If you knew of someone who has 2.6 billion friends, would you wonder how that came to be? On April 20, 2.6 billion Christians will mourn Jesus’s death, but subsequently celebrate his resurrection from the dead.

We Unitarian Universalists used to be devoted Christians. Emerson was a Unitarian minister. For many years we were part of that huge number of people who were the friends of Jesus by virtue of accepting a religion about Jesus. When the Unitarians and the Universalists united in 1961, a unique theological and philosophical phenomenon began to emerge: We started to become theologically diverse. Many became much more interested in the religion of Jesus.  I was and am one of those people.

I have come to accept Jesus as a “Great Example,” not a “Great Exception.” The question is significant: Do we celebrate with Jesus’s 2.6 billion devotees on Easter Sunday? The short answer is NO. From the Humanist perspective, we reject the notion of a bodily resurrection of Jesus. Because we venerate his teachings, we honor his memory on Easter Sunday. 

There is a fast growing movement in the Christian community called “Progressive Christianity.” John Shelby Spong, until his recent death, was a powerful spearhead for this movement. I urge anyone who has rejected Christianity to become familiar with his work. In my opinion, there is just way too much good to be gained by a deeper understanding of the religion of this great Guru from Galilee!

I invite you to come celebrate a progressive Unitarian Universalist Easter with me this season. I think you will be glad you did.

Faithfully yours,
Rev. Ron