A Resurgent Religious Left

[RPM]

For those of you in the Pittsburgh Area, the Sunday Sermon at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh (605 Morewood Avenue Shadyside/Oakland) will be "A Resurgent Religious Left". I'm considering heading down to check it out. Thought others here might be interested. See below for further information:

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Sunday Services, 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM; December 5; 9:30 AM & 11:00 AM

A Resurgent Religious Left - The Rev. David Herndon

The results of the recent elections in the United States suggest that the time has come for a resurgent religious left that can more vigorously promote liberal religious moral values in our national culture. This morning, drawing on my personal experience in the recent elections, I would like to explore questions such as these: What are the liberal religious moral values that a resurgent religious left could promote? What might the proper role of a resurgent religious left be in the political life of our country? What changes might be called for among liberal religious people like us and in liberal churches like ours?


Edited for Link: http://www.first-unitarian-pgh.org/

[lizzieforkerry]

1. Do you have link for more info?

[RPM]

4. yep - see above n/t

[Guarionex]

2. how about...

outlaw all religion...that's the problem.

You are never going to be able to wrench away the Christian Right Fundamentalist hordes from their leaders

It's an unholy concoction: fear, ignorance, faith in nationalist leaders, indifference/apathy to brutality against "The enemy"...all the usual Nazi stuff.

"liberal" dissent has no place inside that mix. If the loving message of jesus actually has to be DELIBERATELY PROMOTED in a LIBERAL way...there's already a crisis of ignorance, fear, and lunatic faith that is quite possibly impossible to stop from the domestic front.

I fear the United States cannot reform itself...if change occurs, it will have to come from a definitive shock that causes the American public to renounce the christian fundamentalism of the nation, and the Republican party for good (ala Germans after the Nazis were defeated).

Iraq's helped to do that...but it hasn't been enough. Another American misadventure might do it...I don't have faith in americans to change their ways anymore...I believe the world will have to force the American giant down...ala Gulliver's Travels.

[RPM]

5. OK - what other parts of the 1st amendment are to be scrapped too?

Or are we doing away with the constitution?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

On Edit - not that your way wouldn't be easier....

[Geek_Girl]

11. Unitarian and Univeralist Churches

Tend have a liberal message and are an alternative for those that want to attend church without the distorted ideology. I'm not a Christian but Christ's message and teachings are actually closers to your values than the right wing wacko's.

[iamjoy]

3. Here Are Some Ideas...

The number of working families in poverty is increasing.

The number of children on reduced price/free lunches is increasing.

8 million children in this country have no Health Insurance.

Census Bureau reports nearly 1/4 of the jobs in the U.S. are low wage. That means people are working and working hard, but still not earning enough to raise a family. While some tout education, the fact is, there are some people who do not have the mental capacity for high level jobs and there are important jobs in our society that don't require a lot of education. Think of many of our service workers in hotels and restaurants). Sometimes these jobs are a stepping stone for people on their way to better jobs, but for some this is it. Don't you think these people are entitled to be free from worry about hunger? Shouldn't their children have the same access to education and healthcare as the child of a millionaire?
Our society is messed up, we pay people who can throw a football millions while our farm workers are homeless.

[carnie_sf]

7. I've always thought

thst the 7th chapter of the book of Matthew was excellent for taking the fundies down several notches...

[lizzieforkerry]

10. Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out.

I love fighting religion with fundies!!

[Geek_Girl]

6. Here is another interesting Sermon

SERMON: Living Under Fascism
You may wonder why anyone would try to use the word “fascism” in a serious discussion of where America is today. It sounds like cheap name-calling, or melodramatic allusion to a slew of old war movies. But I am serious. I don’t mean it as name-calling at all. I mean to persuade you that the style of governing into which America has slid is most accurately described as fascism, and that the necessary implications of this fact are rightly regarded as terrifying. That’s what I am about here. And even if I don’t persuade you, I hope to raise the level of your thinking about who and where we are now, to add some nuance and perhaps some useful insights.

Sermon by Davidson Loehr

I might start attending my local Unitarian Church.

[lizzieforkerry]

8. I've already read this...it is very good

I also thought about going Unitarian after reading it!

[RPM]

13. Brilliant

Great sermon - I may have to give them a second look.

[grasswire]

9. I was at a Unitarian church this past Sunday evening

It was the most uplifting experience. Hopeful, respectful. This is a church that married gay and lesbian couples in the sanctuary when doing so was briefly legal, and whose minister (an older woman) was ready to be arrested in protests for equal rights. The church regularly hosts such people as Eric Alterman, Thom Friedman and others on the lecture circuit. I watched the movie about the buildup to the Iraq war in that sanctuary last year, and heard people hollering "Liar!" at the sight of Dr. Rice.

I'm not a member. I just go there occasionally. I suggest giving it a try for people who seek that kind of community.

[JanMichael]

12. This atheist wishes you well!

I love Unitarians. They were the biggest organisers of anti-war protests where I used to live, they ROCK!

I'm still settling in to my new city so I still need to find my new local Unitarians.

[RPM]

16. thx....

balancing on the fence.... still in the air on the matter of a god. These guys do seem to have a clue, though. Certainly agreeable enough for me.

[JaneQPublic]

14. Anyone else remember those liberal religious folks in the 60's?

They were called "Jesus Freaks."

As I recall, they were looked down upon by conservatives, who _then_ believed people hadn't ought to wear their religion on their sleeve or mix their religion with politics.

[JaneQPublic]

15. dupe