On Sunday, Sept. 6, Rev. Michael Carter will conduct a service entitled “Fundamentalism and Doubt” for the Thermal Belt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Writer Anne Lamont states that doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. UUs are encouraged to cherish their doubts and seek their own personal spiritual paths. With that said, the challenge is co-existing with others who not only believe themselves to be more theologically certain, but also stress strict and literal adherence to basic religious principles with little tolerance for conflicting beliefs.

Perhaps attempting to understand the fears that the fundamentalist has and how he or she has acquired those fears will enable us to move from our own fears about fundamentalism, to a place of not merely tolerance, but acceptance. After all is said and done, we do not have to think alike to love alike.

This Sunday is also the celebration of our “Water Communion.”  Please bring a small amount of water from your home, your travels, or a favorite pond, spring or lake.  We will pour our water into the communal bowl as a meaningful symbol of our Fellowship.

Rev. Michael J. Carter is originally from Baltimore, Md. He moved to New York City in 1980 and lived there for 25 years, working as a professional actor before moving to Asheville with his family.  Michael is an ordained interfaith minister and received his BA degree in letters from the College of New Rochelle where he graduated cum laude. He received his Masters In Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City (class of 2000).

While serving various Unitarian Universalist Congregations in New York, Michael was trained as an anti-racism trainer and has been recognized by President Clinton for his efforts.

Michael was also a weekly columnist for the Asheville Citizen Times. Rev. Carter now serves as the minister for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of The Swannanoa Valley, in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.

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 Street in Tryon.

The Fellowship welcomes all people of goodwill regardless of their spiritual path, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Coffee and fellowship are available before and after the service. For more information about the fellowship call 828-513-0570 or visit tbuuf.org.

–       Submitted by Phil Nungesser