Workshop 4: It Matters What We Believe

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of A Chorus of Faiths, High School Youth: Unitarian Universalists as Interfaith Leaders

In This Section

Introduction
From A Chorus of Faiths

Our first task in approaching another people, another culture is to take off our shoes, for the place we are approaching is holy. Else we find ourselves treading on another’s dream. More serious still, we may forget that God was there before our arrival….
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From A Chorus of Faiths

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Story — We Are Each Other’s Business 15 Activity 2: What Do You Know about Other Religions? 25 Activity 3: Whose Story Is It? 25 Activity 4: The Power of Promises 15 Faith in Action: Religious Bullying Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Bridges of Understanding…
Spiritual Preparation
From A Chorus of Faiths

If the concept of cultural misappropriation is unfamiliar to you, explore the resources offered in Find Out More. Reflect on your own experiences. Have there been times you might have borrowed something from another faith or culture without much thought?…
Opening
From A Chorus of Faiths

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Name tags and markers Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Chalice, candle and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Preparation for Activity Set up a worship table with the chalice and any decorative items yo…
Activity 1: Story - We Are Each Other's Business
From A Chorus of Faiths

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “We Are Each Other’s Business” Optional: Computer with audio speakers and Internet access Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to present it effectively. Optional: Copy the story for all participants. Optional: If…
Activity 2: What Do You Know about Other Religions?
From A Chorus of Faiths

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Religious Literacy Quiz Leader Resource 1, Religious Literacy Quiz Answers Pens/pencils Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 1 for all participants. Print Leader Resource 1. Then, research any of the quiz answers that are unfamiliar to…
Activity 3: Whose Story Is It?
From A Chorus of Faiths

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Handout 2, Considerations for Cultural Borrowing — Questions to Ask (and Answer) Preparation for Activity Optional: See the Find Out More section for resources on Augusto Boal’s work….
Activity 4: The Power of Promises
From A Chorus of Faiths

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Group covenant created in Workshop 1 Optional: Workshop 2, Leader Resource 1, Puzzle Cards Preparation for Activity Post the group covenant. Post blank newsprint….
Closing
From A Chorus of Faiths

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Chalice, candle and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Taking It Home Optional: Copies of Singing the Journey, supplement to Singing the Living Tradition Preparation for…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From A Chorus of Faiths

Meet with your co-leaders immediately afterward to reflect on the workshop. Were participants open to the more emotionally difficult activities? How are plans for the interfaith service event progressing? Does the event have a firm date?
Faith In Action: Religious Bullying
From A Chorus of Faiths

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Handout 3, Religious Prejudice Simmers Handout 4, Anti-Bullying Resources Preparation for Activity Copy both handouts for all participants. Handout 3, Religious Prejudice Simmers, is for Part 1 of this activity….
Alternate Activity 1: Bridges of Understanding
From A Chorus of Faiths

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Green straws Popsicle sticks Tape Small paper cups Marbles or another small, spherical object Leader Resource 2, Belief Assignments and Name Tags Preparation for Activity Print Leader Resource 2, Belief Assignments and Name Tags, and pair them…
Alternate Activity 2: Planning the Interfaith Service Event, Part 4
From A Chorus of Faiths

Materials for Activity Newsprint and markers for each participant Time line or calendar (Workshop 1) Preparation for Activity Review the time frame for activities that should be completed before the next workshop. Description of Activity Participants continue work on the interfaith service event.
Taking It Home: It Matters What We Believe
From A Chorus of Faiths

Our first task in approaching another people, another culture is to take off our shoes, for the place we are approaching is holy. Else we find ourselves treading on another’s dream. More serious still, we may forget that God was there before our arrival. — Max Warren (1904-1977) General Secretary…
We Are Each Other's Business

Eboo Patel

From A Chorus of Faiths

I am an American Muslim. I believe in pluralism. In the Holy Quran, God tells us, ”I created you into diverse nations and tribes that you may come to know one another.” I believe America is humanity’s best opportunity to make God’s wish that we come to know one another a reality. In my office…
Handout 1: Religious Literacy Quiz
From A Chorus of Faiths

1. Which is the third largest religion (in number of adherents) in the world? a. Atheism/Agnosticism b. Judaism c. Hinduism d. Buddhism 2. True or False: Unitarian Universalism resulted from the merger of two religions — Unitarianism and Universalism — that were both more than 200 years olds. 3.
Handout 2: Considerations for Cultural Borrowing: Questions to Ask and Answer
From A Chorus of Faiths

Prepared by the 2003 UUA Cultural (Mis) Appropriations Ad Hoc Committee, Judith A. Frediani, chair.This is a comprehensive set of questions to consider when potentially integrating culture specific practices into Unitarian Universalist worship and teaching. Motivation Why am I doing this?…
Handout 3: Religious Prejudice Simmers

Eboo Patel

From A Chorus of Faiths

Originally published in USA Today. Used by permission. “I hate pizza day at school,” my nephew announced at my family’s annual holiday dinner. That sounded strange coming from a 14-year-old boy, so I asked for an explanation. “Well, there’s only two kinds—cheese and pepperoni. Once, when all the…
Handout 4: Anti-Bullying Resources
From A Chorus of Faiths

Websites and online programs Stop Bullying website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Committee for Children, creator of the “Second Step” violence prevention program Pacer Center’s Teens Against Bullying National Crime Prevention Council’s Anti-Cyberbullying Campaign Books Don’t…
Leader Resource 1: Religious Literacy Quiz Answers
From A Chorus of Faiths

1. a. Atheism/Agnosticism 2. True. 3. d. all of the above 4. Which of these is NOT one of the Ten Commandments? c. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you 5. What famous act did David commit? a. killing Goliath with a slingshot 6. Jesus had how many disciples? d. 12 7. True. 8. Which of…
Leader Resource 2: Belief Assignments and Name Tags
From A Chorus of Faiths

Activity created by Prerna Abbi. Used by permission.Name Tag Stickers Print a variety of these stickers for participants to wear for others to see. For some stickers, write the accompanying “identity” clearly where others can see it….
Find Out More
From A Chorus of Faiths

Explore the history of covenant in Unitarian Universalism by reading The Lay and Liberal Doctrine of the Church: The Spirit and the Promise of Our Covenant, the 2000-2001 Minns Lecture by Alice Blair Wesley….