December 7: At-one-ment

December 7:  At-one-ment

Speaker: Rev. Nate Walker

In honor of World AIDS Day, Rev. Nate Walker, of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, will explore how Jewish and Christian theologies on atonement teach us that suffering is redemptive. Rev. Nate challenges this belief system by using the traditional theology of atonement as a conceptual lens through which to view two cases: AIDS and agent Orange. He asks whether or not the “sins” of homosexuals were reconciled through the 3 million people who died last year from AIDS. He goes on to ask, does the theology of atonement apply to the 3 million people who currently suffer from diseases caused by Agent Orange, a chemical used by the Americans in Vietnam? OR could it be that god has no ego and no desire to avenge, leaving us to ask whether or not the biological and political views of suffering call us to be at-one with all who suffer?