About Our Sermons

About our Sermons

Sermons are a way to discuss and think about our faith in a public context. On their own, they can be an introduction to some of the views held by Unitarian Universalists.

Below are sermons from our minister, Rev. Meredith Garmon, several lay speakers, our former minister Rev. LoraKimJoyner, and other guest ministers.

Home >> Worship / Celebration >> Sermons >> The Beat Goes On

The Beat Goes On

Written by Rev. Meredith Garmon

Excerpt

Following World War I, the disillusioned and cynical were dubbed the Lost Generation. In 1948, in the wake of World War II, Jack Kerouac and a friend were trying to identify themselves and their generation. Who are we? They asked. The even more lost
generation? Maybe we’re the found generation, one of them suggested. Finally, one of them said, “I guess we’re a beat generation.” Beat as in worn out, and beaten down – tired of the grandiosity of nationalist triumphalism, beaten down by rigid conformity. Beat also as in, following the beat of different drummer.

They were also writers with spiritual yearnings. They rejected the repressive conformism and consumerist materialism of prevailing society. They studied Buddhism.

Within a few years Jack Kerouac was saying that Beat meant Beatific – i.e. “living a day-to-day life in accordance with the Beatitudes of Jesus and the Teachings of Buddha.” The Beats were passionate champions of personal freedom,

Attachments:
The Beat Goes On	[PDF file]	98 Kb

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville
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Gainesville, FL 32605-1422
352-377-1669

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