Uu Fellowship Of San Luis Obispo County

Sometimes known as "compassion fatigue," we can become overwhelmed at the number of injustices, inequities, and sorrowful circumstances calling for our attention. How do we renew our commitments when the temptation is to give up?

"The first step to building an antiracist America is acknowledging America’s racist past. By acknowledging America’s racist past, we can acknowledge America’s racist present. In acknowledging America’s racist present, we can work toward building an antiracist America…" Ibram X. Kendi

Memory is a powerful tool, one that can lend itself to healing or harming. How do we choose to use it? And what are those things we forget to remember?

...cross this door. That's the rest of the line in the very first hymn in one of our hymnals. But how do we go about refusing evil entry?

Looking at the tragic (and unnecessary) suffering that pervades our world, we can understandably feel guilty for all that we have not done to alleviate it, losing faith in ourselves and in humanity at large. How might we approach this feeling of hopelessness as a threshold, inviting us to summon the courage to change the things we can.

Addressing climate change calls on us (humans) to wrestle with our unfortunate tendencies toward denial, apathy, cynicism, and despair. However, it also calls forth from us our noblest aspirations toward compassion, connection, and courage.

"When will things return to normal?" This question is quickly followed by another: "Do we want things to return to normal?"

The possibility of resurrection--life arising from death; hope arising out of despair--calls to us enticingly...but what does it require of us?

We all--it is said--carry with us a certain amount of "emotional baggage." Sometimes, we barely notice the weight of it. Other times, we doubt we will be able to take another step carrying this burden.

We live in an individualistic society and have inherited what has often been seen as an individualistic religious tradition. How do we live into a faith that listens to collective wisdom and prioritizes the good of the whole?

One of the six Sources of our Living Tradition is "wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life." How do we go about intentionally gathering from the richness of this source?

Jesus said to his disciples, "I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves." What wisdom does that phrase hold for our work in the world?

As Darwin Day approaches, we'll explore just what the "fit" in "survival of the fittest" might mean.

Resilience has something to do with being able to weather suffering and carry on. Does this have something to do with reaching "closure"? Moving on? Or might it have more to do with remaining open and moving through and with our pain?

Perception is under our control and this is a good thing.

As we consider our highest aspirations, what relevance might the phrase "collective liberation" hold for us? To what is it pointing?

Integrity seems to have something to do with identity. Finding out who I am and staying true to myself. Why is it hard to be me?

In a cultural climate that seems to question the very idea of a shared reality, how can we be expected to "get real"?

This talk will speak to the future of religion and the ways that technology will shape the religion of our great grandchildren. Dr. Stephen Lloyd-Moffett is an internationally known Religious Studies scholar and Professor of Religious Studies at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is a dynamic and popular speaker who has graced our pulpit many times.

When darkness comes--not the restful, healing darkness, but the dark nights of the soul, when we are not able to see our own light or the lights of others--it can feel like the end of the world.