Building Your Own Theology, Volume 2
Exploring (Second Edition)By Richard S. Gilbert
- Theme and Description
- A structured but flexible program. Within a community context, individuals reflect on their religious experiences and knowledge and create their own credos. Volume I: Introduction is a prerequisite to this volume, since building one’s own theology is an evolving, continuing process. Volume II: Exploring continues the process of theological meaning-making by examining truth and authority, the holy, good and evil, justice and the beloved community, suffering, death, immortality, religious diversity, and salvation.
Each participant needs his/her own copy of Building Your Own Theology, Vol II in order to do the readings for each session.
- Goals for Participants
- To determine their values and beliefs about God or ultimate reality, human nature, ethics, and the meaning and purpose of life;
To discover what other Unitarian Universalists believe about the great religious questions;
To articulate their beliefs through credo statements;
To meet the challenge of building their own theology.
- Age Range
- Adult
- Size of Group
- 6 to 15
- Space Requirements
- A comfortable meeting room that is large enough for the group, with enough space for small-group discussions.
- Number and Length of Sessions
- 10 sessions
Length: 2 to 2 1/2 hours each - Leader Training
- Knowledge and experience of a group process and careful reading of the material, including additional resources, are necessary. A background in theology or philosophy would be helpful, but it is not essential if the leader has a sincere interest in and motivation to explore the subject area.
- Leader Preparation
- 2 to 4 hours per session (estimated)
- Strengths
- Gives clear directions;
Offers a variety of creative activities that engage participants in exploration, personal discovery, theologizing, and sharing;
Helps individuals to clarify and hone their values and beliefs through credo-writing. - Limitations
- Developmentally, these programs work better for adults who are at a stage in life at which they have a sense of their own internal authority.
Each participant needs his/her own copy of Building Your Own Theology, Vol II in order to do the readings for each session.
The program is dependent on reading and writing assignments which may be a struggle for some adults with learning disabilities. - Adaptability
- Adaptable for people as young as 16, if the leaders have a good rapport with teenagers and are sensitive to their needs, knowledgeable as to their experience and understandings, and skillful in group leadership. Works well in a retreat setting (two weekends) or a weeklong conference. Can be shortened to fewer than 10 sessions or extended beyond 10 sessions.
- Unitarian Universalist Values
- Explicit references to Unitarian Universalist attitudes, values, and beliefs—plus background in its history and traditions—exist throughout the curriculum.
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Curricula
