First Sunday Speakers

by Craig Whitson

April, 2005

In one of his recent sermons, Marcel described himself as a “Christo-Buddhist Unitarian Universalist”.

I thought I would try out this approach to define my own “religious position”. First I consider myself “by nature” a Christian. Also, I’ve been drawn by Vedic traditions – especially Buddhism. And, of course, I’m a Unitarian Universalist – I love our principles and the wide range of beliefs that individuals bring to our “faith”. That makes me a Unitarian Universalist Buddho-Christian. But then I must acknowledge that I’m not sure about all of the above and had to add the word agnostic. So….I’m an Agnotic Unitarian Universalist Buddho-Christian.

I told my best friend from High School in Alabama about this. Scott, who’s always trying to bring me back to that “old time religion” said this boils down to one word, “Son, you are just CONFUSED!”

I had to agree. But most times it’s a “blissful confusion”.

So, you may wonder, how did I get to this confused state?

A recent Time cover story described a possible “GOD GENE”. I think I might be afflicted! I’m from a long line of bible belt Christians, especially on my Mother’s side. My uncle was an independent evangelist associated with the Back to the Bible broadcast during his career. My mom is cut from the same cloth as my Uncle but I think she may have a little UU in her because she is willing to have a truly open exchange of views about religion.

Over the years Mom and I have discussed Christian doctrine - particularly some of the issues most perplexing to me…..celibacy, for example! Or, why does Christianity profess that there is only ONE WAY to reach God when, to me, there seemed to be many options.

It has truly been frustrating to see many aspects of my “genetic” religion that did not ring true while religious traditions drawn from cultures far afield from my own, especially Buddhism, had great appeal.

So my search…and my confused state…. has continued to this day. Recently, however, a bit of enlightenment was offered in a book my wife, Abby, gave me called “Beyond Belief – The Secret Gospel of Thomas” by Elaine Pagels.

Beyond Belief traces the evolution of what became our current Bible and, in particular, the rejection by the early church of this Gospel attributed to the apostle Thomas. Why was it rejected? Because Thomas’ gospel guided us to find God within us rather than needing an intermediary (ie the Church).

Here’s a passage from the third verse of the Book of Thomas:

“…The Kingdom is inside you and outside you. When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are poverty.”

Sound familiar? “Know Yourselves” from Thomas to my mind aligns well with central aspects of Vedic thinking….that inward search toward the true and universal Self….and, particularly, the concept of Dharma.

So now I’m beginning to believe that Jesus’ original teachings and the roots of Christianity are much closer to what rings true for me than I’d previously thought. I believe a veil has been laid over much of Jesus’ teachings – a veil that is not easy to remove across two millennia of overlaid human politics. But I will probably continue to try to uncover that veil…it’s that “God Gene” at work!

I am grateful to have found this church and a wonderful group of souls with whom, like with my Mom over the years, can share our individual searches for truth.

Each addition of our Parish Notes says: “Small miracles happen every Sunday”. I’m not an agnostic when it comes to this point.