The Light for Everyone Who Comes into the World
By Elizabeth M Strong
Reverently I offer this symbol of our hope and high intent.
Reverently I bequeath this flame to you.
This is the light that is lit for everyone who comes into the world.
Bear this light to others, one by one.
Let the flame go from life to life till all is lit with its warmth.
Tell that the light means wisdom
Tell that the light means kindness
Tell that the light means understanding
Tell that the light means tolerance
Tell that the light means sacrifice
Tell that the light is a vision of a fairer world.
Tell that this is the light that is lit for everyone who comes into the world.
Welcome to A World of Religions!
One of the favorite programs in UU Religious Education is always our study of World's Religions. With the magic of the internet, adults can join some of the adventures!
The foundation of our study of world's religions is religious pluralism. Instead of claiming that one religion is better than others or that all religions are really different ways to the same end, religious pluralism treats religions as separate systems of belief that address distinct human challenges. Rather than seeing all religions as different paths leading to the same mountaintop, this view sees each religion as its own uniquely beautiful mountain. Each month we will explore a different faith tradition.
The Children's Program
With our youngest friends (ages 0-11 and anyone else who wants to join in), we'll explore some of the world's religions through picture books, stories, and activities. One week, we'll do art related to that week's story, and another week we'll share in snack or do a science experiment. Who knows what fun and adventures we will get in to!
Meets: Sunday morning at each congregation. Weekly at UUCT and MVUU.
The Youth Program
This year with our youth ages 12+ we will meet once a month in order to "preview" the religious tradition, their history, their beliefs, and any special instructions about visiting their place of worship. Then, the Youth who are available, will meet to visit a place of worship that is important to that faith tradition. In the past, we have visited a mosque, an evangelical church, a synagogue, a Buddhist meditation center, a Greek Orthodox church, and more. These trips are optional, of course, but provide an important insight into what can be abstract concepts.
Meets: two times per month. Dates to be announced.
The Adult Program
While this is still under construction, we plan to have a speaker each month following the faith tradition the children/youth are studying. Watch the weekly emails for details.
How does this reflect UU Values?
This approach is distinctly Unitarian Universalist. From our beginning, we’ve honored the way our sibling faith traditions each notice a different aspect of the human condition and human struggle. There is no single struggle. There are many struggles of the human condition. We see each religion as focusing on a different one of these challenges and then developing spiritual practices or “spiritual technologies” to deal with that. So depending on which struggle you are experiencing, you might turn to that particular tradition (source) for guidance.
And so UUs respond by helping people restore those three sacred connections. Another way to put this is to say we offer people three “lifelines” that help people reconnect to:
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their deepest self (self)
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life’s gifts and joy (life)
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and needs greater than our own (others)