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By John T. Crestwell, Jr.
August 28, 2005
You ever get tired of looking
at the newspaper? You pick it up and see pictures of war or starving
children or something else on the front cover that reminds you just
how inhumane humans can be at times. I learned in college that
publishers have to put the “hard news”—the bad stuff in the front of
the paper, and the “soft news”, the feel good stuff, in the back.
Advertisers, you see, want strong readership and this can only be
accomplished with “shock and awe”. Thus, we are becoming more and
more each and everyday desensitized to senseless acts of brutality
by non-American and Americans alike.
I don’t understand how any of us could enjoy or get accustomed to
seeing pictures of people being victimized in any way, shape, or
form. You know, as long as we are not the victim it’s okay you see.
As long as “they” suffer it’s okay. “It’s not me!”
Did you read this week how some talk show host at WMAL news talk
radio lost his job because he said that Islam was a religion for
terrorists? Did you hear that? He didn’t get it right because almost
all religions have been used as agents of terror (hello)! He also
didn’t get it right because it is not the religion so much as it is
the people who have the control who misuse their power and
influence—that is the real problem!
I am amazed, I must admit, that there are so many degreed, educated
people in our world who seem to be ignorant when it comes to the
human condition and to intercultural communications. The funny
part is they have been raised in church— went to Sunday school every
week; many came from a “Leave it to Beaver” family; they were taught
the best in morals and ethics, attended fine schools, but they
remain, as adults, culturally ignorant. Like this gentlemen at WMAL
who had a successful career, yet he was ignorant and lacking respect
for a religious group that has nearly 2-billion followers and a long
cherished history. Sure, we have had to deal with Arab terrorists
over the last few years but one cannot indict an entire religion on
the actions of a few misguided folk who represent the minority, not
the majority of folk who are good well-intentioned Muslims who mean
us no harm.
The fact is many Americans grow up culturally ignorant. As an
example, most of us know only one language (and of course the
British tell us we don’t even no that one. To them we speak American
Ebonics—hello). But, most of us know one language. Yet, many who
come to this country today know several languages. Many like the
Hindus and Buddhists who come here, as Diana Eck said well in her
book, A NEW RELIGIOUS AMERICA, they bring their culture but they
also learn how to fit into American culture. They have to. They have
to assimilate in some circles if they want to be accepted but we
don’t have to do that. We can remain culturally incompetent. And
that’s why, for me, the world doesn’t change. We don’t take enough
time to recognize that everyone’s voice wants to be heard. We don’t
take enough time to understand why those in the margins of society
must be given a voice, why those from Africa or Haiti or Iraq or
Temple Hills need to have their side of the story articulated. There
are always two sides to a story and we often get the victors
story—HIS-story and not the full picture.
I guess you have to ask yourself the question: How can Religious
Education in general, AND in our church, help to move us from a
society of culturally incompetent folk to culturally competent,
culturally sensitive Americans?
First, we have to see that in general “religious education” means to
educate ourselves about religion; about the various institutions in
the world that bind together under a fixed system of sacred
religious beliefs. And first and foremost we can all do this. We
could all “read more, think more and listen more indeed” as Maya
Angelou articulated sometime ago. Beyond this very basic definition,
there is the larger mission of our church to be an organism inside
and out, internally and externally, that comprehensively teaches its
congregants and members to understand culture. Therefore, we cannot
let religious education, fall into the narrow realm of Sunday school
or church school which signifies that what is learned is not
eclectic but limited, exclusive and homogeneous. Rather, we must
understand the importance and impact a strong Religious Education
program can have on our present and future witness to the world as
Unitarian Universalists.
I submit to you that as good and wholesome as traditional Christian
church school is it is not sufficient to meet the new America that
is emerging. America today is much broader than the stories of Adam
and Eve, Sodom and Gomorrah, Moses and Pharaoh, Mary and Joseph…
These stories have their place but the religious education that
excites me today is the RE that teaches that our learning must be a
life-long struggle and is difficult to master. It is not about one
particular brand that uses its Sunday curriculum to set up a
dogmatic us against them mentality which becomes etched into the
minds of the young and old alike, instead it is a pluralistic
education that evolves as people and cultures evolve.
So Religious Education is not just for our children, although it is
very important for them to have in their lives, but for all of us.
Learning to be more aware is not just listening to a sermon on
Sunday. It is also participating in the program offerings we have
here at the church. I have to admit that there is a group of
regulars that attend almost everything we have, but the vast
majority of you miss wonderful opportunities to grow. I always say
to myself, you know John, they’re busy like you. They have lives.
They are too busy to get overly absorbed in the church.” But
sometimes I get frustrated… Why aren’t people in droves coming to
ADORE? Why wasn’t the church filled to capacity when we discussed
the Book A NEW RELIGIOUS AMERICA? Is it the topic? Or maybe UU’s
feel they can grow on their own time? I submit to you there is
nothing like growing together and sharing together. I have witnessed
change in people. I AM A WITNESS THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ISSUES
TOGETHER THAT EFFECT THIS CHURCH AND WORLD, CHANGE OCCURS! The
future hope and growth of this congregation is predicated on this
organism called Davies Church being more united as a family who
realizes Religious Education for kids and adults are not casual
moments in history, but serious times to reflect and grow
spiritually as a people and as a person.
There’s a lady who is with the Pentecostal church. She comes in
about 45 minutes before the rest of the group. She cleans the
sanctuary, straightens chairs and prays all around the room which
from what I know, is a way of sanctifying the space. She carries her
Bible in her hand and chants for about 20 minutes or so… She takes
her religion seriously.
We’ve got to take being a Unitarian Universalist more seriously and
see that our want to learn and grow more can have a positive impact
on society. There are church schools all across America teaching
that “One brand fits all”. And how will this country ever change
when people are brainwashed and hypnotized? There has to be a force
that comes forward in America to say, “Your way is not the only
way!” But that will not happen until Unitarian Universalists begin
to see that our religion is authentic, real and historic.
In our own ranks, there is an over abundance of ignorance. We don’t
grow and we don’t see the change in communities that we want because
our churches, I believe, do not know who they are! I am often amazed
that many of us today don’t define ourselves as Unitarian
Universalists. We say, “I go to a UU church” but we call ourselves
the USETA… “Oh, I useta be a Methodist.” “I useta be a Catholic.”
“I useta be a Baptist.” But, what are you now? Do you see yourself
as a Unitarian Universalist and do feel good about being one?
That’s the missing element and it is because most of us are not
life-long UUs like Dawn Star who knows the legacy, history, the
power of this movement… Dawn gave me a cute little book to read for
the service today, Full Circle: fifteen ways to grow lifelong UUsby
Kate Tweedie Erslev. She too sees Religious Education for adults and
children as a vehicle to growing lifelong UUs. Listen to some of
what she recommends:
Embrace our UU identity - Say that you are a UU and be proud of it.
Recognize Religious Education as an important portal to
institutional involvement – the more our children and adults
understand about the faith the more committed they become.
Share the value of attending church regularly at least three times
per month – the more people come to church, the more vested they
become.
Offer opportunities for all ages to live out UU values – the more
folk express what it means to be a UU the more UU they become!
Offer engaging religious education - The more engaging and exciting
we make Religious Education, the more committed members become to
the movement.
Celebrate founders, lifers and heritage – The more we know our
history and about the stories of those who’ve been with the faith
for an extended period, the more authentic we see our religion,
allowing us to embrace it even more thoroughly.
There are nine others, but you get the point. Erslev surveyed many
churches and these were some of her findings in how we can stop
losing our young people when they become teens; how we can grow an
even more vibrant congregation full of UU evangelists who are not
shy about proclaiming our unique message to the multitudes.
Your leaders will be offering new programs this year: A UU Parenting
course, BYOT part 1 and 2, Neighboring Faiths, Understanding the
Bible, among other things… I encourage you to participate.
If we are to change America for the better, when it comes to issues
of race and gender and culture; if we are ever to build within our
walls a true atmosphere of conscious competence, from a cultural
perspective, then we have to see that what we put into the minds of
our children and into our own minds, will directly impact our
ability to be the best that we can be. If we really want to make
this church and world a better place, it begins with us and with our
families. Use your church to help you become the best you, you can
possibly be. I don’t believe you can do that alone. You need a safe
environment to test your ideas. Let this church be your laboratory.
You see, I think you run the risk of becoming narcissistic in the
confines of your mind, so I think it is very important to share with
others…
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