on hearing Forrest Church speak

[supercheesegirl]

Tonight I went to hear Rev. Forrest Church speak at my Unitarian church. It was incredibly terrific. Forrest Church has written the book on Unitarian Universalism, quite literally, as well as many other books, and he's regarded as one of the top theologians of our time. Tonight he was promoting his new book, So Help Me God: Presidential Faith, Pulpit Politics, and the First Great Battle to Save America 's Soul. He spoke without any notes at all, and told a fascinating story about the founding fathers of the US and the role that religion played in the formation of our country. The different religions that were prominent at that time all had a huge role to play in influencing our early leaders, and not the roles that you'd imagine (for example, the Baptists came down firmly in support of the separation of church and state). Rev. Church is an excellent speaker, obviously a very intelligent and passionate person and thinker. I feel honored that I got to hear him speak tonight. An absolute treat.

Comments

[unique-unknown.livejournal.com]

His last name can't possibly be "Church" can it?! I mean really!?!

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

It really is!

[unique-unknown.livejournal.com]

So either, he comes from a long line of church-goers and religious-people... OR

he's totally a sex offender who changed his name.

Or maybe he had this TRAGIC youth... where he kept trying to decide his faith... cuz people kept asking him what it was when they heard his last name. And he totally rejected god till he saw the light... dude, that's a story waiting to happen.

[minkrose]

AAAAH!!! JEALOUS! which reminds me that I got most of the way through revised ed. of A Chosen Faith (I think the original is Our Chosen Faith) and I really need to finish that book because it was making me super-happy to read.

I grew up UU, my b/f Andy's mother is a UU minister... sigh. Hopefully someday I can hear Rev. Forrest Church speak! It seems likely.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

Well, he just beat some nasty cancer and is in good health, so outlook for hearing him speak looks good!

[indigoruadh.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you got to hear him speak! He is a wonderful preacher. He is also very friendly and funny. I've spoken with him a great deal over the past few months because our magazine is running an advertisment for his new book.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

What an interesting and dynamic person he is. I definitely got a sense of his personality as he spoke.

[lawgrrl-23.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a good book. Are you going to read it? If so, let me know if it's any good. Is it already available in bookstores?

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

I am not planning to read it--I am not big on politics in general, and hearing him speak has tapped out my capacity on the subject for a while. But I do recommend it, since I've read him before and know him to be as good a writer as he is a speaker. The book was available for purchase at the event last night--hardback, $28--so I'm betting you could find it on amazon.

[lawgrrl-23.livejournal.com]

Excellent! I am totally into politics, and learning something new about it is always fun for me. I'll check it out :)

[latinismyramen.livejournal.com]

I am very envious!