We offer two kinds of Adult Education programming.
Adult Forums are offered most Sundays (except in the summer) at 9:30 in Channing Hall. These may be lectures by invited experts, videos with discussion, or topical discussions. Expect wide-ranging intellectual conversation!
Adult Classes and Programs are offered at various times in the year by our minister or other presenters. These meet weekly or bi-weekly for a set number of times, and pre-registration is sometimes expected. Current topics include:
- Socrates Cafe – a monthly discussion on a single topic (chosen that night by the group). The main rule is: no one gets to speak for more than one minute at a time, so the discussion tends to be fast paced, and, well, philosophical. Ideas will flow like streams to a river. The goal is not to reach consensus. It’s to think, discuss, laugh and ponder. Hope to see you there – First Wednesdays of each month at 7 pm. Roger Jones.
- Dream Group – explores dreams of participants using a Jungian perspective. Meets approximately monthly at 6 PM (see the newsletter or UUYO Weekly Update email). Karen O’Malia.
- Book Group – reads and discusses a book chosen the previous month. Third Wednesdays of each month, 7:30 PM.
- UU Philosophy – a discussion-based group will explore the philosophical foundations of Unitarian Universalism. We began by looking at early Christian views that were often found to be heretical, but which later formed the basis of the UU faith. The group will look closely at original texts and examine their philosophical import and relevance for the modern UU church. We will also consider how reactions to some of the popular doctrines of the day, like Calvinism, developed into UU beliefs. Further, we will discuss the UU thinkers that eventually became leaders in the transcendental movement. Some of the thinkers we consider are: Arius, Origen, Calvin, Edwards, Channing, Priestley, Adams, Jefferson, Hosea Ballou, John Murray, Thoreau, and Emerson. The group is led by Matt Alspaugh and Alan Tomhave and will meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month. All are welcome. Alan TomHave and Matt Alspaugh.
Some of the topics last year included:
- Owning Your Religious Past – an exploration and reformulation of ideas, feelings, and teachings of participants past religious experiences.
- Building Your Own Theology – reflection on one’s own theological views, with the goal of developing a ‘credo’ — a personal theological statement
- Crafting the Sermon Within You – using a personal story, participants develop a sermon and related worship elements, as well as learn practical arts for worship (such as public speaking skills).