Thanks to Rev. Shari Woodbury of Westside UU in Fort Worth, Texas, for most of the following recommendations. Many of the printed titles can be ordered from InSpirit, the UUA online Bookstore at https://www.uuabookstore.org/
HISTORY AND DOCTRINE OF THE UU CHURCH
The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide,a concise introduction to the faith and includes a broad overview of U/U history.
For Faith and Freedom: A Short History of Unitarianism in Europeby Charles A. Howe traces how Unitarianism developed in multiple European cultures independently as a Christian theology based on “principles of freedom, reason, and tolerance.”
Universalism in America by Ernest Cassara offers insight into the development of this homegrown American faith.
Three Prophets of Religious Liberalism: Channing, Emerson, Parker includes history of these three seminal figures in Unitarianism.
The Premise and The Promise: the Story of the UUA,by Warren R. Ross, describes the merging of Unitarianism and Universalism.
Online: Harvard Square Library (www.harvardsquarelibrary.org) and the Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society.
RACISM, PRIVILEGE, AND STANDING ON THE SIDE OF LOVE
(especially for white readers)
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me, and his articles in The Atlantic
The Third Reconstruction: How a Moral Movement Is Overcoming the Politics of Division and Fear,by Rev. Dr. William Barber
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants,by Robin Wall Kimmerer
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo
Transgender Lives: Complex Stories, Complex Voices, by Kirstin Cronn-Mills
Coming Out in Faith: Voices of LGBTQ Unitarian Universalists,by Keith Kron and Susan A. Gore
For listening: Code Switch podcast from NPR
AMERICA’S BEST ALLIES AGAINST ISIS ARE INSPIRED BY A BRONX-BORN LIBERTARIAN SOCIALIST
UCOT member Gael Minton shared this article after our Sunday Sharing Circle on Love. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/syrian-kurds-murray-bookchin_5655e7e2e4b079b28189e3df
WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS?
UCOT friend Del Endres sent this charming article from the First Unitarian Society in Madison, Wisconsin, about how the Unitarians transformed how Christmas was celebrated in the United States. http://www.fusmadison.net/author/admin/
Our Minister Gary Kowalski is the author of bestselling books on nature, spirituality, history and science including The Souls of Animals, Goodbye Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost A Pet, Science and the Search for God, Revolutionary Spirits: The Enlightened Faith of America’s Founding Fathers, The Bible According To Noah, Earth Day: An Alphabet Book, and Blessings of the Animal: Celebrating Our Kinship with All Creation. Spanish translations are available. Visit his website at kowalskibooks.com.
