WHY NOT BUILD YOUR OWN THEOLOGY?

WHY NOT BUILD YOUR OWN THEOLOGY?

The Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministry at Cal (UUCM) has resumed regular weekly meetings: Mondays 6 to 7 PM in 205 Wheeler Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. Look for the Article about the UUCM in this comings Thursday (or Friday) issue of the Daily California.

The UUCM will be offering a basic course in creating your own personal theology. The course is taught through small group discussions and will run approximately 5 to 6 meetings over the
remainder of the semester. Please see the attached calendar for your convenience

The curriculum "This I Believe: Creating Your Personal Creed" by Rev. Charlie Kast.
Minister Emeritus at the Community Church of Chapel Hill, North Carolina will be used for these meetings with Rev Kast's permission.

Admission and course materials are free. However, two rules must be followed in order continue attendance: 1) Only use positive statements in describing your beliefs. 2) Do not negate another's
belief.

Sample of discussion questions that will be addressed:

Who or what is in charge? (Cosmology)
Who am I or what is the essence of being human, human-being? (Ontology)
What are your sources of truth? (Epistemology)
What is the purpose of your life? (Soteriology)
What does your death teach you about life? (Eschatology)

Enclosed you will find sample handouts from the curriculum.

thanks,

Sean Honea
Acting Campus Minister
UUCM at Cal
sean.honea@gmail.com

Life is an Orange

Life may be an orange: bittersweet, circular, and kind of messy, but a little stickiness now and again beats dying of scurry any day. Orange Juice it's not just for breakfast anymore! Have a nice tall glass on me. Hey, have two. You ever notice whenever they showcase all the great TV magic that goes into making orange juice, they never show you who picks the oranges or if they show anyone they're usually white.

Western Progress after Columbus can be basically broken down as follows: (Spanish Pork + Wheat + Citrus ) Small Pox X (Corn + Tobacco + Potatoes + Chili) = European population explosion, industrial and social revolution and insanely hot Thai and Indian food.

Spain took their pigs everywhere, and eating pork was a good way to tell whether or not you were a Christian.

Likewise wheat had to be imported for the Eucharist until someone figured out how to grow it on foreign shores.

Citrus was planted everywhere that Western ships could find a port to ward off scurry.

Small pox followed with the domesticated animal -- pigs etc, which killed pretty much 8 out of 10 Amerindians.

Introduction of corn and potatoes in Europe fueled a population explosion and the potato in particular fueled insurrections as the little high energy spuds were easier to hide, since they grow underground. And the shiny new peoples swelled the colonies.

Tobacco which became a class leveler of sorts helped to breed an independent minded and empowered Colonial farmer in North America thus sowing the seeds for Revolution, yet also ironically inspired mass slavery in North America way before ginned cotton took its place.

South American chili made its way to Asian via the Iberian Empire and curry has never been the same since.

Liberal Religious Faith Prays To Whom It May Concern.

This a letter I wrote back to my home congregation in Chapel Hill intended for their newsletter.

* * *


Hello,

Well, I'm finally settling into seminary life at Starr King in Berkeley. All the moving is done, my textbooks have come in, and I'm procrastinating doing my homework in favor more lovely UU pursuits. One of my more pleasing discoveries is that once your get to North Berkeley the bikeways follow the Commuter Rail (aka BART), so you can bike or run until you literally give out, then hop the train back home. I live in a house full of UU grad students / activists, so I get a lot of opportunities for activism thrown my way. The latest one that I hoped to be involved in is working to mobilize people of faith to defeat Prop 8 (the marriage ban) in California. One of my housemates is an organizer with UU Legislative Ministries, so she is the tip of the spear for all things actionable, UU-wise.

Starr King rents out a five room house in North Oakland called the Treehouse, so I pay all my rent directly to the Dean as part of my tuition package. Thank the 'verse for student loans. Speaking of which, even with the best possible scholarship package, I'm still looking to top out at least $65,000 in debt largely due to UNC's ever increasing out-of-state tuition while I was an undergrad. Worst case scenario, I'm looking at $120,000+ by the time I finish my M. Div. Luckily, I've decided to go into the lucrative trade of UU ministry choosing to specialize in the even more profitable niche market of campus ministry, so the future reality of being able to pay off my school debt is well frankly terrifying.

However, I am doing good work in spite of such worries. The project that is currently consuming most of my energy is helping four Juniors on the verge of burning out rekindle the flame of their campus ministry (UUCM) at UC Berkeley. It's slow going, but I feel that my efforts will eventually bear fruit. If I do nothing else than to help inspire one freshman or sophomore to take ownership of the group and get involved in the leadership of UUCM, then I will have considered my time well spent. I have been networking for them; I just finished writing a press release for their first general interest meeting (we had a late start) titled, "Liberal Religious Faith Prays To Whom It May Concern."

That's all for now; back to work.

in peace,

Sean Honea
1st Year, M. Div.
Starr King School for the Ministry

Busy in Berkeley

Hi people, I've been busy settling into the Berkeley Area.  This will give you a rough idea of what I've been up to.

Message sent to UC Berkeley UU Campus Ministry (UUCM):

* * * For people that hate long rambling posts -- BEGIN* * *

~ Date and time of the first meeting: TBD by you
~ Call for volunteers: If you would like to help with the first
meeting; email me direct at sean.honea@gmail.com
~ Theme:  "Why do you want a Unitarian Universalist campus group?"
~ Addendum: Also a brief introduction about UUism for anyone new that
can't wrap their head around the phrase "liberally inclusion religion".
~ Musical Interlude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5vxW2YVrO8
~ Wait where's Glenn?:  See below.

* * * For people that hate long rambling posts -- END* * *



Hi Everyone,

I've been asked by Glenn (Campus Leader type person) to help set up
and facilitate the first UUCM meeting(s).  Don't worry he hasn't
abandoned you, he's just has some official UU business in Boston that
he has to prepare for this month.  

Okay it's the beginning of the year; I'm new, some of you are new or
not so new.  Let's talk. What do you justice-seeking,
radically-inclusive and or spiritually-alive people want? 

Campus Ministry can be many things but it's chief purpose is to serve
your needs and have a little fun while doing it. Because honestly, if
you're not having fun or at least getting something resembling
enjoyment out of the experience - what's the point?

This is the Unitarian Univeralist Campus Ministry at Cal (UUCM). Not
my ministry, not Glenn's, or Darcy's (other Campus Leader type
person), not Starr Kings, or the support committee's, but yours. (The
power is yours. Go Planet!)

This speaks to the heart of three of our guiding principle's as UUs (7
total -- guidelines only)

"The inherent worth and dignity of every person"

"A free and responsible search for truth and meaning"

"The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within
our congregations and in society at large"

* * * Slightly out of place Musical Interlude * * *

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5vxW2YVrO8

* * * Slightly out of place Interlude END * * *

You have a voice. Your ideas matter and have value. All of you have
the right to act according to your own conscience. And most
importantly to disagree with me, Glen or any other authority figure
that dares to talk "at" you and not "with" you. 

So let's talk.  Let's hold at least one general interest / discussion
meeting to hash out all these lovely ideas before everyone gets too
busy to care.  Hell, lets hold two in the same week, so everyone can
attend one meeting on an either or basis -- but, you're welcome to
attend both. Oh and feel free to invite your friends, significant
others, dates, and or kids as the case may be or someone that
seriously needs to get out of the "your" room, so you can get some
down time.   

General theme of the meeting is tentatively set as:

"Why do you want a Unitarian Universalist campus group?"

I'll also be giving a brief introduction of what UUism is for anyone
new that can't wrap their head around the phrase "liberally inclusion
religion". 

Can I get a couple volunteers to help me set up one or two general
interest meetings in next couple weeks (date and time TBD by you).
Nothing big, just maybe a setting up a facebook event or two.  And
there are some things only a registered Cal student can do paperwork
wise on campus.

You can email me directly at sean.honea@gmail.com
facebook: Sean Honea
skype: sean.honea
AIM:   sean.honea@gmail.com

Here's a few prompts, don't worry about trying to answer them all or
completely.  This isn't homework, it's just to get you thinking. 


1. What would you personally like to see your UU Campus Ministry become?

2. Who or what purpose does it serve?

3. What reputation would it have?

4. What contribution would it make?

5. What values would it embody?

6. What mission would it have?

7. Who would be its clients/customers?

8. How would people work together?

9. If you had this sort of organization, what would it bring you? How
would it allow your own personal vision to flourish?


okay that was fun, everyone take care,

Sean,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxOKEyLMyFA