"Faith of the Free"

[uufreespirit]

,

-- Recently I read a statement (somewhere...can't remember where) that one of the central features of modern-day UU--and arguably of that "new paradigm for religion" that I've been describing in this forum--is an "ethic of radical belonging." I've been tossing around that phrase ever since. It goes right to the heart of what religion is supposed to be about, doesn't it? I mean...even in a free-spirited approach to religion, the bottom-line is still, as the root-meaning of the word "religio" suggests, connectedness (technically it's re-connectedness, or re-binding, as are the pages of a book). Radical belonging doesn't necessarily have to be understood in a narrow sense, of course, and in a liberal faith we stubbornly refuse to do so. For good reason, ours has been called the most broadly catholic of faiths, with the most universalistic of outreach and inclusion.

-- My question, for the Truth Lab, centers around the question of whether "an ethic of radical belonging" really is such a central part of our particular mode of liberal religion? How does this relate to our relationships with, say, a religious community? I personally think that connectedness with a religious community is important. I know that some people believe otherwise. Thomas Paine wrote that "my mind is my own church" and Jefferson said that he was a "Unitarian by myself." None of that really convinces me that any of us are without at least some form of religious or ethical community (whether we choose to admit it or not).

-- A big part of this, I believe, has to do with discipline. We all need it, we all rely upon certain basic assumptions of civility that come from a degree of discipline. In a free society--and in a free-spirit mode of faith--the default is to grow that discipline inside us...within ourselves...as self-discipline and character, but if it doesn't come in that manner, society must inevitably find other ways to ensure that it still prevails, nonetheless. (Laws and penalties are drawn up for that purpose.) Ironically, it seems to me, we are "free-spirits in society" only to the degree that we demonstrate our belonging to that society, and we do so only through a measure of discipline. My second question for the Truth Lab, then, is about the role (if any) of a liberal-religious community in helping to nurture that kind of discipline...of self-discipline? Obviously I believe that it's a significant role...or ideally should be...and to the degree that it's falling short of that lofty goal, then perhaps we have an obligation to make it so.

-- Would any of you like to talk about either of these things...about the "ethic of radical belonging" and the "role of liberal-religion in the growing of self-discipline" as an expression of that radical belonging? I'd love to discuss it with you.

Ron
_________________
-- Ron

"Beyond the ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing there is a field. I'll meet you there." -- Rumi
"The Reformation Must Continue!" --- Friedrich Schleiermacher
-->> Have you tried "UUPLINK UU RADIO" lately? You may be surprised! Go to... http://www.live365.com/stations/uuplink?site=uuplink"&"%20play
____________________