10-07-2018
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
R.E. Building – Rooms 6, 7 & 8

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Commonly known as the Golden Rule, the ethic of reciprocity appears in some form in every major religion—Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam—as well as in many other traditions. We can consider the ethic of reciprocity a universal value on which people of diverse faiths can agree. This session explores how it guides us to cooperate, for the good of all. Today we will introduce the ethic of reciprocity as a universal religious value, explore how, in Unitarian Universalism, the ethic of reciprocity encourages radical hospitality, examine ways the ethic of reciprocity and radical hospitality give us ways to act on our first Principle, to affirm and promote “the inherent worth and dignity of every person”, and demonstrate ways to practice radical hospitality.

Take Home

Discuss ways you have extended friendship toward someone who seemed very different from yourself, or times when you forged or continued a relationship of some sort with a person who had vastly different (or even opposing) viewpoints. Share some experiences where you found it difficult to be welcoming to someone different (such as someone with opposing political viewpoints); explore what you did to overcome this or what you could do differently if you find yourself in the same situation again.

Share affirmations together as a family by lighting candles and each sharing one positive trait another family member has. Or, each share a positive memory you share with another family member. You might also adopt this as a mealtime ritual: Take a minute to express your thankfulness for the meal and the presence of your family members, and then encourage each family member to state a positive affirmation about someone else at the table.

Check it out: Session 4