This special guest lecture was given by Rev. Carl Scovel, minister emeritus of King's Chapel. It is in memory of Charles Perry, late member of King's Chapel and the Minns Lectureship Committee.

The biblical character of Nimrod shows us the value of perpetual rebellion, a necessary virtue for our times. Dr. Pinn's spring 2021 lectures explore two questions — two related queries motivated in part by the rabid nationalism and marginalization of despised populations marking so much of public life in the United States. He frames them with respect to the way in which religious supporters of nationalism have buttressed their position using theological language and religious principles drawn from their reading of scripture. Mindful of this, is there a way for liberal religionists, and humanists more broadly, to read scripture so as to counter Christian justifications for national disregard and hostility? In other words, are there life lessons within scripture that support a more progressive and justice-minded agenda for personal living in community?

Modernism in the twentieth century decisively split Christianity into conservative and liberal camps. A century later, is a “common faith” even recognizable? The Great Awakenings, the Cane Ridge Revival, Azusa Street. Nowadays, millions in the United States and hundreds of millions in the larger world embrace charismatic movements, while liberal religious and post-Christian movements wither. Is “a great gulf fixed” between them, or might liberal traditions be missing something hidden in plain sight?

This research is based on the belief that we can bring Black UU women’s voices from the margin to the center of UUism and thus invite more diversity and communication. This research gathers and claims Black UU women’s stories and their reflections about UUism.

Right-wing populism is on the rise, threatening Unitarian Universalist values with its apocalyptic worldview and tendency to divide the world into a righteous people and a corrupt elite. But left-wing populism has also helped build democratic societies by pushing institutions to be more accountable. For the spring 2019 Minns Lecture series, Rev. Dr. Bossen challenged us to ask how Unitarian Universalists can respond to populism and white supremacy in the age of Trump.

If rights change with changing circumstances, some rights may need to be reconceived. Today new technologies can track our every step and even produce “designer babies,” so how should we update the rights to privacy and personal sovereignty?