Religious Education 

Adult Religious Education

Adult Religious Education typically happens on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. during the school year. Childcare is also available from 6:00 to 9:00 PM each Wednesday. Classes vary widely, from week to week and month to month. Some are part of a series and some are single classes. In the past we have had classes on meditation, mythology, paganism and so on. The most regular series, which happens several times a year, is the "New UU Class."

Current Class Offerings

Once a month this year, Dana Croy will be screening a movie on a spiritual theme. September’s offering is The Secret. The screening will be held in the Thoreau room, starting at 7 p.m. The Secret attempts to explain the law that is governing all lives and offers the knowledge of how to create — intentionally and effortlessly — a joyful life. This is the secret to everything — the secret to unlimited happiness, love, health and prosperity. Those available may stay for a discussion of the movie. For more information on The Secret, visit: www.thesecret.tv. In conjunction with the movie, the following books are recommended reading:

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham by Esther and Jerry Hicks

The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer

We seek meaning and purpose. We crave knowledge and comfort. We strive for wisdom and fulfillment. And we are not alone. All the questions we ask of ourselves and of our world have been asked before. Woven through the sacred texts of the world’s religions, we find ways that others have asked and answered these questions, have taken their inner revelations and expressed them in outward form.

Can the words of seekers past ring true for us today? We invite you to come and explore these questions of relevance and revelation in this ongoing series, open to all on a drop-in basis. Through the course of the year, different members of our community will lead us in looking at a variety of sacred and spiritual texts from around the world and considering how they might deepen our spiritual lives today.

September 3 – 24
The Biblical Prophets with Cynthia Stewart

October 1 – 8
Humanist Texts with John Harkey

November 5 – 26
Theosophical Texts with John Plummer

December 3 – 17
Pearl of Great Price (Mormon) with Cynthia Stewart

January 7 – 28
The Analects of Confucius and the I Ching with Cathy Chang

February 6 – 27
Unitarian and Universalist works with Gail Seavey

March 5 – 26
The Upanishads with Ram Sriraminam

April 2 – 23
Romans and Cornithians with Dave Tabb

May 7 – 28
Writings of Ken Wilbur with Richard Ruach

Mission Statement

The Unitarian Universalist covenant commits us to encourage each other in spiritual growth and to promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The Adult Religious Education Committee of First UU Nashville exists to fulfill that part of our covenant.

We are powerful when we are educated. The ARE committee of First UU Nashville will offer classes and discussions to promote growth in body, mind, and spirit. These will be in harmony with UU principles and will encourage a safe exchange of ideas. Our goal is for the members of our congregation to be better as individuals and more committed to living our faith and improving the world.

It is also the task of the ARE committee to promote the growth of First UU Nashville in particular and the UU religion in general. To this end, the committee will welcome anyone from outside our congregation who wishes to participate in our goals and will maintain contacts with sympathetic organizations in the community.