Workshop 8: Counter-Culture

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

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Part of Resistance and Transformation: Unitarian Universalist Social Justice History

In This Section

Introduction
From Resistance and Transformation

Those who find the more conventional communities unsatisfactory sometimes band together to form a new kind of community—an experiment. The kibbutz, Brook Farm, Amana, and Summerhill are diverse examples of such communities. On a limited basis, LRY is also an experimental community. Sharing…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 5 Activity 1: The Temporary Autonomous Zone 30 Activity 2: LRY, Cons, and the Counter-Culture 25 Activity 3: Counter-Culture and Unitarian Universalism 20 Faith in Action: Sharing Camp Experiences Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: The Love Feast 30…
Spiritual Preparation
From Resistance and Transformation

After reading the workshop plan, ask yourself if you have had an experience with a temporary autonomous zone. What was it like? Did it have a lasting impact on your life? Did it occur in a Unitarian Universalist context? Was the temporary autonomous zone created intentionally or did it develop…
Welcoming and Entering
From Resistance and Transformation

Materials for Activity Sign-in sheet and pen or pencil Name tags for participants (durable or single-use), and bold markers Copies of Workshop 1, Handout 1, Schedule Optional: Refreshments Preparation for Activity Have copies of Workshop 1, Handout 1, Schedule on hand for those who need one….
Opening
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Worship or centering table Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Time piece (minutes) Chime or bell Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the UUA hymnbook, for all participants Optional: Cloth for worship/centering table…
Activity 1: The Temporary Autonomous Zone
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Handout 1, The Temporary Autonomous Zone Participant journals Pens, pencils, and extra paper Preparation for Activity Read Handout 1 and copy for all participants….
Activity 2: LRY, Cons, and the Counter-Culture
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, LRY, Cons, and the Counter-Culture Preparation for Activity Read Handout 2 and copy for all participants. Description of Activity Introduce the activity by explaining that participants will examine an example of a Unitarian Universalist…
Activity 3: Counter-Culture and Unitarian Universalism
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Sticky dots, ten for each participant Preparation for Activity Post two sheets of newsprint. At the top of one write “Dominant Culture.” At the top of the other write “Counter-Culture.” Optional: Write your own list of…
Closing
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Worship or centering table and chalice Participant journals Writing materials, including paper, pens, pencils, color pencils, and markers Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Customize the Taking It Home section of this workshop and copy…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Resistance and Transformation

Take a few moments right after the workshop to ask each other: What went well? What did not? Why? What do you think was the best moment of the workshop? Why? Did anything surprise you? Review the next workshop. Are there any questions to research or logistics to arrange between workshops? Make a…
Faith In Action: Sharing Camp Experiences
From Resistance and Transformation

Description of Activity Invite some children, youth, or adults who have attended a Unitarian Universalist camp or conference to come and share their experiences and impressions with the group. Explore these questions: Did the experience change you in any way? How? Did the conference create a…
Alternate Activity 1: The Love Feast
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “The Love Feast” Finger foods such as fruit, cookies, or cake, and toothpicks or utensils Decorations Optional: Candles Optional: Music Optional: Participant journals Preparation for Activity At least a week beforehand, describe the activity…
Alternate Activity 2: Creating Safe Space
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Reflect on your personal definition of safe space. What is safe space? What does it contain?…
Taking It Home: Counter-Culture
From Resistance and Transformation

Those who find the more conventional communities unsatisfactory sometimes band together to form a new kind of community—an experiment. The kibbutz, Brook Farm, Amana, and Summerhill are diverse examples of such communities. On a limited basis, LRY is also an experimental community. Sharing…
The Love Feast

Forrest Church, John A. Buehrens

From Resistance and Transformation

Medieval Jewish story, A Chosen Faith (Boston: Beacon Press, 1998). A rabbi spoke with God about heaven and hell. “I will show you hell,” God said, and they went into a room which had a large pot of stew in the middle. The smell was delicious, but around the pot sat people who were famished and…
Handout 1: The Temporary Autonomous Zone
From Resistance and Transformation

The history of Brook Farm (see Workshop 7) demonstrates the difficulty of creating a successful and lasting utopian community. However strong the desire to do so, the likelihood is small that a community can sustain itself when it is organized around values different from those of the dominant…
Handout 2: LRY, Cons, and the Counter Culture
From Resistance and Transformation

The 1960s were a time of turbulent social change….
Find Out More
From Resistance and Transformation

The Temporary Autonomous Zone “The Temporary Autonomous Zone”, by Hakim Bey, on the Hermetic Library website “The Temporary Autonomous Zone and the Power of Ritual,” by Rev. Colin Bossen in the Journal of Liberal Religion, Spring 2006….

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 8: Counter-Culture

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