CHQ Dialogues Reading #10 "Action"

May 6, 2022

Action From thoughts come words and from words come action and from action comes change.

Reading #10

one and no culture can long Nomaintain a dynamic and creative attitude toward life without the con dence that human life has some important meaning either actual or potential, and that this meaning may in some tolerable fashion be maintained or achieved. In other words, that resources are available for the 3” ID ful llment of meaning. This concern with the meaning of life and with the resources available for the ful llment of

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May 6, 2022

this meaning is not merely a luxury. It is a universal concern. you reach the end of your online A straining we hope you will identify as a person of action. We hope you will commit to engage as a facilitator this summer and experience a personal ful llment in convening people seeking a place to express themselves and engage in civil discourse with others.

Luther Adams, considered the James most in uential theologian among American Unitarian Universalists in the 20th century, said, “the associational life” is shorthand for the web of social relationships through which each of us pursue joint endeavors to bring purpose and ful llment to our life. We do not know if Adams was in uenced

by Alexis de Tocqueville whose nine month trip to the United States resulted in his two-volume treatise “Democracy in America.” But, de Tocqueville observed that what gave the United States its unique character and strength was our proclivity to form associations of all kinds, and in so doing, we see our

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May 6, 2022

interest in the shared interest of others. historian Robert Nisbet Intellectual wrote about intermediate associations, saying, the human need for associational life “will not be denied, for it springs from some of the powerful needs of human nature — needs for a clear sense of cultural purpose, membership, status and continuity”. What we do together a ects our character and our behavior.

Indeed meaning and purpose are words that are the basis for our spiritual nature, whether within religious or secular institutions, or entirely within ourselves. of you have expressed the Many importance of this endeavor - its purpose. But the vision can only be realized if we join together in the “associational life” and create a team of facilitators committed to the ideals we profess. You will be our success or our failure. We hope you will choose to become part of our voluntary association.

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May 6, 2022

INSPIRATION + ACTION = CHANGE Read the Article Published Online by the purpose institute

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