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Ethics as Unenforceable Obligations – The Importance of Being Good for Nothing

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(Presentation for the service on Sunday 17 October, 2010 by Geoff Matthews.)

Taken from the ‘Building Your Own Theology’, I led the group in developing a list of eleven ethical statements from their individual perspective and as a fellowship.  This was a fairly easy exercise.

Then as a group, I facilitated them individually and then in pairs, reviewing a case study of an ethical and moral dilemma – a husband and wife who in the US decide to have another child, against the husband’s initial  wishes, so that the child the wife bears will have a 70% chance of having compatible bone marrow with their teenage daughter who has a terminal disease.

We then considered this dilemma as a group in relation to the ethical statements we had developed and in response to several questions.  Generally the group agreed with the actions of the parents.  The problem certainly generated some interesting discussion.

The exercise  brought out the fact that developing the ethical statements is not that difficult, but when considering them in connection with an ethical and/or moral dilemma that we may face at times in our lives, the decision/s can be quite difficult and sometimes compromises have to be made.

Horses Birthday Today

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On 1st August, 2010, Geoff Matthews presented a topic ‘Horses Birthday Today’ and linked our long association of all types of horses in this country with our life as Unitarians.  In his address, he talked of the history of horses in Australia, areas of life we see them such as showjumping,  children’s love of them, equestrian, rodeo, the special love for Clydesdales, the thoroughbred racing industry and his experiences with riding for the disabled in the US.

In his outline of the history of horses in Australia, he referred to information from the Horses Australia website- ‘Horses have been part of Australia’s history and are almost a cultural icon. From the wild brumbies to the legendary Phar Lap, Australia’s horses have the power to stir the soul and capture the imagination.’

And it’s easy to see why.  The horse is a creature of grace, power and beauty that has been prized throughout history for its intelligence, speed and strength. From their velvety muzzles to the tips of their flowing tails, horses have been loyal companions in peace and war.

Horses first came to Australia in the pioneer days and have been used for business and pleasure ever since.  Some broke loose and became brumbies,  the legendary tough wild horses that have formed part of Australian legends such as the Man from Snowy River from Banjo Paterson’s thrilling epic  poem.
(Geoff read the poem in his address). Horses carried settlers throughout Australia as they founded the important towns, rounded up cattle on  Outback stations and thrilled millions in great races like the Melbourne Cup.

And today you’ll find many horses throughout Australia, whether as a glamorous thoroughbred racehorse or as a jackeroo’s trusty mount.  And plenty are loved as companion animals and pleasure horses too.

Love horses?  At Horses Australia, we do too.  Bay, chestnut, black, grey, dun or palomino; Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Arabian or Shetland pony – we love them all!’

In closing, he linked our history and love for horses as a significant part of our lives, and that as Unitarians we are well aware that in this world it is not just about Humans, but our connection with the environment and nature, of which horses are a part.

He also left us with three different quotes

‘The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collar bone and incredible contusions – ‘it wasn’t Jezebel’s fault, Dad.’

‘Horses change lives.  They give our young people confidence and self esteem.  They provide peace and tranquillity to troubled souls – they give us hope!’

‘A horse is the projection of people’s dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful  – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.’

Let’s Dream Together

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( A talk presented by Candace Parks on 11 July, 2010. )
Although still relatively unknown in Sydney, Unitarianiam has quite a following in the US.  Gary Kowalski is a well-known Unitarian minister and author from Burlington, Vermont and in line with the strong sense of community and support amongst Unitarians around the world, Gary has kindly agreed for his talks to be used by other smaller congregations – especially those without a minister.
Born and raised in Vermont and having attended university in Burlington, Candace feels a strong connection to Gary’s views and manner of expression.  This talk in particular showcases his sense of humour.
To read the talk or listen to it in Gary’s own voice, go to http://www.uusociety.org/sermons.html and select the talk for March 21 2010.  Enjoy!

Charter For Compassion Talk

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Talk on the Charter for Compassion by Claire Morgan, July 2010

Before the talk started, I handed out copies of the Charter for Compassion, which follows. The reference list at the bottom of this document lists the Charter for Compassion website and all the texts that I mention.

Click here to read the complete talk by Claire Morgan

Charter for Compassion (  http://charterforcompassion.org )
The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.

We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate aninformed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.

We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.