David Breeden
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David BreedenConversation with Rev. Dr. David Breeden,
Humanist minister who visited UUCQC May 7–8 UUCQC enjoyed the Humanist Team's visit from Rev. Dr. David Breeden. He spoke on May 7, 6–9 p.m., and at Sunday service on May 8. David serves as senior minister at the First Unitarian Society in Minneapolis, Minn. He holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop, a PhD from the Center for Writers at the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School. He also studied writing and Buddhism at Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colo. David is a published poet, author and social activist, and he helps assert the historic role of humanism within the UU tradition. Transcript of an interview between former UUCQC Communications Coordinator, Jane, and Dr. Breeden: |
Jane: I’ve read about your background, but tell me about yourself.
David: This is a second career for me. I was an English professor for 25 years. I've focused on writing poetry for much of my life, which I consider a spiritual practice. I do translations from stoic philosophers. I work at the First Unitarian Society in Minneapolis, where religious humanism started.
Jane: Wow. Where religious humanism started? Could you tell me more about that?
David: There are two different humanist philosophies: The Ethical Culture Society from the 1870s Jewish tradition, which is an East Coast phenomenon, and then the Unitarian branch of Protestant Christianity. Often, there’s religious humanism versus secular humanism; it creates a difference that doesn’t matter. I try to call it “congregational humanism”.
Jane: You say some people get defensive when talking about humanism, saying that God exists. Can you define humanism for those who may be new to it?
David: Humanism is one step away from a religion in some ways. It doesn't bash other religions. It's more interested in scientific and evidence-based knowledge as an ethical, moral system. I stay away from the idea that you have to be atheist or agnostic. Humanism is more of an ethical commitment to serve the larger good, animals, people and the world. All UUs are humanist in one way or another.
Jane: That seems to go back to the seven UU principles.
David: Absolutely. The inherent worth and dignity of every person is a bedrock right of humanism.
Jane: You say in one of your blog posts, "The power of humanist ideas is that we know that we don't know a whole lot of things, and we're good with that."
David: It’s OK that you don’t know. Humanists put our faith in what humans can figure out. For example, knowing how gravity works versus "is there a God and what does God want?"
Jane: So for humanists, if it's about what humans can figure out, where does faith come in? Or is that the essence of faith, putting your trust in what you don't know?
David: I just wrote a blog post about this: Humanists report having more spiritual experiences than evangelical Christians. Atheists have considerably more spiritual experiences. We who are of a more logical, scientific bent believe that spiritual experiences come from the human mind. You put yourself in the way of spiritual experience, so it's not so mysterious.
Jane: What do you mean by "putting yourself in the way of spiritual experience"?
David: For example, going into nature. Transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau believed they weren't going to have spiritual insight in church. People often experience those feelings of wholeness and being completely embraced in nature. Feelings of awe and wonder often come from nature and science, kayaking on a mountain lake or contemplating black holes, for example.
Jane: How can we as UUs build on that if spirituality is found outside church?
David: Church is more a source of community, social justice and support networks. Some may seek a spiritual life on their own time. Human beings evolved to be tribal. A community is like two rows of teeth; they have to work together.
Jane: I read your blog post that says, “The Humanist difference is that we do not accept ready-made answers. Humanists never stop asking ‘why’ and ‘how’.” Isn’t that kind of an exhausting theology, to be constantly questioning?
David: Who said life shouldn’t be exhausting? [Laughs] I believe in the Tao as a spiritual tool, asking the questions. I’m a great admirer of stoic philosophers from ancient Greece and Rome, questioning whether actions are in accordance with nature and as a rational animal.
Jane: Thank you so much for talking with me! We look forward to your visit!
For more intriguing thoughts, check out Rev. Dr. David Breeden's blog: http://firstunitarian.org/minister-staff/our-minister/ministers-blog/
David: This is a second career for me. I was an English professor for 25 years. I've focused on writing poetry for much of my life, which I consider a spiritual practice. I do translations from stoic philosophers. I work at the First Unitarian Society in Minneapolis, where religious humanism started.
Jane: Wow. Where religious humanism started? Could you tell me more about that?
David: There are two different humanist philosophies: The Ethical Culture Society from the 1870s Jewish tradition, which is an East Coast phenomenon, and then the Unitarian branch of Protestant Christianity. Often, there’s religious humanism versus secular humanism; it creates a difference that doesn’t matter. I try to call it “congregational humanism”.
Jane: You say some people get defensive when talking about humanism, saying that God exists. Can you define humanism for those who may be new to it?
David: Humanism is one step away from a religion in some ways. It doesn't bash other religions. It's more interested in scientific and evidence-based knowledge as an ethical, moral system. I stay away from the idea that you have to be atheist or agnostic. Humanism is more of an ethical commitment to serve the larger good, animals, people and the world. All UUs are humanist in one way or another.
Jane: That seems to go back to the seven UU principles.
David: Absolutely. The inherent worth and dignity of every person is a bedrock right of humanism.
Jane: You say in one of your blog posts, "The power of humanist ideas is that we know that we don't know a whole lot of things, and we're good with that."
David: It’s OK that you don’t know. Humanists put our faith in what humans can figure out. For example, knowing how gravity works versus "is there a God and what does God want?"
Jane: So for humanists, if it's about what humans can figure out, where does faith come in? Or is that the essence of faith, putting your trust in what you don't know?
David: I just wrote a blog post about this: Humanists report having more spiritual experiences than evangelical Christians. Atheists have considerably more spiritual experiences. We who are of a more logical, scientific bent believe that spiritual experiences come from the human mind. You put yourself in the way of spiritual experience, so it's not so mysterious.
Jane: What do you mean by "putting yourself in the way of spiritual experience"?
David: For example, going into nature. Transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau believed they weren't going to have spiritual insight in church. People often experience those feelings of wholeness and being completely embraced in nature. Feelings of awe and wonder often come from nature and science, kayaking on a mountain lake or contemplating black holes, for example.
Jane: How can we as UUs build on that if spirituality is found outside church?
David: Church is more a source of community, social justice and support networks. Some may seek a spiritual life on their own time. Human beings evolved to be tribal. A community is like two rows of teeth; they have to work together.
Jane: I read your blog post that says, “The Humanist difference is that we do not accept ready-made answers. Humanists never stop asking ‘why’ and ‘how’.” Isn’t that kind of an exhausting theology, to be constantly questioning?
David: Who said life shouldn’t be exhausting? [Laughs] I believe in the Tao as a spiritual tool, asking the questions. I’m a great admirer of stoic philosophers from ancient Greece and Rome, questioning whether actions are in accordance with nature and as a rational animal.
Jane: Thank you so much for talking with me! We look forward to your visit!
For more intriguing thoughts, check out Rev. Dr. David Breeden's blog: http://firstunitarian.org/minister-staff/our-minister/ministers-blog/