Credo

I believe that Life is a process.
I live in order to make progress.
I am here to grow and to learn.
I do not presume to know all the right answers.
I believe in learning from past experience to inform the present and create the future.
My choices inform me, and I learn from mistakes, moving continually into the next level of consciousness.
I believe that Reason is practical, but Myth is transformative.

I believe in my experience as a living sentient being as my primary source of spiritual authority, and I look to it for guidance in day-to-day life. I know that I am not always right, but I embrace intuition, revelation, inspiration and reason as sources of comfort in making confident life decisions. I believe in accepting the limits of my intellect and wisdom, and I also believe that these limits are not permanent, but ever-expanding.

I believe that human beings are inclined toward goodness and wholeness – that we are influenced by our environment and experience, and in our interactions with others and the greater world. It is human nature to respond; our power lies in the ability to make choices.

I believe in the redemptive symbolism of the Spiral and of the Cycle of Seasons. I believe in the power of connection and influence, and the bliss of wholeness and completion.

I believe in an energy, an ultimate and essential power, which is beyond being named for it encompasses, and it is, all. I believe it is what connects all of life, the earth and its inhabitants, the universe, time, the all there is was and will be. I believe that “God” is a word heavy-laden with burdensome baggage and yet is empty. Nevertheless, the paradox this creates is the Mystery in which I can find Holiness, and so I choose to name the nameless God anyway.

I believe in self-actualization as a primary goal in this life; to reach one’s ultimate potential, to do the best one can, is all that can be asked or expected of each of us. I believe that we are meaning-makers, and that only we have the power to play the hand we’re dealt in life, creating our own purpose as we continue to become. Striving toward Wholeness provides meaning in life. I believe in the process that is Life, and that the Journey is the Destination. I believe that when I die, my sojourn here will have meant something. It is my hope that the Journey continues.

I believe that Love is the greatest gift we can give or receive.

I believe that my life should be a testament to all these things and more;
and so to this end, I will try to live by these 10 minimum guidelines:

1. KNOWLEDGE | Know your self, and to your own self be true.
2. COMPASSION | Get to know the “Other”. Spend time in an unfamiliar environment.
3. MERCY | Treat yourself the way you would treat others. We are all equally God’s kin.
4. WISDOM | Seek growth in Wisdom. Find the teachable moment in every situation. Even tragedy is an opportunity for growth.
5. WONDER | Encourage a sense of wonder and awe in yourself and others. You will not understand everything; value the Mystery.
6. GRACE | Practice gratitude and appreciation.
7. CONTRIBUTION | Give of yourself, your time, and your gifts to others. Listen. Learn.
8. EDUCATION | Share your knowledge, wisdom, and experience with others. Teach.
9. WORSHIP | Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.
10. LOVE.

©2009, Adrian L. Hilliard

What's a Uvangelist?

Uvangelism is a word I first saw online maybe a decade ago on a Unitarian Universalist website called UniUniques (see http://www.uniuniques.com/Uvangelist/Uvangelism.htm). It's usually spelled UUvangelism, due to the quaint habit we UU's have of doubling the letter U in funny acronyms etc.

In any case, the original word is evangel, which comes from the Greek 'εὐαγγέλιον' whose roots mean "true/good" and "message/news"; so evangel means "true message" or "good news". An evangelist is a person who carries/spreads the good news (e.g. about their faith).

So...by extension, a Uvangelist is a UU evangelist. In other words, a Unitarian Universalist who believes that the "good news" of their Unitarian Universalist faith is worth sharing with other people.

Unfortunately, the word evangelism is often confused in the U.S. with the word proselytism (which means "to make a proselyte", proselyte meaning "one who has converted", from the Greek 'πρόςηλυτος', or "went toward" i.e. converted). Thus, a proselytizer is someone who is trying to convert another to his/her faith, whereas an evangelist is simply sharing his/her faith with people. Uvangelism is an attempt by UUs like myself to enhance the meaning of evangelism (by proudly bearing the title "Uvangelist" and spreading the Good News!), while at the same time avoiding the negative connotations of proselytizing. Of course, if one believes that their news is worth sharing one would also hope that others will share this belief...but such belief cannot and should not be compulsory or forced.

Ask me anything cultural, especially about language, music, sexuality, religion and faith.

formspring.me question: I've written a distant future novel where humans have evolved an ability to naturally trans-gender based on preferences with their partners. What about it: same sex partners gradually becoming opposite sex partners (and having kids)? Good thing or not?

Although not entirely the same concept, this reminds me of a movie I saw called "Zerophilia" where certain people (i.e. "zerophiliacs") change gender after becoming aroused. As far as I'm concerned, if people don't feel that their physical sex matches their intended or felt gender, and they can naturally remedy the situation, I don't see why they shouldn't. The catch for me is...if they are same-sex partners in a same-sex relationship, why would they *want* to change genders?

So I guess my short answer is...if they switch gender out of love (for self and for partner) and for a sense of personal integrity, then I would go with "good thing". If it's for a whim, or to "fit in" and to "be normal", then I would say "bad thing". Very bad thing.

Besides, if God *really* wanted us to exceed the earth's carrying capacity for human populations, thereby bringing about our own ruin and leading to the extinction of countless other species along the way, we would all be born straight and fertile with extraordinarily high libidos. ;-)

Tangent: It might be a controversial theory, but it just seems to me that the closer a population gets to the limits its environment can withstand, the more widespread homosexuality seems to become as a natural population curb. That's not scientific fact, just speculation....Gaia has to protect herself and her children from destroying themselves.

Ready. Set. DEBATE!

Ask me anything cultural, especially about language, music, sexuality, religion and faith.