People in all faith traditions have had mystical experiences, including members of the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Therefore, they consider the potential for having such experiences inherent in human nature. Mystical experiences have four general characteristics: ineffability (they defy expression in words) noetic quality (they provide deep insight) transiency (they don’t last long, though their … Continue reading On Mystical Experiences [#96]
Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (SUUF) members have much in common. All are brave, curious, and compassionate thinkers and doers, who have traveled unique paths through life before coming together. Although diverse in age, ethnicity, gender, and spirituality, they all want to make a difference for their world and themselves. Their theological beliefs may vary, but they share … Continue reading What Unitarians Have in Common [#95]
With the coming of Spring, we’re inspired to spend more time outdoors enjoying nature’s colorful annual renewal. Most faith traditions focus on studying a scripture indoors. At the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, we “worship” in the outdoors, as well. A central UU principle expresses our deep “respect for the interdependent web of all existence of … Continue reading On Nature [#94]
An active Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship congregant recently died after a short illness, stunning those who knew him. Although we know death comes for us all, we also know that we each have a unique life and offer something to this world that will never exist again. Before death, we are available to travel the … Continue reading Death and Grieving [#93]
Sacredness is a quality Unitarian Universalists attribute to what is worthy of the highest respect and reverence. It’s not rare. The sacred is present and available to us wherever we look or are willing to find it. UU Ralph Waldo Emerson recommended, in his essay “Self-Reliance,” that all individuals should seek and honor what is … Continue reading Views of the Sacred [#92]
Valentines Day might be an appropriate occasion for addressing Unitarian Universalism’s view of sex. According to UU Rev. Lena Breen, “Human sexuality is simply too important, too beautiful, and too potentially dangerous to be ignored in a religious community.” UU views sex as a good and healthy part of the lifelong human experience from womb … Continue reading On Sex [#91]
The welcoming of newcomers and old friends is considered a spiritual practice at the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. They know that being welcomed, whether it’s for the first or the umpteenth time, touches something deep inside. It fills our need to feel accepted, to belong, to be loved, to feel safe, to be valued and … Continue reading Hospitality as a Spiritual Practice [#90]
We live in scary times. Daily, we see gut-wrenching media reports about aggressive acts–abroad and within America–that make us wonder “what is the world is coming to”?
Unitarian Universalists do not have one foundational sacred text, like the Bible or the Koran. Instead, they commit to being life-long seekers of wisdom.
Our miracles are wonderful experiences, but not necessarily out of the ordinary.
