Winter 2008, Vol.XXII No.4

Features

Hold on
Suffering and anxiety are usually just as finite and time-limited as high passion and unalloyed joy.
By William F. Schulz in Life

Dinner dilemmas
Ethical issues at the Thanksgiving dinner table.
By John Gibb Millspaugh in Ideas

Be a dignitarian
We can overcome rankism and build a world that honors the dignity of every person.
By Robert W. Fuller and Pamela A. Gerloff in Ideas

Departments

Sunday morning
I declare a reign of holiness.
By David O. Rankin in Opening words

Covering the Knoxville shooting
Online reporting allows more timely response.
By Christopher L. Walton in From the editor

A message of hope
The ever-new promise of Universalism.
By William G. Sinkford in Our calling

Letters, Winter 2008
Readers respond to the Summer 2008 issue.
By Jane Greer in Letters

Mailbox, Winter 2008
Knoxville shootings, Christian tolerance garner responses.
By Jane Greer in Letters

Blog roundup, Winter 2008
Online responses to 'UU World.'
By Shelby Meyerhoff and Christopher L. Walton and Kenneth Sutton in Letters

Traffic report, Winter 2008
Top ten stories at uuworld.org.
By Christopher L. Walton in Letters

Women crafting a better world
Transforming lives through global social entrepreneurship.
By Christine Nielsen in Forum

Congregations develop programs for seniors
What Unitarian Universalist congregations can do to make churches friendlier places for seniors.
By Donald E. Skinner in Congregational life

The mini-golf church
Unitarian Universalists congregation in Colorado Springs bought an amusement park in 2007.
By Jane Greer in Spiritual landmarks

A broken hallelujah
Praise in the midst of a broken world and a broken heart? Sing hallelujah in the darkest season of the year?
By Barbara Merritt in Reflections

Imagination and the wild
Crane your neck. Worm your way. Wolf it down. Monkey with things. Outfox your foe. Quit badgering your tax attorney.
By Ellen Meloy in Reflections

Dawn on the Stono
Any ambiguity is deliberate.
By Jim Innes in Reflections

Assembly of a lesser god
Belief and worship are powerful tools for organizing thought and behavior. If others get control of those tools, they can make us dance like puppets. But if we’re careful, we can learn to pull our own strings.
By Doug Muder

A little of that human touch
We all come into relationships with a full array of scrapes and dents, but most of our imperfections can be repaired and need simply 'a little touchup and a little paint.'
By Jeffrey B. Symynkywicz in Reflections

Two die in Knoxville church shooting
Knoxville congregations, UUs nationwide reaffirm openness after July 27 attack.
By Jane Greer and Donald E. Skinner in UU news

Remembering the victims of Knoxville church shooting
In memoriam: Linda Kraeger and Greg McKendry.
By Jane Greer in UU news

UUA runs post-Knoxville ad in NYT
Featured online in another form:
UUA’s ‘New York Times’ ad affirms justice stances
Full-page ad responds to Knoxville shooting by reaffirming Unitarian Universalism’s open hearts and open doors.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

Hurricanes destroy homes and buildings in Texas
Featured online in another form:
Hurricanes damage UU churches, homes in Texas
Sense of “normalcy” destroyed for many repeat hurricane victims.
By Donald E. Skinner

UUA head joins group talking to Iranian leader
Featured online in another form:
Sinkford speaks to Iranian president
Peace activists meet with Iranian delegation.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

Meadville Lombard emphasizes community service
Featured online in another form:
Meadville Lombard introduces sweeping curricular changes
Unitarian Universalist seminary in Chicago will require community service placements of all students; plans major curriculum reform next year.
By Michelle Bates Deakin

Starr King curriculum emphasizes interfaith studies
Featured online in another form:
Starr King emphasizes interfaith understanding in new curriculum
New approach to inter-religious education essential in post–9/11 world, says faculty.
By Michelle Bates Deakin in UU news

UU churches pitch 'Tents of Hope'
Featured online in another form:
Tents draw attention to Darfurian refugees’ plight
UU congregations adopt 'Tents of Hope' project to raise consciousness about refugee crisis
By Rosalie Davis in UU news

Changes proposed to UUA Principles
Featured online in another form:
Commission revises UUA Principles and Purposes
Seeks feedback by October 16 for draft of new UUA covenant; changes will require two General Assembly votes for adoption.
By Warren R. Ross in UU news

Text of proposed bylaw changes
Featured online in another form:
Draft revision of UUA's Principles and Purposes
Commission on Appraisal seeks input on proposed changes through October 16, 2008.
By Commission on Appraisal in UU news

Ted Sorensen, JFK's Unitarian speechwriter
In Kennedy's inaugural address, he concludes saying, "With history the final judge of our deeds . . ." That's not what other churches would say. That's Unitarianism.
By Jane Greer in Bookshelf

Reason for alarm
Books about reason in religion, environmentalism, and U.S. culture.
By Edd Doerr in Bookshelf

Books by UU authors, Winter 2008
A selection of books written by Unitarian Universalists.
By Jane Greer and Sonja L. Cohen in Books by UU authors

Dignity, holding on, and Thanksgiving turkeys
Questions for spiritual reflection and adult group discussions.
By Jane Greer in What in the World?

Adlai Stevenson, the original egghead
The last Unitarian nominated for president of the United States.
By Kimberly French in Looking back

Online Extras

Love can't fix everything
I knew the gunman who killed two in a Knoxville church, but I don't need an explanation for his actions. I need stories of heroes and kindness and compassion.
By Meg Barnhouse

Shooting at Tennessee Valley UU Church in Knoxville, Sunday, July 27