Liberal values should not be taken for granted. It was relatively recently that people first conceived of them, yearned for them, and began to believe they should be the basis or our societies, relationships, and ethics. We are at our best when they are at … read more.

I have loved puppets all my life and they still hold the same magic for me as when I was a child. Along with the magic comes wonder: wonder about the multifarious nature of the human psyche, about the power of imagination, and about our … read more.

Drug addict. Mentally ill. Criminal. These are some of the stereotypes often associated with those who are homeless. While they may be true of some, they have never been true of all. One of the greatest causes of homelessness is poverty, yet when we see … read more.

Upon recently reading Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth, Harvard theoretical physicist Avi Loeb’s 2021 book, I began thinking about some of the things humans know that intelligent life throughout the Universe must also know. So, in this sermon, we’ll consider some … read more.

This is a sermon I usually give in July, at the start of a new church year, but had forgotten about until now. So, I’ll take this opportunity to reflect upon some of my sermons from last year that have most influenced me.

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I had intended to give this sermon a few years ago, when I was being pressured to stop talking about my concerns regarding our liberal religion. I didn’t because another national crisis emerged that I felt compelled to address instead. I’ve decided to do so … read more.

In this sermon I’ll reflect a bit about my own theological journey, including how I came to call myself an atheist and what the term means to me.

During his final service with us before his unexpected death, church member Owen Muir asked me, “Instead of answering our questions, what question would you like to ask us?” It was a good question and took me a few moments to ponder. I finally responded, … read more.

In the science fiction film, Ready Player One, the creator of a virtual world says, “Reality is the only thing that’s real.” It makes good sense, but philosophy, which has given much thought to the perennial question of reality, isn’t so sure. In this sermon … read more.

Aikido best translates, “The Way of Harmony.” Although it is widely considered a martial art, Aikido is a philosophy of life that can be put into practice by anyone. In this sermon, we’ll consider its underlying movements and how they can be meaningful in our … read more.