I am having problems with the vagueness of what happens next. I think that they are thinking of more discussion, perhaps more workshops, but I am not really clear.
I support this amendment (5) since my offerings of amendments below were …
Not accepted by the Board/A2 Committee to move forward. Please scroll Down for the words in my testimony today in the General Assembly Discussion
My Original Amendment Proposal was to add to the inspirations: Our experience of Creation, Nature, Wonder and the inherent wisdom of each and all, we hold in respect in the mystery we navigate.
As A delegate I promoted this amendment 34:
Amendment Promoted : add To Inspirations
"We draw upon our experience of creation, nature, wonder and the inherent wisdom of each and all.” Line 47 (Before “these sources”)
44 Section C-2.3. Inspirations.
45 As Unitarian Universalists, we use, and are inspired by, sacred and secular understandings
46 that help us to live into our values. We respect the histories, contexts and cultures in which
47 they were created and are currently practiced. We draw upon our experience of creation, nature, wonder and the inherent wisdom of each and all. These sources ground us and sustain us in
48 ordinary, difficult, and joyous times. Grateful for the religious ancestries we inherit and the
49 diversity which enriches our faith, we are called to ever deepen and expand our wisdom.
Supportive Testimony:
My first awareness memory was when I was 2 years old. I worshipped my mother. My UU faith is based on direct experience and inherent wisdom. The opening words about courage echo this truth. Because my parents did not teach me doctrine I was able to create my own spiritual practices with personal experience.
Beings have inherent knowledge when we are born. Our direct experiences with reason and others guides and inspires us. The reason I joined the UU Congregation was because of the direct Experience of mystery & wonder that renews our spirit in the sources. This clear inspiration acknowledges my faith experience.
Sometimes I have no love give. It happened when I first read article 2. While I intellectually appreciated the enormous amount of energy to get here, the one item in the inspiration that keeps me going was cancelled in the current report. The current proposed article 2 inspirations look outside of us, to others without reason or direct experience. Where is my faith? Currently, this is the only faith I know that acknowledges our inherent wisdom.
The trauma workshop this morning indicated possibility of breaking the cycle of trauma. One out of 4 women are recovering from trauma. A key way of Breaking the loop of trauma involves being in the experience of wonder.
At least 3 of the Amendments that survived the cull to 15 amendments contain the idea of wonder. We find the bylaws without a tether or passion without direct experience, without reason and without wonder.
Please note that Inspirations amendment #51 does include mystery and wonder:
From our amendment: Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which renew our spirit;
See: Amendment 51 to Article II - Proposed by Janet Leavens
This amendment was prioritized and can be voted on tonight.
I could not vote for this because of the word “primary,” but I would like to see “direct experiences of transcending mystery and wonder” included in sources.
I strongly support adding “transcending mystery and wonder” as sources of inspiration, but am uncomfortable that is listed first as “a primary source of inspiration”, so I reluctantly voted no, as I think others have. I support the rest of the amendment. I hope that an amendment can be fashioned that includes the concept without specifying it as “a primary source”. I don’t have the bandwidth in my brain right now to make a specific suggestion but whether or not this is passed in 2023, would like to be included if/when such an amendment is fashioned for 2024, whatever the process is, and once it is crafted, to solicit support of my and other congregations.
As representatives of our congregation, I and my fellow delegates favor the insertion of examples of sources into the Inspirations section. However, in this proposed language, we disagree with citing one as a primary source and “proclaiming” it to be so. We recommend this language instead: As Unitarian Universalists, we are inspired by direct experiences of transcending mystery and wonder. These experiences open our hearts and renew our spirits. We also draw upon, and are inspired by… (keep the remainder as is.)
Question for the Study Commission: You spoke against other amendments proposing to include sources in this section, stating that there’s no way to account for them all. Why are you okay with this amendment which not only mentions just a few sources, but even elevates one to a primary position? We’d appreciate hearing the rationale for your differing positions on this.
2 Likes
Thank you for your work on this.
I would like to see the word ethical inserted before scientific. It’s good to remember that science can, and has been, used to justify terrible ideas including racism and transphobia.
The American Humanist Association, originally founded by two Unitarian ministers, recently had a very good talk by Stephanie Zvan on the history of racism in science.
Here’s the video
Thank you.
1 Like
The A2SC should make sure that if one source (direct experience) is lovingly described, so too should the rest. I do not care if the sources are in a list or a paragraph. But I do care that they be equally honored.
If not, the A2SC will make it abundantly clear that humanists/atheists are only second-class citizens in UU.
Hi Janet, another approach would be to expand what we MEAN by “direct experience.” I think we can expand it to include all 6 sources. Please let me know what you think - especially if you have other ideas for how to mashup Amendments 5, 34, and 51!
Here are my thoughts on how to expand what we mean by “direct experience”:
I believe it is my direct experience of ALLof life that is inspiring. It is more important to me than anything that anyone or any religion could tell me.
My direct experience of “transcending mystery” (source #1) is important, but so is my direct experience of “creation, nature, wonder, and the inherent wisdom of each and all” (to quote Amendment 34).
This phrase from Amendment 34 includes a brief reference to “nature,” which is sort of source #6.
The phrase “each and all” from Amendment 34 is important to me, because it seems to include the idea that I listen to the wisdom of “prophets” as in source #2 and that I listen to all world religions (including Judeo-Christian) as in sources #3 and #4 - and MORE IMPORTANTLY that I listen to myself (body, mind and spirit), all people (including every race, gender, class, gender identity etc), and all living things.
Amendment 5 does reference science, although I would prefer it say “reason and science” as in source #5 - or even something about “a balance of body, heart, mind and spirit.” (I’m actually not sure why “science” gets a specific mention. After all, science is one of our “secular” sources. And if we think about direct experience in it’s broad definition, then science is one expression of “collective direct experience.”)
So I would be happy with many different mash-ups of Amendment 5 and 34.
For example, here is Amendment 34 with @katole recent revision, PLUS some of the language of Amendment 5 in the last sentence:
44 Section C-2.3. Inspirations.
45 As Unitarian Universalists, we use, and are inspired by, sacred and secular understandings
46 that help us to live into our values. We respect the histories, contexts and cultures in which
47 they were created and are currently practiced. We draw upon our experience of creation, nature, wonder and the inherent wisdom of each and all. These sources ground us and sustain us in
48 ordinary, difficult, and joyous times. Grateful for [the religious ancestries we inherit and] the experiences that move us, aware of the religious ancestries we inherit, and enlivened by the
49 diversity which enriches our faith, we are called to ever deepen and expand our wisdom.
And here’s a revision of a mashup of Amendments 5 and 34 I, @klsteb2 wrote earlier:
44 Section C-2.3. Inspirations.
45 As Unitarian Universalists, [we use, and are inspired by, sacred and secular understandings
46 that help us live into our values.] we draw upon our experience of transcending mystery, creation, nature, wonder and the inherent wisdom of each and all. These experiences open our hearts, renew our spirits, and transform our lives. We [draw upon, and] are inspired by, sacred, [and] secular, and scientific understandings that help us make meaning and live into our values. We respect the histories, contexts and cultures in which
47 [they] these understandings were created and are currently practiced. These sources ground us and sustain us in
48 ordinary, difficult, and joyous times. Grateful for [the religious ancestries we inherit and] the experiences that move us, aware of the religious ancestries we inherit, and enlivened by the
49 diversity which enriches our faith, we are called to ever deepen and expand our wisdom.
I prefer this second version because it lists direct experience first (still without SAYING it is “a primary.”)
1 Like
Hi @uurockrev ,
I wonder whether you would be open to further discussion of the ideas in these posts?
I’ve been thinking more about what might facilitate a constructive Amendment process - both during the next 6 months and the additional 6 months before the next GA.
It seems difficult to tease out whether folks who voted or wanted to vote NO just “need to get used to the new language,” or whether they have substantive concerns which, if understood by the Commission, might or might not be addressed. It seems possible that the new language does not express the new ideas clearly enough so that they can be understood and embraced in the way they were intended.
It’s great that we have a lot of ideas for specific wording changes, and that the Commission can look at and consider those ideas. But it would also help to express things in general terms. If both the Commission and the folks who voted NO on the Revision package could express their respective remaining concerns in general terms, I think that would facilitate constructive work for both groups.
A list of 4 examples of this can be seen on my post under the umbrella category “Preliminary List,” but here I’ll just focus on my concern about your Amendment, number 5.
For the Inspiration Section, the Amendment that passed was 5 (direct experience of transcending mystery). However, 29% voted NO.
I have written at length about this in other posts, so I’ll try to be brief.
I’m glad that direct experience of transcending mystery is included, but I understand why some might object to the word “primary” even if the phrase is “a primary.”
I myself object to limiting “direct experience” to only “transcending mystery.” That’s why I supported Amendment 34 (experience of transcending mystery, nature, wonder and inherent wisdom of each and all). I am not necessarily tied to that specific language, but for me, it captures the 6 sources more poetically and clearly than just “sacred and secular.” More importantly to me, it includes the idea that our direct experience of EACH OTHER is a source of inspiration. To me, direct experience of people who are different from me – different experiences, different race, different gender identity or sexual orientation, different class, different ability – is what inspires me!
Thanks for “listening!” I hope you, the Commission, and the people who voted or wanted to vote NO on the package will consider expressing concerns in a general format similar to the above, in order to facilitate a constructive process.
quick reaction: I don’t like “we use” at the beginning of an Inspirations section.