Workshop 3: Hosea Ballou

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Part of What Moves Us: Unitarian Universalist Theology

In This Section

Introduction
From What Moves Us

There is an immortal desire in every soul for… happiness. — Hosea Ballou, in A Treatise on Atonement This workshop introduces Hosea Ballou’s Theology of Happiness. The workshop tests the relevance of Ballou’s theological legacy for our religious lives as Unitarian Universalists today….
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From What Moves Us

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Introducing Hosea Ballou 5 Activity 2: The Story of Hosea Ballou’s Conversion 10 Activity 3: Personal Experience 30 Activity 4: Testing Ballou 35 Closing 5…
Spiritual Preparation
From What Moves Us

Reflect on the following questions, looking for connections between your theology and Ballou’s. You may wish to write your reflections in your theology journal. Do you agree that all human actions are motivated by the desire for happiness? Ballou wrote, “[There is] no such thing as disinterested…
Opening
From What Moves Us

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Small worship table and cloth Chalice, candle and lighter or LED battery-operated candle A copy of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Microphone Preparation for Activity Set up th…
Activity 1: Introducing Hosea Ballou
From What Moves Us

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Introducing Hosea Ballou Leader Resource 1, Hosea Ballou Portrait Optional: Computer and projector Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 1 for all participants. Prepare to project Leader Resource 1 or make copies. Description of Activity…
Activity 2: The Story of Hosea Ballou's Conversion
From What Moves Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Hosea Ballou’s Conversion” Optional: Microphone Preparation for Activity Review the story so you can present it effectively. Copy the story for all participants. Read the Ballou Family entry in the online Dictionary of Unitarian and…
Activity 3: Personal Experience
From What Moves Us

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Participant journals Variety of writing and drawing implements Timepiece (minutes) Optional: Bell or chime Preparation for Activity If participants may need journals, obtain notebooks with unlined pages….
Activity 4: Testing Ballou
From What Moves Us

Activity time: 35 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Excerpt from A Treatise on Atonement Participants’ journals Variety of writing and drawing materials Optional: Microphone Preparation for Activity Read and make copies Handout 2, Excerpt from A Treatise on Atonement….
Closing
From What Moves Us

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Small worship table and cloth. Chalice, candle and lighter or LED battery-operated candle A copy of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Taking It Home handouts for all participants Preparation for Activity Review the…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From What Moves Us

After the workshop, co-leaders should make a time to get together to evaluate this workshop and plan future workshops. Use these questions to guide your shared reflection and planning: What have you learned about your own ability to explore personal experiences as part of your own strategy to…
Taking It Home: Hosea Ballou
From What Moves Us

There is an immortal desire in every soul for… happiness. — Hosea Ballou, in A Treatise on Atonement Think of something you might do that could increase the happiness of others or yourself. Then, do it, as a personal faith project to explore your own “theology of happiness.” You might pick up a…
Hosea Ballou's Conversion
From What Moves Us

In 1789, Hosea Ballou attended the Baptist revival held in his hometown of Richmond, New Hampshire. Moved by the preaching during this event, which was touted as “The Great Reformation,” Ballou, age 19, stepped forward to be baptized….
Handout 1: Introducing Hosea Ballou
From What Moves Us

Hosea Ballou preached his liberal faith to everyday people, men and women of the laboring classes. He was a self-educated man from rural New Hampshire and Massachusetts who was spurned by the Boston Unitarian elite. But in no small part thanks to Ballou, by the end of the 19th century, one out of…
Handout 2: Excerpt from A Treatise on Atonement
From What Moves Us

From Hosea Ballou, http://books.google.com/books?vid=HARVARD32044016976474&printsec=ti… Treatise on Atonement in which, The Finite Nature of Sin is Argued, Its Cause and Consequences as such; The Necessity and Nature of Atonement; And its Glorious Consequences in the FINAL RECONCILIATION OF ALL…
Leader Resource 1: Hosea Ballou Portrait
From What Moves Us
Leader Resource 2: Ballou's Theology in the Congregation
From What Moves Us

This is a 30-minute activity. Materials Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 1, Excerpt from A Treatise on Atonement Optional: Microphone Preparation Post newsprint. Optional: Copy Leader Resource 1 for all participants. Optional: Read background information about Hosea Ballou….
Leader Resource 3: Engaging as Religious Professionals
From What Moves Us

This is a 30-minute activity. Materials Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation Prepare and post newsprint with these questions: What does it mean to be happy? Do you believe that you personally have the right to happiness? What is the difference between pursuing personal happiness and being…
Find Out More
From What Moves Us

The Ballou Family, online Dictionary of Unitarian Universalist biography Ballou, Hosea. http://books.google.com/books?vid=HARVARD32044016976474&printsec=ti… Treatise on Atonement in which, The Finite Nature of Sin is Argued, Its Cause and Consequences as such; The Necessity and Nature of…