Unitarians examine topic at Sunday’s service

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Tryon welcomes Reverend Ernest Mills to its pulpit this Sunday. Rev. Mills’ topic is “Why Are We So Afraid?”

Susanne Langer says, “The driving force in human minds is fear.” But fear can be rational or irrational. Political and religious leaders often use irrational fears as ways to

gets votes or keep their flock under tight control. It is rational to be afraid of a mother-bear robbed of her cubs but it is irrational to fear a people whose skin is a different color or whose religion is different from ours. Irrational fears are what we call “phobias” and can often lead to paranoia on a mass scale. These kinds of irrational fears breed hatred (which is nothing but fear with another name).

We all should periodically ask ourselves “What am I afraid of?” and then proceed to reflect on those fears to discover whether they are rational or irrational. “Perfect love casts out fear;” this may be true but then so would its opposite: “Perfect fear casts out love.”

Rev. Mills is an accomplished musician and will provide most of the music for the service.

Rev. Mills completed a BA in philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, a master of religious education from Duke Divinity School, and a master of divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Leaving his long-time affiliation with United Methodism was, as Mills has said, one of the most difficult decisions of his life. But in 2002 he resigned his position at Brevard College and became part-time minister to the small congregation of Unitarian Universalists who are now known as the Unitarian Universalists of Transylvania County.

His strong interest in psychology and his love of folk guitar and mountain storytelling enhance his theology and has brought an added dimension to his ministry.

The Thermal Belt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets at 10:30 a.m. on the first and third Sundays of the month. Services are held at 835 N. Trade St. in Tryon. The fellowship welcomes all regardless of their spiritual path, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Coffee, snacks and fellowship are available after the service.

For more information about the fellowship call 828 513-0570 or follow them on Facebook at TBUUF.

– article submitted by Phil Nungesser