Expanding Horizons

Ruminating

This morning I explored the life of the 13th Century Sufi Mystic and Universalist, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkh Rumi who is known today by the nisbah in his name, Rumi (the poet and mystic from Rum) who, despite his flaws and mistakes, wrote about the overwhelming commonality and oneness of all people and of all faith traditions. Listen on!

The Future of Unitarianism in SA

On Sunday, 30th May we had a Café church service. A number of questions were put forward to the congregation as conversation starters: - our Music, Time of worship, Nature of God, our Church Community and the Spiritual & Pastoral support provided to it. People could make notes for themselves but were also invited to hand them in for the edification of the CoM at the end of the session.
If you were unable to attend on the day and would like to contribute to the discussion, please email your thoughts to admin@unitariansa.org.au and use the descriptor, "Café church" on the subject line.
Do not feel impelled to answer all of these questions, just the ones that move you to respond.
We would value your response to any - or all - of these questions. (Notes provided by Jennie D)

Masculinity

In today's address, Aaron immediately refers us to our 1st and 7th Principles. He begins by examining stereotypes of masculinity and toxic masculinity, prompted by the current debate re "toxic masculinity" amongst some male politicians and their behaviour towards vulnerable female staff. Aaron briefly examines commonly-held stereotypes of masculinity and the effects of such stereotyping. He maintains that, notwithstanding the recent political controversy regarding toxic masculinity by some State and Federal politicians, toxic masculinity is on the decline whilst actual masculinity, the polar opposite of toxic masculinity - is on the rise. He looks to nature for the 'obvious hint' as to why. In the natural world, 'male' and 'female' and are valued equally. This contrasts with human social systems - where males, stereo-typically - have been over-valued and females, under-valued. So why is "natural masculinity" on the increase? Listen on!

Ethical Decisions in a Complex World

In her address today, Sunday,15th May, 2021, Jennie draws heavily on Susan Liautaud's book - "The Power of Ethics", a practical guide for ethical decision-making. Susan Liautaud uses a straightforward, 4-step process to create a sea change of positive decisions that can ripple outwards to our families, communities, workplaces, and the wider world. Jennie observes the pressure on each of us to reduce ethical decision-making to a binary choice, and gives one example of a binary choice in corporate decision-making that had disastrous consequences when compared with the outcomes of a more ethical, non-binary decision making by another corporation. 
"Ethics tethers us to our humanity".

Why Am I a Unitarian?

Today's address, given on the 11th April, 2021 in our Adelaide Church is given by one of our oldest members, Dr Bob Brummitt. Bob takes us on a personal journey of significant historical events and discoveries - some of them shaped by early Unitarians such as Joseph Priestley (1733 - 1804) - that led Bob - as an 11-year-old - to refuse to be confirmed, to reject traditional Church dogma, and to embrace Unitarianism. Listen on!

The Path is Always Bumpy - Never Straight!

In his address today "The path is always bumpy  - never straight", John reminds us that May Day has just passed us by - unnoticed and uncelebrated here in South Australia as our - milder, shorter winter approaches. In contrast, the approach of Spring and Summer is celebrated widely by Europeans. Having endured a long, cold Northern Winter, they revel in the prospect of warmer, sunnier days ahead. John compares these seasonal highs and lows with the unique highs and lows of our own individual life journeys. John's address ends with Aaron's reading of a poem by Kahlil Gibran.
Listen on for John's valuable insights into such qualities as Resilience - in coping with the highs and lows of life's "bumpy road". Not to be missed!

In Flanders Fields

Today's service - held on Anzac Day, 25th April, 2021 - is conducted by Miranda Pallett, a member of our Unitarian Church in Adelaide who is leading her first service. She commences her address by recalling a visit she made to the "In Flanders Fields" Museum in the Belgian town of Ypres, reduced to ruins by the war. Miranda describes briefly the political events and historical alliances that led to the horrors of the First World War - ironically believed to be the "war to end all wars" - and juxtaposes them against our Seven Unitarian Principles that collectively point us to pathways of Peace. This is a memorable address by Miranda - not to be missed! Listen on.

More on Pooh and Piglet

Today, Jennie builds on an earlier address  - "The Tao of Pooh" - the title of a book by Benjamin Hoff, a western Taoist and the source of Jennie's inspiration today. Hoff's book was inspired by AA Milne's "Winnie the Pooh" - written in the 1920's - when Milne had returned from the trench warfare of WW1 suffering from what we would now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder  - or PTSD. The story is an allegory used by Milne to explain his  - at times - errant, PTSD-induced behaviour to his son. The characters are different kinds of people or  - more particularly, different aspects of ourselves. Piglet is paranoia; Eeyore is depression. Tigger is impulsivity. Rabbit is perfection-caused aggression. Owl is memory-loss and Kanga represents over-protection. Jennie's point is that these characters are all child-friendly representations of PTSD but are also characteristics to be found within each and every one of us. Jennie follows with some of Hoff's Taoist wisdoms and uses AA Milne's song "Coddleston Pie" to explain why we so often ignore the reality of things as they are. Everything has its own place and function - even mud - even us! Listen on!

Be Impeccable with your Word

Today's address, given on the 11th April, 2021 in our Adelaide Church by our President, Jennie Dyster is all about Lying. Of the 10 Commandments, Jennie would describe the ninth - "Thou shalt not bear false witness" as the one that needed to be taken with the "largest grain of salt". It's the most common of our misdeeds, and an unavoidable part of human nature. We can all think of situations where to speak the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth would be a very poor strategy indeed. Listen on!

A celebration of music and poetry

At our service today, Sunday, March 28th, John, with musical (guitar) accompaniment from Grant explores and celebrates the contribution of poetry and music to our spiritual well-being through poems selected from the works of William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson and Dorothea McKellar. The guitar accompaniment begins with the melodies of two of our favourite Unitarian hymns that  - owing to Covid-19 restrictions  - needed to remain unsung. These were followed by music composed and played by Grant. Listen on!