2006 Out of Context: Unitarian Theology
Across Cultures
Int'l Council Unitarians &Universalists
Speaker: Rev. Jill McAllister
Some are Unitarians, some are Universalists, and some are both, explained Rev. Jill McAllister, who has been with the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, ICUU, since its founding in 1995. As individuals, you and I are not members of the ICUU, but the CUC and the UUA are, along with more than a dozen other organizations worldwide (see http://www.icuu.org.uk/). We can, however, support them financially and read "The Global Chalice": ICUUed@uua.org.
A flaming chalice is the universal symbol of the ICUU. As she lit the chalice, Jill invited the audience to translate, and we heard her words in English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Arabic, and Esperanto.
One hundred years ago, the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF, http://www.iarf-religiousfreedom.net/) sponsored the first theological symposium to explore our religious unity and diversity. Theologies have evolved over 100 years, so last year the ICUU sponsored another symposium in Oxford to explore "Unity and Diversity" or "Unity in Diversity." The proceedings will be published this summer. In the meantime, we listened to speakers from Transylvania, the Czech Republic, India, Germany, and Britain. The audience agreed that the British speaker was hardest to understand, and those who are fluent in English should speak more slowly. Thandeka and Rev. Rebecca Parker represented the UUA.
The basic ethos includes tolerance and placing the spirit before the letter as we explore who we are in relation to others and to life. But cultural context influences what at base is the same. For example, whereas the UUA embraces neo-paganism, the Khasi Unitarian Union in India is glad to shake free from older forms of paganism.
Several books of multicultural UU worship are available, for example "One and Universal" compiled by John Midgley and published by Skinner House (www.uua.org/bookstore/). For more information, contact the Administrator: icuu@iol.cz.
Reporter Mike McNaughton; Web Designer Julie Albanese
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