Seeing Beyond Belief
Thandeka Leads Fun and Thought-Provoking
Event at UU Urban Ministry
On October 18, Unitarian Universalist theologian Thandeka was the presenter for the first Jack Mendelsohn Forum of the year. Her topic, which throughly engaged the crowd of more than 80 people who gathered at First Church in Roxbury despite the rain and cold, was "Seeing Beyond Belief."
Thandeka used the movie “About Schmidt” as a way to engage audience members in a conversation about how people can become disconnected from one another and their own feelings. She had attendees investigate the main character, Warren Schmidt, by observing how he interacts with others and how he views his relationships. Thandeka then asked the audience to consider how someone like Schmidt would experience a visit to a Unitarian Universalist congregation. What would the experience be like for him and his adopted African child? Would he be one of the 5 out of 7 visitors who never return to a UU church? We broke up into small groups to discuss this question and create short skits to depict the imagined experience.
Reviews from attendess were universally glowing, and everyone found the entire experience both fun and thought provoking. Thandeka presented interesting ideas while also bringing everyone in attendance into the conversation. She did not want a one-way conversation in which she simply spoke to a passive audience -- Thandeka sought the participation and contributions of everybody present, and that is what made the afternoon so special.