I have just recently published a short essay in the UK magazine, Faith Initiative, which is a publication dedicated to promoting interreligious conversation and embracing diversity.
In this 21st issue of Faith Initiative I write about my experiences as a Christian attending a Buddhist-founded university (University of the West) and living in a mostly Buddhist community. The article outlines my familial, cultural, and religious background, my experiences dialoguing and "worshipping" with Buddhists, and how being a Christian among Buddhists has impacted and changed my Christian faith and identity.
It's a personal rather than a scholarly article, but it was fun to write and share my spiritual experiences with others in an effort to promote interfaith relations and cultural diversity here and abroad. I was able to mention my alma maters as well as describe how I came to embrace the Unity movement as the best communal support for cultivating my progressive Christian spirituality.
Since only select essays can be accessed on the Faith Initiative website, mine isn't yet available to read online, but will be in a few months (I'll send out a reminder when the time comes). However, if anyone is interested, let me know and I can send a personal PDF verson of the essay via email.
Read select essays at Faith Initiative.
Wow! It's so good to find your blog, Jesse! I studied Unity years ago, then left when I couldn't find the answers I sought.
ReplyDeleteI know, why should I bother reading a Unity blog? Because I think it's wonderful a young and modern voice such as yours is making an impact in the Unity movement. I guess that was another issue I had--for all the beauty and power of Unity's beliefs, there seemed to be a provinciality I saw among its members, many of them senior citizens. I love TRUE interfaith dialogue--come join us Buddhists, pagans, nontheists, Taoists. And people from Mars.
I admit, I am 37, no longer 20. But I studied Unity in my early thirties, and felt dismayed by the lack of younger voices.
Again, Wow, Jesse. It's so totally awesome to see you here.
I've bookmarked your blog! Yeah, you'll be hearing from a rambling seeker:P
Tara
I'm glad you like the blog!
ReplyDeleteThere's so much I both like and dislike about Unity. I feel drawn to the positive-minded attitude, the contemplative-mystical emphasis, and the general openness and inclusiveness of various spiritualities in Unity. But, I also don't think most Unity leaders are trained well enough in thinking critically and analytically about their faith, which has led to a lifting up of the mystical-prayer side of things but a de-emphasis on gaining an intellectually sound grounding in theological history, philosophy, and general scholarship. This is one of the pieces of the Unity movement I see myself very involved in attempting to transform.
Anyway, lately Unity and the Association of Unity Churches have been putting forth a significant concerted effort in bringing out a theory and practice of social action, which I believe to be an integral part of a mature spirituality. So, Unity's growing, which is nice to know.
Again, thanks for the comment and I look forward to hearing from you more as you read the blog. Peace!