A Protestant Rabbi

Liberal Religion: Freedom, Reason, & Tolerance or Covenantal Faith: Relevant, Rational, & Relational

The current conversation, sometimes heated, both traditions can be claimed… rather than one over the other; the former focuses on the means (the how) and the latter on the mission (the what). They are both vital components for our aspirations as UUs. It is about process: honest reckon with the “is” and understanding and utilizing the legacy of freedom & community. There is a ‘theology’ offered here: discerning and understanding of that with is ultimate. Conjuring a faith in the holiness of beloved community (‘Kinship of Life’) that is relevant to the times, informed by scientific and emotional reasonableness, and grounded in justice can be the idealism to inspire, heal, and commission our being and becoming.

Having unabridged freedom to serve the ‘Kinship of Life’ through acts of goodness and a reciprocal ethic is profound. That implies engagement and interaction with others as well as openness to different opinions and understandings. Ideas that are useful for the hope, happiness, and health of humanity and the natural world that is our home are of merit and worthy of loyalty.   

Individual free agency (free will informed by our creaturehood modified by are hard-wiring, our inherited DNA) is vital for finding ideals, hunches, efforts to guide their life.  But without purposeful interaction with the other, to serve goodness, it is basely selfishness. We come as an individual conscious of  the ALL which is our real home. Mindfulness opens and affirms that relatedness and behavior express it.

Goodness: The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one hopes to be treated. Various expressions of this ideal can be found in the teachings of most religions and worldviews.

The linking the central elements of The Enlightenment (Liberal Religion) with the fundamentals of a Covenantal Faith may find expression in humanism, mysticism, and other sorts of “isms”.

Spirituality (the energy of faith) today centers on the deepest meanings and values of human living. It implies the idea of an ultimate reality.

Not all notions of spirituality embrace transcendental ideas. Secular spirituality emphasizes humanistic ideas (qualities such as love, compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, responsibility, harmony, and a concern for others).   These are ideals of life which go beyond a materialist view of the world without accepting belief in a supernatural reality or any divine being.

The story of Unitarians and Universalists, of UUs, is an evolving narrative: from challenging the orthodoxy of harden dogmatism of the early Christian church, to embracing the concepts and discoveries of science/reason, to finding modernity ideas worthy of integrating, and in the 1930s moving into the post-modern mindset and practices with difficulty. Now we have what is being styled post-post modernity (meta-modernism). It may be that the amalgamation of two timeless ideals: freedom and community. Their legacy, propositions may serve to inform our faith: being and becoming.

Doak M Mansfield                                                                                 March 21, 2023                                                                                    Newton, NJ

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March 14, 2023

This is a new adventure to me. Blogging. As I begin my newest (I hope my last ministry) with the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Sussex County (UUFSC) in Newton, NJ I’m flush with energy and excitement (we bi-polar types must surf with style the high waves of creativity – so here I am). With things to do, good folk around, and excellent medications I expect a splendid life here on out. I mean really, I’m a heart transplant recipient and doing great, June 21, 2010.

A bit of theologizing (ruminations about things ultimate) … Spirituality: awareness of our relatedness to the wonder, the mystery of being and becoming. Commitment to believing and acting in accordance with that which contributes to the health of others and all life. Known in history as goodness & righteousness. Right relationship.

Salvation (wholeness & security): awareness of relatedness to others, and life. Participation in the blessing given, abundant grace. Choosing to apply one’s energy to that which affirms, assists, and celebrates all creations health and happiness.

Sin (brokenness & fear): separation, hatred of the other, using without regard of consequences.

Be gentle with yourself and engage the world with a smile and nod. It will confound many and bless all.

— Protestant Rabbi (with devote respect to Judaism aka: The Doakster, aka: Rev. Doak.

Update on my situation…

Connected in at “Dunkin (Donuts)” across from Panera on Water Str. (206 N) in Newton, NJ. My first external office set up in my new ministry. Will be here most every Tuesday until June. Fellowship folk are invited to come by and visit, 9:30 – Noon. Others are of course welcome. Maybe two inches of snow no with more all day and the possibility of mean winds. ‘Nor’easter’ it’s called. We’re the most northern county in NJ but Newton is in southern part of county (pop. 8.5K).

I arrived March 4 and have been hosted by some wonderful Fellowship members until the movers delivery and unpack my one-bedroom contents to my elegant new 2-bedroom digs. They are marvelous. Movers have 15 days fulfill the contract and it seems they are taking every day of it. Maybe tomorrow, next day.

I lead the service Sunday at 10:30. UU Fellowship of Sussex County. Tune in to link on our Facebook page!

A super nice area. Former mostly farm country: dairies, orchards, corn with some hills, find broad fields, and ridges. Mining was an early feature: the nation’s earliest iron deposits. Also, tanneries for leather making and shoe manufacturing.

Lots of lakes. Bigger streams. Historical buildings mid-19th century and earlier are plentiful. Picturesque for sure. Thorlab is the biggest business. A local founded and operated international firm in optics innovations as I understand. All the usual big box stores and lots of small businesses, shops, antiques, eateries (and usual fast food and restaurants chains) dot the area. Pretty good medical facilities. With others nearby. Daily newspaper! Diners are big. Hey it’s Jersey. It even has a knock off ‘Ba-da Bing’, the ‘Bare Den’. (Smirk)

Pre-Civil war courthouse and the obligatory Civil War epic pedestal monument on The Green, a proud Union grunt, “Defending the Union.” Amen! I am a proud Scalawag. (Look it up)

I like this place; my spirit knows this place. I’ve had many homes. This one I feel is going to be a good one.

I’ve two bedrooms, pilgrims. Travelers welcome!

Travel safe pilgrims…