Tapestry of Faith: The New UU: A Program for Welcoming Newcomers to Unitarian Universalist Congregations

Activity 3: Cathedral of the World

Part of The New UU

Activity time: 20 minutes

Materials for Activity

Preparation for Activity

  • Copy the story "Cathedral of the World" for facilitators and participants.
  • Prepare to present the story. Practice reading it aloud to capture the images and cadences.

Description of Activity

Invite participants to be relaxed, open, and meditative. Read the story "Cathedral of the World" aloud. After reading the story, distribute copies so that participants can refer to the story as they discuss it. Invite discussion with these questions:

  • What did the cathedral you imagined look like? What images did you notice? What sounds? What do they represent to you?
  • For the author Forrest Church, the light coming through the windows of the cathedral represents God. What does it represent for you?
  • The windows frame different theological expressions. Yet, they are housed in one building. How is that like Unitarian Universalism?
  • What is it like to look through different windows of the cathedral? What is it like when you cannot see through a window? What is it like to notice all the windows at once?

Complete the discussion by underlining the theological diversity within Unitarian Universalism using these or similar words:

Unitarian Universalists need not agree on the specifics of our theologies. We may believe differently about God, about what happens after we die, about the role of Jesus, Buddha, and other prophets. We are united in our acceptance of one another, our conviction that our lives on this earth matter, and our belief that truth is revealed in many different ways.