There are conflicting spiritual aspects inherent in martial arts. While many martial arts emphasize "self defense," the more spiritually elevated arts practice "life protection" which goes beyond concern for personal victory in a conflict, and enters into the attitude of responsibility for the life and safety of the self, community and even includes protecting the aggressor if possible.
Jim Danielson will begin with the opening premise that democracy as a method of governance is built on the principles of non-violence and a fundamental respect for other individuals. Those principles justify the practices of inclusiveness, deliberation, and reasoned discourse. His discussion will include some theoretical and practical issues regarding inter-generational consequences of collective decisions in a community.
Haitian Vodou has almost nothing to do with the version Hollywood popularized. It is a profoundly moving religion that grew in response to slavery and it is still practiced widely in Haiti as well as in communities of Haitians living in the U.S. and Canada. Shelley Wiley talk about what Vodou isn't and what it is — its theology, rituals, and Haitian life.
As a special treat, Deb Jenkins will round out our brief tour of the Caribbean with a tasty Jamaican lunch following the service.
It took some time for a public dialogue to really get going about a possible war in Iraq. Now that that dialogue has been underway for some time, it might be helpful to take some time to reflect on the conversation that is taking place. Both sides of this issue claim to be working for peace. If we all agree that peace is the goal, how should we go about seeking it?
As Unitarian Universalists, we often pride ourselves on our freethinking and inquiring minds. But some topics nonetheless cause us to squirm in our seats and wish we could leave the room. Or maybe it's just that we are more comfortable with the abstract than the concrete. Please bring your freethinking, inquiring mind to this service to explore with Cindy the possibility that there is in fact a UU taboo. But what could it be?