Post-election News

As the post-convention months passed, my tolerance and attention for the news (reports on the election) grew shorter and shorter. I grew weary of election politics.  I sought relief and found it in watching Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”  Stephen Colbert’s satire on conservative journalism was just what I needed to keep my head up and get through to Election Day.  If good humor is created in the space between reality and absurdity, then Colbert is one of the best at it.  Of course, good humor also forces you to think about yourself, as in: “Could that joke/story/event be about me?”  Once upon a time, this was the role of the court jester (those who survived!) - to help royalty laugh at themselves without mentioning names.  Today’s comedians are a bit more straight-forward and blunt.

     Recently, Stephen Colbert reported on a meeting between famed evangelist Billy Graham and Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.  Gov. Romney was seeking Graham’s endorsement, especially since the Mormon religion, according to Graham, is a cult.  After their conversation, Graham removed LDS from his list of four.  Read The Washington Post’s article on their meeting here. 

     Now that that is settled, what are the three remaining cults?  Jehovah's Witness, Scientology and .... you may have guessed it: Unitarian Universalism.  That’s right, Billy Graham has named us a cult!  Here’s how Colbert reported it: “Oh yes, the dangerous cult of Unitarians [whose] sacred texts are the Old Testament, the New Testament and ‘Free to Be You and Me.’”  Watch the report  (the piece on Romney and Graham begins about 3 minutes in).  Colbert, as you can see on the video clip, reports that Graham says “Cults do not adhere solely to the sixty-six books of the Bible as the inspired Word of God.”  Yep, that’s us.  Guilty as charged.

     Whether it’s Colbert on politics or religion (or politics and religion), his commentary seems to always be challenging authority (which is our Novemeber theme here at UUCA).  Like Colbert, if there’s one thing that UUs love to challenge, it’s authority!  It seems to be part of a UUs DNA to “Question Authority” as one popular bumper sticker declares.  There are good reasons for this questioning spirit: Our faith tradition has been marginalized for centuries; our leaders and ministers have been isolated, ostracized and martyred - of course we question authority, it’s a matter of survival; many of our members come from faith traditions where they felt abused or ignored and now they seek a place where they are “free to be you and me.” Yet, sometimes the challenge to authority can feel like backlash, even juvenile, often picky and prickily.  Which is all to say, that we must force ourselves to seek balance and moderation - something that the nation as a whole doesn’t have much interest in.

            Our “Principles” state it best: We affirm and promote ... the free and responsible search for truth and meaning; the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process ...”  Balancing personal, individual needs and desires with those of the community and congregation is a way to spiritual depth, theological meaning and congregational health.  Moving too far in either direction requires a return to a place of balance.  May we always seek that balance as we deepen our relationships with one another and share the gospel of Unitarian Universalism.  Take care and see you soon,

 

Fred