Sermons
Ideas of wisdom, inspiration and contemplation are an important component of worship.
Readings
and sermons can provide sustenance for these needs as well as assist us in attempting
to understand those things in our life that often seem outside the realm of reason.
The intellectual content and factual information imparted is also important in worship.
Although much of worship seemingly addresses
the right side of the brain, our less than rational way of understanding the world,
the rational, left brain must also be addressed.
It is here where Unitarian Universalists have usually found traditional worship
lacking.
Traditional worship works
pretty well until one begins to question some of the words and ideas.
It is at that point that many of us walked out of our previous religious
tradition. And it is here where Unitarian
Universalism attempts to bridge the gap.
UUs have found that even though we feel a need to move into a different environment
from our every day life to try to approach a deeper meaning and understanding of
our lives, we do not need to leave our capacity to think and reason at the door. And Unitarian Universalism insists that
it is not necessary.
The knowledge
gained through science and the practical lessons that we keep with us as we walk
through the door do not need to be jettisoned.
So, for Unitarian Universalists at least, the sermon must not offend or contradict
what we know to be true of the world.
.
.
.
.