Does anyone want to go to church and have their solidarity and service with others affirmed?

This post is for people who want to listen in and feel that they have been to church and had their solidarity and service with others fully affirmed. We post videos from Bishop Barber and the Poor People's Campaign often, we rejoice in the warmth from All Souls Unitarian Church, we are affirmed by Pastor Gadson (and we have many posts up from him), the hymns and music here touches us, and the talk by Claude AnShin Thomas models sobriety and service for us. We don't expect anyone listen to all of these. Please take your pick and please listen in to what feels right to you.

From Greenleaf Christian Church, with Bishop William Barber and so many other great people witnessing to righteousness and justice. Just click on the screen and you will see the clip---no need to leave us.

 

From All Souls Unitarian Church---A great sermon!

Pastor Anthony F. Gadson preaching

A wonderful bluegrass gospel hymn from Ralph Stanley 

"Peace in Every Step" - Claude AnShin Thomas at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas

I'll Fly Away - Ransomed Bluegrass

You Fight On - (Church on fire with the Holy Ghost) - Plymouth Rock Church Choir

Time...

 

Important connections & resources from religioussocialism.org

Poor People's Campaign Tour and March on Washington

The Poor People's and Low-Wage Workers' Assembly has embarked on its Mobilization Tour, making at least ten stops nationwide to do MORE: Mobilize, Organize, Register, and Educate people for a movement that votes. All leading to the historic Assembly and March on Washington on June 18, 2022. Check here for virtual tour dates! Also, if you're planning to be in DC for the march, let us know at religioussocialism@dsacommittees.org so that we can meet up!

Webinars to Watch

Religion & the Left Series #2: The Individual, the Collective & the Common Good ICYMI: The livestream recording of the April 26th Religion & the Left series panel features the perspectives of several religious traditions followed by Q&A. Also, view the recording of the first discussion in the series asking, "What can religious traditions bring to the Left?" Dharma and Justice Dialogues Watch Union Theological Seminary's final Dharma and Justice Dialogues of the Spring semester recorded on April 11, featuring Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad and Dr. Toni Pressley-Sanon as they discuss Dr. Vesely-Flad's newly released publication, Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition: The Practice of Stillness in the Movement for Liberation. Ending Ageism Watch the April 5th "Ending Ageism" webinar, featuring Margaret Morganroth Gullette, author of Ending Ageism, or How Not to Shoot Old People; Susan Chacin, long-term feminist activist; and Paul Garver, retired labor leader and a co-convener of the RS Buddhist Group. King and Breaking the Silence View the recording of the “King and Breaking the Silence” virtual gathering on April 4. We came together to listen to Rev. Dr. King’s 1967 speech and reflections on it from current activists because we believe it offers a vision and a bridge upon which to continue to build the intergenerational and intersectional movements we desperately need in order to achieve the revolution of values Dr. King called for.

Further Discussion

At religioussocialism.org, we regularly publish original articles and lift up pieces connected to our work. Check us out on Twitter or Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Also follow our podcast, Heart of a Heartless World, available on SoundCloud and iTunes. Unitarian Universalists! If you'd like to get involved with the new UU faith-based subgroup, Unitarian Universalists of the DSA, contact uureligioussocialists@gmail.com. We're just getting started, expect more in the fUtUre! Watch Professor Richard D. Wolff interview Professor Joerg Rieger on Christian Socialism on the March 28th episode of Democracy at Work (starts at approximately 15:00 in). Also, watch Rieger speak about deep solidarity at last year's DSA Religion & Socialism Working Group conference on "Building the Religious Left." Dr. Maha Hilal, author of Innocent Until Proven Muslim, shared this dua'a on Eid al-Fitr from Muslim Counterpublics Lab, a radical discursive space focused on combatting systems of oppression rooted in Islamophobia through advocacy, writing, and more. In Democratic Left, co-convener of the RS Buddhist Group Ty Kiatathikom writes "Please Don’t Forget About Afghanistan." If you’re not yet a member, join DSA!

We're in this together...

 

This photo of the Buddha and flowers brings me peace...

 -Photo by my friend Sarah Rohrs

American Buddhism is at a crossroads.

From Naropa University:

These times of rapid social change are influencing the development of American Buddhism, as Buddhism is having an outsized influence on our culture. Our communities have provided refuge for deep dharma teachings, but many have been sidetracked by privilege, cultural insularity, and spiritual materialism.

How can we open to the wealth of diversity and potential for spiritual depth dedicated to the welfare of the world?

Join Naropa University and the Fredrick P. Lenz Foundation for a free webinar series on The Future of American Buddhism followed by an in-person conference in June.

>>> https://futureofamericanbuddhism.com/fb2-register/

Each week, a different group of panelists will come together to discuss the following topics:

March 29: Tradition and Innovation
How is Buddhism skillfully innovating in an American context without losing connection with its Asian traditions and roots?

April 5: Dharma for the Environmental Crisis
How is American Buddhism contributing to solving the critical environmental issues of our time?

April 12: Leadership, Power, and Empowerment
In the midst of the #MeToo movement, how do we create healthy communities through responsible and inclusive leadership?

April 19: Engaged Buddhism in the 21st Century
What are examples of engaged initiatives in America that bring contemplative methods to social and political issues?

April 26: BIPOC Wisdom & Skillful Means
How have BIPOC, Asian-American and other Buddhist communities brought innovative new structures and modalities to American Buddhism?

May 3: Digital Dharma and Virtual Sangha
What new platforms and venues are preserving and propagating dharma in America, and how has this changed the face of American Buddhism?

Let us gather to reflect on this moment and actively shape our future through community vision, conversation, and collaboration.

>>> https://futureofamericanbuddhism.com/fb2-register/