[8/18/02] Social Action
by Tami Moore
August 18, 2002
My task today is to explore social action as spiritual practice. This flows from one central premise - whether you become active in working against the welfare reform efforts of some of our more misguided legislators, or volunteer at the animal shelter, or participate in the next gay pride event, if you participate in this activity with integrity . . . if it flows from your highest ideals . . . you are engaged in religious practice.
Some of you are likely thinking "What?! I'm not a religious person." Far be it from me to argue with you, but maybe I could suggest another way to look at this.
In the opening words, we heard from Martin Luther King, Jr., that "we are all tied together in a single garment of destiny."
In our meditation reading this morning Mark Morrison Reed told us that "the central task of the religious community is to unveil the bonds that bind each to all."
Our minister has been known to tell us that "as soon as you realize you are in community with another person or being, THAT is an act of radical love."
James Luther Adams - one of the leading theologians of the Unitarian tradition in the 20th century -- talks of the "interdependence of spiritual destinies."
But the central question here is not our connectivity. This morning, I am asking you to consider social action as a spiritual, or religious practice. This is about the personal first, and only then about the community that we build with one another. We are not exploring that "single garment of destiny." Instead, we must take a step back and consider first our own individual responsibilities. Julie and ??? brought to us this morning information about a growing movement in response to welfare reform. Many of you are very likely thinking "what can I do to help?" or "Where do I go from here to make a difference?" But the real - and first - question that we need to ask ourselves is "what does all this mean on a personal, spiritual level?"
I've been a member of this religious community for almost five years now, and I can tell you that for much of that time I saw the work of the Social Action Committee as very helpful suggestions for how to spend the time I was away from the church. When Joan - or a guest speaker - brought to me a message about injustice, I appreciated the reminder that I really did need to make time to help other people during the week.
For me, church served as a more or less gentle kick in the pants. I received messages which suggested that if I could make time to do something for someone else, it might be a good thing.
Notice there all the conditional language. "IF I could make time . . . "It MIGHT be a good thing."
Now, let me present that notion to you as a straw person. I said essentially, "IF I have time outside of church maybe it would be a good thing for me to make time to do something for someone else." But, if Mark Morrison Reed, Martin Luther King, Joan, and James Luther Adams are right, we are all in this together. Social action is not just about presenting church-goers with opportunities - it is about helping us to fulfill our individual responsibility.
What is that responsibility? I'll rely on James Luther Adams to answer that question for us this morning:
"It is our social responsibility" to extend the care and community in our church to build a world in which Everyone can make a contribution."
He would continue by saying that by virtue of our membership in the community of humanity, we have a responsibility to engage in the social and political processes that maintain that community. His language would include talk of Agape - the "community forming power of God's love".
In the diverse world of Unitarian Universalist thought, we can say that this all comes from our seven principles.
This is about the inherent worth and dignity of all people, with in the "interconnected web of all existence." Regardless of your belief about how the web was made manifest - the underlying principle of inter-related spiritual destinies" is inherent in our belief system as Unitarian Universalists of whatever ilk.
It is, according to the theologists we have heard from this morning, our responsibility to build and to maintain communities which nurture everyone. And we are engaged in religious -- and sometimes spiritual -- practice when we do it.
Consider these definitions that Joan offers:
So social action can be a religious experience if you are engaged in pursuit of your highest ideals. And the way you feel when you are engaged in these activities is the spiritual element of social action.
Whether it is in response to today's presentation, or an issue that drives your passion for social justice, I encourage you to become involved!
August 18, 2002
My task today is to explore social action as spiritual practice. This flows from one central premise - whether you become active in working against the welfare reform efforts of some of our more misguided legislators, or volunteer at the animal shelter, or participate in the next gay pride event, if you participate in this activity with integrity . . . if it flows from your highest ideals . . . you are engaged in religious practice.
Some of you are likely thinking "What?! I'm not a religious person." Far be it from me to argue with you, but maybe I could suggest another way to look at this.
In the opening words, we heard from Martin Luther King, Jr., that "we are all tied together in a single garment of destiny."
In our meditation reading this morning Mark Morrison Reed told us that "the central task of the religious community is to unveil the bonds that bind each to all."
Our minister has been known to tell us that "as soon as you realize you are in community with another person or being, THAT is an act of radical love."
James Luther Adams - one of the leading theologians of the Unitarian tradition in the 20th century -- talks of the "interdependence of spiritual destinies."
But the central question here is not our connectivity. This morning, I am asking you to consider social action as a spiritual, or religious practice. This is about the personal first, and only then about the community that we build with one another. We are not exploring that "single garment of destiny." Instead, we must take a step back and consider first our own individual responsibilities. Julie and ??? brought to us this morning information about a growing movement in response to welfare reform. Many of you are very likely thinking "what can I do to help?" or "Where do I go from here to make a difference?" But the real - and first - question that we need to ask ourselves is "what does all this mean on a personal, spiritual level?"
I've been a member of this religious community for almost five years now, and I can tell you that for much of that time I saw the work of the Social Action Committee as very helpful suggestions for how to spend the time I was away from the church. When Joan - or a guest speaker - brought to me a message about injustice, I appreciated the reminder that I really did need to make time to help other people during the week.
For me, church served as a more or less gentle kick in the pants. I received messages which suggested that if I could make time to do something for someone else, it might be a good thing.
Notice there all the conditional language. "IF I could make time . . . "It MIGHT be a good thing."
Now, let me present that notion to you as a straw person. I said essentially, "IF I have time outside of church maybe it would be a good thing for me to make time to do something for someone else." But, if Mark Morrison Reed, Martin Luther King, Joan, and James Luther Adams are right, we are all in this together. Social action is not just about presenting church-goers with opportunities - it is about helping us to fulfill our individual responsibility.
What is that responsibility? I'll rely on James Luther Adams to answer that question for us this morning:
"It is our social responsibility" to extend the care and community in our church to build a world in which Everyone can make a contribution."
He would continue by saying that by virtue of our membership in the community of humanity, we have a responsibility to engage in the social and political processes that maintain that community. His language would include talk of Agape - the "community forming power of God's love".
In the diverse world of Unitarian Universalist thought, we can say that this all comes from our seven principles.
This is about the inherent worth and dignity of all people, with in the "interconnected web of all existence." Regardless of your belief about how the web was made manifest - the underlying principle of inter-related spiritual destinies" is inherent in our belief system as Unitarian Universalists of whatever ilk.
It is, according to the theologists we have heard from this morning, our responsibility to build and to maintain communities which nurture everyone. And we are engaged in religious -- and sometimes spiritual -- practice when we do it.
Consider these definitions that Joan offers:
- Religion: vehicle
- Spiritual: experience of riding in that vehicle.
So social action can be a religious experience if you are engaged in pursuit of your highest ideals. And the way you feel when you are engaged in these activities is the spiritual element of social action.
Whether it is in response to today's presentation, or an issue that drives your passion for social justice, I encourage you to become involved!
posted by UUCP Sermons at 8:03 AM
