an edifice of faith and goodness with the contributions of people of many differing opinions.<br />
<br />
"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:34-35<br />
<br />
"God bless these hands united,<br />
God bless these hearts made one:<br />
Unsevered and unblighted<br />
May they through life go on;<br />
Here, in earth's home, preparing<br />
For the bright home above;<br />
And there, forever sharing<br />
Its joy, where "God is love".<br />
<i>J.S.B Monsell.</i><br />
<br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"></span>Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-25416170905709459072012-03-06T10:50:00.001+00:002012-03-06T10:51:51.922+00:00God-Given Moments of Opportunity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioihdtRiLV55qArPBkeIrO6ioqBVi51OgRLt1etw65SVw4ddSWY5B7-lsU8pL0VsS0a7ZwI9vkMI2OSdOvK8Oj-5TBgGlH0eDR-7ZsgoQn4OtpHfmE_XEX6AuPOKFFIXPoCpQZ4b5kDAU/s1600/Pompeo_Batoni_E_before_Ahasuerus_1738-40.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioihdtRiLV55qArPBkeIrO6ioqBVi51OgRLt1etw65SVw4ddSWY5B7-lsU8pL0VsS0a7ZwI9vkMI2OSdOvK8Oj-5TBgGlH0eDR-7ZsgoQn4OtpHfmE_XEX6AuPOKFFIXPoCpQZ4b5kDAU/s320/Pompeo_Batoni_E_before_Ahasuerus_1738-40.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716700272798968770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place but thou and thy father's house shall perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" </span><br />Esther 4:14<br /><br />The message contained in the words spoken by Mordechai to Esther in ancient Persia with which this post begins, still have deep relevance to our lives today. Those familiar with the biblical Book of Esther will know the story well; the Jewish girl Esther is chosen to be part of King Ahasuerus' harem after his execution of one of his previous wives, and is told by her uncle Mordechai to keep her Jewish identity hidden. After some time Ahasuerus' wicked vizier Haman, decides to slaughter the Jews of Persia and receives royal approval to do so. Esther is confronted by Mordechai who asks her to approach the king and appeal for the salvation of her people. She expresses some hesitation at this, for it was well known that those who approached the king without him having summoned them were liable to be executed. Mordechai responds with the words written at the beginning of this post. Ultimately Esther does intercede, and with a serendipitous and providential series of coincidences the Jews are saved and Haman and his followers are killed. This ancient deliverance from genocide is celebrated annually by Jews on the festival of Purim, which this year begins this Wednesday evening.<br /><br />Esther had to make a decision. Through no choice of her own she found herself in a situation which she could not have previously envisioned. She had become the beloved wife of the King of Persia, her people, their ties with her occulted from her own husband, were on the verge of destruction and she had some chance of being able to prevent it. But she would have to risk her own life to do so. Would she take hold of the opportunity before her, save her people and have her name become a focus of celebration for millennia to follow, or would she step back from Providence's challenge? She chose well, but do we?<br /><br />Jesus of Nazareth also faced a tough choice, one that led to the events we will commemorate in a few short weeks:<br /><br />"And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me; howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt." Mark 14:36<br /><br />He decided to do the will of his Creator, but do we?<br /><br />We may not all be placed in such momentous situations, on which hinge matters of life and death, but nevertheless we are given opportunities to choose between that which will make us realise our true selves; the best in us, and that which will lead us far from what we could truly become.<br /><br />Last week my mother ended up in an unfortunate, but thankfully minor, accident. While waiting to fill her car with petrol, the car in front, driven by an elderly lady, began to reverse. Sounding her horn to try and prevent collision failed to work, and the car in front collided with hers causing some damage. My mother spoke with the clearly distraught driver of the other vehicle, who through a veil of tears pleaded with her to take the car to an inexpensive garage to have it repaired, as being a pensioner, whose husband had only recently passed away, she could not afford much, and was eager not to have her insurance premiums increase. After swapping details my mother reassured the lady that she would seek out an inexpensive garage for the repairs. It turned out that the bill for the repair would be over £200 pounds. When being informed of this price on the telephone the other lady, again through tears, said that it was far too expensive for her low income to cope with, and that she would have to communicate with her son who lived far away to see if he could help an eventuality she thought most unlikely. That afternoon my mum and I had a long conversation as to what to do. On the one hand she was not at fault for the accident, and is also a pensioner and who is struggling to build up a new business after having been made redundant recently. Why should she have to leave her car with dents and scratches, or loose over £200 pounds of her own money to repair it? The other woman should have been looking where she was going, or cease driving if she is not up to it anymore, and should certainly pay for the damage caused or go through the insurance that exists for just such an occasion. On the other hand the lady's distress and difficult circumstances were believed by us to be genuine, and we were both mindful of the teachings of our master;<br /><br />"And if any man would go to the law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile go with him twain." Matthew 6:40<br /><br />"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31<br /><br />These teachings, are reflected in the Talmudic story of Rabbah Bar Hana who hired two men to carry a precious amphora of wine back to his home, and who after they smashed the jar through their negligence, took their cloaks as compensation for his loss. Later he was informed by the great sage Rav that despite his legal right to do what he did, he should return to these poor men their cloaks and pay them in full the money they would have gotten had they not broken his amphora, because God wishes people to go beyond the letter of the law and their genuine entitlement, to act with love and compassion for others.<br /><br />So the debate went back and forth most of the evening. In the end my mum had in mind to inform the lady the following day that she need not pay. Ultimately first thing the following morning my mother received a phone call from the other party's insurance company stating that they would repair the damage as their client had contacted them and accepted full responsibility. The decision had been, at the last moment, taken out of my mother's hands. But nevertheless she had in my opinion risen to glorious heights as a result of her deliberations and resolve. I am sure that it will be "reckoned unto her for righteousness".<br /><br />History is replete with examples of people who refused to pass up moments of Providential opportunity. Who overcame hesitancy to instead heed the pleadings of God's voice speaking in their conscience, and who acted in ways that sanctified the name of the Divine and of Humankind. They serve as great exemplars to us all, for the little choices that we must make from day to day.<br /><br />We may not fully understand the story of which we are a part, but it can do us no harm to keep at the forefront of our mind, that the choices we make, are writing the very words, the very sentences and paragraphs of this great human story. I believe we can face this reality faithfully and contentedly in the knowledge that the great Author is always whispering words of guidance to us, if we only pause to listen.<br /><br />"Send forth, O God, Thy light and truth,<br />And let them lead me still,<br />Undaunted, in the paths of right,<br />Up to Thy holy hill.<br />Then to Thy altar will I spring,<br />And in my God rejoice;<br />And praise shall tune the trembling string,<br />And gratitude my voice."<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">John Quincy Adams 1841</span>Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-12615888934072968742012-02-20T09:55:00.002+00:002012-02-20T09:57:45.158+00:00Matrimony Rethought<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhC4GJ5xmn1C57RsvDGMzFV5CooSparcl-OZRwPIv-dU5E51P8DP-jySLLdd_Vb0AJec3fSgzdoNpzV9wlI7jMTmK20XUe-9dmN7wbz4_L72VVR6Gc7Hec4IPdpLBLx6Rj10WtHpeQcA/s1600/gay-cake-topper.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhC4GJ5xmn1C57RsvDGMzFV5CooSparcl-OZRwPIv-dU5E51P8DP-jySLLdd_Vb0AJec3fSgzdoNpzV9wlI7jMTmK20XUe-9dmN7wbz4_L72VVR6Gc7Hec4IPdpLBLx6Rj10WtHpeQcA/s320/gay-cake-topper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710653930582397426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth: but how can one be warm alone?"</span> Ecclesiastes 4:9-11<br /><br /><br />One of the defining features of Unitarianism since its inception and one of its principle strengths, is in its commitment to freedom of thought and freedom of religious inquiry. The challenge for the individual is to understand why he/she holds the beliefs they do, and to reassess them in the light of new evidence or new thought. As an honest pursuit of truth this can be done with confidence and without fear. However it isn't always easy in life to revise a belief or opinion that one has held, especially if one has held to that belief with any kind of passion or conviction.<br /><br />Over recent weeks I myself have had to rethink a position which I had held with some degree of passion and clear conviction and that issue is same-sex marriage (and to a lesser extent Civil Partnerships).<br /><br />Those readers who read my blog regularly may remember a while back me mentioning that I was opposed to same-sex marriage and that I believed I had rational reasons for being so. I never elaborated those reasons at the time but I do so now in order to show where my thinking has changed.<br /><br />I used to believe, and actually I still do, that marriage, an institution of great worth and importance, is specifically designed for and expressly addressed to the nature of male - female relationships. Ultimately this is rooted in my belief that the purpose of marriage is to regulate intimate relations between men and women by limiting them (in a moral sense) to legally defined unions. In this way the not unusual outcome of male-female intimacy; children, are born into an environment which is clearly defined and regulated, with paternity protected and issues of stability and inheritance also clarified. The child born as a result of an act of love, sees in the love and commitment between its parents a reflection of their love and commitment to him/her. The bringing together in such a union of male and female creates a microcosm of society for the child to learn about and develop within. I also believe that in creating an arena which in some sense morally legitimises sexual activity, it strengthens positive and humane values that serve to dignify physical intimacy and elevate it above simple pleasure seeking, recreation or exploitation.<br /><br />It is fair to ask why a relationship between two people should have anything to do with the state and the law at all. Surely it is a private matter, involving those who freely enter into a partnership. It appears to me that the state and the law have been involved for much of human history in this area because of the huge social importance that heterosexual relationships play in society, again primarily because these relationships bring forth the next generations, but also because they bring together the two halves of humanity. As such the representative of society; the State through the agency of the Law clearly defines and confers recognition on these unions, and creates for them certain privileges which reflect the esteem with which society holds them. The wonderful, late Rabbi Isaac Bernstein, whose lectures on the Bible are an enthralling glimpse into the wisdom of traditional Jewish Biblical commentary, noting that many of the Bible's laws governing the public national life of the Israelite nation occur in the book of Deuteronomy, and wondering why laws of marriage appear there, concluded in a similar vein that the relationship between a man and a woman is of national and not only private importance.<br /><br />I felt and I continue to feel that homosexual relationships, such as the one I have with my beloved partner, while being most precious to those involved in them, do not have the same social/national importance as heterosexual relationships. Their small numbers compared to the heterosexual majority, their non-reproductive nature (leaving adoption, surrogacy, children from previous relationships aside) place them, in my thinking, more in the category of private importance and not public importance.<br /><br />Because of this difference I felt that same-sex marriage, in equating homosexual and heterosexual relationships could serve to confirm and reinforce a loss of understanding as to the value and nature of marriage which would be very regrettable. It is this last belief that I feel that I have no choice but to rethink.<br /><br />I have come to realise that marriage is not a "zero-sum game", and that because something is designed for one specific set of circumstances, it does not mean that its value cannot be felt in other areas. Simply put the value of marriage is not restricted to opposite-sex couples for which it is designed. Marriage (and/or civil-unions) have valuable benefits for same-sex couples, aside from the practical benefits such as, for example, next of kin rights etc, and I can see no way that such gains would diminish the value of marriage in general.<br /><br />The existence of same-sex marriage could play a strong part in encouraging and supporting positive values regarding intimacy in the gay "community", providing as it can, an ideal setting for a loving sexuality and adding extra support to those people, especially men, who wish to resist the overt sexualisation, and the value-free sex that is sadly not an unusual aspect of the contemporary gay "scene". For too long, and almost certainly as a result of the bigotry and rejection of homosexuals by mainstream society and religion; morality and healthy, elevating principles have not had the same structural and cultural support in gay society as has existed in the wider community. Same-sex marriage could help to repair some of the real harm that such a lack has caused.<br /><br />It is not easy to exaggerate the immense personal and emotional value for couples, same-sex or otherwise, of having their relationship formally recognised. To declare to their peers their love for their partner, and to have that respected, even if not approved of, is of huge psychological importance and not something that should be prevented without good reason, and as I said above I no longer see any strong reasons to prevent it.<br /><br />Finally, two men or two women willing to commit themselves to each other exclusively, to share each other's lives, to support and care for each other for the rest of their days, forsaking all others, is something that is in and of itself beautiful and uplifting and worthy of recognition, and if truly celebrated and truly valued would do much to enrich our civilisation, where concepts such as commitment, care, and restraint have unfortunately seen some erosion. Indeed how encouraging it is in this age where marriage has been undervalued to see the passion and desire on the part of same-sex couples to formalise and celebrate their couplehood in this way.<br /><br />Of course in some sense I have yet to address the elephant in the room. Many religions and many people of faith view same-sex marriage as improper because it would seem to legitimise relationships which they feel are truly wrong and sinful. It would seem as if society, of which they are a part, is giving its imprimatur to sin, and in some people's view, to an abominable sin, so naturally they wish to prevent this from happening. I do have respect for people with such views and am not quick to judge them as bigoted, homophobic or wicked, especially those who harbour no hatred of individuals but who genuinely "hate the sin and love the sinner". However I do believe they are very mistaken. Either way no church, mosque, synagogue or temple should ever be forced to conduct marriages which they deem as contrary to their conscience, beliefs or theology. Not in a free and liberal society.<br /><br />Theologically I have no problem with same-sex marriage. It is also clear to me that the meaning of the famous Biblical prohibition, often cited by those opposed to same-sex marriage and homosexuality itself:<br /><br />"V'es zochor lo tishkav mishkavei isha. Toeva hi" Literally: "And with a male do not lay female layings. It is an abomination" Leviticus 18:22<br /><br />is as it has always been understood in Judaism, a prohibition on one particular male-male sexual act. It is not a prohibition against homosexual attraction, love, togetherness, commitment or broader intimacy. As such this prohibition does not to my mind in and of itself preclude same-sex marriage. It is certainly true that an argument can be made to suggest that marriage in Biblical terms serves to legalise sexual union and hence the prohibition against the sexual union of two men, means that same-sex marriage is null and void, however our society has over the centuries broadened its understanding of marriage, and same-sex marriage need not be seen (and indeed is not seen) as having anything to do with specific forms of homosexual intimacy. It, like marriage in general, is much more about the love, companionship and desire to live as a committed partnership.<br /><br />It is my belief that the Eternal esteems devoted love whether it is between a man and a woman, or two men, or two women. My partner and I both feel God's presence in our life together, guiding us, strengthening us and even challenging us to be the best we can be, not only as individuals but also and importantly as a couple. Experience informs me that all the little events that thankfully brought he and I together, were the hand of Providence, which reminds me of the words of our teacher Jesus:<br /><br />"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder". Mark 10:9<br /><br />And so I celebrate the change in the law that has allowed religious groups in Britain to conduct civil-partnerships in their places of worship. I give thanks that Unitarians, alongside Quakers and Liberal Jews fought for this right. I cautiously hope for the time when the definition of marriage is legally broadened to include same-sex relationships and I pray that tolerance and understanding be extended to those whose conscience prevents them from agreeing to such changes. I hope that honest and respectful arguments be used to conduct the debate on this contentious issue, and that it not be used by either side to further political agendas. But above all this I look forward to the time when my partner and I become husbands to each other in my chapel, in the presence of God, and trust that after 14 years together our embarking on this new step, solemnised by the very law of our great nation, serves to strengthen even further our loving bond.<br /><br />"God is love; His mercy brightens<br />All the paths in which we rove;<br />Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens:<br />God is wisdom, God is love"<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">John Bowring Hymns 1825</span>Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-43806303573827816472012-02-08T09:18:00.007+00:002012-02-08T11:02:48.407+00:00The Eternal's Healing Face.<span style="font-weight: bold;">"O Lord my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me."</span> Psalm 30:2<br /><br />Over the last few days I have unfortunately been unwell with a pretty harsh cold. I had the opportunity during this time (apart from feeling very sorry for myself) to contemplate the wonder that is our body's natural ability to heal. The fever I suffered with, while very uncomfortable, was a stark reminder of my body's various strategies to defeat the invading virus, which when thought about with any depth truly fills a person with gratitude for the wisdom inherent in the way our immune systems function. And there was even more to be grateful for; the healing properties of chemicals and plants and the awesome wisdom of humanity that over time has learned to harness these properties to manufacture medicines that can cure or make bearable many illnesses. (How lucky we are to live, as James Martineau says in one of his prayers, "at the end of so many ages, heirs to the thoughts of the wise, the labours of the good). Finally and certainly not least, much gratitude towards the love and concern of our fellow human beings, which is often so clearly felt when one is unwell.<br /><br />The more I mused on all this, the more I came to see the notion of healing and repairing as existing throughout our world and the vast cosmos beyond. It can be seen in the way a forest destroyed by a violent and all consuming fire, very quickly begins to replenish itself, with shoots of the new trees and plants emerging from the scorched earth. The way that plants and life return to land obliterated by flows of volcanic lava. The way that new stars are formed out of the vast gas/dust clouds left behind by other stars in their supernova death-throws. The way our skin so rapidly repairs itself when cut, not to mention the ability of some creatures to replace entire limbs. The power of sunlight to help ease some skin disorders, and the way that the sea and its wave actions slowly clean the last traces of oil spilled on its surface, allowing life to flourish once again, and so on and so forth.<br /><br />My own personal theological conception of God is most similar to what is called Panentheism. A Greek word meaning All is in God. This understanding is present in many religions and the Jewish religion itself uses the word "Makom" Place, as one of the names of God, signifying that God is the place in which the universe exists. I conceive of the Eternal as present in every aspect of the created world, and yet not confined by it, but instead transcending "beyond" it. An analogy I personally find helpful is to conceive of an image in my own mind; say a man sitting on a swing in a park. That image has an existence, but it exists solely within me. I am therefore present in every single part of that image, in its shape, colour, texture and movement, it could not exist without me, I am the very fabric of that image, and yet I am not that image, my essence and existence transcend it.<br /><br />It is my belief that the essential nature of God, The One, is unknowable, as it exits beyond all possible frames of human conception. The only way we can know something about the Divine, I believe, is through the world that He created and through revelation.<br /><br />So as I look at the aspects of healing and mending that are present in nature, I see God, specifically God as Healer. The very properties in chemicals and plants that cure illness and discomfort, the very forces discovered by science that bring new life to where destruction ruled are the healing Hand of the Divine itself, revealing Her merciful face as a God who wants this world of ours to exist and to mend and to repair. Nature is both a veil that hides the Divine countenance and a mirror that magnificently reveals it<br /><br />And so onto us, made in the image of our Father in Heaven as we are informed so radically by the Bible. Should we not also, as a religious imperative use the power of healing and mending inherent in us for the improvement and welfare of our fellow human beings, and beyond that to the other dwellers of this world? Surely religion is not only about prayers, observances, self-actualisation, personal salvation, committee-meetings and some coffee and biscuits.<br /><br />For did our teacher Jesus, himself not send out his followers into the world to heal:<br /><br />"And he sent them forth to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."<br /><br />I am a believer that we can all do something to bring healing to those who are ill, indeed a wonderful American Orthodox Rabbi, Rav Pam, taught his students that even telephoning an unwell person, and talking with them for a while can bring them cheer, which even if for only a few moments has the power to make them feel better. This too is healing. What do we do and what could we do, as individuals and congregations to support our local hospitals and hospices I wonder?<br /><br />But there are other ways too. There are so many rifts amongst people, from the trivial to the international. What part do we play as individuals, and as wider congregations to bring together those who have been torn asunder by hatred, pain or mistrust, and heal those divisions?<br /><br />We can of course never be one hundred percent sure, but I feel that if we play our part, however small, in bringing health and reconciliation to our world, we too will become living demonstrations of the Almighty's healing presence and a testimony that God is found within us as much as beyond us.<br /><br />"And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." Luke 8:48Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-59102415488188622992012-01-10T22:05:00.009+00:002012-01-10T23:00:46.362+00:00Sensual Worship & Life As Worship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwzwzSj1bGyHYM1kwUWJDHQDngKR60cVf8CUakw-R8_1424yDH4Yi1JSfCf_WpFep-8cIXa97tIXNYcgQ2xgbHM247pwjGBSjm9HW6ESHk8kaDM0VeuGPzwUVnUEzZQyBEhOJvnOI5jA/s1600/celticalter+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwzwzSj1bGyHYM1kwUWJDHQDngKR60cVf8CUakw-R8_1424yDH4Yi1JSfCf_WpFep-8cIXa97tIXNYcgQ2xgbHM247pwjGBSjm9HW6ESHk8kaDM0VeuGPzwUVnUEzZQyBEhOJvnOI5jA/s320/celticalter+-+Copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696133206578223010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"O taste and see that the Lord is good"</span>.<br /> Psalm 34:8<br /><br />Recently I was asked to do a reading at my church, for this past Sunday, to mark the anniversary of our minister's first year as head of our congregation. It was suggested to me, and I readily agreed, that I focus my thoughts and comments on the role of our minister in introducing a strong focus on worship to our Sunday services. Despite panicking due to 'writers block" having descended on me, I managed, at the last moment, to compose a reading that was deeply appreciated by our wonderful minister and the congregation too.<br /><br />This whole episode got me thinking about worship and the differences both between individual congregations, and between ourselves and other faiths. It is quite clear that there is no such thing as a one size fits all style of service. There are those that like the traditional, "word" focused hymn sandwich and there are others who prefer worship to be constructed around more contemporary styles of music, fostering a greater atmosphere of informality. Then there are those who feel much more connected to services which include all the senses, the smell of incense, the soft glow of candles, hauntingly beautiful music.<br /><br />At my chapel we have a weekly service which is in the traditional hymn sandwich style. Most of the congregation enjoy that way of conducting service, I too thoroughly enjoy it. I love the calm and reverential atmosphere it creates, the link with tradition, and the strong Englishness about it just tickles me. However I personally also yearn for a more sensual form of worship, and happily I have strong reasons to believe that our congregation will hopefully be working this year at creating additional weekday services that will provide an alternative way to worship.<br /><br />The Catholic church of my youth was filled with ritual, mystery, scents, sights and sounds that have left their imprint on my subconscious. I only need to smell frankincense and I am instantly transported to a place of reverence and mystery that exits beyond words. During the Reformation there were those who, in my view correctly, saw aspects of Catholic worship and doctrine as being either non-scriptural or even contrary to Biblical ethos and instruction, and sought to bring Christian worship and practice in line with what was to be found on the pages of the Old and New Testaments supported by reason and logic. In so doing they stripped churches of all their imagery and statues, and the worship itself of much of its ritual and symbolism and succeeded in making Christian places of worship similar to Jewish synagogues. Indeed some Protestants believed that their version of Christianity, stripped as it was of non-Biblical Catholic traditions, would prove irresistible to Jews, but of course they were mistaken. Because while the Synagogue was and is largely ritual free, Jewish life is certainly not.<br /><br />Judaism unlike Christianity is a religion of Laws. Laws that introduce a plethora of rituals and observances that add sanctity to every part of daily life. From the weekly Sabbath observance with its joyful family meal filled with singing, to the festival days, each with their own symbols, foods and rites that closely follow and reflect the seasons in which they fall. When the Jewish Temple stood in all its grandeur in Jerusalem, public worship was powerfully evocative involving all the senses. From the ritual clothing of the priests, to the music and singing of the Levites. The scent of incense and of the roasting meat of sacrifices would have filled the air. Even after the destruction of the Temple, the Jews still worshipped God with the totality of their lives. From eating to love-making each act was suffused with the sacred and celebrated. Truly life as worship. Christianity on the other hand, lacking a similar code of daily observed laws, has largely been a religion whose major worship activity has taken place within the church building. When the Reformation removed sensuality and spectacle from church-life a vacuum was left. Fortunately the deeply embedded need that human beings have for rites and ceremony was filled by the widespread folk religion that was to be found and celebrated across the land. I believe I am correct in saying that many of our "ancient" folklore and folk customs are derived primarily from pre-Reformation Catholicism, that were banned from the church but were adapted and kept alive by the populous at large. Births and death, the turning of the wheel of the year, were all marked and celebrated with a riot of colour and enjoyment. People felt a deep connection to the Eternal, through the beauty and harshness of nature that surrounded them and which influenced their lives so profoundly. Acknowledgement and reverence of the Divine was interwoven into daily life, sometimes in ways that created deep opposition from the Church. People became deeply connected with their neighbours and to the place in which they lived, and the joys and griefs of life had many avenues of expression. Then on Sunday people would attend their chapels and churches and worship together in simple dignity. Such a combination worked well.<br /><br />Over the past 200 years or so however, life has changed dramatically. The rural, agrarian life of the majority of people, and the deep bonds of community that such a life created, as well as much of the hardship and suffering, has almost entirely vanished. Technology and urbanisation have played their part in ensuring that traditional folk-religion, rooted in time and place, became increasingly distant from the hearts of people. Today there is almost no religious ritual left in daily life, and many people have never even heard of traditions such as Gooding Day, Candlemass, Michaelmas, Grotto Day, or Mischief Night. What ritual remains is primarily materialist in focus, such as the annual Christmas shopping, or Easter egg purchase! There is a huge deficit in widely-venerated spiritual observances, and so now perhaps more than ever there are real dangers for those churches whose only worship style fails to address the need for ritual in the heart of mankind. Mainstream Protestant Christianity, and to a certain extent Unitarian Christianity have become faiths somewhat disconnected from God's presence in nature and the symbolism/ritual by which we express our souls' deepest yearnings, although I am glad to see that the Unitarian Christian Association has been exploring other approaches, such as the beautiful and popular Taizé method.<br /><br />One great strength of our Unitarian community is that we are not constrained by fixed ways of doing things. Our traditions are not set in stone. We have so much room to explore different, and life-affirming styles of worship, and I believe that even the smallest congregations can experiment, even if only once a month, with different forms of services.<br /><br />Once again I bring an example from the life of John Pounds. In his time he was famous for taking the children in his care for long rambles on the South Downs behind Portsmouth. He would point out the flowers and trees, teaching the children (and even the adults) their Latin names and how to identify them. He would speak constantly of the goodness of God manifested in the marvels of creation, and his gratitude to his Maker was contagious. He taught the children that in appreciation and thanksgiving for the beauty that surrounds us in life (despite life's negatives many of which John Pounds had personally suffered) we should behave well and live good lives in service of our fellow man and the Eternal that unites us all.<br /><br />Surely this worship, (which has to my mind many similarities with the ethos of Celtic Christianity) conducted on the grassy hills and forest groves, was as precious and sacred as any that can be conducted inside a chapel or church. Each has its place and now more than ever we must lift both types onto their proper pedestals.<br /><br />God to enfold me, God to surround me,<br />God in my speaking, God in my thinking.<br />God in my sleeping, God in my waking,<br />God in my watching, God in my hoping.<br />God in my life, God in my lips,<br />God in my soul, God in my heart.<br />God in my sufficing, God in my slumber,<br />God in mine ever-living soul, God in mine eternity.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Carmina Gadelica</span>.Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-56077984191509591462011-12-24T22:46:00.009+00:002011-12-25T00:54:07.797+00:00It Came Upon The Midnight Clear.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRssmFJzQIbzdjenTI-1hRgyfUOZ61S9v19uuVimN5VwRg9TuPFLnOTMRSj5ZQedchTf7q4l9wOZ5_jr84p0Mlv_GeJdYfvKkhR4T1puNv3tbncqnRUXmchk1ea34VSgDzZP365I3kzfo/s1600/victoriancarols.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRssmFJzQIbzdjenTI-1hRgyfUOZ61S9v19uuVimN5VwRg9TuPFLnOTMRSj5ZQedchTf7q4l9wOZ5_jr84p0Mlv_GeJdYfvKkhR4T1puNv3tbncqnRUXmchk1ea34VSgDzZP365I3kzfo/s320/victoriancarols.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689843704325086210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">"And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light arise in darkness and thine obscurity be as the noonday. And the Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy soul."</span> Isaiah 58:10-11<br /><br />'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens is a personal favourite of mine, and of many other people too. I enjoy reading it each year, and watching the many versions of it on television or dvd, including it has to be said, the wonderful 'Muppet Christmas Carol'. To me the story encapsulates the very essence of Christian faith, especially as understood by Unitarians. So profound are the teachings of this great faith that we, even now after two millennia, pause once a year to remember and celebrate the birth of its originator, Jesus of Nazareth.<br /><br />To me the fundamentals of the Nazarene's teachings are:<br /><br />Love of God,<br />Love of Humankind<br />Repentance<br />Hope<br /><br />Most of Charles Dickens' writings are rich with themes that explore these fundamentals, and 'A Christmas Carol' is perhaps the richest.<br /><br />During one very beautiful exchange in the book, Scrooge's nephew while seeking to persuade his uncle of the merits of the Christmas season, and the values it embodies so eloquently deliverers a most moving of speeches:<br /><br />"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,' returned the nephew. 'Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come around - apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that - as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it <span style="font-style: italic;">has</span> done me good, and <span style="font-style: italic;">will</span> do me good; and I say, God bless it!"<br /><br />It took the visit of three spirits, four if you include the ghost of Marley to make Scrooge agree with the above passage, turn his life around, and for him always to keep at the forefront of his mind the advice, given by Marley, advice that is a relevant now as when it was written:<br /><br />"Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, where, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business."<br /><br />We may not be as miserly and bitter as Ebenezer Scrooge was before his apparitional visitations. However, many of us can perhaps identify areas of our lives or relationships where we may profoundly lack either the love of God, or the love of our neighbour that a true love of God should engender. Do we put our needs and desires ahead of all else, or do we recognise that we share this world with countless others and an existence with the Ultimate Existence? Are we like the biblical Joseph before his <span style="font-style: italic;">descent</span> to Egyptian slavery and imprisonment saying to others "Hear I pray you this dream which I have dreamed" or do we, also like Joseph, shortly before his <span style="font-style: italic;">assent</span> to greatness say to others about their dreams "tell it me, I pray you".<br /><br />Whatever our failings we can have hope in the Good News that Jesus' brought, that change is possible, that goodness is within our grasp, and that like Scrooge we can turn away from the negativity in our lives and reach out and take hold of that which is our true life.<br /><br />One man who honoured Christmas and the message that the babe in the manger would bring to the world was the cobbler and worshipper at the High Street Unitarian Chapel in old Portsmouth, John Pounds. I heard the following reading by R E Jayne, at our chapel's carol service this evening and it spoke deeply to me therefore I would like to share it:<br /><br />"John Pounds always celebrated Christmas with a feast, humble in its dishes, but lavish beyond words in its spirit of love and goodwill, at which all his neighbours were welcome. He was a famous cook, but most famous as maker of Christmas puddings. Every year he would make one tremendous plum pudding; and then on Christmas day he kept open house; anyone who cared to look in could have a taste of the pudding until it had all gone. No jovial baron of olden times, or generous hearted lord of the manor, ever dispensed Christmas fare to the people on his estate with greater goodwill than this poor cobbler, when he cut and handed round to his visitors their slices of his only plum pudding. As Charles Dickens said of the converted miser Scrooge, so it may be recorded of John Pounds. "He knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge." He did not commemorate the birth of Christ in selfishness, but in a 'a more excellent way,' by feeding the hungry who were poorer even than himself, and by bringing happiness and laughter into the lives of the people, and especially the little children of the squalid streets and alleys of old Portsmouth."<br /><br />At this time of year when lights of rededication to ancient faith blaze in the windows of those observing Hanukkah, and the sounds of carols telling the story of that humble stable in little Bethlehem all those years ago drift on the evening breeze, there is a palpable magic in the air that can remind us to re-commit to our true treasure, our true gifts, and that hopefully will inspire us to share it with others now and in the year to come.<br /><br />May God bless you all, and may your Christmases be filled with happiness, health and holiness.Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-45189763206344326242011-11-21T09:53:00.001+00:002011-11-21T09:54:46.079+00:00When Business Was Good<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrz588aIqoS8xfnHNFyQLFPKPCltcGci4v5CJ39KtKRjEVK1llpdb3vQbnyQyXo3ubn2PkIOGBvfgNLKy1_WG_OOv-F9Gt85SGITgkNhNvNXWZLrnbs4MSJIJE1y3hPoI0LFhvSuid1A/s1600/williamrathbone.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrz588aIqoS8xfnHNFyQLFPKPCltcGci4v5CJ39KtKRjEVK1llpdb3vQbnyQyXo3ubn2PkIOGBvfgNLKy1_WG_OOv-F9Gt85SGITgkNhNvNXWZLrnbs4MSJIJE1y3hPoI0LFhvSuid1A/s320/williamrathbone.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677353885268910450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> "In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall make straight thy paths"</span> Proverbs 3:6<br /><br />I am excitedly looking forward to Ian Hislop's programme "When Bankers were Good" this coming Tuesday evening on BBC Two, featuring as it does some wonderful, philanthropic, Victorian men and women who understood that divine service, ethics and morality apply in all areas of life including the hurly burly world of business and from whom our modern society can learn a thing or two. I believe that some of those to be featured in the programme were Unitarians which provides some added interest for me.<br /><br />Reading about this programme reminded me of a biography that I have recently read, about a man who Florence Nightingale referred to as: "One of God's best and greatest sons" namely William Rathbone VI<br /><br />William was born in 1819 to the prominent mercantile, banking and political Rathbone family (who had become Unitarians, albeit still valuing their Quaker heritage, since William Rathbone IV moved from Quakerism to Unitarianism). At an early age he came under the influence of the Rev J.H. Thom whose views regarding the responsibilities of the wealthy towards the poor, were to shape William's whole life thereafter. Rev J.H Thom had characteristically said:<br /><br />"What we are as Christians may be judged from what we suffer the poor around us to be."<br /><br />William took such teachings to heart and began a life of the greatest philanthropy and public good, the effects of which continue to be felt right down to our own age. The family's existing wealth was only augmented by William's shrewd and successful business activities opening as he did branches in Canton and Shanghai and diversifying into ship-owning. Being aware as he was, from a very early age, that people often sadly decline in generosity as their wealth increases, he set for himself a principle by which at first a tenth of his income would go to the furtherance of public good, and then at every increase of his earnings there would be a subsequent increase in the proportion of money given away, until eventually the proportion reached five-tenths, and then subsequent to this, <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> further increase in income should go to the service of benevolence. He himself summed up this attitude when he described surplus wealth, after a person had provided for the reasonable needs of himself and his family, as:<br /><br /><em>"a trust for which he owes an account to himself, to his fellow-men, and to God; it is not an absolute freehold which he may use solely for personal enjoyment and indulgence."</em><br /><br />He also knew the other scourges that wealth could bring in its wake, and so he took it upon himself to continue his father's efforts to abolish bribery and corruption.<br /><br />William was no stranger to the needs of Liverpool's disadvantaged citizens, and his honour and prestige did not stop him from house-to-house visits of the poor during which he saw first-hand the misery in which many of them lived, which only served to strengthen his resolve to use his affluence and influence to bring alleviation to the problems he saw.<br /><br />In 1859 his life was rocked by the illness and death of his wife Lucretia. His observation of and gratitude for the care given to his wife by a nurse, Mary Robinson, led him to desire the same standard of care for the poor of Liverpool. To this end he engaged, at his own expense, a nurse to work in the most disadvantaged districts and he laboured tirelessly to establish in 1862 the Liverpool Training School and Home for Nurses which set in place a district nursing scheme which eventually spread throughout the entire country. Not yet satisfied, he investigated and became increasingly saddened by the state of care at the great infirmary at Liverpool Workhouse and successfully strove to better the nursing practices there.<br /><br />In 1868 he entered Parliament as a Liberal MP where he worked at reforming local government and specifically local taxation, efforts which significantly contributed to the Local Government acts of 1888 and 1894<br /><br />William's other great and generous endeavour and a central component of his lasting legacy, was his involvement in the foundation of University College Liverpool in 1882 and the University College of North Wales in 1884, now known as Liverpool University and Bangor University respectively, a natural outgrowth of his belief, a belief that was strongly held by many 19th century philanthropists and reformers, and still held today, that a good education is one of the best and most sustainable routes out of poverty.<br /><br />His death in 1902 called forth many tributes from prominent people in Liverpool and led the Archdeacon Madden to refer to him as "An ideal citizen, and typical modern saint". As a result of William's devoted service to God and to his fellow human beings he became one of a dearly remembered group of people whose activities in the furtherance of civic virtue led a Baptist minister Rev. Dr. C. F. Aked to say in 1905:<br /><br />"The life of Liverpool has been enriched by some Unitarians who were amongst the saintliest of God's children; the records of its public philanthropy and of its private beneficence are eloquent with stories of Unitarian goodness."<br /><br />Today many in society are looking for a new way for politics and business to be conducted. Some wish to do away with the systems we currently have and replace them with something else (a 'something' which very often they find hard to articulate). However we Unitarians have past luminaries who have illuminated ways for us to conduct ourselves in our work, and in the use of our wealth. All our congregations can if we so wish, continue the legacy of our forebears, even if only in small ways, and once again join forces with those of all faiths and none to strengthen the fabric of our society, inrease opportunities for all and continue spreading a spirit of munificence throughout our land.<br /><br />"For where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also". Matthew 6:21Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-22989309015522570162011-10-31T21:00:00.001+00:002011-11-01T01:59:01.566+00:00Facing The Night With Joy And Trust<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vN6TLuHFxTrPnhI4BOGovruJ3dRkcxyifUa-Hzjlpz0D7UzbEkmb96Tj2TXqMCF3b5fdO2o-c114mWwpjiM6DVJqMeteB5M5wCo2OOmhQCceoLVnLNsxT9Vk1prP9tEbFKir_Un4sYc/s1600/Autumn-Glow-Halloween-Wallpaper.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vN6TLuHFxTrPnhI4BOGovruJ3dRkcxyifUa-Hzjlpz0D7UzbEkmb96Tj2TXqMCF3b5fdO2o-c114mWwpjiM6DVJqMeteB5M5wCo2OOmhQCceoLVnLNsxT9Vk1prP9tEbFKir_Un4sYc/s320/Autumn-Glow-Halloween-Wallpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669437804497524498" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"I form the light and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am the Lord, that doeth all these things."</span> Isaiah 45:7<br /><br />Halloween is upon us with all its symbols and traditions that help to brighten up this time of year and which give us all an opportunity to engage in a little frivolity. Halloween's observances stem, I believe, from the Gaelic festival of Samhain, a name which in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic has in time become applied to the whole month of November. Traditionally this day marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, the night-half of the year. Animals that had been fattened over the warm summer months would be slaughtered and their meat preserved to feed the people over the lean and cold months ahead. A big feast would be held to rejoice in the face of the hardship and danger which the winter would likely bring. This danger and hardship was the cause of an uncertainty which drove people to devise and play divinatory games on the night of Samhain, or Oidhche Shamhna in Gaelic, to ascertain what the future had in store. The Christian festivals of All Saints and All Souls that are observed on the first and second of November introduced a focus on the departed into the existing traditional agricultural festival. People would remember all those who had died, and would in some cases go "souling" house to house asking for gifts of money or food in exchange for praying on behalf of the souls of the departed. In time costumes would be worn and the seeds for trick-or-treating were laid down.<br /><br />We now stand at the gates of winter, with the landscape painted in hues of orange, yellow and red, just as the sky is illuminated with those same colours in the moments before the sun sets and ushers in the night, therefore now more than ever is the time to recognise that we don't know what the future holds, and that life does indeed have mysteries and fearful possibilities that threaten us all. Despite this we need not be bound in chains of anxiety, or search desperately for signs to reveal to us the hidden, instead we can look the coming night, with all its dangers and difficulties in the face and laugh with a spirit of joy. For we can remember the days of light and fullness and rejoice in their fruits which now follow us into the dark night to sustain us. We can look fondly on the memories of our loved ones, and of the wise men and women of the past, especially our teacher Jesus, whose wisdom still lives for those who wish to avail themselves of it. The departed do not leave us, but through our recollections continue to inform our present and shape our future.<br /><br />Above and beyond all else we can place our confidence into the hands of the Creator of light and darkness, life and death, whose presence is with us always, and whose love for us is immeasurable.<br /><br />Wishing everyone a Happy Halloween.<br /><br />"Among the bonny winding banks,<br />Where Doon rins, wimplin' clear,<br />Where Bruce ance ruled the martial ranks,<br />And shook his Carrick spear,<br />Some merry, friendly, country-folks,<br />Together did convene,<br />To burn their nits, and pou their stocks,<br />And haud their Halloween<br />Fu' blithe that night".<br />Halloween by Robert Burns 1785Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-12636864585305129152011-10-09T23:01:00.003+01:002011-10-11T23:27:26.822+01:00Inquiry and Prejudice<span style="font-weight: bold;">"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord"</span><br />Leviticus 19:18<br /><br />While leafing through my copy of the Inquirer this morning I read something which I thought quite disturbing. A letter written in the magazine was expressing disappointment about the nature of previous letters by those who clearly did not share the same social/political/religious views as the author(s). A previous writer from Belfast was criticised for a letter that was entitled (by the Inquirer itself I imagine) "Islam is not as tolerant as Christianity" which calmly criticised an argument that had suggested that the atrocity committed by Aders Breivik in Norway demonstrated that Christian extremism is as significant a risk as Islamic extremism. Another writer is criticised for suggesting that; "Unitarians should be left to make their minds up" on political and social issues instead of apparently having to toe the party line as some would prefer. They also complain about those letters written over the past few months by people who feel that there could be problems with the immigration policies of our times. To top it all off the writers imply that the very appearance of such letters in the Inquirer with which they disagree could perhaps give the wrong impression about the Unitarian community, despite all those other letters that have been published challenging the above mentioned views. How very tolerant and open-minded. How committed to Inquiry the writers of this letter seem to be! But not only unsatisfied that the pages of the Inquirer contain such views, it seems that the very presence of people in Unitarianism itself, with views other than those of the authors, is cause for concern. "However we think that the fact that there appears to be such a constituency within Unitarianism is cause for concern" was the exact way they phrased their disquiet.<br /><br />This to me is an example of an intolerance that is sadly not at all rare, and I have unfortunately heard from people, who while finding much of Unitarianism true and uplifting, said that they either have no desire to join a congregation or even to leave one they are already affiliated with, because of the hypocrisy they see, of a community that relishes the label of tolerance and freedom but which in practice can sometimes be as intolerant as the most closed-minded churches (who at least don't claim to be free-thinking).<br /><br />I am, as perhaps can be gleaned from my blogging, a more traditionalist Unitarian, and I have deeply held (and hopefully rationally held) beliefs that don't always reflect the majoritarian view within UK Unitarianism. As an example; despite being homosexual myself, and while supporting the right of any church to conduct religious civil partnerships should they so choose, and also respecting the duty of the representatives and spokespersons of UK Unitarianism to enunciate the views of the majority of Unitarians , I don't happen to believe in same-sex marriage. I strongly feel that the issue is not one of a lack of equality at all, and I certainly do not feel that it is an issue of discrimination. (Clearly I must be part of the constituency that gives so much cause for concern). I utterly respect those that disagree with me, and always try to understand their arguments. I am not offended or upset by the GAUFCC's efforts in support of same-sex marriage, and recognise that my views are a minority amongst Unitarians. However I do expect others, while disagreeing with me, to also value my right to hold my own opinions, and not to make rash judgements about my character as a result. This is not to say that debate should be stifled or diminished in order not to offend those like myself of differing opinions, debate should be vigorous, but we should pursue the debate as friends not enemies.<br /><br />Thankfully the congregation of which I am a part, happens to have people from a diverse range of social and political views, and luckily it is blessed with an abundance of genuine tolerance that creates strong friendships amongst all of us, and which does not expect us to conform to a set of preselected social or political views.<br /><br /><br />Sadly prejudice is a reality which affects us all from time to time, even the most liberal minded of people are not free from its influence. I myself learned this lesson directly at this morning's service.<br /><br />Our minister is currently away and as a result we had a lay preacher from a congregation that I believe is known for its less than traditional approach to faith and social issues. (A "lefty" church would be a cheap but handy shorthand.) All week I had been somewhat less than enthused about this week's service without really having given much thought as to why. The reality on the day, however, was completely different from what I had clearly expected, and we had a service that was so traditional that it would not have been out of place in a liberal Anglican service. I have to say I was taken aback. It struck me just how easily and how unthinkingly my assumption earlier in the week had been made, and on the impact this had on the way I felt about attending worship today. I was wrong, and while ashamed of this, I shall attempt to learn from my mistake.<br /><br />This is simply human nature I guess. We all pre-judge events and people, (in other words we are all prejudiced). As human beings we categorise things in our lives and assume that things that come in similar "boxes" are all going to be alike. If we meet a person and they are a little rude to us, we just assume that they will be like that the next time we meet them, despite the very strong likelihood that they might have been having a bad day when they were rude, and that normally they are a delight to know. If we have an unpleasant meal in a restaurant we may assume that all meals there will be the same. I feel the key is to be mindful of our prejudices, not pretend we don't have them, and recognising them, strive not to allow them to shape the way we feel, to think "outside the box" and with a degree of courage allow ourselves to believe that this person or this organisation or this situation might be different from what we think it might be. Those that believe they have no prejudice at all, are likely not acknowledging it, and as such may exhibit the very intolerance and bigotry they condemn others for. The words of our wise teacher Jesus spring to mind:<br /><br />"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but cosiderest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."<br />Matthew 7:3-5<br /><br />It is also very natural to have a warmth of feeling towards those with whom we have much in common and with whom we think alike, and to be suspicious of those with whom we don't. But for us to be true to our Unitarian calling we must learn to see beyond differences of opinion and belief and instead cleave to the common humanity and dignity that we all share, as children of the same Divinity. Or as Jesus taught:<br /><br />"For if you love those that love you, what thank have ye? For even sinners love those that love them."<br />Luke 6:32<br /><br />Respect and regard for people who are different from us, in thought as much as in anything else, is what we as Unitarians should affirm, and not just to have respect and regard for those who we love for thinking the way we do.<br /><br />So I hope that those who may conclude that my beliefs regarding marriage must mean that I am a raving, self-hating, homophobe, strive to recognise that a difference in belief does not equal a moral failure.<br /><br />Likewise I hope that the writers of the letter to the Inquirer learn not to be so concerned with their fellow Unitarians whose freedom of thought and inquiry has led them to different opinions. Dissenters should not be in the business of striving to prevent dissent.<br /><br />Finally I hope that my own prejudices continue to be challenged, on this blog as much as in life, so that I can grow in my appreciation of truth.Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-19160040793803360622011-09-26T17:47:00.000+01:002011-09-26T17:48:49.616+01:00Joyous Introspection.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcD9RgDGTXR6csUVZnoJDAyzo87IFuDfxai27TrZJXruIBVUGjcInocMc2aTAkmlXdLM7a5vEspVCJOdKvUk0jHcN9or3QNKer1U3Nq3XJnvr7PEWBGzLb952y0IEzEZkJa16BWAn-A4/s1600/reproduction_painting_England_Parker%252C+Henry+Hillier+1858+-+1930_Harvest+Time%252C+Lambourne%252C+Berks.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcD9RgDGTXR6csUVZnoJDAyzo87IFuDfxai27TrZJXruIBVUGjcInocMc2aTAkmlXdLM7a5vEspVCJOdKvUk0jHcN9or3QNKer1U3Nq3XJnvr7PEWBGzLb952y0IEzEZkJa16BWAn-A4/s320/reproduction_painting_England_Parker%252C+Henry+Hillier+1858+-+1930_Harvest+Time%252C+Lambourne%252C+Berks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656674129829575810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies"</span> Psalm 119:59<br /><br />Often the emphasis during the harvest season is one of celebration, and rightfully so. It is, however, somewhat hard for our industrialised society to really appreciate this joy. For us vegetables, grain, fruit and meat are available all year round. Only a few generations ago, the harvest was vital to survival, a matter of life and death even. How appropriate therefore is joyous celebration. But this time of year, as the crops are brought in and the nights begin to lengthen, is also a time of accounting. Farmers and communities would assess what had grown well and what had failed. What could have been done differently and what had worked perfectly. It was a time of resolutions; what to plant for the following year, what practices to incorporate into the life of the farm and what animals to purchase. It was also a time for action; ploughing the fields to prepare them for the sowing of winter wheat. Is it any surprise therefore that the Hebrew calendar, deeply tied to agricultural cycles (of the Land of Israel) has the New Year at this time of year?<br /><br />Rosh HaShana, the Jewish New Year, takes all of the above themes and applies them to people. Celebration; thanking God for the year that was, and all the blessings bestowed. Self accounting; contemplation on conduct and behaviour over the previous year, with repentance for all that was done wrong. Resolutions for self-improvement over the coming year and finally action; expressed by extra punctiliousness in the performance of religious and moral obligations.<br /><br />Perhaps it is not coincidental that our political parties have their annual conference during this autumnal season, maybe there is "something in the air" that lends itself to such events. (Although how much honest introspection and repentance for past wrongs goes on at these functions is anyone's guess!)<br /><br />The Gospels have Jesus saying:<br /><br />"For each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh".<br />Luke 6:44-45<br /><br />Our actions do testify to our true nature, especially the smallest, almost unconscious actions. For a stingey person can perform a very large, public act of charity, but when he receives a few pennies more of change than he is owed he may pocket the lot without a second thought thereby eloquently testifying to his true self. Many of us can conduct ourselves with the greatest refinement in public, giving an impression of humility, kindness and gentleness, but in the privacy of our homes speak with sharp, arrogant and hurtful words to our loved ones, again actions that more starkly reveal our true selves. This harvest season gives us ample opportunity to examine the fruits of our behaviour over the year gone by, to see if they match with the view of ourselves that we have or are aiming for. Like the farmer we can ask ourselves where and why did we go wrong, and identify how we were successful.<br /><br />In honesty however I have some confusion with Jesus' words on this subject. Immediately before the verse brought above he is said to say:<br /><br />"For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit."<br /><br />Is this really so? If I understand the metaphor correctly (and I would appreciate correcting if I am wrong) it means that a good person does not bring forth evil deeds and an evil person does not bring forth lasting goodness. But there have certainly been good people, who have done great wrongs either in a moment of passion, out of ignorance or misguidance etc, just as there have been negative people, even some of histories tyrants, who on occasion have done kindnesses for others and left legacies of goodness from which we still benefit. But in general I agree with Jesus, we are what we do, far more that what we think or what we say. (Interestingly if that teaching of Jesus is taken literally as some denominations do, then how can they deem Judas to be wicked? For according to them his betrayal of Jesus lead to the crucifixion and resurrection which was central to the salvation of mankind. If Judas was evil then how could he have created such good fruit? But I digress.)<br /><br />Even for those who do not celebrate the New Year at this time, the opportunity for new beginnings is to be found. Fresh back at work, school or the domestic routine after the summer, we can all resolve to walk again the paths of the Eternal's testimonies. To lead a life that produces a harvest of good fruits in abundance.<br /><br />"I can pick cherries from a tree,<br />Or break the branch and let it die:<br />For good or ill, my hands are free.<br />With fingers I can soothe a brow,<br />Or make a fist and strike a blow,<br />Kindness or cruelty bestow.<br />Then let us now this lesson see:<br />Like life itself our hands can be<br />For evil used, or charity."<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">John Andrew Storey</span>Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-54903871127349755862011-08-30T09:08:00.002+01:002011-08-30T09:14:08.746+01:00Perfection and Peace<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoibXqRt2Ks0vLpoI2R_9LPDEf7Xvx5TQvx1VJQkHAODGlfRbIxVkpmT7cbvr_DeNfrCq2QMONO-puQMaYw24NsllffuQqUPBSj4N4MCIfTZTS_fn9WPMpvCzndaVDSUZ0-jAv7IGOso/s1600/article-1097132-02D789DB000005DC-285_468x388.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoibXqRt2Ks0vLpoI2R_9LPDEf7Xvx5TQvx1VJQkHAODGlfRbIxVkpmT7cbvr_DeNfrCq2QMONO-puQMaYw24NsllffuQqUPBSj4N4MCIfTZTS_fn9WPMpvCzndaVDSUZ0-jAv7IGOso/s320/article-1097132-02D789DB000005DC-285_468x388.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646557630002606178" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"A soft answer turneth away wrath: But a grievous word stirreth up anger."</span>
<br />Proverbs 15:1
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<br />During the last month our television, radio and newspapers have been filled with many tales of strife. Between peoples and their governments, between rioters and the police, and many other similar stories.
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<br />One of my favourite lines in the beautiful BBC adaptation 'Lark Rise to Candleford' is delivered by the character Dorcas Lane, the postmistress played by Julia Sawalha:
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<br />"There seems to be an attitude abroad of seeking out conflict, relishing it, to feed the worst in human nature. I am often accused of being sentimental, it's true, I cannot deny it. I just find it so much more interesting to seek out forgiveness and acceptance and those so easily mocked values such as generosity and loyalty and love. I know it is considered old fashioned in these oh so modern times, but I love my community. Write about love..I dare you".
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<br />I was reminded of these words while talking to a friend of mine whose church is somewhat afflicted by a dispute between several existing members and several ex members of the congregation. I struggled to understand how people who come together deliberately to share in fellowship, and to embrace and embody the values of forgiveness and generosity can fall into the same patterns of conflict that have torn and continue to tear communities and even whole countries apart. I am saddened by how many in our own Unitarian circles are disillusioned and turned off by the lack of tolerance often exhibited by our denomination which likes to wear its broad-mindedness and liberality on its sleeve. If religious folk who preach peace and communion are seemingly not without fault in these selfsame areas, should this cause us to give up in despair? I certainly know of those who think so.
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<br />One only has to look at all the literature ever produced by the hand of man, or even in the Bible itself to see how deeply entrenched in the human heart is the idea of discord with one's fellow man. For all our advancement and modernity we still suffer from war and ill-feeling amongst people. Should we think as does Mr Thornton in Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South:
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<br />"If only there where a mechanism to enable us all to live together. We can bring back marmosets from Mozambique but we cannot stop man from behaving as he always has."
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<br />There is, however, an alternative way and subsequently there is hope. We were informed long ago by our teacher, his words being as relevant today, that:
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<br />"Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48
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<br />But what is this perfection of which Jesus speaks? Clearly it cannot refer to a complete absence of wrongdoing or needs. That type of perfection is only to be found in God's own unique existence, as we are told by scripture when it says that there is no righteous man upon the earth that doeth good and sinneth not (Ecclesiastes 7:20). We all do wrong. Jesus himself taught that there is no one, including himself, that truly merits to be called good. For only the Eternal One can ultimately be known by that description.
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<br />No, the perfection of which Jesus speaks is, in my opinion, that which comes from emulating God by pouring out our kindness and love even on those whom have caused us harm. To move beyond the wrong done to us and seek the welfare of those whose choice to upset us demonstrates their deep need for repentance, improvement and healing.
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<br />Conflict may be part of the human experience and will sadly be found even in the sanctuaries of the world's faiths, however we can aspire for better. We can aspire for better in our private and communal lives, and despite the guaranteed failures along the way, we can rejoice in knowing that each step in the right direction, each temptation for strife overcome, is an emulation of the Eternal's perfection that surrounds us and our world with glory.
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<br />Perfection is not always getting it right. Perfection is found in aspiring for the good and constantly battling forward in that direction.
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<br />"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God" Matthew 5:9.
<br />Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-43204372669681930452011-08-15T13:44:00.000+01:002011-08-15T13:44:00.035+01:00Self-Restraint VS External Coercion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGXOKYfrgA_ptw8m-y1fXQc5GI8ABM8XTILda6dafagvWfOHwGMqAe0d-ui-F3wY0TDCBkMcJfrziA1houvroHB9xKdCR8Gr__OkGsm_9eWDPkTriNHJNMRLH5Vdb4hC9SG_ggv7fXrY/s1600/Samuel_Smiles_by_Sir_George_Reid.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGXOKYfrgA_ptw8m-y1fXQc5GI8ABM8XTILda6dafagvWfOHwGMqAe0d-ui-F3wY0TDCBkMcJfrziA1houvroHB9xKdCR8Gr__OkGsm_9eWDPkTriNHJNMRLH5Vdb4hC9SG_ggv7fXrY/s320/Samuel_Smiles_by_Sir_George_Reid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641045415519163602" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are his children after him."</span> Proverbs 20:7
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<br />"National progress is the sum of individual industry, energy and uprightness, as national decay is of individual idleness, selfishness, and vice. What we are accustomed to decry as great social evils, will, for the most part, be found to be but the outgrowth of man's own perverted life; and though we may endeavour to cut them down and extirpate them by means of Law, they will only spring up again with fresh luxuriance in some other form, unless the conditions of personal life and character are radically improved. If this view be correct, then it follows that the highest patriotism and philanthropy consist, not so much in altering laws and modifying institutions, as in helping and stimulating men to elevate and improve themselves by their own free and independent individual action."
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<br />These words form part of the introduction to 'Self-Help' the most celebrated work of Samuel Smiles (1812-1904); a book which contains much wisdom and down-to-earth common sense.
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<br />Over the past week we have all heard the many opinions offered to explain the causes of the inexcusable orgy of violence and theft which took hold of many of our major cities early last week. Broadly (perhaps far too broadly) these arguments can be divided into two categories; the Condemnatory and the Understanding. Those who have embraced the former have spoken for a need for greater police powers, and harsher sentences for the perpetrators coupled with the loss of benefits to punish their families. Many on this side of the argument consider themselves as completely uncontaminated by and non-responsible for the moral failings of those who engaged in the wanton violence. They exhibit an Us-and-Them mentality. Good folk vs the savage underclass.
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<br />Those who subscribe to the Understanding approach have in many cases simply and transparently projected their own political ideology and discontent onto the rioters, transforming them into their personal hired-thugs to vicariously argue in favour of their own world view. A sort of "If you don't accept and implement my social/political ideology then you can expect (and deserve) similar violence" argument. I notice how many on this side of the debate very rarely express a similar desire to understand the sins and motivations of the wealthy bankers, politicians or even Murdoch and his empire! No when it comes to these wealthy sinners, it would seem they are wickedness itself.
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<br />Of course there have been plenty of reasonable, nuanced and well thought-out arguments that have gone some way to shed light onto the events that have so starkly brought to light the problems in our society and we do ourselves a disservice if we dismiss such arguments because their nuance reveals the complexity of the problem.
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<br />One motivating factor that I feel has not really been discussed enough is that of Fun. It was evident on the faces of so many looters that they were having a most exciting and amusing time. A carnival of destruction if you will. I heard many of the revellers interviewed expressing that very same motive for their acts of criminality. Why though should this come as any surprise? Anyone who has ever seen a child (and sometimes an adult) at play will know that there is great pleasure in an act of destruction. Add to this the cat-and-mouse element with the police and the sense of fun is predictably magnified. Acquisition itself produces much felicity, how many of us don't feel an increased sense of joy when we purchase an item we covet?
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<br />Problems arise when such natural, universal human instincts and desires combine with an absence or atrophy of strong moral values and self-restraint. Without these constraining bridles the worst of human kind can become unleashed, how much more so when inflamed to huge proportions in the super-charged and uninhibited atmosphere of a mob. As people we are not wholly bad or wholly good, but instead are a weave of both virtue and vice. If virtue is not placed as something to be desired and worked for, we lose the counterweight that serves to keep in check the worst in us.
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<br />While the focus of the past few days has been strongly on young people and children, it behoves all of us to realise that their behaviour during the looting was simply the extreme end of a spectrum which includes us all. Where have youngsters learned that the pursuit of fun and acquisition overcomes the verities of right and wrong? Why are notions of right and wrong themselves so abstract in the minds of many youngsters? Because that is the example that we adults have set. I could mention example after example of people (myself included) placing their own pleasure, their own wants before their duty and obligations to themselves and others. It is evident to me that we have created a society which redefines selfishness as a right and duty and restraint as repression.
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<br />How many households are in debt as a result of adults spending what they do not have? Do people really think their children don't realise what goes on? What example do adults indulging in casual drug use (and I include cigarettes in this too) give to young minds? That my moment of pleasure is far more important than the damage I do to others in my vicinity or to those in my society who may assume from my behaviour that it is OK to indulge. What lessons are we transmitting when we treat sexual intimacy as a recreational activity? That it is perfectly acceptable to reduce another human being to an unimportant vehicle of my own lustful pleasure; and then we claim to find it shocking that there are swathes of the country where young men think nothing of sleeping with girls and leaving them alone to deal with the consequences! What lesson did all those shoppers who tumbled over and crushed each other in order to grab some bargains in a Primark shop back in 2007 teach their offspring? That my desire for a new pair of shoes transcends all moral codes.
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<br />"The nation that has no higher god than pleasure, or even dollars or calico, must needs be in a poor way. It were better to revert to Homer's gods than be devoted to these; for the heathen deities at least imaged human virtues, and were something to look up to". '<span style="font-style: italic;">Character' Samuel Smiles</span>
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<br />Watching the news, or reading the papers last week, one could not help but be struck by the contrast of individuals throwing all decency and righteousness to the gutter in pursuit of fun and acquisition with the images of those children and adults whose lives are fading away as they succumb to the spectre of starvation and absolute poverty in the horn of Africa. What shame we should all feel at this. How demeaned has our nation become despite of its relative affluence? How unfortunately apposite are the words of scripture when they say:
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<br />"Thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art become corpulent - Then he forsook God which made him and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation." Deuteronomy 32:15
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<br />I feel that the cost in continuing along the path that Britain (and so many other countries around the world) has been travelling upon will be very high. I have no doubt that Samuel Smiles was right when he wrote about the fate of nations that are composed of people:
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<br />"Living for themselves only, and with no end but pleasure - each little self his own little god - such a nation is doomed and its decay inevitable."
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<br />It is we, collectively, who have manufactured an environment (with much assistance from governments of all stripes) where self-realisation, self-indulgence and selfishness have trumped the Divine values of self-restraint, self-respect and selflessness, and it is we again collectively who could reverse the trend; a task which everyone is, according to Samuel Smiles, equally qualified to perform and to achieve:
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<br />"Even the humblest person, who sets before his fellows an example of industry, sobriety and upright honesty of purpose in life, has a present as well as a future influence upon the well-being of his country; for his life and character pass unconsciously into the lives of others, and propagate good example for all time to come."
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<br />The opportunities for us to strengthen our individual and collective character are daily given to us. For there really is no act, however trivial, that does not have its train of consequences:
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<br />"Every action, every thought, every feeling, contributes to the education of the temper, the habits, and understanding; and exercises an inevitable influence upon all the acts of our future life. Thus character is undergoing constant change, for better or for worse - either being elevated on the one hand, or degraded on the other".<span style="font-style: italic;"> 'Character' Samuel Smiles</span>
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<br />Unitarians have traditionally valued the power of individual character, and recognised that Liberty can only be created and maintained when people are governed by the ennobling qualities of self-restraint and moral integrity in place of the coercive and ultimately ineffectual power of the state. They brought to people the hopeful and life-giving gospel of Jesus, and taught that salvation is gained through good character. Let us today, following the example and instruction of our ancestors in faith and our teacher Jesus, take up the same banner and bring dignity, respect and hope to all those who are in desperate need of them, ourselves included.
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<br />"When the time arrives in any country when wealth has so corrupted, or pleasure so depraved, or faction so infatuated the people, that honour, order, obedience, virtue and loyalty have seemingly become things of the past; then, amidst the darkness, when honest men - if haply there be such left - are groping about and feeling for each other's hands, their only remaining hope will be in the restoration and elevation of Individual Character; for by that alone can a nation be saved; and if character be irrecoverably lost, then indeed there will be nothing left worth saving." <span style="font-style: italic;">'Character' Samuel Smiles</span>
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<br />"Lives of great men all remind us
<br />We can make our lives sublime,
<br />And, departing, leave behind us
<br />Footprints on the sands of time.
<br />Footprints that perhaps another,
<br />Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
<br />A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
<br />Seeing, shall take heart again."
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">'A Psalm of Life' Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.</span>
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<br />Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-35714137823237214552011-07-31T22:51:00.000+01:002011-08-01T00:07:03.442+01:00The Wheel Of The Year Turns<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzHdjr9RbMFS0Lwg8o888ErEL38qKvJzlP4YyhMokxrHjdDszzAC8XdmqPgK08lGXC20MeeP5hox5DGFGiy5qdA4YkR6g9YaiykCBpfO7UA-yhQnV5FyvGuj3rHQz8b4Y6ZUOdBRVHsg/s1600/Bridie+Doll+2007+30%2525.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzHdjr9RbMFS0Lwg8o888ErEL38qKvJzlP4YyhMokxrHjdDszzAC8XdmqPgK08lGXC20MeeP5hox5DGFGiy5qdA4YkR6g9YaiykCBpfO7UA-yhQnV5FyvGuj3rHQz8b4Y6ZUOdBRVHsg/s320/Bridie+Doll+2007+30%2525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635610917412474866" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"When thy reapest thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: It shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands."</span><br />Deuteronomy 24:19<br /><br />The first of August ushers in the festival of Lammas. This festive day, the origins of which go back into perhaps ancient history, traditionally marks the beginning of the grain harvest season and autumn in general. While it was observed in many different ways around the country, a common tradition was to take a loaf of bread to church in order to give thanks to God for His beneficence and to pray for blessings upon the coming harvest. Enamoured as I am with rural life and its culture I too had the privilege today, on the eve of Lammas, of taking a freshly made loaf of bread into my chapel. Combined with some lovely jams and lemon curd brought in by a fellow member of the congregation, a delightful little repast greeted the worshippers during our fellowship time after the morning service. Inquisitive as Unitarians tend to be, there were many questions about why the bread was there, and as a result they discovered an aspect of British tradition that they might not have known about previously.<br /><br />True to the season, the fields surrounding my home are now in the process of being harvested, the land stripped of its blanket of wheat which was planted earlier in the year or even last year. The wheel of the year turns and it never ceases to amaze me or fill me with an awe that is indescribable, reinforcing in my heart the awareness that our world is an ever-present witness to a profound wisdom.<br /><br />This world is not chaos; it has an order inherent in every aspect of it, large or small. The seasons and all they bring are clearly purposeful, and I would go further; are clearly the work of One incomprehensible mind. The ancients regarded the many forces of nature as somewhat separate from each other, each a master of its own domain that could be petitioned, appeased and in some cases manipulated, so that the aspect of nature it was said to be responsible for could serve and not harm the interests of man. Then a new voice was heard that taught that all those apparently disparate forces, are nothing other than the expressed will of one single and Almighty God. An entirely new relationship with the Divine was born in the hearts of man, one that has utterly changed our world. The more we have discovered about the workings of the cosmos, the more the unity of the Divine has become apparent. Even those who remained uncertain as to the existence of God were not unfeeling to the mystery of creation itself:<br /><br />"You find it surprising that I think of the comprehensibility of the world...as a miracle of eternal mystery. But surely, <span style="font-style: italic;">a priori</span>, one should expect the world to be chaotic, not to be grasped by thought in any way... Even if the axioms of the theory are posited by man, the success of such a procedure supposes in the objective world a high degree of order, which we are in no way entitled to expect <span style="font-style: italic;">a priori</span>. Therein lies the 'miracle' which becomes more and more evident as our knowledge develops."<br />Albert Einstein.<br /><br />Last week I watched a wonderful BBC programme called The Code. In it the mathematician Marcus du Sautoy reveals the mathematical code that underpins all creation. From prime numbers that guide the, critical to survival, timing of the emergence of certain species of cicadas, to Pi which is to be found within all circles both man-made and natural. This great mystery, the nature of the spectacularly ordered, mathematically regulated laws of the Universe is outdone only by the even greater miracle, that our limited human brains are made in such a way that they too recognise the fundamental pattern of creation and can utilise it to create all the technology and know-how that has contributed so much to our collective knowledge and success:<br /><br />"There is one qualitative aspect of reality that sticks out from all others in both profundity and mystery. It is the consistent success of mathematics as a description of the workings of reality and the ability of the human mind to discover and invent mathematical truths"<br />John Barrow, Theories of Everything.<br /><br />Keeping our minds on the rationality of our universe can also help us to have trust in a future of which we do not know. We can, if we so choose, walk simply with God. For He who orders our world, who sustains all and whose wisdom lays behind the changing seasons, the ripening grain, and the harvest bounty, will also guide us along our journey, leading us on the paths we must tread. Free in the embrace of this trust we can turn our attention to our duty towards our Maker and His creations, or as our teacher Jesus taught:<br /><br />"For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow; for the morrow will be anxious for itself."<br />Matthew 6:32-34<br /><br />Children are now off school, families are spending greater amounts of time together, perhaps on holidays in which much money has been invested. This is an opportune time to harvest as much happiness and joy from this season of togetherness, and convert them into lasting memories that will sustain us through the winter months until the sun's warmth returns next spring. Just as the farmer is bidden, during the harvest season of abundance, to remember strangers and the disadvantaged, so too we should share our late summer happiness with those who could benefit. Perhaps some holiday money could be set aside to provide for those who lack. Perhaps an acquaintance or even an estranged family member can be invited to join a family celebration, outing or even barbecue!<br /><br />May this coming month fill all our lives with happiness, peace and success, and may we make proper use of the blessings bestowed upon us, and by so doing walk our journey's road in the guiding embrace of creation's Author.<br /><br />"The Lord my pasture shall prepare, and feed me with a shepherd's care;<br />His presence shall my wants supply, and guard me with a watchful eye;<br />My noon-day walks He shall attend, and all my midnight hours defend."<br />Joseph Addison 1712Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-36414055969026940672011-07-25T13:14:00.001+01:002011-07-25T13:14:11.363+01:00Extinguishing the Flames of Hatred.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfRs3i9spnn7uvlyPwWzk2ibMVhyphenhyphensDpcX0ahOtxAuvI1o4SPOyUDeLnIlaHi2ObliqLvgxh2su5m6kq7ZJJJOTlOveQKLX18JRE6mgw7m9SkwcxzJMEByYOMnMp8UjF63Pf2O5mGplfw/s1600/Ercole_de_Roberti_Destruction_of_Jerusalem_Fighting_Fleeing_Marching_Slaying_Burning_Chemical_reactions_b.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfRs3i9spnn7uvlyPwWzk2ibMVhyphenhyphensDpcX0ahOtxAuvI1o4SPOyUDeLnIlaHi2ObliqLvgxh2su5m6kq7ZJJJOTlOveQKLX18JRE6mgw7m9SkwcxzJMEByYOMnMp8UjF63Pf2O5mGplfw/s320/Ercole_de_Roberti_Destruction_of_Jerusalem_Fighting_Fleeing_Marching_Slaying_Burning_Chemical_reactions_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633261694501370418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"And let them make unto Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them."</span><br />Exodus 25:8<br /><br />Norway is in deep mourning after the terrible atrocity that took place there only a few short days ago. Much of the world looks on with immense sympathy and shock, as people struggle to understand how a human being can behave with such wanton cruelty towards innocent people.<br /><br />Much of the religious Jewish world is also in mourning at the moment, at least symbolically, as the annual cycle once again arrives at the period of commemoration and mourning for the destruction of their Temple in Jerusalem and their subsequent exile, years of wandering and suffering. All too apposite is the ancient sages attribution of the cause of that destruction to one terrible sin: sinas chinam or in English: baseless hatred, as it would appear that baseless hatred was what most likely led to the loss of lives in Norway and which so often underlies the rifts in our own society which are always there in the background threatening to tear down our own temple of liberty, co-existence and tolerance.<br /><br />Anders Behring Breivik, seemingly motivated by loathing and what can only be described as monumental vanity, claims to have been defending a Christian Europe and specifically a Norway, under threat from Islam and immigration. Like all totalitarians he claims that those who disagree with him are facilitators and conspirators of this threat and that they must be destroyed. How ironic that a man who claims that Islamic jihadists are the biggest threat to Norway, himself carries out the biggest act of violence on that soil since the Second World War. How telling that a man who rails against Marxists, reflects the very worst of their excesses by he himself seeking a revolution to snuff out liberty and acting towards that goal by ending the lives of those who disagree with him. Also this defender of Christendom most certainly did not have Christ's teachings in mind while he was plotting and carrying out his nefarious actions upon those whom, in his distorted mind, were his enemies. For was it not Jesus who said:<br /><br />"But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. Bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you. To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloke withhold not thy coat also...<br />But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing: And your reward shall be great and you shall be sons of the Most High; for He is kind towards the unthankful and evil. Be ye merciful even as your Father is merciful. And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned." Luke 6:27-29 35-37<br /><br />But while the events of last week were the work of one man, embracing the most extreme of ideologies, elements of his thinking are to be found throughout society and similar arguments are to be found directed at different "enemies" throughout the political spectrum. It behoves everyone to think carefully about how they express their views and beliefs and to conduct themselves with the greatest caution lest their words and ideas feed into a mindset that, at its most extreme, rationalises cruelty and hatred. In this regard I am reminded of the words of the first century Jewish sage Avtalyon:<br /><br />Scholars, be very careful with your words for you may be exiled (drift) to a place of evil-waters (dangerous teachings) and students will come after you and drink (learn from you) and be destroyed, and the Name of Heaven will be desecrated.<br />Pirkei Avos 1:3<br /><br />Nothing however, should preclude the necessary debates on subjects that concern people, and neither should people rush to label as "extremist" or "bigoted" views with which they disagree or the people who hold them. Discourse that inflames or increases the often distorted view held by sadly far too many people on a variety of issues must however be challenged and revealed for what it is. The views one sometimes hears from otherwise good and decent people, about immigration for example or about those seeking asylum are frequently dispiriting to say the least, and very far from the compassionate, and humane spirit which, I believe, should characterise our nation and which I find embodied in the following words:<br /><br />"Take the stranger. Trustful does he enter your country, your city, your community, confident of finding people who will respect him as their fellow-man and not begrudge him a place among themselves where he can live, and live like a human being; he has no other letter of recommendation than his human countenance, nobody to introduce him but God, Who presents him to you as His child, and says: 'He is like you, may he do as you do - grant him equal rights- he is My child, My earth is his home; I have called on him, just as I called on you, joyfully to fulfil his task as a human being; do not curtail that right of his do not spoil his joy of life, do not abuse his helplessness; show that you feel that your soil is God's soil, and that man is God's child."<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Horeb</span> Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch 1837<br /><br />There are of course issues that surround immigration that must be resolved in the interests of both those that have chosen or been forced by circumstances to settle here, and the host nation. These should be debated without fear or recrimination, in a calm and rational fashion free from passion or zeal. I myself am personally delighted and heartened to hear that the sentiments, so eloquently expressed by Rabbi Hirsch, are alive and well in the work that Reverend Bob Pounder of Oldham Unitarians, is doing in assisting asylum seekers. May his efforts be blessed with much success.<br /><br />Sorrowfully it would seem that the temptation to engage in vituperation against anyone that does not share the same beliefs, be they political, social or religious is very strong. It can be seen in the way that bankers are regarded and spoken of routinely as the epitome of greed, selfishness and wickedness. It can also be seen in the language and conduct on display during protests against President Bush or Tony Blair. It is graphically manifested in the contorted faces and rage filled cries of participants of English Defence League protests and most tragically it was displayed in the ravings of Anders Breivik who regarded young people associated with the Norwegian Labour party as traitors. And it can often be seen in the snide remarks, put-downs and gossip which we all engage in. It would seem that we have all much to learn about the true meaning of human dignity and liberty and that an argument is lost the very moment it becomes about the person/people instead of the issue.<br /><br />As Unitarians we often pride ourselves, and certainly present ourselves, as the paradigm of tolerance and liberal thought. This is certainly a good goal for us to aim for and one that is worked hard at, but we are still I feel, far from achieving it. Indeed this very claim is often used by us to wrap ourselves in a mantel of self-righteousness in order to pour scorn on others whose faiths or attitudes are not (on paper) as magnanimous as our own. I know of one congregation that is on the verge of collapse due to the inability of its members to accommodate each other's ideas and beliefs. I also know a person who was an avid contributor (and still wishes to be) to the musical life of her congregation until a controversy arose because several people found her use of "He" in reference to God, to be unacceptable! I am sure many Unitarians have experienced or know of those who have experienced a degree of intolerance from their fellows in the faith. It is relatively easy to argue for tolerance on the big political and social issues of the day, but much less, so it would seem, to embody tolerance in the mundane life of our communities.<br /><br />Now, as always, our world is riddled with divisions and hatreds, some bigger and more violent others smaller and parochial but both ultimately destructive. We whose name speaks of unity, which testifies to the unity of humankind under the unity of God, must truly exemplify it in everything we do and in how our chapels, churches, meeting-houses and denomination conduct themselves internally and externally. With endeavour, co-operation with others and God's help, we can surely play a part in softening the edges of human interaction, creating a society of kindness, benevolence, grace and liberty. A society which will be a shining temple, a sanctified abode in which the Almighty may dwell forever in our midst.<br /><br />"Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!.....For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."<br />Psalm 133Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-9349750050036959252011-07-17T13:10:00.010+01:002011-07-18T12:19:53.421+01:00Men Who Stare At Goats<span style="font-weight: bold;">"And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a man that is in readiness into the wilderness."</span> Leviticus 16:21<br /><br />There has always been present in human nature a desire to project all its negative aspects onto some external, usually powerful, other. By so doing it allows the individual or the group to comfortably express anger and rage at the very aspects of their own nature that they find troublesome, and also helps to remove the shackles of personal responsibility. Ambrose Bierce in his "Devil's Dictionary" succinctly expressed this reality in the following way:<br /><br />"Responsibility: A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbour. In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star."<br /><br />Traditionally, Christianity shifted such burdens onto the devil, a character that in order to gain some scriptural legitimacy was grafted somewhat clumsily and unconvincingly onto the Hebrew Bible's Satan. Ironically that same Hebrew Bible is very aware of this predilection of human psychology and in page after page it refutes this manner of thinking. The issue is clearly of some significance as the Bible refers to it very early on; Adam seeks to blame Eve (and God) and Eve blames the serpent for their sin. Cain goes even further and famously denies the very concept of moral responsibility altogether:<br /><br />"Am I my brother's keeper?" Genesis 4:9<br /><br />In the New Testament our teacher's brother in addressing this very subject, has the following words attributed to him:<br /><br />"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempteth no man: But each man is tempted when he is drawn away by <span style="font-style: italic;">his own lust</span>, and enticed. Then the lust when it hath conceived beareth sin." James 1:13-15<br /><br />Very often the figure that is held responsible for the wrongdoing inherent in each of us, is often endowed with incredible power, and in the case of the devil, traditional Christianity came close to creating a dualistic theology! All evil actions and harmful events are seen to have the hand of the evil-one behind them, either directly or through the armies of its wicked servants. In the last century this self-serving irrationality was clearly evident in the demonisation of the Jews by Nazi Germany, in which the very victims of Nazi racism and oppression were accused of wilful corruption of the German "race", oppressing Germany and subsequently blamed for all that nation's difficulties.<br /><br />And now yet again we see this growth-stunting mindset in action in the response to the Phone-Hacking scandal. Having read and heard much commentary on this subject (which apparently is of greater importance, to judge by the attention given, than the crisis in the horn of Africa or any other event) it would appear that Mr Murdoch and his News International are the new Beelzebub! If we are to believe what many would have us believe Mr Murdoch has some truly Voldemort-like powers of sorcery often deployed which enslave politicians and which successfully control the collective mind of our nation! As a result politicians suddenly (and conveniently) finding their courage are taking upon themselves the role of exorcists as they seek to "break the spell" of the media mogul's satanic influence and have him cast into the outer darkness. This is in my opinion all tosh!<br /><br />No one forced politicians of all parties to flatter, fawn and entertain Mr Murdoch and co (or for that matter the BBC, Guardian etc). They chose to do so as they thought that it might help them advance their careers. They were quite happy to set aside or adapt their principles if they thought that the newspapers would promote them and their policies in a favourable light. Not all politicians however were willing to do that, and those dissenters (such as John Mann (Labour) and Ann Widdecombe (Conservative) for example are a living reproach against all those that did, if your pardon the phrase, "dance with the devil". Neither was it Murdoch's fabled power that led many MP's to behave with less than perfect propriety in regards to their expenses. (Oh I'm terribly sorry, that was if I remember correctly the fault of "The System").<br /><br />Nor did anyone cast an enchantment onto the police that stripped them of their free will and forced them, if the allegations are true, to accept many thousands of pounds in exchange for information and then seek to obstruct (?) this reality from becoming known.<br /><br />And what of us, the Great British Public, what about our outrage at the wrongdoings of the media set. Was it not we who hungered after more gossip and more scandal and stripped the shelves clean of newspapers that provided it? Did we not collectively derive pleasure at the revelations of the sordidness in the private lives of those that we ourselves have elevated to the heights of celebrity status. Have we not filled cyberspace with speculations and disclosures? Is it not us that fuel the popularity of television shows that derive their fame from presenting human misery and degradation for public entertainment? Would we be right to blame the mythic powers of News International for all this or might we look inwards at ourselves? I feel that we could certainly benefit at this moment from heeding the words of Jesus:<br /><br />"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Matthew 7:3<br /><br />The disturbing allegations of phone hacking that began this drama are appalling, however not that surprising, and anyone truly responsible for this law breaking should be dealt with appropriately. Beyond that, this is an opportunity for us all to look at the nature of the society that we have created and specifically our individual role in it. We should not allow any individual or organisation to be scapegoated for aspects of our culture that we find distasteful and the same is also true on the micro scale, in our families, in our chapels and churches and in our workplaces.<br /><br />The media scandal and the underlying issues it exposes will not I feel be fundamentally resolved by the passing of more laws or with expression of synthetic outrage. It can only be remedied if our nation and we as individuals come to realise and work actively towards a truth so beautifully expressed by Samuel Smiles:<br /><br />"That which raises a country, that which strengthens a country, and that which dignifies a country - that which spreads her power, creates her moral influence, and makes her respected and submitted to, bends the heart of millions and bows down the pride of nations to her - the instrument of obedience, the fountain of supremacy, the true throne, crown, and sceptre of a nation; this aristocracy is not an aristocracy of blood, not an aristocracy of fashion, not an aristocracy of talent only; it is an aristocracy of Character. That is the true heraldry of man. The crown and glory of life is Character.<br />"Self Help" Samuel Smiles 1859<br /><br />This is something that with God's grace and assistance we can all work at and hopefully achieve some measure of success in our own lives.Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-34636650418422434382011-06-27T11:27:00.001+01:002011-06-27T11:27:29.635+01:00Nature's Song"<span style="font-weight: bold;">The flowers appear on the earth; the time of song is come, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripeneth her green figs, and the vines are in blossom, they give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the steep place. Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice. For sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely.</span>" Song of Songs 2:12-14<br /><br />There are moments when the majesty and beauty of nature simply take your breath away and the awesomeness of creation envelops you. Moments where all the pomp and spectacle of humanity seem as nothing in comparison. Or as Jesus put it:<br /><br />"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one these". Matthew 6:28-29<br /><br />Yesterday I had one such moment<br /><br />After a very long, tiring and trying day (except for the beautiful couple of hours in chapel during the morning) I finally had time to sit in peace for a little while, and enjoy the sunshine and that special tranquillity that only a summer evening can bring. After watching a little cricket on the village green I started across the fields heading home. Walking along cool wooded hedgerows, views of a wide, gently rolling landscape framed by brambles and trees, I approached a flat area, nestled gently in the valley of a stream. The fields that stretched out in all directions, their golden/green colour illuminated by the golden warmth of the sun, were stained with multiple patches of red from the many poppies scattered amongst the grain. The heavens, the wide, cloudless, deep blue sky was magnificent in its scale and colour, a huge canopy-like expanse providing as much space as needed for the swifts to weave and dive. The sounds of crickets and birdsong were the musical accompaniment to this symphony of nature. I was transfixed to the spot, my eyes drinking every sight and my heart bursting with joy, awe and gratitude as the past and future disappeared leaving me only in the present. In moments such as these God is seemingly never as close and the sweet voice and comely countenance of our Divine beloved are there to be experienced.<br /><br />This went on to remind me of something I once heard from the Chief Rabbi, who pointed out that such an experience is only one of several ways in which we encounter God. The sound of someone crying out in pain or fear, the sight of someone in need or more accurately our response to these things, are also encounters with the Divine and no less significant. These are clarion calls summoning us to take an active role, to be partners with Him in creation.<br /><br />In a world as immense and complex as ours, surely the inquisitiveness of our own minds, authored by the same Designer of nature, cannot be artificially limited without negative consequences. Those that feel that they can protect what they regard as true, by shackling and stifling the minds of others, commit what can only be termed an atrocity against the human spirit, and perhaps even a degree of blasphemy. For truth needs no supports, requires no underhand methods to maintain itself. It is its own justification. The overwhelming magnitude, complexity and beauty of our world, should be matched only by our willingness to expand our minds, deepen our understanding and to grace our lives with the beauty of a life lived always ready to hear and respond lovingly to the still small voice of God.<br /><br />The earth, and all the heavenly frame, their great Creator's love proclaim.<br />He gives the sun his genial power, and sends the soft refreshing shower.<br />The ground with plenty blooms again, and yields its various fruits to men;<br />To men, who from his bounteous hand. Receive the gifts of every land.<br />Nor to the human race alone; is His paternal goodness shown.<br />The tribes of earth, and sea, and air, enjoy His universal care.<br />Thomas Gibbons 1720-1785Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-58881390356727358172011-06-20T09:26:00.002+01:002011-06-20T09:30:02.350+01:00A Nightingale Gives Pause For Thought<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb2y0AtQGZx_c7LFee4FRhpHBUuMV5qgLaUSqvmgDmpBNTkGSK2upUI06Nb6uUyKijOPojm737hTVuZgjgii0MNYKtfKIIYCFn24fHIib8iRP_yrJB_jF8rjdsLJDO9sxKWz_AA4ZZeU/s1600/florence380px-Florence_Nightingale_1920_reproduction.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 320px;" 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: But woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up."</b> Ecclesiastes 4:9-10<br /><br />Last week the issue of assisted suicide made the news, after the BBC broadcast a programme on the subject. The issues surrounding this controversial subject are far too important and far too complex to be given adequate attention in a small blog such as this. However during the week while listening to the discussions of friends and acquaintances, one principle thought entered my mind and persisted there, and I have decided to articulate it here. If it contributes anything to the discussion in any way whatsoever then I will feel that I have achieved something worthwhile.<br /><br />Before I begin I feel that it is important, for the sake of honesty, to elucidate my own position regarding this subject. For a variety of reasons I myself am not in favour, and not supportive of assisted suicide. This unquestionably influences what I will subsequently write. However I feel I understand the reasons why its advocates support it, and I strongly believe that those in favour are genuinely motivated by mercy, compassion and empathy. I only hope that those who disagree with my position also recognise that I too am motivated by these same values.<br /><br />Amongst the arguments in favour of assisted suicide I heard this week, one strongly perturbed me. Several people said that they would wish if possible to end their lives, or have their lives ended, in order to spare their children or others the burden of caring for them in their infirmity, a situation they dreaded. Some were very frightened of being in a situation where they would have to be cared for in such a way. In both cases it was clear that fear was a strong motivator, a fear of what they might inflict upon their loved ones, and a fear of having to be cared for. This fear was significantly greater than their fear of illness and even of death itself. This put me in mind of something that Florence Nightingale once said:<br /><br />"How very little can be done under the spirit of fear."<br /><br />I remain deeply concerned by what effect on our society assisted suicide might have, when that selfsame society more often views care as a burden and not a blessing. The appalling and heartbreaking manner in which some frail and elderly people had been treated in some of our nation's hospitals, nursing homes and homes, an abomination so graphically revealed over the past several weeks, including a damning report just out today, testifies to a profound chasm in the ethic of care even amongst some of those professionally charged with its fulfilment. Many elderly and vulnerable people, and we may all know personally at least some of them, are rarely visited even by their own families let alone strangers, and I would be unsurprised if some are left in no doubt that they and their needs are viewed as a burden or inconvenience. It is soul-destroying to imagine that instead of remedying this sorry state of affairs, we may instead acquiesce to the sadness and sometimes despair and fear it creates and bring to an early end, lives which could have grown in purpose and happiness even as they reached their end. Hopelessness and purposelessness are surely some of the darkest emotions and should be healed not reinforced.<br /><br />Modernity has brought us many gifts. So much has been invented and developed to make life easier for all of us; labour saving devices are present in every home, and the hardships and efforts that were the daily lot of our ancestors in the not so distant past, now only exist in memories and history books. For these advances and for this blessed progress we should sing paeans of praise to the Most High, who implanted in our minds the wisdom to accomplish all of this. However even blessings can have their darker sides. We are now so accustomed to ease that difficulty is seen as a curse to be avoided at all costs. Just as Jesus taught that one cannot serve God and Mammon, likewise the same can probably be said of serving God and Ease! No one can doubt that caring for others, especially those who are in the most need of it, can be very arduous on both mind and body. People who care for the most disabled and distressed people often have to struggle with exhaustion, stress and unsparing hardship. Who would not wish to spare someone, especially their loved ones, from this?<br /><br />But what is often not appreciated and certainly not championed enough, is that ministering to the needs of others can be the greatest of life's blessings. To know that you have used your strength, your whole self, to improve the life of another, to diminish their pain and suffering and to lift their spirits, can be the greatest of all possible joys. Many mothers and fathers could testify to this. And while we may all wish to avoid being placed in such a situation, if it should sadly occur then the option to perceive it as a privilege and a sacred entrustment should always be seen as possible.<br /><br />Caring and its ultimate realisation in the nursing of the sick and dying is a precious art, a sacred task that deserves the highest acclaim, or as Florence Nightingale said:<br /><br />"Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God's spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts. "<br /><br />Can we honestly say that our culture, our commonwealth, has elevated care, support and nursing onto the pedestal they deserve? Are our youth inflamed with a passionate desire to extend themselves, to sacrifice their personal physical and emotional comfort, for the sake of those most at need? Are those professionals who dedicate their lives to the care of others, sometimes in the most unpleasant circumstances, duly honoured and acknowledged? Do we vigorously chase the opportunities to bestow care and support? If the answer is no, then is this the correct atmosphere the correct time in which to introduce the concept of assisted suicide?<br /><br />I feel that it is not. Others will conclude otherwise and the debate will have to be had, appropriately, sensitively, honestly and carefully before true conclusions can be made.<br /><br />Florence Nightingale has left us with yet another pearl of wisdom:<br /><br />"You ask me why I do not write something... I think one's feelings waste themselves in words, they ought all to be distilled into actions and into actions which bring results."<br /><br />She was right, and those who feel as I do have an added duty to work actively to strengthen the care-ethic in society. To put into action our doctrine, and to draw as many people as possible into a work so universally relevant that all considerations of creed, colour and culture are set aside. As the words of Holy Scripture with which I began this post make clear, all such efforts can only succeed, when we support one another and lift each other when we fall.<br /><br />Whatever position the wider Unitarian denomination adopts on the issue of assisted suicide I hope and pray that despite any differences, we will be at the forefront of resurrecting the sacred virtue of care for others. And remove the need for anyone to contemplate ending their precious life, for fear that they may be any sort of burden. I pray that we play a leading part in transforming the attitude of society, so that caring will be seen as a privilege and those who are in receipt of it will be in no way diminished as a result. And I pray that we do all we can to celebrate, support and encourage those who devote themselves to care for others.<br /><br />"If your soul, with power uplifted, yearn for glorious deed,<br />Give your strength to serve your neighbour's every need.<br />Have you borne a secret sorrow in your lonely breast?<br />Take to you your sorrowing neighbour for a guest.<br />Share in full your bread of blessing, sorrow's burden share;<br />When your heart enfolds a neighbour, God is there".<br />Theodore Chickering Williams 1885-1915</p> <span style="font-family:georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br /></span><b></b>Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-48476313307589858782011-06-10T17:00:00.001+01:002011-06-10T17:00:09.634+01:00True Worship."<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? And what place shall be my rest? For all these things hath mine hand made, and so all these things came to be, saith the Lord: But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth in awe at my word.</span>"<br />Isaiah 66:1-2<br /><br />This week I came across an essay written by the 19th century champion of German Jewish Orthodoxy; Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch 1808-1888, which has impressed me considerably. These are his words:<br /><br />"Houses of God, Divine Services, are of secondary importance; for what is generally known as Divine Worship has in the sphere of (God's) Teaching neither the same meaning nor the same aim. The Divine Service of (God's) Teaching, is life itself, and to worship God means to obey the laws of God. Not by the manner in which you build His House, decorate His Temple, chant hymns and pray unto Him will God recognise you as belonging to Him, but by the manner in which you build and sanctify your own homes, serve Him in your everyday life, in your marriage, in the education of your children, in your family, your whole social relationship; whether and how you serve Him with your thoughts and feelings, your speech and your actions, your business life and your enjoyment; whether you fulfil in all these spheres the revealed Will of God - that is how God will judge you to see whether or not you are His servant. Temples, Houses of God, Divine Service do not testify anything to God, they exist in order to act as witnesses for you, to remind you of your God, to declare to you your task, to save you from the vicissitudes of life, to collect your thoughts as you appear before your God, to make you reflect upon your own self, to re-create for you again and again a true conception of your own self, your destiny and your whole relationship to God. The....houses of worship exist in order that (man) should prepare himself within them for the service of God in life. They are thus not for God but for man. For God is only there - and He is always there - where you allow Him to be Master and Father; where you submit yourself with a joyful heart to His rule, leadership, and teaching; where you are His servant, His disciple and His child."<br />Collected Writings Sivan 1<br /><br />These compelling, reasoned and well written words remind us that the religious and spiritual life is to be lived holistically, and should not be confined solely to the house of worship.<br /><br />Chaya Sara Kramer, a survivor of the Holocaust, when asked if she had been angry with God while in Auschwitz replied that she had not. "About the Holy One, Blessed be He, I didn't think anything except good, He created man and He sustains him. How can anyone doubt His goodness?" She then went on to reveal that in Auschwitz she, with The Eternal always in mind, strove to exercise the only power she had; the power to choose good, in her case by observing as many Jewish laws as she could, and assisting her fellow prisoners in all their needs as much as she could. With the perspective of this amazing women every theatre of life can be seen to contain opportunities to engage in worship. According to her biographer and friend, Sara Yoheved Rigler, Chaya Sara's world-view held that "a person reclining in the luxury spa of a five-star hotel who insults the waitress who brings her a glass of iced tea is in a far worse place than a girl keeping the Sabbath in Auschwitz".<br /><br />How strongly all this reminds me of the words of our teacher's brother:<br /><br />"What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? Can that faith save him?.....Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.<br />James 2:14-17<br /><br />There is nothing at all wrong, or so it seems to me, in working to craft beautiful and uplifting services, to relish our shared times of worship, or to beautify our churches. All these things are important. But our relationship with the Divine does not begin when we enter through the doors of our chapels and churches, nor does it end when we leave. Rousing hymns, elegant music and candle/chalice lightings are of no value if our behaviour at home or at work fails to sanctify the name of God, or fails to honour His image in those around us. For as Jesus taught:<br /><br />"But go ye and learn what this meaneth, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice."<br />Matthew 9:13<br /><br />I shall certainly try to keep in mind these lessons as I journey to chapel on Sunday, and will try to use the time in shared worship to rededicate myself to and remind myself of, my task and responsibilities as a child of God, to both my Maker and all His creations.<br /><br />"Dearly beloved brethren, God, in whom we live and move and have our being, never leaves us, day or night. But the very nearness and custom of His presence hide Him from our infirm and sinful hearts; and under cover of this darkness, our inner discernment becomes dim, temptations gain a shameful power, and the good that is in us droops and fades. To clear such blindness away, and recover the pure wisdom of a Christian mind, we are called to this day of remembrance and this house of prayer."<br />James Martineau <span style="font-style: italic;">Home Prayers With Two Services for Public Worship</span>Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-80769964895351747222011-06-06T12:12:00.001+01:002011-06-06T12:31:23.772+01:00Pentecost Reflections: Courage and Commitment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R_7bO1mIc3FRXH-E-59JY8BQDbvEo8JneR9WTqCmsZ3H8AqhVjA-8OSGvtIATb75zI7ZqOge8O5TouTu9URe7p9W5blpWNlmQHXbHO8ZGHNE6JWkOjMzu90LwjrH702p-8C9VgsOs5o/s1600/ruth_rd.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R_7bO1mIc3FRXH-E-59JY8BQDbvEo8JneR9WTqCmsZ3H8AqhVjA-8OSGvtIATb75zI7ZqOge8O5TouTu9URe7p9W5blpWNlmQHXbHO8ZGHNE6JWkOjMzu90LwjrH702p-8C9VgsOs5o/s320/ruth_rd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614829978818630578" border="0" /></a>"<span style="font-weight: bold;">It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge.</span>" Ruth 2:11-12<br /><br />This week sees the arrival of the Jewish festival of Shavuos, or "Weeks" in English. It is the culmination of the festival of Passover that occurred 7 weeks or 50 days previously. The number of days also reveals a link to the Christian feast of Pentecost, 50 days after Easter, which is celebrated this coming Sunday. Shavuos is one of Israel's harvest festivals, which Jews have piously observed even when distanced from the agricultural cycles of their Holy Land. Additionally and more importantly the festival marks the date which tradition claims as the anniversary of God presenting his revelation to Israel on Mount Sinai. Over one thousand years later and on the same date, according to Christian tradition, occurred the revelation and descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus, infusing them with renewed inspiration and commencing their mission of proclaiming the Gospel. Just as fire descended on Mount Sinai so flames were said to descend upon the heads of the disciples. Both these festivals are pregnant with meaning and merit greater study and respect.<br /><br />For me one of the nicest observances of Shavuos, (other than the consumption of lots of yummy cheesecakes and other assorted dairy products) is the reading of the Book of Ruth, perhaps one of my favourite books in the Bible. Not only is it a beautiful and moving story, I find it inspires me to emulate its core themes of commitment, kindness and devotion (even if I am not always so successful in putting these themes into practice.)<br /><br />The story is replete with many selfless acts of kindness. Naomi, a stranger in a strange land, who having lost her husband and her two sons and resolving herself to return to Bethlehem, pleads with her daughters-in-law (her last connection with her sons) not to accompany her into a life of poverty and loneliness but to return back into the bosom of their families and societies. Thoughts of her own loneliness and vulnerability are set aside in the interest of others. Boaz, whose words of praise opened this post, was willing to set aside his own love and admiration for the titular heroine, in order to observe God's will, and to honour the rights of others.<br /><br />But above all, the greatest sacrificial kindness on display is that of Ruth herself. She sets aside her own heritage, future and comfort in devotion to Naomi, her mother-in-law and utters her famous words:<br /><br />"Intreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" Ruth 1:16<br /><br />While the trait of loving-kindness is perhaps the most obvious aspect of Ruth's character (so much so that people not exhibiting this trait are held to be ruth<span style="font-style: italic;">less</span>) I feel that another of her virtues is often overlooked; Courage. It may seem that Ruth is a victim of circumstance, a lone women lost in a world dominated by men, forced to labour tirelessly in the fields, gleaning for survival and at the mercy of the goodwill of others. But of course it did not have to be this way. She chose to give up her life in her homeland and embrace life with Naomi, whatever the consequences. Placing her trust in God she, like Abraham before her, walked bravely forward into an uncertain life. She made a commitment to Naomi and to God, and all commitment requires a good dose of courage.<br /><br />Every relationship and every endeavour has risk, nothing in life is guaranteed and despite all the methods which people have invented for prognostication, the future remains uncharted territory. So when we commit ourselves to someone or something we too act with courage.<br /><br />Ruth could not be dissuaded, she knew what she had to do, she knew what was right and she set herself on the path necessary to fulfil it. Like all of us, she no doubt heard that familiar inner, incredulous voice that questioned the sanity of her decision. Naomi herself was pleading with her to stay among her people, and yet her moral fortitude won out. Can it be any wonder that royalty would in time descend from her?<br /><br />It is not always easy to stand by our decisions or our beliefs. Sometimes self-doubt or external criticism forces us to veer off the path we believe to be true. In the interest of an "easy life" we conform to peer pressure and expectation, and in so doing we sacrifice an aspect of our human dignity for as Ruth demonstrated it is exceedingly more noble to gather scraps of grain in a foreign field and be committed to that which you know to be true, than to sit in luxury knowing that you have betrayed your conscience.<br /><br />A couple of weeks ago in chapel, I heard a Hindu story which illustrates the danger of relinquishing the courage of conviction. I shall broadly outline it:<br /><br />Some thieves notice a wealthy man returning from the market with a grand sheep. They decide amongst themselves to steal it and eat it, but are divided as to how to go about it. 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The third brigand suggests that they trick the man into handing the sheep over, a suggestion that is accepted by the others. As the man walks along he comes across the first thief who asks him if he is going hunting. When the man replies that he isn't, the thief questions him as to why he has brought a hunting dog with him! "A hunting dog" replies the man "What are you talking about this is a sheep!" The thief continuing his act insists that it is a dog. Convinced that he is talking to a person devoid of sanity, the wealthy man walks on. Soon he comes across the second thief, "Please please sir, keep that dog away from me, I'm terrified of dogs" he yells. Struck by the madness of the situation the sheep's owner insists that the "dog" is in fact a sheep, but to no avail. Finally he comes across the third thief who begs to be allowed to pet the "dog" as he loves them so. At this point the man questions himself. "I thought this was a sheep, but it seems I must have been wrong. It looks as if I must have been deceived in the market, and sold a worthless dog for the price of a sheep. What do I need a dog for, I have five at home?" And with that he releases the sheep and storms off back to the market. The criminals set upon the sheep, kill it and eat it.<br /><br />The message of Shavuos and Pentecost presents us with challenges. To embrace God and to walk trustingly in His ways is not always easy, just as it is not always easy to sustain a relationship in the face of difficulties. But if we are confident that this way is true (with the humility to always be open to the wisdom of others and to the possibility that we might be wrong) we must courageously walk that path even if the whole world stands against us, safe in the knowledge that it is a blessing in itself to do so.<br /><br />"Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." Matthew 5:10-11<br /><br />Many have risen to such a challenge, and one day I will have to dedicate a post to the story of one such individual: Emily Hobhouse, who suffered accusations of treachery and disloyalty for her advocacy of Boer women and children, victims of the brutal British policy of that time, and her staunch opposition to the First World War. She knew the truth that she had to pursue. She, like Ruth, was committed to it and would not be dissuaded.<br /><br />These upcoming holy days can reinvigorate our resolve and convictions and strengthen us to continue our journeys, faithful to God and to the service of our fellow human beings, always aware that commitment is very much like Shakespeare describes love:<br /><br />"Love is not love, which alters when it alteration finds.<br />Or bends with the remover to remove:<br />Oh no! It is an ever-fixéd mark<br />That looks on tempests and is never shaken."<br />Sonnet 116Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-544968742139484352011-05-30T11:10:00.000+01:002011-05-30T11:11:10.582+01:00The Individual and Society<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvnPwIKkbLvStNGgusGoZ7K1So55ajgCWYq7C9dHUynSpl9Z_IhxHsUNzC52IDY6xyOzbFU73DJtrv2E-Nb5N-6s3pCKsmJ3Sd-T0UrvfJp88DZY3GzZSB3QE4fNIqfrVyMiSG83cNvE/s1600/Johnnytownmouse.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvnPwIKkbLvStNGgusGoZ7K1So55ajgCWYq7C9dHUynSpl9Z_IhxHsUNzC52IDY6xyOzbFU73DJtrv2E-Nb5N-6s3pCKsmJ3Sd-T0UrvfJp88DZY3GzZSB3QE4fNIqfrVyMiSG83cNvE/s320/Johnnytownmouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611879293556073554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."</span><br />Psalm 19:7-8<br /><br />I shall let you all into a little secret; I love Beatrix Potter books! Yes you read correctly, I am fully grown man who gladly confesses to becoming lost in the innocent and evocative words and pictures of Beatrix's Edwardian era children's books. One of my favourites is "The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse". For those of you not fortunate enough to have read it I shall quickly outline the story. The tale concerns two mice, one known as Johnny Town-mouse born in the cupboard of a house in town, and the other mouse answering to the name Timmie Willie, born in the garden of a house in the country. One day Timmie sneaks into a hamper full of vegetables destined for town and falls asleep. He awakens to the sound of a busy town and before long arrives at his destination where he is discovered by a housemaid as she empties the hamper of its contents. Running for his life he darts into a hole in the skirting board only to land slap bang in the middle of a smart dinner party being hosted by Johnny Town-mouse. At this point the culture-shock begins. The town mice work diligently to make Timmie feel at home, and to initiate him into the mores of town life, but unfortunately Timmie just cannot get accustomed to the noise, fear of the cat, or the food consumed by his urban cousins. With some disappointment that their country friend has failed to enjoy town life and perceiving that Timmie is becoming ill, Johnny informs his friend that he can return to the country by way of the empty hamper which returns to the farm each Saturday. Finally back at home he happily glides into the comforts of his own world and yet often thinks of his town-mouse friend, periodically visiting the hamper to see if he has fulfilled his half-promised intention to visit. And needless to say, one fine day Johnny does indeed decide to pay his rustic friend a visit. Despite Timmie's best attempts at showing Johnny the best that country life has to offer, the town-mouse just cannot adjust to the quiet pace or many of the other peculiarities of rural living. In the end Beatrix Potter concludes "One place suits one person, another place suits another person. For my part I prefer to live in the country, like Timmy Willie" a sentiment, I must confess, I too share.<br /><br />At the heart of this cute, and beautifully illustrated little story, is a sentiment summed up by the modern phrase "different strokes for different folks." It speaks of our individual natures and personal preferences. Each of us has our own personalities, with unique quirks and proclivities. We each approach life very personally and see the world ever so slightly differently from our neighbours. This human individualism is deeply important for our sense of self, and for providing us with the wherewithal to contribute something special, however small, to the greater human project. Its expression is often deeply implicated in human happiness. Many philosophies and movements have sought to repress this individuality, to their detriment. Others have encouraged it. To this day Unitarians strongly value the contribution and freedom of the individual, and some have had and continue to have deep theological foundations for this perspective. I personally am always inspired by the Rabbinic dictum that traces the importance of human individuality back to the scriptural account of the creation of humankind being centred on the creation of one individual.<br /><br />But that really is only half a picture.<br /><br />"And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone." Genesis 2:18<br /><br />I think it eminently reasonable that to regard the human person solely as an individual is to harbour a myopic reductionist view that does a great disservice. Man is a social being. We exist within and are shaped by the society in which we live. The countless daily acts of informal and formal interaction with those around us shape how we think, how we act and how we perceive ourselves and are perceived by others. By necessity our own individuality and freedom must have certain restraints if we are to play a constructive and healthy part in society, and for this reason we have rules, laws and principles to which we are all expected to conform. In addition we generally exist within a particular set of cultural assumptions drawn from the environment and history of the place in which we live, and this provides us with a common language, both linguistic and cultural, that allows us to know each other better than we know others outside our sphere.<br /><br />Many wise and informed people have pointed out that in Britain a hyper-individualism has developed which has led to an erosion of our common values and identity, which in turn has atomised our society and left the most vulnerable without the protection that should be theirs. Some find the origins of this problem in the hedonism of the 60's and others localise the origins in the materialism and selfishness of the 80's. Most likely it is a mixture of the two, and maybe the origins go as far back as the Enlightenment. Either way there is a certain view out there that views morality as simply an issue of personal preference. Not so much what is right or wrong, but more what is right or wrong <span style="font-style: italic;">for me</span>. But surely something is right regardless of whether or not it is convenient or pleasant to the individual. Likewise something that is wrong, is wrong irrespective of how much a person may find it pleasant or suitable for themselves. Why is such hostility displayed towards the authority of moral rules from time to time? Why is the accusation of "judgementalism" so easily deployed to silence moral debate? Is not morality in principle similar to ecology? Moral Ecology if you will. Just as we understand that in order to safeguard the cleanliness and vitality of our environment we must control our behaviour, even if it inconveniences, surely the same applies to our protection and maintenance of the common good.<br /><br />"While Unitarians maintain the moral responsibility of every individual, they acknowledge that society as a whole must bear the shame of many iniquities. They hold that individual life should be shaped out of consideration for the larger life of humanity, and that it is the duty of every man to ask himself whether he would consider the course of his action and the mode of his life, if seen in another person, beneficial to the community".<br />Alfred Hall's The beliefs of a Unitarian.<br /><br />This is not to suggest that issues of morality are simple. Not at all, they are often highly complex with many subtleties requiring a great deal of thought to comprehend. Neither is morality simply something to be imposed by an authority against the conscience of the individual, after all ultimately it is the individual who makes the decision to accept his or her obligations or not. But bearing all this in mind, the reality of an objective right or wrong and the reality of a system of duties and responsibilities towards God and our fellow man, is in my opinion, central to human flourishing and civilisation.<br /><br />It is this objective moral reality, existing beyond ourselves and appealing to our conscience, and which for me is rooted in my belief in God, and learned from His revelation in the words of the Bible and Jesus, guided by reason, that leads us to go beyond ourselves and become part of a greater human existence. Paradoxically when we thus limit our own desire and will, in order to play a full part in society, we maximise our uniqueness and individuality. The same can be seen as true in personal relationships. When a monogamous couple forsakes all others, sexually and romantically, in order to create that exclusive bond, they limit themselves as individuals, however at that very point they maximise their individual importance, for without either one of them, there is no couple. A little piece of wire in a pacemaker may have no intrinsic value, but without it serving its small role, in a specific and limited place, the device would not work, and life would be threatened.<br /><br />This past week we heard of the terrible treatment of elderly patients in a few hospitals. Sadly not for the first time are we aware of such news. Perhaps many of us have heard impatient and even scornful comments about the elderly in general, and I have personally seen and heard the elderly being spoken of derogatorily in public. In general I don't think that this country of ours deals well with both ends of life, the young or the old. But why is this? I feel that the slow individualisation of morality, which has led to a degree of selfishness, that does not wish to extend itself too much in the service of others, is significantly implicated. Children and generally the elderly are those who need the most care, and are as such the first and most hard hit victims of the changes in our cultural life. The sacred value of care, even in unpleasant circumstances, is being dethroned. Words such as "undignified" or "demeaning" are sometimes heard in reference to caring and being cared for. An ethical NIMBYism is on display when sentiments such as "it's not my responsibility" and "I'm not cut out for it" are articulated. And as a result the vulnerable are becoming increasingly so, and the scope of human greatness is becoming truncated.<br /><br />This situation, combined with an ever growing distance from any organic, place-specific culture in Britain, particularly in England, also leads to the elderly, who in other countries are regarded as the source of wisdom and traditional knowledge, being overlooked by a society that feels that they have nothing to learn from them.<br /><br />Many thinkers today are searching for ways to unite our society, to heal its divisions while promoting common values and identity, and yet converting the aspiration into reality is proving more difficult than some expected. I strongly believe that Unitarian Christians, and the wider Unitarian community, despite being hampered by our small numerical size, have something unique to contribute to the effort. We have had much practice in creating loving, welcoming and uniting fellowships while allowing for a wide range of belief and understanding. We both value the individual and the communal. We assist individuals to think for themselves and live full lives, while simultaneously advancing the cause of self-discipline and altruism. Unitarian Christians in particular, deeply rooted in this country's Christian heritage, culture and belief, while being broad enough to reach out to those whose own backgrounds stem from outside Christendom, have a strong advantage in helping to develop common values and shared identity.<br /><br />It is therefore of great importance that congregations involve themselves in the life of their local communities, becoming part of the warp and weft of its society, as we once were. Religion like life itself is nothing unless lived for others.<br /><br />"Not everyone that saith unto me lord, lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21<br /><br />It is the will of God that we should rule our spirits, bear with each other's infirmities, and live in charity towards all men; that we should endeavour to be of service to others not absorbed in our own interests and pleasures; that we should seek in all things to overcome evil with good and do our part to redeem the world from sin pain and sorrow".<br />Unitarian Orders of Service.<br /><br />"We believe that the really good man is in the way of salvation, whatever may be his outward form of religion. Mere surface morality, not rooted in principle, we do not call goodness. But whoever seeks to do the will of God, and to be faithful and just to man, whether he be heathen or Christian, we believe will be accepted by God, the Father of all mankind".<br />James Freeman Clarke's Manual of Unitarian Belief.Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-87441495883367771582011-05-22T23:16:00.000+01:002011-05-22T23:16:26.427+01:00The Day Without Rapture That Affirmed Life.<span style="font-weight: bold;">"Bless the Lord O my soul....who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever. O Lord how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches."</span> Psalm 104<br /><br />My father regaled me with a reminiscence from his childhood in Galicia - Spain. In a small fishing village near to where he lived there was a preacher who, much like Cassandra in Troy, was predicting the soon to occur end of the world. (Fortunately unlike Cassandra this prophet of doom was not blessed with correct foresight!) Very few people were convinced by this prediction and continued their daily lives unchanged. However one day, while my father and his family were spending a day at the beach an event occurred which would be seared onto his memory. A helicopter flew over the village! What is so shocking about that you may ask? Well in the Galicia of those days such flying machines were not often seen, in fact never seen. With the sight and sound of this modern contraption tearing up the sky a panic swept through the people. Scattering in every direction, screaming-out in terror at the imminent demise of the world, running into the nearest church to beg God for deliverance, the streets and beach were cleared of people most of whom were now convinced that the end-times had arrived. Now accepting that Galicians are historically a superstitious people surrounded as they are by the Atlantic rains and mists that often shroud the ancient landscapes of this Celtic corner of Spain, I was amazed to hear about the reaction of these people, people I remind you, who had not believed the warnings of their local doom laden seer. If nothing else, this story shows that what we hear and what we see influences us, even if we think otherwise, and who knows if in a moment of stress such irrational beliefs could rise up in the most reasoned of minds.<br /><br />This leads me to wonder what might have happened in the minds of many, if yesterday at 6pm some innocent yet rare natural phenomena had struck, might the reaction have been larger than if it had occurred on any day other that May 21st?<br /><br />Rapture day, however has passed, and the elect do not seem to have launched into celestial orbit leaving the rest of us to face disaster and destruction. Although it does seem that Harold Camping's reputation (the existence of which astounds me) as an accurate forecaster of such events, seems to have been struck down by a spectacular non-event. Well perhaps I too risk misreading the present and inaccurately predicting the future, as it seems that some of his followers are already striving to reinterpret events in order to save themselves the pain of having to reassess their beliefs. As a wise person once said "you can't reason someone out of beliefs they were never reasoned into in the first place".<br /><br />The saddest thing in this whole saga is not the bitter disappointment of those who had prepared themselves, financially, socially and psychologically for imminent rapture, bad as that might be, but the fact that these people ever believed the abject nonsense expounded by Harold Camping in the first place. I doubt that Camping's numerological speculation, devoid of substance as it was, could have been the prime reason for such belief in his prophecy. It seems that what convinced people was their desire to be convinced, (A phenomena that is a risk to us all). But why would people wish to be convinced of such a negative and dark viewpoint; that of the salvation of a Divinely approved minority and the destruction of billions of innocent human beings? Well perhaps a Mr Bauer's comments on the BBC are representative:<br /><br />"I was hoping for it because I think heaven would be a lot better than this Earth,"<br /><br />These 17 words should strip from us the desire to mock these believers and instead cause us to pity them for what seems to be a hopeless sadness in their hearts. A sadness that faith should assuage not pander to.<br /><br />A few of those who most rejoice in mocking the end of the worlders are themselves guilty of breathtaking irrationality in pursuit of their own faith. I have grown a little tired of some professed atheists claiming that this episode is representative of the stupidity of religion. Did the fact that the overwhelming majority of religious believers throughout the world took no stock in the claims of this California preacher pass these critics by? Does the fact that no mainstream Christian church endorses Harold Camping's view sway the opinions of these anti-theists? Seemingly not. Indeed it is a special irony that other than Harold Camping's minuscule number of followers the only other group of people making such a fuss on May 21 were atheists falling over themselves to use this episode to pour scorn over all those who believe in religion of any kind.<br /><br />Nor have some secular ideologies been free from such eschatological speculation. Do people remember when Prince Charles in 2009 warned that mankind's survival was in peril with a mere seven years remaining before the "levers of control" over Anthropogenic Climate Change would be lost? Dr James Hansen, head of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies was even more alarmist than his Royal Highness when he said, also in 2009, that President Obama had "only four years to save the world from imminent peril". This Mr Hansen, like Harold Camping, had previously gotten his predictions a little bit wrong, predicting as he did that 2007 would be the hottest year on record. (It wasn't). Then again perhaps Mr Camping and his Family Radio group were motivated by the same idea as motivated Stephen Schneider, a professor of environmental biology and global change at Stanford University to say; "We need to get some broad-based support, to capture the public's imagination. That of course, entails getting loads of media coverage. So we have to offer up scary scenarios, make simplified, dramatic statements, and make little mention of doubts we might have." It would seem that for some "The End of the World is almost here, the Bible guarantees it" slogan, might be rewritten as "The End of the World is almost here, Science guarantees it". The lack of humility of ideologues of all colours eventually harms them and their causes.<br /><br />Very much in the spirit of the second century Rabbi Shimon Ben Zoma who said;<br /><br />"Who is wise? He who learns from all men"<br /><br />the minister in my chapel reminded us this morning, that there is something significant to be learned from Mr Camping and his fellow believers. (He also had us all giggling at the thought that perhaps those members of the congregation not present this morning could have perhaps been raptured yesterday but that's another story :-)<br /><br />He reminded us that we are all survivors! That's right, we have all survived "the end of days" (could that be a new T-shirt slogan?) and awoke this morning to a new day. This is not a facile comment, for after all yesterday at 6pm some of our fellow Britons and many people around the world would most certainly have breathed their last breath. When we went to bed last night none of us had any guarantee that we would awake this morning. None of us has any certainty that we will be alive the next moment. How grateful we should be therefore, for all the blessings in our lives, for the gift of life itself, bestowed upon us every second of the day and how much should this awareness provoke us to infuse each moment of life with meaning, sanctity and virtue.<br /><br />And on the other hand how tragic are those beliefs that demean the life of this world in pursuit of the world to come. How tragic are those who see only the negative in this world of blessings and who see contentment and happiness as existing only in the life beyond the grave. How wasteful are those who allow the life in this world to go un-enjoyed in the pursuit of a future life, the nature of which we can never know with any certainty. Such beliefs seem to turn their back on the face of the God of life, whose creativity has given us a world of unparalleled beauty and sanctity, and who privileges us, above all creatures, with the minds and hearts to appreciate it to its full. And how sad that some Christians, seemingly so desperate for the destruction of this world, and the majority of its people who do not share the same views as themselves, have in turn embraced a world view that unintentionally turns its back on the life giving teachings of our master Jesus:<br /><br />"Or what man is there of you who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:911<br /><br />"That ye may be sons of your Father which is in heaven for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust." Matthew 5:45<br /><br />Our society often takes a jaded view of life, and yet in our midst we have millions of exemplars of a different way of seeing our world. Those exemplars are children! While retaining our maturity our reason, our sense of duty and propriety, how much more beautiful our lives would be if we could only learn to see and feel the sheer joy and excitement of life through childlike eyes. Only then can we open our hearts and mouths in praise of the Author of all that exists and the glories of His Kingdom.<br /><br />For the order and constancy of nature; for the beauty and bounty of the world; for day and night, summer and winter, seed-time and harvest; for the varied gifts of loveliness and use which every season brings:<br />We praise thee, O God<br /><br />For all the comforts and gladness of life; for our homes and all home-blessings; for our friends and all the pleasures of companionship; for the love, sympathy and goodwill of men:<br />We praise thee, O God<br /><br />For all true knowledge of thee and the world in which we live; for the life of truth and righteousness to which thou hast called us; for prophets and apostles and all earnest seekers after truth; for all lovers and helpers of mankind, and all godly and gifted men and women:<br />We praise thee, O God.<br />Orders of Worship for use in Unitarian and Free Christian Congregations 1932.Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259950009081603642.post-47197250786740065632011-05-09T12:27:00.000+01:002011-05-09T12:27:04.849+01:00Poor, Yet Making Many Rich<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbXnFb9OzCsw6rRFltbmWDVf39yM7sxkOuDOIHdVidw2lcrVI_7QDKKPFhF9RkknGjdQobalFbPdlC-39J3CTbLqM4wV9U4UmmTTfP3RQwpvteW09XTxcV9nZARcGlnKit1zWUmhGoMg/s1600/pound.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbXnFb9OzCsw6rRFltbmWDVf39yM7sxkOuDOIHdVidw2lcrVI_7QDKKPFhF9RkknGjdQobalFbPdlC-39J3CTbLqM4wV9U4UmmTTfP3RQwpvteW09XTxcV9nZARcGlnKit1zWUmhGoMg/s320/pound.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604676313072166882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off."</span> Isaiah 56:5<br /><br />"Philanthropy and real Charity in a humble life - died on Tuesday last, aged 72 ... a man whose good deeds performed within a humble sphere of life are worthy of admiration and lasting remembrance." These were the eulogising words written in 1839 in the Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle for that giant of kindness John Pounds.<br /><br />Born in Portsmouth on the 17th June 1766, it seemed that John Pounds was destined for a life in shipbuilding, however there was another Will in store for him which guided him in the task of building lives and letting them set sail on the sea of self-respect and success.<br /><br />At the age of 14, within weeks of his father's death, John fell into a dry dock while working and was left badly crippled for the rest of his life. In those years such an outcome was nothing less than a catastrophe, with work for young men of his class geared almost exclusively to manual labour. Something of John Pound's faithful attitude to life can be seen from how he used a long period of convalescence and recovery as an opportunity for self-education through the reading of many books on various subjects. By the time he was able to resume walking he had amassed a wealth of knowledge, one of his favourite subjects being that of natural history.<br /><br />To support himself he learned enough of the trade of shoe-mending which, considering the number of people involved in the busy labour of both Portsmouth and Langstone harbours, provided him with plenty of work. While earning more than he could ever had done at the docks, his income was not particularly generous, however he earned himself enough to purchase a dwelling (calling it a house would be to overstate reality) in which to live and work. Consisting of two rooms, nothing bigger than an overgrown garden shed, the downstairs was used as his workshop/living room.<br /><br />Another tragedy, the birth of his nephew Johnny with inwardly turned feet, would further guide John down the path of greatness. Realising that the boy's mother could not cope with the needs of her disabled child as well as those of all her other children, and aware that doctors were planning to break the boys ankles in an attempt to rectify the disability, John pounds asked to be allowed to care for the boy. Applying his knowledge he developed a basic pair of orthopaedic boots, which eventually cured the child's affliction.<br /><br />John Pounds was the proverbial communitarian, caring deeply for the community he belonged to, always seeking ways to help the many destitute families that filled the streets. People knowing this about him, would seek him out to solicit help for themselves and their families and would always receive it to the best of his abilities. Many orphans and destitute young people would be drawn to his workshop, where ever cognisant of the words of our exemplar Jesus:<br /><br />"Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 19:14<br /><br />John would entertain them with a story and other fruits of his educated mind. Also providing them with warm food from his own scanty provisions, to assuage their hunger.<br /><br />Slowly but surely he began to gather more and more children around him to educate them, on occasion 40 or so children could be found, sitting on old boxes and benches in his tiny workshop as he filled their young minds with knowledge, while at the same time carrying out his work as a cobbler. He was known to search out the neediest children, offering them hot potatoes and inviting them back to his workshop schoolhouse. He would teach them from as many old school books as he could lay his hands on and provided slates for them to practice their writing and arithmetic as he could not afford copy-books. He taught them a wide range of academic subjects, but also taught them how prepare food for themselves and how to mend their own shoes. He took them on field trips to the hills outside Portsmouth to collect flowers and all the while teaching them how to identify animals, insects and trees . Unsatisfied with just teaching the children, he would care for them when they were ill and fashioned toys for them for play and sport.<br /><br />John was also insistent that the children receive a good religious education and to this end visited a local Anglican church to petition the vicar for some Bibles to be used in his school. The vicar told him he would be happy to help, and as soon as the children saved up the tuppences and threepences he would be happy to sell them the Bibles. John Pounds questioned the Vicar where exactly these destitute children were to get the money, and then decided to seek help elsewhere. He went to the Unitarian chapel (today John Pounds Memorial Church, Unitarian) and again asked for Bibles. The minister, Revered Russell Scott, handed him several Bibles and told him that the chapel would provide him with as many as he needed. Indeed the chapel and its congregation provided much more than just Bibles, and they actively helped John in his mission to educate and care for the poor youth of Portsmouth.<br /><br />Each Sunday John, a rather dishevelled and unkempt man, would smarten up and take his "children" to the Sunday-school attached to the chapel. He himself relished attending his chapel and would sit in his pew quietly and faithfully worshipping his Maker.<br /><br />He received valuable aid from Portsmouth Unitarians, however he never accepted any for himself, instead directing everything for the use and benefit of his charges. He remained to his death in the same humble station. A woman once said to him:<br />"Mr Pounds I wish you were rich, you would do so much good!" to which he responded: "Well, I don't know, if I had been rich, I might perhaps have been much the same as other rich people. This I know, that there is now not a happier man in England than John Pounds, and it is better as it is."<br /><br />His life ended suddenly on New Year's Day 1839 and was buried in the grounds of the chapel he loved. His funeral was attended by large numbers of people of all religious and political opinions. Many people contributed to the fund to create a memorial stone for him, which can be found to this day in the grounds of the church.<br /><br />Dr Guthrie, a famous Edinburgh Calvinist preacher and philanthropist said about John Pounds:<br /><br />"When the day comes when honour will be done to whom honour is due, I can fancy the crowd of those whose fame poets have sung, and to whose memory monuments have been raised, dividing like a wave, and (passing the great, and the noble, and the mighty of the land) this poor, obscure old man stepping forward and receiving the especial notice of him who said, "inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these, ye did it also to me".<br /><br />John Pounds' story should serve as an example and a warning to us. Each day of life presents us with opportunities to become the best we can be, we must not let excuses or fear or indolence prevent us from reaching our potential, always remembering the words of the hymn:<br /><br />Come, labour on:<br />Away with gloomy doubt and faithless fear!<br />No arm so weak but may do service here;<br />By hands the feeblest can our God fulfil<br />His righteous will.<br />Jane L Borthwick 1859<br /><br />John Pounds demonstrated that everyone has some skill, some gift, which can with willpower and faith, be a source of assistance to all those around us. Each of us can be great, or at least come part of greatness. The vicar that John Pounds approached for Bibles, squandered his chance at playing a part in this most glorious of achievements, let us not make the same mistakes.<br /><br />The cobbler from Portsmouth set in motion a movement that would shortly thereafter be called the Ragged School movement which in turn led to education becoming available to every single child in the country, and yet even today there are many children, victims of circumstance, family breakdown etc, that are struggling. Unitarian congregations up and down the country must strive to be present in the lives of these children, assisting them and their families and keeping alive the legacy of a man who in the most reduced circumstances educated hundreds of children and kept them far from lives of crime, sadness and hopelessness, that is the sort of church we were and should be again.<br /><br />"I dream of a church that joins in with God's loving<br />as she bends to embrace the unlovely and lost;<br />a church that can free, by its sharing and daring,<br />the imprisoned and poor and then shoulder the cost.<br /><br />God make us a church that joins in with your living<br />as you cherish and challenge, rein in and release;<br />a church that is winsome, impassioned, inspiring:<br />lioness of your justice and lamb of your peace.<br /><br />Kate CompstonJosephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18326358224522029847noreply@blogger.com1