[Fuusm-l] Today's Issues discussion of polyamory this Sunday sparks some interest

[Ted Goertzel]

The discussion of polyamory scheduled for this Sunday in the Today's Issues
group has sparked some interest.  I received two emails from Nathan Crowley
(you may remember Nathan and his wife Kayla Campbell
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wC-x1AuWkfdiCMPFEQBdBdOaG859bukBUpdyk6Gfl48/edit>who
introduced us to Samhain and other pagan traditions).  Nathan expressed
concern that the reading we had selected, from The Atlantic, treated
polyamory as a fad rather than a lifestyle choice.  Here are his emails:


*Why is being polyamorous being discussed?  Don't you think you should have
someone who is actually polyamorous talk to you about being polyamorous?
You have a wonderful couple [in the church], me  and my wife. I for one
don't like the fact that it's being called a fad. I mean I'm not trying to
come off as angry about this, I just want a little bit of an explanation.*

*This is a follow-up to my first email. After a little bit more thought.
And consideration I understand that it might be tempting to read articles
about a particular lifestyle and think you know all about that lifestyle.
But honestly I read that article and I don't really think it represents all
of polyamory. I think so many people are very quick to point out the
negative sides of polyamory. And while  me and my wife . Could not possibly
speak for the entire polyamorous community. I think that at least getting
our input on the matter would be justified. Also having a really hard time
understanding why this is being discussed at church. Sincerely Nathan
Crowley.*

I explained that I didn't even know Marietta had a polyamorous community, I
just happened to see the story in The Atlantic. I didn't mean to snub
anybody.  I've invited Nathan and/or Kayla to join us on Sunday, either in
person or on Zoom.  I hope one or both can make it, we would certainly like
to hear from them.  I've also invited my (adult) grandson, Zar Goertzel,
who lives in Prague and is a proponent of polyamory.  He says he will
probably join us on Zoom.

 There is some sort of precedent, we hosted a book signing some years ago
for David Matteson, a Unitarian Minister who published a book I Took Both
Roads: My Journey as a Bisexual Husband.
<https://www.amazon.com/s?k=I+took+both+roads+Matteson&crid=1AWDJJHXMYLTE&sprefix=i+took+both+roads+matteso%2Caps%2C480&ref=nb_sb_noss>
I'm not sure if that counts as polyamory, but we have a record of hearing
from proponents of different lifestyles. We are also continuing our
discussion of the crisis in Unitarianism. Who knows, maybe we can be the
first church to add a P to LGBTQ.

All are welcome to our discussion, but please do the reading first.  Here
is the information:

The Today's Issues group meets at 9:30 on Sunday mornings in person in the
parlor of the Religious Education buildings next to the church and on zoom
  We will meet this Sunday, February 11, 2024,  to discuss the following
readings:

"My Church is Dying and I'm Ok with it
<https://praywithyourfeet.org/2019/12/17/my-church-is-dying-and-im-ok-with-that/>,"
from the Pray with Your Feet website. It argues that UUism and liberal
religion had its historical moment which is passing, and makes some
suggestions about what we can do about it.

Polyamory:  the Ruling Class’s Latest Fad.
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bt7I9Qinm7v7MfXP8Uwg9fV0-vHL3AqPUK6dqRY_Q7I/edit?usp=sharing>
Americans who most reap the benefits of marriage are the same class who get
to declare monogamy passé and boring.  This is from The Atlantic Magazine’s
website.


Click on this link to join the discussion on Zoom.

https://zoom.us/j/92505235702?pwd=RmUyN1FOUjhBVHRYSDBWY2dUZWxFQT09
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://fuusm.org/pipermail/fuusm-l_fuusm.org/attachments/20240209/c876fb5a/attachment.htm>