In Defense of Emotions

Unitarian Universalism has been called "a thinking" religion, and our fifth source urges us to "heed the guidance of reason." This aversion to emotions runs the risk of ignoring their importance in our daily lives. The last decade has seen a revolution in the field of neurobiology, revealing the important role emotion plays in making both good and bad decisions. Drawing on clinical evidence (fMRI studies), psychological theory (EIQ or "emotional intelligence"), and personal experience (dream journaling), we will see how we short-shrift ourselves by treating emotions as "demons" to be dismissed, controlled, or overruled by logic, making possible a more integrated understanding of ourselves.

Our speaker this morning is Bob Clegg. Bob Clegg is a member of All Souls Waccamaw UUs of Myrtle Beach, SC. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and a Master of Divinity degree and is at Aspirant status in the UUA’s Ministerial Fellowship process. In professional life, Bob was a homeless person, then respiratory therapist, then a scientist, and finally a nonprofit leader. Now retired, he volunteers for several voluntary associations that work for economic justice, and as treasurer for an Horry County Council candidate. Bob and his wife Connie live with their dog Yancey in rural Horry County.

The service will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will be available on Facebook Live. To participate remotely, go to the ASWUU Facebook page and click the Live link.

We will have a time for fellowship after the service, where the coffee and conversation are always rich. You may bring a dish to share if you would like to do so.

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