Bath Unitarian Fellowship
Electronic NEWS letter
May 2014
BUF NEWS is published by Kay Millard at 1 The Maltings, 63 Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire BA13 3SF, e-mail [email protected], phone 01373 827856
Next Meeting
Sunday 15 June: “Faith in our Future”, led by Zosia and Matt
At Barrow Castle, Rush Hill, Bath
10.45 Coffee – 11.15 Worship
District Annual Assembly
Saturday 7 June, Plymouth Unitarian Church
with Marion Baker, President of the Unitarian General Assembly
Meet Unitarians from all over the South West, join in worship and enjoy food together, participate in activities.
All welcome, parking available
With Free Sea Air!
Dear Friends
Trotting out of my front door with both an umbrella and sunglasses yesterday I felt reassured that some things never change, because I have been doing that during an English summer for most of my life. It is tempting, when faced with the beauties of yet another May, to set aside all those worries about our environment and simply revel in it; to feast our eyes on the blossom and ignore the threat to the trees. We are comforted by familiar beauties.
One of the things people look for in religion is unchangingness, if that is a word. In an uncertain world, churches are expected to provide the expected. Remove the pews and put chairs in? Omit the Lord’s Prayer? Allow same-sex marriage? Heaven forbid! Yet life is about change, and living faiths are not exempt from it. Being a free religion, Unitarianism has been more willing to embrace change than many others, but none of us are truly free from needing the familiar around us, and new ideas are not always welcome. We are not fundamentalists who reject modernity and yearn for the past glories of a Golden Age, but we would not be human if we did not resist the invitation to try the untried occasionally.
When I think of what is happening to our environment, however, it strikes me that future generations will need to be considerably more adaptable than I have had to be. This is partly because the environmental threat is much more radical than it has been in human history; it is also partly because the rate of change is accelerating. I have grown up with evolution rather than revolution, but what I fear is that the pace and depth of change will reach a point where my grandchildren will witness a global maelstrom.
It is probably not uncommon to fear for the future of children, since any parent wants to protect their young, and different threats have arisen at different times. I was born into a world where there was a common assumption that nuclear war would happen well before I reached adulthood. The fact that the nuclear threat has receded should not, however, make anyone complacent. Similarly with climate change, the fact that we once again have blossom-time all around us should not allow us to believe that there is no danger.
What can we do, as people of faith, or simply as concerned individuals? I can think of several things, and you can probably think of more, but what is most important is that we give some thought to the question. Here are my suggestions, which are open, as always, to acceptance or rejection, as you see fit.
We can work alongside schools to provide an education for our children that will help them be flexible adults. By providing our young people with RE based on enquiry and a broad range of talents, plus an intimacy with a variety of roles, we can encourage them to be adaptable. Within that framework, we can help them to understand the network of cause and effect in the natural world, and show them the interconnectedness of life. This may sound high-falutin, but simple things like tending plants, or visiting a nature reserve, or sponsoring an endangered species, offer practical ways of doing this.
Spiritually, we can emphasise the concept of stewardship of the earth in contrast to dominion over the earth. Unitarians have long regarded the Genesis story of creation as a myth – the attempt of a monotheistic but unscientific people to tell in story what they believed. Any other interpretation risks placing humanity in an exalted state of being in relation to the “natural” world. This implies opposition to the fundamentalists in Christianity, some of whom deny the need to worry about climate change because the Second Coming is going to happen anyway. Most Christians in the world are not of this stamp, but the view is gaining ground among Protestants, and should be grounded before it takes off.*
Emphasising empathy is another valuable area of endeavour. While worship is very much about empathy – with our fellow-worshippers, with God (or whatever we conceive the ultimate to be), with those for whom we pray – we also need to have empathy with those who are suffering the effects of climate change: the “natural world” certainly (suddenly it doesn’t seem quite so whacky to hug a tree), but also people globally: those who are poor and who will inevitably suffer the worst effects. Global poverty should be the enemy of all of us, as should the activities of global corporations that contribute to it in so many ways. Maybe this is becoming too political, but we do need to find ways in which we can remedy uncaring rapaciousness. Here it is worth remembering that the Unitarian Community has signed up to the Charter for Compassion and compassion means “suffering with”, not pitying from a superior position.
Unitarians have valued reason ever since the Enlightenment. It is not enough on which to found a faith, and has never been considered so, but it does require us to look at the scientific evidence and evaluate it, rather than burying our heads in the sand. (One can only wonder why God bothered to create the ostrich.) Adding our voice – perhaps with a GA Resolution – to the demand for this issue to be taken seriously and acted upon nationally and internationally, would be another step on the path.
These are just some suggestions in the face of a challenge that will increasingly demand attention in the future. Meanwhile, I carry both my brolly and my sunglasses, so that I can enjoy the present.
Kay Millard
* The Lindsey Press (the Unitarian publisher) has recently launched a book refuting the arguments of Creationists. Graham Richards: Creationism – Design Errors and Cross Purposes – softback, £9.00 + p&p from Essex Hall, or from Amazon. An interesting read, helpful in understanding the Creationist argument and why it is unsound. The GA has already passed a resolution deploring the so-called scientific evidence for Intelligent Design as against that for neo-Darwinism.
Prepare to Welcome
Rev Maria Pap
and her husband Laszlo and daughter Abigail
from Romania
They will be visiting the South West of England for four weeks from mid July. The Western Union is sponsoring the visit, which is being organized by President Martin Fieldhouse. Various events are being arranged, and Abigail will be attending the summer youth event at Hucklow for part of the time.
Saturday 19 July in Sidmouth (midday to 4 pm):
Welcome event – why not make it a day out, join local Unitarians for a shared lunch, and hear Maria on Unitarianism in Romania? (With more free sea air!)
Sunday 3 August in Trowbridge (11 am):
A chance to attend a Unitarian Service Romanian-style at a local congregation and to support the initiative of our Trowbridge friends. (Alternatively at UMB at 6 pm.)
NEWS of Members and Friends
Kate Millard
has been appointed Convenor of a new GA Youth Panel, which has been formed to consider policy for young people and how to supply their needs and wishes in the future. (She may have to listen to teenagers, which, as we all know, requires a degree of courage.)
Karen Hanley
Received a Master of Science degree last Autumn. Apologies for the late acknowledgement, but many congratulations to her.
Judy Ryde and Peter Hawkins
are looking forward to the arrival of an additional grandchild.
Rev Lindy Latham
retired from the Bristol Ministry on 31 December and followed that with a trip to New Zealand.
Rhoslyn and Joshua Millard
have both had birthdays recently. Rhosie turned 6 in April, and Josh turned 5 in May – both celebrated with a tea party for family and friends. Many happy returns of the day to them.
Events at the Nightingale Centre, Great Hucklow, Derbyshire
There are several summer goodies you may wish to book for:
7-11 July: Windows on the World . . . a themed holiday
11-13 July: Summer Walkers Holiday . . . in wonderful countryside
8-11 August: Unitarian Music Society gathering . . . new musicians welcome
16-23 August: Summer School, theme The Authentic Self . . . usually booked early but there may be a place at the last minute
23-26 August: Come and Go as You Please . . . over the Bank Holiday Weekend, followed by
26-29 August: Midweek Break . . . either or both make it a free-style holiday
More details on any of these from http://www.unitarian.org.uk/info/events.shtml (control + click web address)
And Finally:
How do you put the fear of God into an Atheist?
Electronic NEWS letter
May 2014
BUF NEWS is published by Kay Millard at 1 The Maltings, 63 Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire BA13 3SF, e-mail [email protected], phone 01373 827856
Next Meeting
Sunday 15 June: “Faith in our Future”, led by Zosia and Matt
At Barrow Castle, Rush Hill, Bath
10.45 Coffee – 11.15 Worship
District Annual Assembly
Saturday 7 June, Plymouth Unitarian Church
with Marion Baker, President of the Unitarian General Assembly
Meet Unitarians from all over the South West, join in worship and enjoy food together, participate in activities.
All welcome, parking available
With Free Sea Air!
Dear Friends
Trotting out of my front door with both an umbrella and sunglasses yesterday I felt reassured that some things never change, because I have been doing that during an English summer for most of my life. It is tempting, when faced with the beauties of yet another May, to set aside all those worries about our environment and simply revel in it; to feast our eyes on the blossom and ignore the threat to the trees. We are comforted by familiar beauties.
One of the things people look for in religion is unchangingness, if that is a word. In an uncertain world, churches are expected to provide the expected. Remove the pews and put chairs in? Omit the Lord’s Prayer? Allow same-sex marriage? Heaven forbid! Yet life is about change, and living faiths are not exempt from it. Being a free religion, Unitarianism has been more willing to embrace change than many others, but none of us are truly free from needing the familiar around us, and new ideas are not always welcome. We are not fundamentalists who reject modernity and yearn for the past glories of a Golden Age, but we would not be human if we did not resist the invitation to try the untried occasionally.
When I think of what is happening to our environment, however, it strikes me that future generations will need to be considerably more adaptable than I have had to be. This is partly because the environmental threat is much more radical than it has been in human history; it is also partly because the rate of change is accelerating. I have grown up with evolution rather than revolution, but what I fear is that the pace and depth of change will reach a point where my grandchildren will witness a global maelstrom.
It is probably not uncommon to fear for the future of children, since any parent wants to protect their young, and different threats have arisen at different times. I was born into a world where there was a common assumption that nuclear war would happen well before I reached adulthood. The fact that the nuclear threat has receded should not, however, make anyone complacent. Similarly with climate change, the fact that we once again have blossom-time all around us should not allow us to believe that there is no danger.
What can we do, as people of faith, or simply as concerned individuals? I can think of several things, and you can probably think of more, but what is most important is that we give some thought to the question. Here are my suggestions, which are open, as always, to acceptance or rejection, as you see fit.
We can work alongside schools to provide an education for our children that will help them be flexible adults. By providing our young people with RE based on enquiry and a broad range of talents, plus an intimacy with a variety of roles, we can encourage them to be adaptable. Within that framework, we can help them to understand the network of cause and effect in the natural world, and show them the interconnectedness of life. This may sound high-falutin, but simple things like tending plants, or visiting a nature reserve, or sponsoring an endangered species, offer practical ways of doing this.
Spiritually, we can emphasise the concept of stewardship of the earth in contrast to dominion over the earth. Unitarians have long regarded the Genesis story of creation as a myth – the attempt of a monotheistic but unscientific people to tell in story what they believed. Any other interpretation risks placing humanity in an exalted state of being in relation to the “natural” world. This implies opposition to the fundamentalists in Christianity, some of whom deny the need to worry about climate change because the Second Coming is going to happen anyway. Most Christians in the world are not of this stamp, but the view is gaining ground among Protestants, and should be grounded before it takes off.*
Emphasising empathy is another valuable area of endeavour. While worship is very much about empathy – with our fellow-worshippers, with God (or whatever we conceive the ultimate to be), with those for whom we pray – we also need to have empathy with those who are suffering the effects of climate change: the “natural world” certainly (suddenly it doesn’t seem quite so whacky to hug a tree), but also people globally: those who are poor and who will inevitably suffer the worst effects. Global poverty should be the enemy of all of us, as should the activities of global corporations that contribute to it in so many ways. Maybe this is becoming too political, but we do need to find ways in which we can remedy uncaring rapaciousness. Here it is worth remembering that the Unitarian Community has signed up to the Charter for Compassion and compassion means “suffering with”, not pitying from a superior position.
Unitarians have valued reason ever since the Enlightenment. It is not enough on which to found a faith, and has never been considered so, but it does require us to look at the scientific evidence and evaluate it, rather than burying our heads in the sand. (One can only wonder why God bothered to create the ostrich.) Adding our voice – perhaps with a GA Resolution – to the demand for this issue to be taken seriously and acted upon nationally and internationally, would be another step on the path.
These are just some suggestions in the face of a challenge that will increasingly demand attention in the future. Meanwhile, I carry both my brolly and my sunglasses, so that I can enjoy the present.
Kay Millard
* The Lindsey Press (the Unitarian publisher) has recently launched a book refuting the arguments of Creationists. Graham Richards: Creationism – Design Errors and Cross Purposes – softback, £9.00 + p&p from Essex Hall, or from Amazon. An interesting read, helpful in understanding the Creationist argument and why it is unsound. The GA has already passed a resolution deploring the so-called scientific evidence for Intelligent Design as against that for neo-Darwinism.
Prepare to Welcome
Rev Maria Pap
and her husband Laszlo and daughter Abigail
from Romania
They will be visiting the South West of England for four weeks from mid July. The Western Union is sponsoring the visit, which is being organized by President Martin Fieldhouse. Various events are being arranged, and Abigail will be attending the summer youth event at Hucklow for part of the time.
Saturday 19 July in Sidmouth (midday to 4 pm):
Welcome event – why not make it a day out, join local Unitarians for a shared lunch, and hear Maria on Unitarianism in Romania? (With more free sea air!)
Sunday 3 August in Trowbridge (11 am):
A chance to attend a Unitarian Service Romanian-style at a local congregation and to support the initiative of our Trowbridge friends. (Alternatively at UMB at 6 pm.)
NEWS of Members and Friends
Kate Millard
has been appointed Convenor of a new GA Youth Panel, which has been formed to consider policy for young people and how to supply their needs and wishes in the future. (She may have to listen to teenagers, which, as we all know, requires a degree of courage.)
Karen Hanley
Received a Master of Science degree last Autumn. Apologies for the late acknowledgement, but many congratulations to her.
Judy Ryde and Peter Hawkins
are looking forward to the arrival of an additional grandchild.
Rev Lindy Latham
retired from the Bristol Ministry on 31 December and followed that with a trip to New Zealand.
Rhoslyn and Joshua Millard
have both had birthdays recently. Rhosie turned 6 in April, and Josh turned 5 in May – both celebrated with a tea party for family and friends. Many happy returns of the day to them.
Events at the Nightingale Centre, Great Hucklow, Derbyshire
There are several summer goodies you may wish to book for:
7-11 July: Windows on the World . . . a themed holiday
11-13 July: Summer Walkers Holiday . . . in wonderful countryside
8-11 August: Unitarian Music Society gathering . . . new musicians welcome
16-23 August: Summer School, theme The Authentic Self . . . usually booked early but there may be a place at the last minute
23-26 August: Come and Go as You Please . . . over the Bank Holiday Weekend, followed by
26-29 August: Midweek Break . . . either or both make it a free-style holiday
More details on any of these from http://www.unitarian.org.uk/info/events.shtml (control + click web address)
And Finally:
How do you put the fear of God into an Atheist?
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