Wood Spirit - Musings of a UU Pantheist: May 2009

Unitarian Universalism and Pantheism

A Pantheist is simply someone who identifies God with Nature. If God is our Creator, we really don't have any other valid choice, given the modern understanding of the nature of the evolving Universe, but to understand the nature of God in this way. Moreover, the word "god" really refers to the "Ultimate Reality" - for pantheists that is the Universe as a whole - not a historic personal deity of any kind. Yet, many traditional religions have strains of pantheism, and likewise as humanists and atheists look for something more than the sterile concepts of their world views of the past, the idea of religious naturalism - another word for Pantheism - is gaining increasing acceptance.

So, in the masthead I refer to myself as a "mystical religious naturalist." I also mention "freethinking - where does that come from? Unitarian Universalism is the ultimate freethinkers religion - not because you can believe anything and be a UU - you cannot - but because the important thing about religion comes from the root meaning of the word: "to bind together." In Unitarian Universalims, faith isn't about belief, but about community.

Spiritual growth then, isn't about absorbing other people's doctrines, but growing yourself. As Vivekananda said, "You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul."

Yet, pure solipsism is ultimately successful. We need the interaction of other life to build our own. So, bind me to other free thinking people, and to the Universe, and you have a "UU Pantheist."

This blog is my personal spiritual explorations in UU Pantheist spiritual practice.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

A Spiritual Practice: ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY

I just learned that the Rev. Peter Morales, senior minister at the Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden Colorado, and a candidate for President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, and I, share the same daily spiritual practice. Each day we visit the Astronomy Picture of the Day:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/

There is no better way to contemplate the wonders and beauty of the universe than this site. Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. You peer into a remote galaxy, and realize you are peering back into time. You realize the vastness of the universe, and how small our place in it really is. The beauty of the stars are not just confined to our night sky, but our vision is extended to remote places and times. Troubles fall away, our horizons are expanded; we see the Big Picture. We are refreshed to go about our daily lives with a lot better perspective!

Friday, May 29, 2009

A personal spiritual practice: PLAYING WITH THE DOG (OR CAT)

"Everyone needs a spiritual guide: a minister, rabbi, counselor, wise friend, or therapist. My own wise friend is my dog. He has deep knowledge to impart. He makes friends easily and doesn't hold a grudge. He enjoys simple pleasures and takes each day as it comes. Like a true Zen master he eats when he's hungry and sleeps when he's tired. He's not hung up about sex. Best of all, he befriends me with an unconditional love that human beings would do well to imitate."

- Gary Kowalski, minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Vermont, and author of several books, including The Souls of Animals from which this quote was taken.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A spiritual practice: WASHING YOUR HANDS

"If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people."
- Thich Nhat Hanh

Science as a Mystical Pursuit

If the goal of all religion is about unity with God, then for a Pantheist, the scientific understanding of Nature is the ultimate spiritual practice. Thus, science is not about just math and facts and figures, but is ultimately a mystical pursuit.

But, don't take my word for it. No less a scientific authority than Carl Sagan says it:

"Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light-years and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtlety of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual. The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both."

- Carl Sagan

Wood Spirit - Musings of a UU Pantheist