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As a pluralistic, living religious tradition, we draw inspiration from our direct lived experiences as well as our historical religious ancestries. We use the term religious because the root of the word is religare which means to re-bind. Our central task as a religious community is therefore to unveil and repair the bonds that bind each to all and to feel a part of something larger than ourselves. These experiences of connection, wonder, and mystery open our hearts, renew our spirits, and provide wisdom, hope, and grounding critical for living out our shared values. A living tradition needs inspirations to persist, flourish, and evolve with our changing world. Just as the diversity of biological communities is critical to surviving change, the diversity of sacred and secular understandings which enrich our faith is our strength. This diversity includes but is not limited to:
Sources of energy which spark wonder and joy
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Direct personal experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
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Examples of ordinary people doing extraordinary acts of compassion and kindness;
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Collective effervescence. Shared experiences with large groups of people (e.g. worship services, music concerts, political rallies) which promote joy, healing, and expanding benevolence;
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Hospitality which nourishes our spirit and our bodies;
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Laughter, play, and friendships which help us find our true selves, belonging, and make us feel more alive
Sources of wisdom which provide courage, hope, and faith
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Direct knowledge perceived by our bodies, minds, emotions, and spirit;
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Wisdom from the world’s religions and philosophies which provide many paths for finding meaning in our lives;
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The long arc of the moral universe through time and the words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love;
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Sacred and secular teachings which call us to have humility and love our neighbors as ourselves;
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Humanist teachings which stress the importance of reason and embodied ethics in the here and now;
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Scientific understandings of the natural world which help us live the questions, deal with uncertainty, unveil relationships, and provide examples of creativity and resiliency of biotic communities;
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Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which complement ecological understandings of the natural world, teach us the reciprocal nature of relationships, and celebrate the sacred circle of life;
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Myths, art, poetry, dance and music which help us feel and express the ineffable;
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Stories of resiliency of the human spirit and adaptation to our changing world
Sources of grounding which provide balance and restoration
- Ritual which brings historical wisdom to life and creates shared sacred time and space;
- Mindfulness practices found in all sacred and secular traditions. These practices may take the form of personal or communal practices and may be of the body, mind, and/or spirit;
- Sacred rest. Just as there is day and night and cycles of seasons, our spirit too needs rest and routines to help us make meaning;
- Difficult times which help us appreciate joyous times. Just as fire can be a source of destruction and energy so too can difficult times be an inspiration for new paths forward.
We respect the histories, contexts and cultures in which these understandings were created and are currently practiced, and we are called to ever deepen and expand our wisdom.