Building Your Own Theology Vol 1 & 2

			Building Your Own Theology Vol. 1 & 2

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Author: Richard S. Gilbert

Publisher: Unitarian Universalist Association

Pub. Date: Volume 1(1978, revised 1983); Volume 11(1983)

Available From: UUA Bookstore

Theme and Description A structured but flexible program in two parts. Within a community context, individuals reflect on their religious experiences and knowledge and create their own credos. The process of study, reflection, group discussion, and credo-writing guides participants in examining and articulating their own and the community's theology. Part I is a prerequisite to Part II, since building one's own theology is an evolving, continuing process. Part I invites each person to write his or her spiritual odyssey and examines a structure for a liberal theological model, varieties of religious experience, human nature, ultimate reality, history, ethics, and religious meaning. Part II continues the process of theological meaning-making by examining truth and authority, the holy, good and evil, justice and the beloved community, suffering, death, immortality, and a doctrine of the liberal church.

Goals for Participants

To determine their values and beliefs about God or ultimate reality, human nature, ethics, and the meaning and purpose of life
To discover what other UUs believe about the great religious questions
To articulate their beliefs in credo statements
To meet the challenge of building their own theology.

Age Range Adults

Size of Group 6 to 15

Space Requirements A comfortable meeting room that is large enough for the group, with enough space for small-group discussions.

Number of Sessions 10 in each part

Length of Sessions 2 to 2 1/2 hours

Leader Training Knowledge and experience of a group process and careful reading of the material, including additional resources, are necessary. A background in theology or philosophy would be helpful, but it is not essential if the leader has a sincere interest in and motivation to explore the subject area.

Leader Preparation 2 to 4 hours per session

Strengths

Gives clear directions

Offers a variety of creative activities that engage participants in exploration, personal discovery, theologizing, and sharing

Helps individuals to clarify and hone their values and beliefs through credo-writing.

Limitations

Contains inconsistent leader "presentations" in sessions
Offers insufficient background information in some sessions (thus placing greater responsibility on leaders to seek out resources)
Lists resources in the bibliographies that are unavailable to some users of the program
The author writes from a male theological standpoint. Although the revised edition of Part I and the new Part II include more resources by women theologians, writers, and thinkers, the program lacks a significant feminine component.

Adaptability

Adaptable for people as young as 16, if the leader(s) have a good rapport with teenagers and are sensitive to their needs, knowledgeable as to their experience and understandings, and skillful in group leadership
Works well in a retreat setting (two weekends) or weeklong conference
Can be shortened to fewer than 10 sessions or extended beyond 10 sessions.

Unitarian Universalist Values Explicit references to Unitarian Universalist attitudes, values, and beliefs--plus background in its history and traditions.