Comments on: Anne Hutchinson and Unitarian Universalism http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2009/anne-hutchinson-and-unitarian-universalism Religion and spirituality from a Unitarian Universalist perspective Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:30:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: krisslyn wreath http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2009/anne-hutchinson-and-unitarian-universalism#comment-35217 krisslyn wreath Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:21:07 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2009/anne-hutchinson-and-unitarian-universalism#comment-35217 i am doing a report over anne hutcison and i was wanting to know if any body had any websites thanks i am doing a report over anne hutcison and i was wanting to know if any body had any websites thanks

]]> By: Tracy http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2009/anne-hutchinson-and-unitarian-universalism#comment-28192 Tracy Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:27:40 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2009/anne-hutchinson-and-unitarian-universalism#comment-28192 Hey Shelby! I struggled with this book too, mostly because the language of early American English is a tough slog, but also because the dense theological arguments of those times are no easy surf for the modern-day reader. I can’t say I enjoyed the book while I was reading it, but I was very glad I’d done the work by the time I finished, for all kinds of reasons. I think the touchstone for me with Anne, though her theology of salvation bears no relation to my own, is her questioning and her questing as well as her confidence in her own voice. We UUs have a basic mistrust of theocracy, of religious doctrine. If it’s a rule or a dictate, we’re going to question it and Anne’s essential transgression was that she questioned the validity of her preachers, the validity of their preaching. She claimed her own voice and her own opinions at a time when following the herd was more than just feeling emotionally comfortable as part of the crowd but indeed a requirement for physical safety. Bucking the system got one excommunicated and tossed out of the security of the community, something that could literally imperil one’s life. By claiming the ability to tell who was “saved” and who wasn’t, Ann was tapping into a tradition that reached it’s height in the Middle Ages of women claiming power in the only way afforded them – mystical experience: a direct acquaintance with and knowledge of God. Anne was no Theresa of Avila in the throes of mystical ecstasy but she spoke her power in one of the only ways afforded women at the time. Through study and reflection and conversation, she came to question the authenticity of her religious leaders and spoke openly about where she thought they were going wrong. This sounds a lot like our 4th and 5th principles to me. You’re spot on that comparing Anne to modern day UUism is like comparing apples and oranges. I also agree with you that her example can be felt our congregations today. Hey Shelby! I struggled with this book too, mostly because the language of early American English is a tough slog, but also because the dense theological arguments of those times are no easy surf for the modern-day reader. I can’t say I enjoyed the book while I was reading it, but I was very glad I’d done the work by the time I finished, for all kinds of reasons.

I think the touchstone for me with Anne, though her theology of salvation bears no relation to my own, is her questioning and her questing as well as her confidence in her own voice. We UUs have a basic mistrust of theocracy, of religious doctrine. If it’s a rule or a dictate, we’re going to question it and Anne’s essential transgression was that she questioned the validity of her preachers, the validity of their preaching. She claimed her own voice and her own opinions at a time when following the herd was more than just feeling emotionally comfortable as part of the crowd but indeed a requirement for physical safety. Bucking the system got one excommunicated and tossed out of the security of the community, something that could literally imperil one’s life.

By claiming the ability to tell who was “saved” and who wasn’t, Ann was tapping into a tradition that reached it’s height in the Middle Ages of women claiming power in the only way afforded them – mystical experience: a direct acquaintance with and knowledge of God.

Anne was no Theresa of Avila in the throes of mystical ecstasy but she spoke her power in one of the only ways afforded women at the time. Through study and reflection and conversation, she came to question the authenticity of her religious leaders and spoke openly about where she thought they were going wrong. This sounds a lot like our 4th and 5th principles to me. You’re spot on that comparing Anne to modern day UUism is like comparing apples and oranges. I also agree with you that her example can be felt our congregations today.

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