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“How to Know God Without Believing in God,” at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City
| Sunday, March 20, 2022, 10:00am |
As fewer and fewer people believe in miracles or in a supernatural power, will that be the end of religion? Is there any reason to hold onto the concept of God after one has let go of beliefs that don’t seem to make sense anymore?
Ellen Mana’ar Johnson answers yes. If humans stop trying to “believe in” and instead learn to “experience” God, they can find a great deal of meaning for their lives.
“Together, we can try to re-imagine what God is and how to know this presence. Essentially, I am talking about tapping into a state of human consciousness beyond ordinary everyday reality that allows us to feel a vast sense of awe, peace, being loved, bliss,” Johnson said.
Johnson asserts that there are many ways to achieve this state of mind such as meditation and being in nature; physical body experiences like running, sex, or dancing; using repetitive sound like chanting or drumming; a deep appreciation of the arts like visual art, music, or poetry.
“These are ways to know God regardless of what we think and believe. Such experiences allow us to transcend divisive opinions and feel a sense of oneness with other people and indeed with all life,” she added.
Ellen Mana’ar Johnson, an interfaith minister and leader of Dances of Universal Peace, has studied religion all her life. Besides being very religious, she also has a Ph.D. in the social sciences (linguistics). In working to integrate these two sometimes competing sides of life, she has thought a lot about the relationship between science and religion. Rev. Dr. Johnson moved to Silver City three years ago from Georgia. She is active in the Western Institute for Lifelong Learning program as well as various local spiritual groups.
Bring a drum if you have one.
We may have the back door open and ceiling fans going, so please bring a jacket to stay warm.
UUFSC Safety Protocol as pursuant to our most recent UUA Guidelines:
We will not be serving food or drinks in the building until further notice. Masks will still need to be worn at all times indoors and out, except when eating or drinking. We will continue to serve refreshments on the patio, weather permitting. Visitors are always welcome.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City is a diverse group of religious independents seeking knowledge, spiritual sustenance, fellowship and opportunities for service to others. Our programs encompass Humanism, liberal Christianity, earth-based spirituality, Buddhism and many other traditions. If you’d like to find out more, email
Location 3845 N Swan Street
3845 N Swan Street
Silver City
New Mexico
88061
USA
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