Rush Limbaugh just landed a huge contract renewal of $400 million dollars to continue his radio talk. Wonder what he does with his money. Has he set up any charitable foundations to help children's health or young people get an education? If anyone knows what he does with his money, let me know.
In the meantime, Rush says he'll keep being the voice of conservatives: "I'm not retiring until every American agrees with me." Well that's clear...and arrogant, and devoid of any respect for others' opinions, and blind of the dynamic and beauty of when diverse opinions are shared and understood, a higher wisdom is possible. So many conservatives protesteth too mucheth...with their statements of surity, and then we find out their undercover life of prescription drugs and prostitutes. We'll see what the next chapter of Rush's life reveals.
Perhaps we need Rush Limbaughs, who voice what some think...who put it out there for us to evaluate, for us to define our values, in contrast, more sharply. And to see if there is any meeting ground. Meeting ground is tough to find when he dismisses other people's reality and truth as simply wrong...and so I am challenged to not do the same to him.
What must it be like to be Rush? His very statement separates himself from others. What would it take to have him become part of the rest of us, related to the rest of us, humble in our awareness that we all strive and stumble, and pick ourselves up with the help of our friends. Humble in knowing that we don't know it all, and also grateful that we don't for to "know it all" would create an isolation from others, a not needing of others except maybe to use them, which for me would be a spiritual death. What must it be like to see yourself as the All Knowing One?
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Loss of Tim Russert
I am deeply moved by the effects of the death of Tim Russert. It seems that everyone he interacted with was touched by his compassionate way of being. I put together a chalice lighting with his words to his son,good wisdom to share with any teenager:
Remember, son, you are always loved, but also remember that you are never entitled.
The world doesn't owe you a favor, you owe the world to live a giving and meaningful life.
The best experience of the human heart is to reach down and help someone up.
Work Hard.
Laugh Often.
Keep Your Honor.
Thank you Tim.
Remember, son, you are always loved, but also remember that you are never entitled.
The world doesn't owe you a favor, you owe the world to live a giving and meaningful life.
The best experience of the human heart is to reach down and help someone up.
Work Hard.
Laugh Often.
Keep Your Honor.
Thank you Tim.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Vatican Excommunication of Ordained Women
We all have questions about where we belong, but sometimes it gets easy. Yesterday's Vatican edict of excommunication of any bishop ordaining a woman, or of any woman being ordained makes it clear that they don't want women to share sacred leadership. Of course we have known that forever, but it is always fascinating to watch the dynamics between Rome and its people. Such edicts makes the Roman church's identity clear, and helps its leadership, both men and women, to discern where they really belong.
The question I was faced with in the late 1960's was whether I would stay with the church and try to reform it, or leave. I am so grateful that I was able to cut loose of that church in my early 20's.
How good it is that my current faith tradition, Unitarian Universalism (UU), put that matter of ordination of women to rest in the mid 1800's. We have so many needs in this world, to assure the world's very survival, that it is refreshing to belong to a faith that I don't have to apologize for--it is so great to have as our first UU principle the worth and dignity of all people. We can concentrate on deepening our understanding of what that means in our daily life, discovering our current blinders, rather than putting up barriers to the dignity of woman. Below, the press release about the Vatican:
Vatican, May. 30, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican has announced that
any Catholic bishop who attempts the ordination of a woman to the
priesthood, and any woman who participates in such a ceremony, is
subject to automatic excommunication.
The decree from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
published in the May 30 issue of L'Osservatore Romano, takes effect
immediately and applies throughout the universal Church. The document
was signed by Cardinal William Levada and Archbishop Angelo Amato,
the prefect and secretary, respectively, of the Congregation.
"Both the one who attempts to confer a sacred order on a woman, and
the woman who attempts to receive a sacred order, incurs
excommunication latae sententiae."
The question I was faced with in the late 1960's was whether I would stay with the church and try to reform it, or leave. I am so grateful that I was able to cut loose of that church in my early 20's.
How good it is that my current faith tradition, Unitarian Universalism (UU), put that matter of ordination of women to rest in the mid 1800's. We have so many needs in this world, to assure the world's very survival, that it is refreshing to belong to a faith that I don't have to apologize for--it is so great to have as our first UU principle the worth and dignity of all people. We can concentrate on deepening our understanding of what that means in our daily life, discovering our current blinders, rather than putting up barriers to the dignity of woman. Below, the press release about the Vatican:
Vatican, May. 30, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican has announced that
any Catholic bishop who attempts the ordination of a woman to the
priesthood, and any woman who participates in such a ceremony, is
subject to automatic excommunication.
The decree from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
published in the May 30 issue of L'Osservatore Romano, takes effect
immediately and applies throughout the universal Church. The document
was signed by Cardinal William Levada and Archbishop Angelo Amato,
the prefect and secretary, respectively, of the Congregation.
"Both the one who attempts to confer a sacred order on a woman, and
the woman who attempts to receive a sacred order, incurs
excommunication latae sententiae."
Monday, March 24, 2008
Rev. Wright, Obama, and Freedom of the Pew
This is a message I delivered on Easter Sunday after a week of hullabulu regarding pastors and presidential candidates--
Before I preach today, I was wondering…do any of you plan to run for President? (chuckles and laughter)
Without in any way implying who is the best candidate for President,
I’d like to shed some light on the controversy about Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his parishioner Barak Obama…because it has implications for us and we need to understand our covenant together….
You see, some religious people believe that what the pastor says confines the minds of those in the pews…a belief that could be because they have not known anything different…
Clergy do attempt to define the beliefs and values of the pew in certain orthodox/hierarchical faiths where edicts are read to the faithful on a Sunday morning, even to the extent of implying how to vote on certain political initiatives…
but that is not true of those faith communities whose authority structure is congregational…each congregation being independent of any higher authority…Rev. Wright is a United Church of Christ Congregational minister…Obama doesn’t have to agree with his minister—which is called freedom of the pew! and his pastor has freedom of the pulpit…that is the way with their denomination, and it is the way with ours, and some Baptist congregations—in fact Mike Huckabee, who is a Baptist minister did explain this because he understands it and has lived it.
The secular world does not understand the relationship of the free pulpit and free pew, formed by a sacred agreement, a covenant, that creates a spiritual entity, a congregation, out of a simple grouping of individuals. It is an issue deeper and wider than political free speech.
The controversy that arose this week is a result of several factors: 1) ignorance of this covenant or that it even exists, 2) a lack of knowledge about the cultural depth and meaning of African American prophetic preaching style 3) an assumption that dogmatic preaching is the only way, 4) a conscious attack upon our liberal religious protestant way, 5) not to mention the obvious political motivations.
I never in my right mind thought that all of you would ever all agree with any one of my sermon points! That’s just not very Unitarian Universalist.
Any minister who takes some risks with their sermons would be vulnerable to quotes taken out of context. I would not expect you to ever have to defend me or renounce me or leave the congregation if you didn’t agree with me!
What I do hope is that I give you something to think and feel about that is relevant in your life…that helps you to continue to know yourself more deeply whether because you agree or you disagree, and that you will hear something that motivates you to share our commonly held values of working for more understanding, love and justice in our world.
That said, let me know if you are planning to run for office!
Warmly, Peg
Before I preach today, I was wondering…do any of you plan to run for President? (chuckles and laughter)
Without in any way implying who is the best candidate for President,
I’d like to shed some light on the controversy about Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his parishioner Barak Obama…because it has implications for us and we need to understand our covenant together….
You see, some religious people believe that what the pastor says confines the minds of those in the pews…a belief that could be because they have not known anything different…
Clergy do attempt to define the beliefs and values of the pew in certain orthodox/hierarchical faiths where edicts are read to the faithful on a Sunday morning, even to the extent of implying how to vote on certain political initiatives…
but that is not true of those faith communities whose authority structure is congregational…each congregation being independent of any higher authority…Rev. Wright is a United Church of Christ Congregational minister…Obama doesn’t have to agree with his minister—which is called freedom of the pew! and his pastor has freedom of the pulpit…that is the way with their denomination, and it is the way with ours, and some Baptist congregations—in fact Mike Huckabee, who is a Baptist minister did explain this because he understands it and has lived it.
The secular world does not understand the relationship of the free pulpit and free pew, formed by a sacred agreement, a covenant, that creates a spiritual entity, a congregation, out of a simple grouping of individuals. It is an issue deeper and wider than political free speech.
The controversy that arose this week is a result of several factors: 1) ignorance of this covenant or that it even exists, 2) a lack of knowledge about the cultural depth and meaning of African American prophetic preaching style 3) an assumption that dogmatic preaching is the only way, 4) a conscious attack upon our liberal religious protestant way, 5) not to mention the obvious political motivations.
I never in my right mind thought that all of you would ever all agree with any one of my sermon points! That’s just not very Unitarian Universalist.
Any minister who takes some risks with their sermons would be vulnerable to quotes taken out of context. I would not expect you to ever have to defend me or renounce me or leave the congregation if you didn’t agree with me!
What I do hope is that I give you something to think and feel about that is relevant in your life…that helps you to continue to know yourself more deeply whether because you agree or you disagree, and that you will hear something that motivates you to share our commonly held values of working for more understanding, love and justice in our world.
That said, let me know if you are planning to run for office!
Warmly, Peg
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Empty Cathedrals and Mitt Romney
I have gazed up into the beautiful, massive cathedrals in Europe, touched by their history and their amazing gothic and Romanesque architecture. I have felt stirred by the centuries of people who have come to offer their allegiance to the only image of God that they knew--having not thought to question the religious stories and dogma. And I have been struck by the fact that hardly anyone actually worships in these cathedrals anymore, a fact that Mitt Romney despairs about.
Today in his Texas based speech the Presidential candidate said: "I have visited many of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. They are so inspired ... so grand ... so empty," he said. "So many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer."
It has not occurred to Mr. Romney that in the spiritual evolution of human beings, many in modern day generations have moved beyond the mythic religions of old. It has not occurred to Mr. Romney that we can be very spiritual without buying the Christology mythos. That we can pray, expressing our deepest human longings, gratitudes, and wonder, without praying to a decider God. Today many thoughtful people ponder different conceptions of the power in this universe, the power and forces that support life and at times strike life dead. Many people have put aside the anthropomorphic, ego filled controlling bitchy God, for a more complex and mysterious wonder about it all.
No Mr. Romney, it is not about being too busy...it's about having a different life experience and perception than you. And that's ok, we don't have to agree, as long as you don't become President and make this country a theocracy--taking us back to the middle ages.
Today in his Texas based speech the Presidential candidate said: "I have visited many of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. They are so inspired ... so grand ... so empty," he said. "So many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer."
It has not occurred to Mr. Romney that in the spiritual evolution of human beings, many in modern day generations have moved beyond the mythic religions of old. It has not occurred to Mr. Romney that we can be very spiritual without buying the Christology mythos. That we can pray, expressing our deepest human longings, gratitudes, and wonder, without praying to a decider God. Today many thoughtful people ponder different conceptions of the power in this universe, the power and forces that support life and at times strike life dead. Many people have put aside the anthropomorphic, ego filled controlling bitchy God, for a more complex and mysterious wonder about it all.
No Mr. Romney, it is not about being too busy...it's about having a different life experience and perception than you. And that's ok, we don't have to agree, as long as you don't become President and make this country a theocracy--taking us back to the middle ages.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Washington State Pharmacy ruling
The Washington State Pharmacy Board made a ruling a few months ago, that a pharmacist could refuse to fill a prescription if it offended his/her religious convicitions, providing another pharmacist on site could fill it. This most often involves prescriptions for birth control, emergency contraception, and AIDS medicines.
Last month a federal district judge issued a temporary injunction against the ruling following litigation brought by a small number of pharmacists who objected to the rule based on the right of religious refusal. Many of us in the faith communities of our state believe that to be a bad decision, and will be speaking out against the injunction. If you become a pharmacist, your profession is all about following carefully doctors' orders. You have no right to usurp those orders with your need to control other people's values and behaviors. Not in my mind, anyway. We'll see how this goes...the hearings that led up the Pharmacy Board's ruling clearly showed that the majority of citizens expected pharmacists to do their job and not try to play God, or M.D.iety, or whatever they are trying to play--autocrat, dictator...this is exactly why we must support a spiritually liberal religion so that the institutions of spiritually liberal religion can be strong and vital, and have a voice to counter those who would make this country a theocracy.
But I don't have any strong feelings about this....watch for my name on a newspaper ad full of names of interfaith clergy speaking out for the rights of people to get their prescriptions filled, for God's sake!
Last month a federal district judge issued a temporary injunction against the ruling following litigation brought by a small number of pharmacists who objected to the rule based on the right of religious refusal. Many of us in the faith communities of our state believe that to be a bad decision, and will be speaking out against the injunction. If you become a pharmacist, your profession is all about following carefully doctors' orders. You have no right to usurp those orders with your need to control other people's values and behaviors. Not in my mind, anyway. We'll see how this goes...the hearings that led up the Pharmacy Board's ruling clearly showed that the majority of citizens expected pharmacists to do their job and not try to play God, or M.D.iety, or whatever they are trying to play--autocrat, dictator...this is exactly why we must support a spiritually liberal religion so that the institutions of spiritually liberal religion can be strong and vital, and have a voice to counter those who would make this country a theocracy.
But I don't have any strong feelings about this....watch for my name on a newspaper ad full of names of interfaith clergy speaking out for the rights of people to get their prescriptions filled, for God's sake!
Chimps Are Champs!
Today Japanese researchers reported that the commonly held belief that humans are smarter than other animals may not be true. Actually, I haven't thought it was true for a long time. There are many kinds of "smart" and humans are lower on many of them. Most animals and other life forms take only what they need to survive. Most animals do not kill except to breed and eat and keep enough territory to live. What do we do? We kill because others don't agree with our mythic stories, and the rules we have created from them. We kill and invade other countries for our selfish economic needs, or I should say, the economic needs of the people who benefit from the military industrial complex...people like our Vice President and his Haliburton buddies. But I digress....
Tesuro Matsuzawa of Kyoto University has been studying the mental abilites of chimps. Five year old chimps competed with college students in a task of seeing and memorizing numbers flashed on a screen. The conclusion, as the time of the flashing of the numbers decreased to four-tenths or two-tenths of a second, the chimp was the champ. The chimp was better at taking in the whole pattern of numbers at a glance.
Humans may be better at language, but we are also arrogant. So many animals are high in intelligence--emotional intelligence, community building intelligence, cross species intelligence. It is time for us to leave our tribal consciousness and consider the needs of the other species, to consider how our dumbness is affecting their survival, and to consider what we can learn from them. How about it?
Tesuro Matsuzawa of Kyoto University has been studying the mental abilites of chimps. Five year old chimps competed with college students in a task of seeing and memorizing numbers flashed on a screen. The conclusion, as the time of the flashing of the numbers decreased to four-tenths or two-tenths of a second, the chimp was the champ. The chimp was better at taking in the whole pattern of numbers at a glance.
Humans may be better at language, but we are also arrogant. So many animals are high in intelligence--emotional intelligence, community building intelligence, cross species intelligence. It is time for us to leave our tribal consciousness and consider the needs of the other species, to consider how our dumbness is affecting their survival, and to consider what we can learn from them. How about it?
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