UUFSMA: “Seeking the Truth”

UUFSMA: “Seeking the Truth”

Sunday, January 12, 10:30am

Rev. Tom Rosiello

Hotel la Aldea

At this Sunday’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship service, the Rev. Tom Rosiello explores the concept that seeking the truth is at the core of every religious tradition. Many religions teach that they possess “the one truth” and that all other “truth” is wrong, even dangerous. Too often, “truth”, as a particular group sees it, is used to judge, persecute, and even vilify others.

That is not the case for Unitarian Universalism, which affirms each individual’s free and responsible search for his or her own truth. As Rev. Rosiello puts it: “In our tradition we encourage folks to live with the questions and work towards responsibly discovering what the truth is for them.”

Nearly 200 years ago Unitarian minister William Ellery Channing described that approach well when he wrote that “we are a faith that jealously guards our intellectual rights and powers….which does not content itself with a passive or hereditary faith…which opens itself to light whenever it may come… which receives new truth as an angel from heaven… which discovers everywhere the radiant signatures of the infinite spirit”

That new light came into this religious movement from the Transcendentalists like Unitarian minister Ralph Waldo Emerson, who believed that we do not need a particular great book, (a secondary source) to know that truth, but that fundamental truths are known to us first hand, intuitively. Later, new light came from the Humanists movement that aligned truth with scientific verifiability. For them, truth comes from direct observation, experimentation, rational analysis, and values that are derived from human needs and interests as tested by experience.

“There certainly are truths in every one of these traditions but none should be exclusive,” says Rev. Rosiello. “It is so satisfying to bring together the teachings of our biblical roots, the thoughts of our forebears or other world religions, and the most recent scientific thought or poetry as we consider what our truth is.”

Following the service there will be a “Newcomer’s Coffee Hour” where you will be invited to ask your questions about Unitarian Universalism and the UU Fellowship here in SMA to Rev. Rosiello and others.  As always our service will be enriched by wonderful music.  Pianist Malcolm Halliday will be joined by violinists Felicia Moye and George Figuero and will perform movements of Bach’s Sonata for two violins as well as some exciting tango music. There will also be a special program for children. All are welcome.

For more information about the UUFSMA, including our Sunday morning Children’s Religious Education program, Social Action outreach, weekly discussion groups, social activities, and Care Team, join us any Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Hotel La Aldea or check out our website at uufsma.org.

Our fellowship was born in 1987 when a small group of expatriate religious liberals came together to meet as Unitarian Universalists in San Miguel de Allende. The fellowship has been active and thriving ever since. Every UU church has it’s own flavor, and we are no exception. We are a combination of expats and visitors, each actively engaged and contributing to this wonderful Mexican community we love. Because there is a coming, going, and returning aspect, our spiritual community is extremely fluid.  There is a magic in San Miguel which draws us in and binds us together—both as members of the church and of the larger community. Our programming is led by visiting ministers, community leaders, and church members, so the variety is lively. We have opportunities to meet as UU’s each week at discussion groups, breakfasts, luncheons, and in various other ways. Depending on the season, attendance fluctuates between 40 and 140. Our primary focus is on funding social action within the surrounding community. We love good music, good discussion, good food, and having visitors. We invite you to join us any Sunday morning.

Members regularly post updates and information on this site. We also post meeting minutes and announcements there.

To join our Yahoo group site click on this link:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/UUFSMA/info

Click on “membership”and follow the directions.

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We encourage you to use this site to communicate with other local UUs.