Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: What We Choose: An Adult Program on Ethics for Unitarian Universalists

Taking It Home: Understanding Ethics from the Margins

No matter how personal we wish to make ethics, it always has a collective dimension. Ignoring or minimizing this dimension is the root of all injustices. — Miguel De La Torre, 21st-century ethicist

Reflect on and plan how you will achieve "The Next Thing I Will Do" identified in the workshop. Consider other actions to follow that one. What can you learn about the cultural, economic, and political story of United States relationships with Central and South America? What conversations would you like to have, perhaps with a co-worker, a friend, or another congregant who is from a different ethnic, cultural, racial, or gender group than your own? Go outside of your usual circles and become acquainted with communities of people on the margins, perhaps as a volunteer in a social justice project led by members of the community being served. Learn to listen to the stories and perspectives of people on the margins of the dominant culture.

Take time to nurture your spiritual life as you delve more deeply into the ideas raised in this workshop. Plan time for prayer, solo walks, or journaling to check in with yourself about what you are discovering, what you are questioning, and what challenges you are meeting as you choose ethical responses to the existence of privilege, oppression, dehumanization, and marginalization in our world today.