|
On membership Sunday I was sitting in a pew listening to Bill's talk about Unitarianism. During his little tirade against complacency (one I wholeheartedly agree with) he mentioned that he'd ordered some badges from the UUA. He explained that these badges have a cross on them that's slightly off centre to show that Christianity, while important to us, isn't central. Walking down a sunny street after the service I started to think about my own beliefs and how a badge, any badge, might adequately define what Unitarianism is to me. As a Unitarian I see Christianity as very central to my religious life and my own badge of faith would have the Christian Cross right smack in the middle. I would then build into that badge symbols of other religions and influences that are important to me. Of the religions that have had a major impact on me I would include the Buddhist circle and somehow show two particular branches of Buddhism, Tibetan and Zen. I would also have to include a Taoist and Celtic symbol, for the Celtic symbol I'd somehow have to draw in the influence of nature and in particular landscape. The final religion that has been of importance to me, is the Native American religion, particularly as expressed by the Soiux people. This last influence has waned somewhat over the last couple of years as the impact of the Celts has increased, there are after all many things common to both, most especially the love of nature. Then there's the written word in poetic form. Irish poets such as Kavanagh, Heaney and Kennelly sit alongside the Chilean Pablo Neruda and two gentle giants of English poetry, Sir John Betjamin and Walter De La Mare; I suppose the quill might be an adequate symbol for poetry.
|