Religious conservatism, sex education, and GA

UU World: The Magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association, Fall 2005 by Greer, Jane

Questions for spiritual reflection and adult group discussions,

Obligation and commitment. In "Who's Afraid of Freedom and Tolerance," Doug Muder focuses on the metaphor of the family to understand the difference between religious liberals and conservatives. Religious conservatives, writes Muder, function in a society that emphasizes congenital obligations. "By contrast, the liberal worldview puts a much greater emphasis on commitments undertaken by choice, rather than obligations imposed from birth." (page 26)

In addition to family obligations and roles, what other factors might explain the difference between religious liberals and conservatives? Consider factors of culture, history, economics, politics, etc. How much choice have you been able to exercise with regard to commitments?

Common cause. Muder identifies some of the ground shared by both religious liberals and conservatives. "Both seek something more substantial than the momentary satisfaction of desire or the endless striving after status." (page 28)

What other values and beliefs do religious liberals and conservatives share? How could these values and beliefs be used to bring people together? Do you think religious liberals and conservatives will ever respect one another?

General Assembly. Donald E. Skinner and Christopher L.Walton report on the panoply of events at this year's General Assembly. Some issues raised include: finding common theological ground, increasing public witness, the place of religious language within the denomination, antioppression work in our congregations and the denomination as a whole, and prison ministry and the death penalty, (page 30)

What do you see as the most important issues facing the denomination? How are these issues impacting your congregation?

Death penalty. Donald E. Skinner writes about Ken and Lois Robison's campaign to abolish the death penalty. The Robisons became involved with this issue when their son Larry, a paranoid schizophrenic, was executed in Texas for killing five people, (page 37)

Would you support a universal abolition of the death penalty? Is execution ever justified?

Sex education. Cynthia Kuhn champions the UUA's Our Whole Lives sexuality education program in "Forum." "The OWL program's honest approach to sexuality, rooted in both values and science, aligns with my personal ethics and my work on adolescent issues. I was also attracted by its tolerant approach to sexualities of many kinds, irrespective of gender, sexual identity or culture." (page 14)

How were you educated about sex? How have you educated others? Have you discussed sex openly in your family?

Strange bedfellows. In profiling some of the grass-roots organizations receiving grants from the UU Veatch program, Warren Ross writes about the importance of building coalitions to create changes in economic and social systems. "The farmers in the Missouri Rural Crisis Center learned that to survive they needed to set aside their proud, individualistic traditions and form coalitions with noisier allies, even to become noisier themselves." (page 42)

What social justice efforts have required alliance building with groups not normally considered allies? Can lasting change be achieved by people of good will working for adjustments in policies and programs, or is structural change needed?

Helping. Victoria SafFord considers the tricky issue of giving help in her book review "Help and the human condition." "Self-interest, [author Garret Keizer] points out, is always present when we seek to help. Too often, our own need to be needed or recognized can do more harm than good to the intended recipients of our help." (page 57)

What factors motivate someone to help someone else? Is there such a thing as altruism? What's the difference between help and heroism?

No regrets. In "Repression of the Sublime," Marilyn Sewell talks about the decisions not made and the actions not taken. "We'll be terribly regretful if we get to the end of our lives and realize that we have given in to our fears and have failed to be faithful, to grow toward the sublime." (page 20)

What things do you wish you had done? What do you still want to do and how can you make it happen?