On this day in the middle of the 18th century, the “Father of American Unitarianism” Reverend Jonathan Mayhew delivered a sermon on social justice that would later be called “the spark that ignited the American Revolution.”
The sermon itself had a rather cumbersome title, A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers, but its message was simple: rulers have the right to reign only so long as their reign is just.
Earlier this year, a guest posting at the Unitarian Universalist Growth Blog discussed the perennial problem of high membership turnover in the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), eliciting comments that highlight the tension between UU and its Christian origins, Christian origins that American Unitarian Reform (AUR) has chosen to embrace rather than hold at a safe arms’ length.
As a matter of etiquette among general friends and allies, Reformed Unitarians tend not to contrast ourselves with UU as often we do Trinitarians. But, to understand the issues facing “Unitarianism” in America, it is appropriate occasionally to revisit the philosophical history of American Unitarianism, and explain the differences between our two divergent paths.
Or, more accurately, between the path of AUR and other Christian Unitarians, and the lack of an explicit path in the UUA.
Saturday will be the Day of the Spark, the 12th Day of Action and end of the Winter Interval Season.
The subject of this Ultimate Thursday’s posting will be “The Spark” itself: a story of inspiration for those who seek justice and truth in matters where politics and religion are already inextricably intertwined.
[originally posted 03 July 2008]
AUR celebrates Four Great Thursdays, two for the universal expression of virtue and two for the specifically American expression of virtue.
On Garden Thursday, Jesus celebrated a feast with his disciples and, later in the Garden of Gethsemane, recognized the contingent nature of human life by accepting his fate: “If it be Your will, take this cup from me; nevertheless, Your will be done.” This feast day was followed by the violence of the Passion. AUR celebrates this Thursday as a Feast Day and a day of commitment to the contingent condition of the individual life.
On Thanksgiving in 1621, two worlds met in Massachusetts: the Old World represented by the Pilgrims and the New World represented by the Wampanoag. Rather than one group dominating the other in oligarchy, they met as brothers and sisters. It was a moment of human community that, unfortunately, was followed by violence. AUR celebrates this Harvest Thursday as a Feast Day and a day of commitment to the contingent place of each social group.
On Ascension Thursday, 11 disciples gathered to witness Jesus rise up to Heaven. Here they received the Great Commission to spread the Christian message to all humanity. AUR observes this Thursday as a reminder of our duty to spread the message of personal liberation.
On a Thursday in Philadelphia, 1776, 11 colonies (New York abstained) sided with the Massachusetts delegation to declare to the world the right of human beings to rise up against oligarchy. Charged with writing a document announcing the reasons for the colonies’ rebellion, Virginia delegate Thomas Jefferson went beyond this and declared rights for all humanity. AUR observes this Declaration Thursday, the first Thursday in July, as a reminder of our duty to spread the message of social liberation.
HAPPY DECLARATION THURSDAY!
