My hope is for this blog to foster conversation and debate about the evolving state of Unitarian Universalism at Iliff. The Berry Street Conference started by William Ellery Channing in 1820 is the oldest lecture series on the North American continent. It's purpose was to contribute to the practical strength of liberal ministries. It still takes place after each annual national conference of the UUMA. Think of this blog as a way to for us to contribute to the practical strength of our current and future liberal ministries.
I encourage everyone to add their own content, whether in the form of essays or musings. To start our dialogue, here is an original essay from one of the Berry Street conferences.
What do we mean when we talk about Liberal Religion? As UUs, do we consider ourselves to be Post Christian? Edward Cahill adressed the 1974 UUMA.
When I speak, then, of liberal religion I am speaking of a movement which exhibits the following characteristics, to paraphrase Earl Morse Wilber: the exercise of the free use of reason in an open atmosphere of mutual respect. The difference between traditional orthodox Christianity and the liberal in religion is not in the content of belief but first in the source of belief, second in the method, and third in the attitude with which the belief is held. The orthodox Christian holds his beliefs with a dogmatic inflexibility. The liberal in religion holds his beliefs subject to further testing and the discovery or acquisition of new knowledge.
-Read the full essay here
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