Workshop 2: Unchanging Truths

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Part of What We Choose: Ethics for Unitarian Universalists

In This Section

Introduction
From What We Choose

Two things awe me most, the starry sky above me and the moral law within me. — Immanuel Kant For centuries a debate has raged among philosophers and religious thinkers on the nature of morality. Is there such a thing as absolute and unchanging moral truth? Many philosophers and theologians have…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From What We Choose

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 2 Activity 1: Opening Scenario 10 Activity 2: Learning from Disagreements 25 Activity 3: Personal Ethical Exploration 15 Activity 4: Kant’s Moral Law 15 Activity 5: Unitarian Universalist Moral Law 20 Faith in Action: Moral Truth in Action —…
Spiritual Preparation
From What We Choose

Set aside time for journaling, reflection, prayer, and/or meditation, using these focus questions: Consider a situation in your life when your ethical/moral understandings or precepts differed from those of other people. What were the circumstances? What did you decide to do?…
Welcoming and Entering
From What We Choose

Materials for Activity Sign-in sheet and pen or pencil Pocket folder, pen/pencil, and paper for each participant Name tags, single-use or durable Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Refreshments Preparation for Activity Using the Workshop-at-a-Glance as a guide, create and post the agenda on…
Opening
From What We Choose

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Worship table or designated space Chalice, candle, and lighter, or LED/battery-operated candle Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Preparation for Activity Arrange the worship table or designated space. Description of…
Activity 1: Opening Scenario
From What We Choose

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Share this question: If you steal one paper clip, is it okay for everyone else on the planet to also steal a paper clip-leading within the space of one day to six billion stolen paper clips?…
Activity 2: Learning from Disagreements
From What We Choose

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Journals or notebooks, one for each participant Variety of writing and drawing materials, such as pens, pencils, fine point color markers, and color pencils Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Write on newsprint, and post: Recall …
Activity 3: Personal Ethical Exploration
From What We Choose

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Drawing paper Crayons, markers, and/or color pencils Preparation for Activity Prepare the meeting room so that participants have adequate table space for drawing, alone and in pairs. Set out materials where all can reach them….
Activity 4: Kant's Moral Law
From What We Choose

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “From Scientific Law to Kant’s Moral Law” Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Read the story so you will be comfortable presenting it to the group. Write on newsprint, and post: Does the Categorical Imperative,…
Activity 5: Unitarian Universalist Moral Law
From What We Choose

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Description of Activity Invite participants to brainstorm a list of Unitarian Universalist moral/ethical statements….
Closing
From What We Choose

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Customize Taking It Home and copy for all participants….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From What We Choose

Consider these questions as you review the workshop with your co-leader: Which parts of the workshop most engaged participants? Why? Were there parts that did not work as well? What could we have done differently? Where was it easy for you to work together? Where was it difficult?…
Faith In Action: Moral Truths in Action - Ethical Eating
From What We Choose

Materials for Activity Handout 1, UUA Statement of Conscience on Ethical Eating Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Read Handout 1, UUA Statement of Conscience on Ethical Eating. The Statement of Conscience suggests some congregational actions. Find out about these or similar…
Alternate Activity 1: Unitarian Universalist Principles as Moral Laws
From What We Choose

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Workshop 1, Handout 2, Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Write each of the seven Unitarian Universalist Principles on a different piece of newsprint, and post….
Alternate Activity 2: Thinking Further about a Rules-Based Morality
From What We Choose

Activity time: 20 minutes Description of Activity Use this activity as an extension of Activity 4, Kant’s Moral Law. Introduce the activity with these or similar words: Believing that moral rules need to be universally applicable, Kant arrived at some interesting conclusions about the nature of…
Taking It Home: Unchanging Truths
From What We Choose

Two things awe me most, the starry sky above me and the moral law within me. — Immanuel Kant Before the next workshop, pay attention to statements made by family, friends, acquaintances, or public figures that express a universal, unchanging moral truth(s), from their point of view….
From Scientific Law to Kants Moral Law
From What We Choose

Immanuel Kant, a key figure in the field of philosophy, was born in what is now Germany. He grew up in a Lutheran household, part of a family that particularly emphasized piety and vigorous religious devotion. At the age of 16, he enrolled at the University of Konigsberg, and went on to spend his…
Handout 1: UUA Statement of Conscience on Ethical Eating
From What We Choose

This statement was adopted by the 2011 General Assembly after a four-year study and action process. Note: Paragraph numbering has been added to the original document for ease of use. 1. Aware of our interdependence, we acknowledge that eating ethically requires us to be mindful of the miracle of…
Find Out More
From What We Choose

For more about Kant’s Nebular Hypothesis, visit physicist http://russellmcneil.blogspot.com/2007/09/immanuel-kant-1724-1804.html“…. Russell McNeil’s essay on Kant. These publications offer brief, easy-to-understand summaries of Kantian ethics: Grassian, V. Moral Reasoning: Ethical Theory and Some…

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Workshop 2: Unchanging Truths

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