Marriage
Jacqueline Wolven reflects on the difference between the Puritan Work Ethic by which her husband was raised and how she was raised.
Now, I was raised by wolves (not really, just self absorbed bohemians) who never told me to do anything, never set expectations, and had no goals for me. So, whatever little thing I do I am so proud of myself. Proud like, give me a gold sticker, proud. (“MoxieLife,” August 30)
One of the earliest UU bloggers, the Rev. Scott Wells, confirmed his 2003 religious wedding with a legal one.
Husband Jonathan and I are clear that our wedding seven years ago was real, if legally imperfect and that our ceremony a couple of weeks ago was not to replace it, but finish it. To underscore this, we kept the ceremony short, informal and with language echoing back to 2003. (“Boy in the Bands,” September 1)
The Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell’s first wedding anniversary reminds her not to take things for granted.
I realize that I’m trapped in the finite—with the infinite, there is no boundary called “time.” But I’m flesh and blood, and so I hear the clock ticking. I will not have a lifetime with my new husband, for instance. I told him when we married that he had to give me at least 30 years. But can he? Can I give him thirty years? I only know that every moment we share is precious. I don’t want to waste any of the life we have left with wondering or arguing or posturing. And yet because I’m human, I toss off moments like I have an infinite number. This anniversary reminds me that I don’t. (“Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell,” September 2)
Doing theology
The Rev. Ellen Cooper-Davis answers a commenter’s question about theodicy.
It is hard to say if God is good. I am hesitant to put very human descriptors onto something far more expansive than I can name. But I can say in all certainty that God is not malevolent (although certainly we humans can be). (“Keep the Faith,” August 31)
“Chutney” starts to fix the “Wesleyan Quadrilateral” understanding of Christianity by arguing for the primacy of experience in religious understanding.
What got to me all those years ago was the realization that there is no direct access to scripture. Sure, you can pick it up and read it yourself, but you’re always bringing your own biases—your own traditions, experiences, and reasons—to it. There’s no God’s eye view of Scripture this side of God. Any Christian who believes otherwise is lying to themselves and doesn’t take Original Sin as seriously as they’d like to think they do. (“Making Chutney,” September 1)
The September Big Question at the UU Salon is “What is the nature of evil?” (“The UU Salon,” September 1)
Around the blogosphere
JohnFranc shares the simple spiritual practice of paying attention to the sun and moon.
I’ve heard it said that Pagans should never need an almanac (or a computer) to know when and where the Sun and Moon will be on any given day—we should feel it in our souls. That statement strikes me as just a little Earthier-than-thou, and it’s certainly easier to keep up with them if you live in a place where the skies are usually clear, but following the Sun and Moon is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay connected with Nature. (“Under the Ancient Oaks,” August 30)
“Kinsi” is ambivalent about being a role model.
I want my students, the youth in my youth group, to grow up and be their own person and make their own path. To rely on their own self worth, their own self-determination to become the best person they can be. (“Spirituality and Sunflowers,” August 30)
The Rev. Daniel Harper is [re]writing stories for liberal religious kids. The one that caught my eye is “Manasseh meets Batman,” based on 2 Chronicles 33:1-9. (“Yet Another Unitarian Universalist,” August 30)
Jacqueline Wolven and “Strange Attractor” are doing a 30-day poetry challenge. (“MoxieLife,” August 31 and “Strange Attractor,” September 1)
