Expanding Horizons

Ramadan

Today we were privileged to have Salim return to address us about Islam, and especially the Islamic practices and observances during Ramadan - commencing after sunset, tomorrow. After his address, Salim gave us all the chance to ask some questions about Ramadan, and Kris followed with some questions of his own.

What we stand for!

Kris commences his address "What (Do) We Stand For!?" at our Vespers Service at Shady Grove today with an anecdote that comes in the form of a criticism of Unitarians and Unitarianism: "You don't stand for anything!"
Perhaps the criticism was from a person searching for the certainties of a creed and we are a Non-Credal church. But it's not that we are without beliefs, principles - certainties even! It's just that we are free to decide what those certainties are. Unitarianism is older than Trinitarianism, and today, Kris answers that criticism with What We Do Stand For.

Australian Unitarians find themselves historically, philosophically and globally - midway between British Unitarianism and American Unitarian Universalism. Kris's address today considers where we've been as Unitarians, where we're at -now, and where we might be heading. We have some decisions to make!

The Eight-fold Path

Kris's Address today is on the Buddhist approach to living - The "Eight-fold Path" to Enlightenment, based on the Four Noble Truths:-

• that suffering is an inevitable part of living-
• - whose causes can be determined.
• It's possible to escape suffering and-
• there is a path - the "eight-fold path" we can follow to  end suffering.

The Buddha's practical guide to effective living is as relevant to our living today as it was 2,500 years ago.

Kris explains the Eight-fold path: Right View; Right Intention (or Resolve); Right Speech; Right Action; Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness; Right Concentration. The Eight-fold Path is not an ordered sequence of steps to follow - but more like eight spokes of a wheel, each playing their part - in keeping the wheel turning, true! And then there's the role of Meditation. Kris also sets us some homework! - And some challenges!

Paul versus Jerusalem

In "Paul versus Jerusalem" Kris takes us on a fascinating journey from radical Judaism to Orthodox Christianity. We explore with Kris - the journey of the Jewish Pharisee, Paul. Born to privilege in Tarsus - initially a persecutor of Jews who had believed early accounts of Jesua's teachings, miracles, crucifixion and resurrection. Paul, their persecutor, in his "Road to Damascus" moment of conversion, was to soon to join those he persecuted, ultimately to die - a Martyr. Early Christians had formed a revolutionary break-away sect of Judaism - soon to morph into the early Christian Church. Kris traces Paul's - and the Christian Church's separation from orthodox Jewish traditions, beliefs and practises. In James's writing we glimpse the early debate between himself and Paul and other early Christians about Faith and (good) Works. Is Faith enough to ensure salvation? Paul's letters and those of Peter and James were soon augmented by other early Christian writers who wrote under the pseudonyms of Paul, Peter and James to develop a distinctively "Christian" doctrine for Gentiles, spreading beyond Jerusalem especially after it was destroyed by the Romans, beyond Jewry - to Gentiles, to Rome and to the world.

Wisdoms from the Desert

Today I dig down into the true meaning of the Beatitudes (St Matthew Chapters 5-7) as taught by Jesus in his "Sermon On The Mount", over two Millennia ago. To help me, I use the scholarship of the Presbyterian theologian, the Late Rev. Professor William Barclay, who studied the ancient Aramaic language spoken by Jeshua - in Germany, in the years prior to the outbreak of WW2. It is only by revealing the ancient Aramaic meaning of these eight Beatitudes that their meaning, power and relevance shine through to illuminate our lives, today. Ironically, these wisdoms were taught in a land that now reverberates with the sounds of war, rendering the Holy Land, "Unholy". These eight Beatitudes point the way to peace - within ourselves and between neighbours, communities, and nations. My address today is graced by excerpts from two late Mozart Sonatas for Violin and Piano: K 269 and K 301, played to us by Margaret (piano) and Barry (violin).

Alchemy

Today, Kris explores the 'medieval?' pursuit of Alchemy. Many of the concepts of the Alchemists are still relevant within our lives, today: Change and Transformation - as expressed in the Arts, in Psychology, in spiritual writings, and in our search for that 'holy grail' of a transforming, spiritual dimension to our lives.
Kris's insights today may help us in the 'alchemy' of our own spiritual transformation:  - from the literal objectivity of the alchemist (scientist?) - towards the mystical: - that "letting go" of all our hurts to allow for regrowth and transformation towards more loving, kinder people and towards a deeper spirituality, - towards better selves, - an 'alchemy' of insight, understanding and transformation that we are all searching for.

"Blessing of the bags";"Why are we here?"

The first part of today's service was a celebration of our young people - traditionally called "the "blessing of the (school) bags" - in recognition of the new school year facing our young people. Kris interviewed each of them about their hopes and aspirations for the school year ahead. To quote Kris - "What wisdom they bring! what amazing truths"! We celebrate the maturity and potential of the children of our Unitarian Church. This was reinforced by Grant's memorable reading from the Diary of Ann Frank. As we are elevated by her wisdom, revelation, maturity and insight; we also weep at her loss, as one of millions of young victims of the holocaust.
Kris commenced his address today with a question: "Why are we here, this morning - rather than in a Christian Church?" Today, Kris explores the distinction between Unitarianism and Christianity and what we share in common with Christian Churches. Unitarianism is as old as Christianity. We SA Unitarians have come from a Christian background. Many of us once attended Christian churches. We have our seven Unitarian Principles but these have arisen from the stories and wisdoms in both the old and New Testament that brought them alive in our imagination, not the dogma - those unbelievable bits such as the Trinity, written into Credo to bolster the power of the institutional Church. Our Seven Principles also add modern insights.
But let's not forget these ancient stories - and the parables and wisdoms of Jeshua, to which we may add wisdoms, insights and practices of other religious traditions. They are our stories - our wisdoms, too!
Kris's address today is not to be missed! Listen on!

"Astray-ya"

Kris commences his "Astray-ya day" address with some challenging questions to focus our minds:
"What is Australia?", "What is our place in Australia?" and "What are the spiritual implications of us being here in this time and place?" - "topics as vast as the continent itself", Kris observes.
To help us clarify these issues, Kris looks back to what he perceives to be four phases of Australian History - when cultural interaction and spiritual expression have simultaneously evolved to help us find answers to what is essentially our spiritual search for an Australian Identity. It's one that each us must undertake. Kris concludes: "The search for meaning is not only treasured as one of our Unitarian principles, it is the most noble of human pursuits - unleashing our imagination on the task of becoming peaceful, loving and wise human beings".

What a spiritual feast today! Listen on - to begin - or to continue your search.

”Well Donne!”

Kris's address today - "Well Donne", explores the life of the English poet, John Donne, a contemporary of Shakespeare, through the medium of his poetry, arguably, the most memorable and enduring of which is "No man is an island entire of itself..".
Donne lived in dangerous times. Disadvantaged by the stigma of being born Catholic in Elizabethan London, Donne's life was flawed, conflicted, opportunistic - but lived - fully!
Through his reading of Donne's poetry, Kris spans the full spectrum of John Donne's life - conflicted, ranging from the dissolute young man of his early poems, his sycophantic but successful search for patronage and privilege, his conversion to Anglicanism, culminating in his appointment as Dean of St Paul's. Listen on!

Big Picture - Little Picture

Under the title - "Big picture - Little picture", Our President, Jenny begins with the superficial attraction of a "big picture" view: focusing on the overall vision at a macro-management level - as contrasting with what is often seen as nit-picking, "little picture" micromanagement, where vision and focus is blurred by the detail. Jenny gives some contemporary examples of the dangers of big picture thinking, especially  when it is based on false assumptions such as denial of the science. This will lead to potentially catastrophic global consequences.
Smaller, progressive and achievable steps, based on sound assumptions will provide incremental gains that aggregate to a tipping point, and - when the time is ripe, bigger reforms will become politically possible. Listen on to some very useful anecdotes.