January 2008 Newsletter Page Number One

January 2008 Newsletter
Page Number One

January 2008 Unitarian Fellowship of Longview

January Programs

January 6th

Blasphemy or Free Speech?

Jerry Kircus

There is an enormous culture clash pending between some conservative Muslim sects and Western secular ideas of freedom of expression. Christianity worked its way through centuries of the same problem. The fatwa leveled against Salmon Rushdie extended well beyond the borders of its country of origin and called upon Muslims everywhere to kill one designated a blasphemer. Ultimately this will be a problem for Muslims to settle among themselves. I will explore what the West should do in the meantime.

January 13th

I Owe You One

Kathy Lansford

With our national debt growing ever larger and more ominous and the world banking industry teetering on the brink of collapse due to myopic, irresponsible lending practices, oh, and did I mention the fact that we are all trying to pay off the bills from our holiday largesse, it seems an appropriate time to discuss the concept of debt. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Who owes what to whom? What do we do with the debts that can't be repaid or an offer we can't refuse? This presentation will tackle those conundrums and more.

January 20th

The Life of a Unitarian Universalist

Susan Smith, SWUU District Executive

Though Unitarian Universalism allows for a great diversity of specific beliefs, liberal religion also has its own tenets and disciplines. Since human beings generally gather round their similarities rather than their differences, the spiritual disciplines of this faith are harder than most and even more important to practice.

January 27th

The Cheese Stands Alone

Tina Rushing

Being a UU is, by definition, to be outside the mainstream of our culture. Each of us also carries other, more specific, differences that place us in some degree of isolation. How does this affect our daily living and how can we handle this in healthy and constructive ways?