Many years ago I was a regular
member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Durham. Now I am a very
irregular member. Actually, I am not really an official member at all. But I do
attend the Men’s Group there every other Thursday night and I identify with the
values of many past and present Unitarians.
About twenty years ago the
Fellowship had a practice of inviting individual members to deliver short
statements during the Sunday morning services. The purpose of this practice was
to give individuals an opportunity to tell the congregation what they truly
believed. I always thought this was a great idea. Since Unitarians are not
restricted by dogma every individual can believe whatever he or she chooses. So
how could any of us know what our fellow travelers really believe about life,
death, God, or no god, etc. if we didn’t ask and didn’t tell?
In the early 90’s I was recruited to
deliver my “credo” as they called it. I actually appreciated being asked because
I thought the exercise might be interesting. Over the years I had sat through
quite a few credo presentations of other people. In a way they were all
interesting. Yet, I thought they usually represented missed opportunities. Most
people just read biographical statements about growing up as a Catholic (or whatever),
giving up their original religion and discovering a more comfortable experience
as a Unitarian. After they spoke I still did not know what they really believed
about anything important.
So when it was my turn I prepared a
list of sentences that all started with the words “I believe.” I think I wrote about sixteen statements of belief back then. Sadly, I did not
keep a copy. I do remember a few of the statements. The list below includes the
statements I remember and a few updates for 2015.
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I believe that stating what I
believe in public is harder than I expected.
I believe in the power of paradox.
That means I believe that two seemingly opposite experiences of reality can co-exist at the
same time. Sometimes these opposing experiences can even support each other. The Tao is a great representation of this idea. I believe my marriage is another.
I believe that everything vibrates.
This is really more than a belief. I believe it is a fact. I wonder if the
expansion and contraction of the Universe is a really big example.
I believe in the force that keeps my
heart beating (vibrating) even though I am not paying attention to it. I believe that the same
force keeps my brain waves oscillating and my thoughts flowing.
I believe that I usually experience reality on only one narrow, egocentric channel. I have occasionally stumbled onto another channel that seems to have much more band width.
I believe we all have more in common than we realize - a lot more.
I believe that I usually experience reality on only one narrow, egocentric channel. I have occasionally stumbled onto another channel that seems to have much more band width.
I believe we all have more in common than we realize - a lot more.
I believe there is something
important - maybe even spiritual - about the ability to witness ourselves
acting in the world.
I believe I frequently forget what I
believe and I appreciate being reminded.
I believe that it is valuable to test out what I really believe within the context of a group. This also allows me to learn what others really believe.
I suspect that is why so many of us keep coming back here every week.
I believe that when I die my mind,
body, and everything else that I identify as Michael will be dead. I also
believe that nothing in the universe can ever be completely destroyed, thus we
are all (much like the IRS) just frequently changing forms.
I believe I frequently forget what I
believe and I appreciate being reminded.
I believe we are fortunate if we have
the curiosity and courage to ask and share with others the question, “What do I
really believe?”
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