Whether or not it is true that people are more divided now than ever, or if this is something claimed by every generation, the fact that more of us are divided today than ever cannot be denied. In this sermon we’ll consider some of the modern forces driving us toward extremist thinking and how to avoid being influenced by them.

We are divided over much in our society and in our world, often divided over which ideologies are better. In this sermon we’ll consider the possibility that some of the ideas most driving us apart are the two halves necessary for making us whole.

Demons and demonic powers have become the subject of modern horror stories, but the original meaning of “demon” was in reference to the uniqueness in every individual. Since individuality is often discouraged in many communities the concept of the “demon” became, well, demonized. In this sermon we will consider the necessity of reconnecting with our own inner-daimon and supporting those in society who have been demonized.

Throughout history religion has been a source of conflict between peoples, and sometimes an excuse for abusing them. In this sermon we’ll consider the meaning of an old Islamic story that suggests a different understanding of what religion ought to be about.

In George Orwell’s 1984, the Powers-that-Be keep switching enemies in an ongoing worldwide war and their citizens very quickly forget that they had ever been at war with anyone else. In this sermon, we’ll consider how easy it is for our society to forget even it’s most recent past, and how important it is that we don’t.

Since the advent of the PC, the stereotypical computer programmer is thought of as a young nerdy male without much of a social life. Not only is this stereotype false, but the opposite is true. The first hackers, referring to those who “hacked” together computer code, were mostly brilliant women. In this sermon we’ll take a closer look at the hidden figures who have and are changing our world with this powerful technology.

The idea of Unity seems so simple, but it complicated. It’s complicated because unity implies the unification of different things, parts, people. This is true of communities, biology, and the Universe itself. In this sermon we’ll consider how increasing complexification is a driving force behind our evolution toward wholeness.

Restorative Justice is a popular alternative to our current system of justice, but what exactly is it and how is it being put into practice? Is it truly an alternative to our punitive system of justice? Where has it been put into practice and how successful has it been?

Freedom: it seems like such a good idea, but how many of us are genuinely committed to the principle of freedom, especially when it can mean falling out of favor with others, or not being able to control others and outcomes, or struggling to find a healthy balance between respecting the freedoms of others while also honoring our own, or wrestling with inherent conflict between freedom and belonging, and between freedom and equality? These are challenging questions to ponder on this 4th of July holiday.

During this service, members will have an opportunity to ask Rev. Eklof questions about topics he has or hasn’t addressed in previous sermons.