Rational Religion and Deep Dimension

September 10, 1978
Lakeland

Rational Religion and Deep Dimension

Our re-affirmation ritual calls us back to our common faith, our ground of community as a Unitarian Universalist fellowship. I would like to share with you today my thoughts on those portions of our religion which can be termed rational, then point out areas in living where rationality seems weak, and lastly reach for a level of human reality which we find difficulty in dealing with – the deep dimension.

Freedom – the right and privilege of any individual to choose what he/she can believe is a primary element with us. Now what a creed insists; not what a religious authority dictates; not what a congregation votes, but what [an] individual believes to be true, from experience, knowledge, and reason.

Reason – we ask, what is the basis for a proposition? Does it fit the facts of history and contemporary experience? Is the proposal coherent with other accepted truths? Can a truth be verified? Is it logical?

Character – what is the test of a person’s religion? What they say, or what they do? Creeds or deeds?

Some social critics have characterized the 1970s as the “me” generation. So many persons seem to have turned inward. Various movements characterize this trend: meditation, assertiveness, the occult. There are common expressions.

“Before I can be anything I have to get my head together.”

“First, I have to find out who I am.”

You could add to the list. It should go without saying that much of this is of value. Many of us have not looked deeply enough into our inner selves. Meditation disciplines have been deep, moving experiences for countless persons. Many of the practices which could be called “irrational” (astrology, pyramid power, esoteric chanting, etc.) are the efforts of persons to find some powerful or helpful base on which to construct some adequate meaning for their lives. I suggest to you that an “appeal to reason” is not going to get a response with most people.

Quote from Jacque Maritain, from THE CASE FOR MODERN MAN:

“... liberal culture ... takes no account of the forces above reason that alone can lift men out of themselves; it offers men the help of no powers greater than their own; it does not tell them how the “supra-rational” can flow into them, inspiring them and illuminating their lives. And by the same token it leaves men powerless to deal with the unreason in themselves. For human reason is weak and cold, and is regularly overcome by irrational drives. Unless men can find some light and warmth above reason with which to combat the power of what is below reason, reason itself is condemned to defeat. There is, in short, something essentially self-defeating about a simple rationalistic dependence on the power of reason to affect human destiny; rationalism cannot even save the life of reason.”

This period of the late 70s seems to be a time when the question, “what does it all mean?” is flattening the hopes and aspirations of a people. Our own country, so affluent in worldly goods and privileges, is no exception.

A month ago (8/4/78) the Wall Street Journal printed a feature article based on the findings of a number of research organizations. The article began, “Outraged. Apprehensive. Angry. Frustrated. Turned off. Cynical. Bitter.”

“These are the adjectives that leading pollsters and public-opinion analysts use to describe the mood of American this summer.”

The causes for this mood are many, but “inflation, high taxes, and other economic pressures have become the dominant public preoccupation.”

People are disillusioned with government. People feel things are slipping out of control and that nothing can be done about it.

There is inconsistency, too, in these surveys, surveys I have no cause to doubt because the findings cohere with what I have been hearing.

For example, polls revealed that 70% oppose welfare, but almost the same percentage endorse food stamps and aid to dependent children.

There is much more openness on some social issues. There seems to be acceptance of the rights of women and minorities, of freer sexual relationships, of the use of marijuana. But at the same time, in Lake County, where I live, every candidate for every office (State Senate Assembly, County Commission, County School Board) has firmly taken a stand against the ERA [Equal Rights Amendment].

The surveys disclose (and my listening confirms) that there is increasing support for capital punishment, rising opposition to school busing, and gay rights ordinances.

Such are the areas where there seems to me no power in rational appeals for truth, logic, and the worth of every human personality, even though I deeply believe in these values.

Now my intention is not to have you think I am in despair about the human venture, or that I am announcing that I’ve joined the “me” generation. Rather, I am concerned that, however important it is to find oneself in the “me” generation, it is more vital for me and everyone else to share in a “we” generation.

That is why I believe we must reach for the dimension of depth in our religious enterprises. One person’s verbal hour on Sunday morning by a preacher, no matter cow cogent and informed he/she may be, will not, except on rare occasions, create a sharing, loving “we” community. You may be more aware of this than I am, but believe me, I know it too.

We, in common with many ..., are beginning to bring feeling back to our worship. I hope our shared re-affirmation pointed toward that direction. I know the occasions of music, drama, dialogue, our practice of “sharing” are pointers also.

This recognition, I hope, signals that we have begun to perceive that we are creatures of condition, emotion, feeling, even on Sunday morning. If we are wise, we will recognize that many of our so-called “reasons” are rationalizations of underlying feelings that demand expression and sharing if we are to grow as individuals and persons in a caring community.

Should we not feel free to express anger among persons who care; can we not trust enough to let others know when we are hurting; should we be ashamed to speak love and touch tenderly?

(Jacob Boehme quote)