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We still confront many of the same issues faced by our foremothers.By engaging with these women of the past, we hope to empower and inspire today's women and men to continue the work of creating a world of justice and peace for all.--from the preface

Standing Before Us presents 160 years of women's work.This long-awaited volume contains letters, essays, stories, poems, and speeches by Unitarian and Universalist women.The reformers and leaders represented here write and speak eloquently for social justice, equality in education, religious reform, and an end to slavery and prejudice.Includes a biographical sketch of each woman, and informative notes on the texts selected. ... Read more

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Over 300 jokes, quotes, anecdotes on the most liberal of organized Protestant religions. Fold-and-staple binding. Authored by 2nd-generation UU. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fun read
The Church Where People Laugh is a fun read, especially for UU's who don't take themselves too seriously.To keep this review in keeping with the spirit of the book, this volume will give you many good stories for coffee hour.Just be forewarned that as a UU, you're being asked to make fun of yourself in some of these jokes.A great collection, and a lot of fun.
... Read more

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This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: Unitarian Sunday-School Society in 1884 in 72 pages; Subjects: Unitarian churches; Unitarianism; Religion / Christianity / Denominations; Religion / Unitarian Universalism; ... Read more

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A social, cultural, theological, and spiritual history ofthe Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines from 1899 to thepresent.On a wider level, "Maglipay Universalist" is a study ofpost-colonial Protestantism among the poor on Negros Island. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: s.n. in 1901 in 77 pages; Subjects: Unitarian churches; Religion / Sermons / Christian; Religion / Unitarian Universalism; ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Unitarianism; Religion / Sermons / Christian; Religion / Christian Ministry / Preaching; Religion / Unitarian Universalism; ... Read more

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If ever there were anywhere that someone who was suffering from a mental illness or behavioral disability should expect to be welcomed, it would be at our religious institutions. Sadly, however, that is often not the case. In The Inherent Worth and Dignity of ALL Individuals: Encouraging Full Participation in Our Unitarian Universalist Congregations, Bobby Newman attempts to create a framework for helping religious institutions to consider the needs of people with mental illness and behavioral disabilities, along with the needs of the rest of the congregation. A framework is described for helping to strike a balance that will protect the rights of all concerned, and help religious institutions come closer to living up to their stated principles. Proceeds benefit the South Nassau Unitarian Universalist Congregation (SNUUC) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Walking the talk tutorial
Faith communities looking to live their stated values should be aware of, and plan for, "conflicting rights" that may occur in the process of welcoming and including people who have mental health challenges and/or physical disabilities. Which "rights" that people claim are appropriate? Whose "rights" prevail? Do we ever exclude someone? If so, when? How is it possible to make everyone welcome and happily participate together? This book provides discussions about these and other important questions and (thankfully!) offers concrete suggestions, compassionate real-life experiences, and scientifically based information. All of this is accomplished within 75 pages in an easy-to-read style and with a sense of humor. I strongly recommend this book when setting out on the path of "walking the talk".

(Behavioral) Oneness with the Universe
As Robert Browning lamented, "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?"

Whether one's theology includes a personal hereafter or not, the poet's words capture the ache of the unrealized goal.As fallible human beings, for many of us our everyday experience is that some, most, or all of our goals go unrealized.

This is especially true in our congregational lives.Part of the problem arises because the overarching goals of faith-centered communities are both very specific and also tremendously broad. When goals are hard to define, they're hard to meet; when goals are unrealistic; they're impossible to meet.The more important part of the problem is that individuals (all individuals, regardless of disability status) vary in their ability to engage in religious or spiritual activities, and, in turn, to benefit from them.

Bobby Newman's book poses several challenges to individuals of the liberal faiths. One question not stated explicitly, but implied through the very presence of the book, is: Can you live in behavioral oneness with the universe, with your own congregation behaving exactly as it is toward its own membership?Upon even minimal reflection, most congregations will find that there are members who have needs that are presently unmet by the status quo.The challenge, when this is the case, is to take one's principles to heart and translate them into action.

While no "cookie cutter" solutions are offered, the following steps are offered as a basis for getting started:
1. Determine the needs
2. Offer respect and involve persons more
3. Get expert advice
4. Form support groups/task forces
5. Take advantage of technology
6. Consider differences in abilities and learning styles: translate into action

It's a great book for those so moved to do something about the needs of the people right there with them, without "complain[ing] about the present and blam[ing] it on the past."

The bottom line?Full inclusion.A challenge? Yup.But maybe, we can, in loving service, "get over it?"The book is a good read but more important is its role as a conversation-igniter and an action-starter.Best of luck for those working through this type of change.

Original, Essential
To readers familiar with Bobby Newman's previous work, this book might seem at first blush to be coming out of left field. However, if you are familiar with Bobby the person, it makes perfect sense. It reflects and combines seamlessly the science of behaviorism with the importance of spiritual community and every individual's right to access to it. Those of us who live with or who treat individuals with developmental disabilities know that for many families, of the countless losses they experience, the inability to share religious experience, tradition, and community is among the most sharply felt. "The Inherent Worth and Dignity of ALL Individuals" is wonderful. Recommended reading for teachers, families, clergy, and anyone who cares.

Good for All Faith groups
I just finished reading The Inherent Worth and Dignity of all Individuals.As someone who has worked with people with autism for her entire professional life I was struck by the value this book has for members of any faith group.Although Dr. Newman aims his book at Unitarian Universalist Congregations, the values are meaningful to people from a broad range of faiths. In the best of worlds these values would extend to the community beyond our places of worship, but surely that is a good place to start being inclusive and respectful, but not condescending, in our welcome of people who are different from our selves. We can all work toward adapting our expectations and behavior to meet the needs of others and develop new skills in that process. The creative use of the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis that Dr. Newman describes is a fine model of how such inclusion might be accomplished.

The book is also a wonderfully engaging read.

A topic nobody wants to talk about...
When I received this book, I wasn't sure waht to expect.Written by a behavior analyst who's books tend to be about behavior analysis, this book seemed to be outside the norm.As I've enjoyed his books in the past, I decided read it anyway.I'm glad that I did.
This book talked about a topic of inclusion that is often neglected or ignored.That is about the inclusion in congregations.It discusses some very poignant scenarios in which a person was not allowed inclusion for various reasons.In having worked with many adults with disabilities, I have often heard their desire to attend church, and although they didn't complain -- I noticed that their options tended to be limited to those congregations willing to 'tolerate' the differences.This book makes it clear that tolerance is not acceptable -- but rather, inclusion must be the goal, and should be available to all members of any congregation.Bobby walks the reader through the reasons that this is so important, replete with real-life examples, his typical humor, and a sensitivity that does not shirk from his subject-matter and fulfills its purpose well.
It is my hope that this is a catalyst for more authors (and populace at large) to begin discussing this very important topic.
~JP ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Religion / Unitarian Universalism; Religion / General; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Profound, really insightful
This book blew me away! As a newcomer to Unitarianism, I found that it gave me a nice background and basis, written in such a vernacular that made it easy to understand. It does tend to get wordy at times, but that is because it's a transcription of his sermons.I think everyone should read this book, no matter what your religious background is. ... Read more

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A thematic anthology of short texts by a wide range of Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists. Voices from the past are presented alongside voices from the present. Famous names appear alongside less well-known ones. The book could be read from cover to cover, or dipped into when needed as a source of texts for church services. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: Crosby and Nichols in 1848 in 184 pages; Subjects: Unitarianism; History / General; History / United States / General; History / United States / State & Local / General; Religion / Unitarian Universalism; Travel / Essays & Travelogues; ... Read more

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William James Potter is best viewed as a radical minister in the American freethought tradition during the second half of the 19th century. He shifted from his Quaker foundation to Unitarian Christianity, influenced by Transcendentalist thinkers, especially Ralph Waldo Emerson and Theodore Parker. Later, influenced by Charles Darwin, he modified his transcendental perspective for a more empirical orientation. This collection makes available many of his collected essays and sermons. ... Read more

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By examining the minister who helped inspire the founding of the Harlem Unitarian Church--Reverend Ethelred Brown, Floyd-Thomas offers a provocative examination of the religious and intellectual roots of Black humanist thought. ... Read more

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The Unitarian confrontation with the late 18th century political establishment is reflected in published sermons, pamphlets, and parliamentary debates. Price and Priestley were only the most notorious members of a well-educated, close-knit, and highly articulate intellectual opposition, all the more formidable for dominating the major literary reviews. Focusing on many lesser-known dissenting polemicists, this study uncovers unexpected continuities in Unitarian critiques of government policies and questions whether Burke was justified in equating antitrinitarians with French republicans.
... Read more

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The recent history of the UUA journey toward becoming an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural movement. The Arc of the Universe is Long covers the fourteen years that begin with the passage of the racial and cultural diversity resolution at Calgary, in Canada, in 1992 and traces developments through General Assembly 2006. Using interviews and written records, the authors bring to life the voices and stories that represent many perspectives, all addressing issues of race and ethnicity in our congregations and our association. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An unusual book about anti-racism efforts of a religious denomination.
The Arc of the Universe Is Long is a source book on the history of anti-racism efforts in the Unitarian Universalist denomination from the 1960's through roughly 2007, with projections for the future beyond that. As in many majority white denominations, discussion of race issues and appropriate institutional responses became very heated. A particularly strong issue for the Unitarian Universalists has been the question whether goals can best be accomplished through race-based caucuses, or through groups that embody multiracial unity. This book is extraordinary for its exhaustive reporting on all sides of the debates that took place. Statements of individuals who totally disagreed with decisions made along the way are printed alongside statements by those who prevailed in decision-making, which makes the book invaluable background for future deliberations. The only downside is that like the history it reports on, the story line of the book is sometimes hard to follow. The saving grace at these times is the index, which is very exhaustive and well organized. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Displays both strengths & weaknesses of the UU faith
This older edition gives a solid introduction to the Unitarian Universalist faith. Some portions focus on the historical and doctrinal roots, while others draw on the experiences of the authors (who are both UU ministers) as well as contemporary understandings and practices of the UU faith.
Good: This is an easy read and for a short volume seems to cover all the basics of UU well. The experiences of the authors are particularly helpful. A good example is that of Buehrens' marriage to an Episcopal priest. He says, "The truth is that most of our debates are rather more mundane: the unholy trinity of checkbook, chores, and children, not the holy one."
Bad: The authors sometimes contradict themselves by proclaiming the virtues of being all-inclusive, and then highlighting their perceived inadequacies of orthodox Christian understandings. For example, Church writes that "[James Freeman] Clarke and [Jenkin Lloyd] Jones helped to expand Unitarianism beyond a liberal Christian faith to a faith that might best be described not as non-Christian, but as more than Christian." To most of us in other religions, Christian or otherwise, the UU faith is not "more than" anything but a hodge-podge collection of bits and pieces that fails to embrace the fullness of any of the world's religions. Opinion: A quote from William Schulz in the introduction sums up the essence of Unitarian Universalism: "Born Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Muslim, or into a secular or 'mixed' household, when it came time for us to affiliate with a religious institution we sought one that fit our own thinking, not one that imposed its thinking on us." To those of us who view religious discipleship as letting go of our own ways of thinking in order to grow closer to God, this view is inadequate. It does not do us well to create a god in our own image.

Seekers of truth and meaning often turn to liberal religion
Unitarian Universalism offers seekers a map to find truth and meaning in their lives.This book helps identify the markers one looks for on this journey. Buehrens and Church discuss in casual, easy to understand terms, the path and markers in Unitarian Universalism, and offers needed language to feelings and matters religious for those in search.This is a difficult religion.It requires commitment and an open mind.This book helps guide the new comer toward becoming more comfortable with the difficult explanations.Highly recommended.

a readable introduction to Unitarian Universalism
The authors (UU ministers) provide a friendly, approachable guided tour of the ideas and practice of Unitarian Universalism, mostly through looking at the lives and accomplishments of noted UUs. The reader is left with a good sense of the common threads that bring members of this theologically eclectic denomination together. ... Read more