unitarianfellowshipregina

Natural Rights and Civil Religion in Thomas Jefferson

Presenter: Lee Ward:

  Thomas Jefferson is well known as the author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson also played an important role in redefining the role of religion in modern democratic society. This presentation looks at Jefferson’s efforts to create the foundation of a civil religion that would be compatible with natural rights and democratic governments. Jefferson’s efforts to rewrite the Gospels is a central part of his larger project to establish a moral philosophy that is adapted to what Jefferson takes to be the political, social and economic requirements of a democratic age. 

Spiritual Practices From a Unitarian Perspective

Presenter: Liz James. 
What does "Spiritual Practice" look like for Unitarians? Prayer. Meditation. Fasting. Pilgrimage. Most religions have some form of spiritual practice as part of their teachings. What does spiritual practice look like through a Unitarian lens, and why can it be so hard sometimes to "keep it up"? What about people who don't identify with the term "spiritual"? What are the common threads of spiritual practices around the world and through time, and what do we have to learn from them?

Tolerance & Relativism

Presenter: Eldon Soifer
Tolerance is an odd virtue, because you can really tolerate only things you don't like or don't approve of. Nevertheless, people often think it's very important to tolerate others' beliefs. Sometimes the claim that we should tolerate others is grounded in the observation that, in the past, people who were confident that they knew the truth about things such as ethics and religion, ended up doing a lot of terrible things. It is suggested that we should take a more modest approach to our beliefs, and this is often taken to mean that we should accept that our beliefs are no better or worse than anybody else's, they're just the ones we happen to have. On this view, there are no objective truths about morals, only relative ones. Yet it turns out that such "relativism" is a philosophical view that stands in need of defense just as much as any other--and there are important reasons for thinking that it might not be right. Furthermore, relativism in any case might not be able to provide the justification for tolerance that drew many people to it in the first place.

Unitarians look at Easter

(note:  the first part of the presentation had to be recorded in a different location at a later time, so the listener may notice a change in the sound of the recording about halfway through)

Presenter: Joanne Green
Unitarians and traditional Christian beliefs about Easter are sometimes an uncomfortable combination in today's Unitarian congregations. We're never sure how to celebrate, or if we should celebrate. Over the past 180 years Unitarian Universalists have grown from a primarily Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the variety of beliefs we have today. Joanne explores the history of Unitarians and Easter, with excerpts from a talk by Rev. Phillip Hewitt of Vancouver. 

Reflections on Transgender Awareness Week, March30-Apr5

Today Mikayla Schultz gave us some insight on what it means to be transgendered.  Starting with her own experience coming out as transgender heralded by a story she suggested for the Leader Post 5 years ago for National Coming Out Day on October 11th, Mikayla has since worked tirelessly for awareness and education about the transgender community.  She was able to tell of about some of her successes and her goals to achieve fair treatment in our society in terms of education, employment and health care.  

Carrying the Chalice: A sermon by Unitarian Minister, Fiona Heath

Presenters:  Helen Christiansen and Joanne Green.
Donna Cowley was unable to give her presentation this morning, so Sunday Service Chair, Helen Christiansen and President, Joanne Green decided to present a sermon by Fiona Heath, Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Durham at Whitby, Ontario. In this sermon, Rev Heath explains what it means to her to be a Unitarian.  This is a very good discussion for anyone who is unfamiliar with Unitarian Universalism and would like to know what it's all about.

Atheism and Conclusion: Final Presentation in the God is not One series

Presenters: Ethel Struthers and Helen Christiansen
According to Prothero, atheism is part of a tradition going back to ancient Greece. Some of the greatest minds in the modern world were atheists (e.g., Freud), as were some of the most brutal dictators (e.g. Stalin). This presentation begins with Prothero’s overview of atheism, and conclude with a summary of his final chapter.

Global Warming, the Tar Sands, and Canada’s Future Energy Direction

Presenter: Doug Mader
Doug will tie the three topics together and outline what he believes must be the energy path Canada needs to take, as well as some ways of getting there - definitely not what our federal government is currently promoting. Doug will look at this topic from the perspective of science and what's “real”.

Living the Apology: The Regina Indian Industrial School

Presenter: Dawn Rolke
The Regina Indian Industrial School operated on the outskirts of Regina from 1891 until 1910. Run and staffed by the Presbyterian church on behalf of the federal government, the school circulated a newspaper to over 500 families and was lauded for its progress. Once a proud part of our settler story, the school was eventually forgotten; so too was the small cemetery lying adjacent to it. Now, citizens of Regina and members of the United and Presbyterian churches seek to have this cemetery remembered and restored.

Finding Peace and Meaning in Difficult Situations

Presenter: Dr. Douglas Amell
How is one to find peace in the face of what is felt to be a horrible injustice? This presentation will explore Doug's search to overcome helplessness and find peace through the very difficult situation of being jailed for an offense for which he felt unjustly accused as well as unfairly tried.  At the end of his presentation, Doug sang a song he wrote which we did not include in the recording; however, the lyrics of the song are as follows:

PEACE WILL PAVE THE WAY

                                                                                    By Doug Amell

 

We need love to overcome what we’ve done to this world we live in,

And though greed has dominated much of our inspiration, just know there exists another way

We need hope in our lives to sustain all the dreams inside us,

And though there is poverty where others may prosper, just know there exists another way

CHORUS

     And love will save the day

     By sweeping pain away

     The darkness ends with the dawn of day,

     And peace will pave the way

We need pride to survive those who judge, they’re not in our shoes,

And though many songs are sung of trials and tribulations, just know there exists another way

CHORUS

The choice is yours, intention pours through every action that you’re ever going to take.

We need peace in our hearts to cast out hatred and confusion,

And though anger has a way of clouding the senses, just know there exists another way

CHORUS

Yes, peace will pave the way