Unitarian-Universalist

Please note that this page is no longer being maintained. You can find these, and other essays, at a site specifically dedicated to these issues: http://lightbringers.net

The following is a number of essays, presentations, 'blogs, and so forth primarily from a Unitarian-Universalist religious perspective. Such a perspective argues for individual freedom in creedal matters, thus allowing for Christian Unitarian-Universalists, Pagan Unitarian-Universalists, Buddhist Unitarian-Universalists, even Atheist and Agnostic Unitarian-Universalists.

Instead of metaphysical creeds, the primary concern in Unitarian-Universalism is individual freedom of conscience and expression. Alongside this, UUs are known for a rational commitment to social justice and scientific investigation.

I am more than happy to discuss these matters with anyone interested.

Presentations etc, are primarily to the Melbourne Peace Memorial Church, but also to the Melbourne Sea of Faith, Jemaat Allah Global Indonesia, the Melbourne Atheist Society, the Melbourne Existentialist Society etc.

Seminary Studies

In late 2011 I started studying at the New Seminary for Interfaith Studies in New York, but discontinued shortly afterwards. The following is the material that I wrote whilst engaged at that institution.

The New Seminary Hinduism Homework
Review of Sacred Texts Reading The Monadology
Review of Leonard Felder: The Ten Challenges (The First Challenge)
Review of Sacred Texts Reading: Euthyphro
The New Seminary Buddhism Homework
Review of Leonard Felder: The Ten Challenges (The Second Challenge)
Review of Sacred Texts Reading: Apology
Review of The New Seminary: Taoism Homework
Review of Leonard Felder: The Ten Challenges (The Third Challenge)
Sacred Texts Reading: Crito

Services and Addresses

East Timor: From Resistance to Independence. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, 16th June, 2002
The Unitarian Rationalist Tradition: What We Can and Cannot Know. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, September 8, 2002
A Man of Great Spirit: The Life and Politics of Dr. Jim Cairns. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church February 1st, 2004.
The Future of the Human Species: Genetic Engineering, Cybernetics, Artificial Intelligence and Animal Uplifting. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, Sunday August 1st, 2004
The Human Face of Refugees. Service to an address by Sister Brigid Arthur, Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project, November 21, 2004
Providence and Common Wealth. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, January 23, 2005
The Unitarian Jihad: An Internet Phenomenon Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, June 13, 2005
Role Playing and Religion. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, August 21, 2005.
The Story of Francis David and King John Sigismund: The Establishment of the Transylvannian Unitarian Church. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Peace Memorial Church, Sunday February 19, 2006
The Future of the Human Species: Genetic Engineering, Cybernetics, Artificial Intelligence and Animal Uplifting. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, April 9, 2006 (repeat)
An Introduction to the Scientific Method (pending). Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, June 4, 2006
Rationalist and Liberal Prospects in Islam. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, June 11, 2006
Devils, Pagan Gods, and Polyhedrons. Presentation to the Sea of Faith Network in Australia, August 17, 2006
The Age of Spiritual Machines: The Artificial Intelligence Predictions of Ray Kurzweil. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, October 8, 2006
The Future of Planet Earth. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, January 14, 2007
Critical Issues Facing Unitarian-Universalism. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church January 13, 2008
A Heretic of Clarity: The Unitarianism of Stephen Fritchman. Address at the Melbourne Unitarian Church on May 4, 2008
Religious Freedom and National Self-Determination. Address at the Melbourne Unitarian Church on August 31, 2008
Dying With Dignity. Service (opening words, reading, closing words) to the address by Lyn Allison, former Senator and leader of the Australian Democrats. October 5, 2008, Melbourne Unitarian Church
A Unitarian-Universalist Perspective on the Economic Crisis. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, January 18, 2009
Palestine: A Challenge to Humanity. Service to an address by Michael Shaik, Public Advocate for Australians for Palestine. May 10, 2009
Sympathy for The Devil: the use and abuse of supernatural evil. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, May 17, 2009
The Greatest Dissenters. Service (opening words, reading, closing words) to the address by Peter Abrehart, chairperson of the Church. July 19, 2009, Melbourne Unitarian Church
The Historical Contribution of Unitarians and Universalists. Address to Jemaat Allah Global Indonesia, the Unitarian Christian Church of Indonesia, Semarang, 10th August, 2009
Religion & Culture of the Malay Archipelago. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, August 23rd, 2009
Social Justice from A Catholic Perspective. Service (opening words, reading, closing words) to the address by Denis Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Catholic Social Services Victoria, September 6, 2009
The Other Half: The Universalist Tradition. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, September 20, 2009
2012 : From Ancient Brilliance to Modern Nonsense. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, December 6, 2009
Alternative Energy. Service (opening words, reading, closing words) to an address by Dr. James Brown, Melbourne Unitarian Church, February 7, 2010
The Poor Will Always Be With Us. Service to an address by Dr. Rob Watts, Melbourne Unitarian Church, April 18, 2010
Origin of Esperanto. Service (opening words, reading, closing words) to an address by Jennifer Bishop, Director of Education Australian Esperanto Association, Melbourne Unitarian Church, June 13, 2010
The Evolution of the Human Spirit. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, June 27, 2010
Faith, Deeds and Salvation. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, August 1st, 2010
A Progress Report on The Election. Service (opening words, reading, closing words) to an address by Kenneth Davidson, economics and public policy write for The Age, August 8, 2010.
Strangers, Sojourners and Commonwealth. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, September 5, 2010
Climate Change Policy. Service (opening words, reading, closing words) to an address by Kelvin Thomson, Federal Member for Wills. October 31, 2010
Representation and Local Government. Service to an address by Lyle Allen, December 12, 2010
Wikileaks: The Free and Responsible Search for Truth. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, January 16, 2011
Russia: Successes and Failures. Service (opening words, reading, closing words), to an address by Marion Harper, Secretary, Melbourne Unitarian Church, January 30, 2011
Radical Peace: The Spiritual Basis of Non-Violent Direct Action. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, March 27, 2011
Egypt's Revolution and the Awakening of the Arab Street. Service (opening words, reading, closing words) at the Melbourne Unitarian Church, to an address by Samah Sabawi, Public Advocate, Australians for Palestine, May 1st, 2011
Land Rights and Responsibilities: The Carbon Tax Debate. Address at the Melbourne Unitarian Church, May 22, 2011
Unitarian-Universalism : The Only Religion for the 21st Century. Address at the Melbourne Unitarian Church, June 26, 2011
Energy Options After Fukushima. Service at the Melbourne Unitarian Church, July 1st, 2011
Difficult Choices: The Morality and Politics of Humanitarian Intervention. Address a the Melbourne Unitarian Church, Sunday 2nd October, 2011
Why Dissent, Reason, Freedom and Skepticism Matter. Service at the Melbourne Unitarian Church, Sunday October 9, 2011
Is Anybody Out There? Little Green Men and the Fermi Paradox. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, Sunday December 11, 2011
The toxic link between compulsory superannuation, PPPs and infrasturcture priorities. Service at the Melbourne Unitarian Church, Sunday March 4, 2012.
Great Unitarian Political Leaders of Australia and New Zealand. Address at the Melbourne Unitarian Church, Sunday, April 8, 2012
Celtic History and Mysteries. Presentation to Melbourne Interfaith Philosophers in conjunction with the Coven of the Eternal Goddess, May 14, 2012
Beyond Zero Emissions, Service for the address by Peter Castaldo's, Melbourne Unitarian Church, Sunday 9th June, 2012
Terrorism: A Unitarian-Universalist Response. Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, Sunday 8th July, 2012
Domestic Violence: What Can Be Done?. Service to the address given by Virginia Geddes, Executive Officer of the Victorian Domestic Violence Resource Centre, Melbourne Unitarian Church, July 22nd, 2012,
The Book of Amos and the Arab Spring. Address given to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, August 12, 2012.

Philosophy

What Is Philosophy?, March 18, 2007
Logic in Philosophy, April 22, 2007
Ontology in Philosophy, May 13, 2007
Epistemology in Philosophy, June 10, 2007
The Philosophy of Aesthetics, July 08, 2007
The Philosophy of Justice, August 10, 2007
Women in Philosophy: Philosophy of Women, September 9, 2007
Applied and Pragmatic Philosophy, October 14, 2007
Most of Our Universe is Missing
Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast: Metaphysics, Theology and Philosophy
Philosophy of Economics Part I: Normative Economics
Philosophy of Economics Part II: Positive Economics
Summary of Philosophy of Economics - and Solutions
Death and Existence. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, October 4th, 2009
Genes, Media and The Mind. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, November 1st, 2009
The Virtual World. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, December 6, 2009
The Causes and Prevention of Violence
The Philosophy and Politics Hannah Arendt: Totalitarianism and Freedom in Modernity
The Philosophy of Education and Development
Homer's Odyssey: Its Contribution to Western Philosophy and Culture. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, 5th of September, 2010
Teleology and Free Will. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, 7th of November, 2010
Who Invented Philosophy and Why? (with Rick Barker)
Truth, Dissonance and Reason. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, February 6th, 2011
The Phenomenology of Perception. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, March 6th, 2011
The Philosophy of Leadership. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, April 3rd, 2011
The Rational Optimist. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, May 2nd, 2011
Hannah Arendt's Existentialism. Presentation to the Melbourne Existentialist Society, August 2nd, 2011
The Pursuit of Happiness. Presentation to the Unitarian Philosophy Forum, August 7th, 2011.
Machine Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence to Artificial Consciousness?. Presentation to the Unitarian Philosophy Forum, September 4th, 2011.
Existentialist Aesthetics and Mimetic Cinema. Presentation to the Existentialist Society, November 1, 2011
Philosophy of History. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Fourm, March 4, 2012.
Ex nihilo nihil fit: Why Is There Something Rather than Nothing?. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, May 6, 2012
Mary, the Swampy Philosophical Zombie, Is In Your Chinese Room! Problems With Reductionist Theories of Consciousness. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, June 3, 2012
Wine and Philosophy: From Orphic Mysticism and Hellenic Symposiums, to Enlightenment Salons, and beyond. Presentation to the Melbourne Unitarian Philosophy Forum, August 6, 2012

Thoughts on Religious News

Unitarian-Universalist 'Blog; note that this is no longer being maintained...
Lightbringers; Science, Technology and Society from a Unitarian-Universalist perspective.

Articles and Papers