In every culture, religion helps to preserve the deepest memories and the greatest wisdom of the people. That's the good news. The bad news is that so often it is the literalists, fundamentalists, and cultural conservatives who successfully claim the exclusive right to interpret the sacred texts that contain those memories. If progressive people let them get away with it, they disempower themselves and the progressive cause itself. Even if you were never taught the Bible, this dynamic Memorial Day weekend workshop will jog your memory, engage your questions, excite your passion and provoke your laughter, while exploring a variety of contemporary interpretative approaches and teaching methods. If your memories are painful, it will promote your healing. If some of your memories are empowering, it will help you to reclaim even more your right to interpret the ancient scriptures, in the service of human liberation and justice. Known as "the evangelical rabbi of liberal religion," John Buehrens is a passionate teacher with a special interest in feminist biblical interpretation and Jewish and Muslim approaches to familiar Christian stories. Beginning with the question, "Why bother with the Bible?" John also explores where the scriptures came from as well as how different versions and interpretations may color the memories you have. This thought provoking workshop promises lively discussions, in large and small groups, on topics such as the politics of the Bible, the problem of evil, what John calls the Biblical God's "infernal maleness" and Jewish Christian Muslim issues , or "Why can't the children of Abraham get along with one another?" The workshop is suitable for people who simply want to understand sacred scripture from a more liberating point of view, as well as for progressive clergy, ministry students, religious educators and teachers. It is designed for the entire Memorial Day weekend, ending Monday after lunch, and costs an additional $75.
John Buehrens grew up as the son of a Slovak American Roman Catholic mother and a Protestant father who preferred Sunday morning fishing to attending church. Although he felt spiritual at an early age, John never found the sense of community that he wanted in the Catholic Church. He discovered the UU faith while a student at Harvard in the late 1960s studying the history and literature of the Renaissance and Reformation. After receiving his M. Div. from Harvard in 1973, John served as a parish minister for 20 years, first in Knoxville, then in Dallas and New York City, during which time he was an active advocate for the homeless and mentally ill, for civil liberties, for poor communities, and for interfaith cooperation. As the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association from 1993 to 2001, John developed a national reputation as an outspoken religious advocate for sexual, racial, and economic justice and for interfaith cooperation in peacemaking. Cited as "scholar, organizer, but above all, pastor," Buehrens was awarded an honorary doctorate in theology in 1990 by the Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California and holds several other honorary doctorates as well. He is co author, with Forrest Church of A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism, translated into Spanish as La Fe Que Hemos Escogido. His own books include The Uses of Memory and Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals (forthcoming, March 2003). John is currently Minister of the First Parish in Needham, Mass., and a part time Special Assistant to the Secretary General of the World Conference on Religion and Peace. He has been married for more than 30 years to Gwen Langdoc, a pioneer among ordained Episcopal women. We have been inviting John here for many years and are honored to have him finally accept. "Biblical literacy is not just for Biblical literalists. To grasp the nuances of Western art and literature or the religious subtext of Western law and society requires a working knowledge of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. Yet, to the uninitiated, the Bible is daunting. John Buehrens has performed a great service for the many religious liberals and seekers who would explore the Bible if only they could find a trusted guide. Understanding the Bible is an accessible, unpretentious introduction to the most influential writings of all time." Forrest Church, author of The American Creed and Lifecraft: The Art of Meaning in the Everyday