A Fresh Cup of Tolerance
Universalism: The New Religion of Tolerance
Edited by Cate Norris
Imprint: Resource Publications
A Fresh Cup of Tolerance pioneers a coherent, practical theology of the burgeoning universalism movement. It builds on broad spiritual foundations from Native American, Asian, Neopagan, Judeo-Christian, and Islamic traditions. Pragmatic and straightforward, it addresses the most pressing global dilemmas of our time: environment, globalization, feminism and gender issues, religious strife, oppression, poverty, war, and prejudice. Theologically, it systematically explores our many views of God; good, evil, sin, and suffering; revelation; spirituality in the digital age; the spirit of love and community; and so on. However, it is not a pleasant treatise on love. It is a living, faith-in-action, theology free of rigid words (Scriptures), beliefs (dogma), or practices (rituals). With seven billion people on the planet, many more to come, cooperating and living (loving) together is a survival essential. In a crisis, our best nature surfaces--but we seem unable to sustain a sense of true community and compassion for more than a few CNN weeks at a time. It is a spiritual priority to seek a means to sustain a loving community for longer periods--whether within the family, the community, the larger society, or the world. A theology of universalism offers a pathway of hope.
Thomas L. Norris teaches in the religious studies department at Florida International University. With fifty years of counseling experience behind him, he now leads Inner Life Transformations, a spiritual and pastoral counseling agency providing counseling for people worldwide. Tom is the Senior Minister for the Universalist Church, The Church of the Way of the Messiahs. He is also the author of A Fresh Cup of Counseling: A Handbook of Spiritual Counseling.
“If you’re a bit woo-woo, you’re probably a Universalist, a seeker of universal truth and interfaith tolerance. This book is refreshing, inspiring, educational, and a practical guide for light-workers. Tom is a true academic, theologian, mystic, and visionary spiritual leader. A must-read for those who want to discover the guru within and feel the call to make a difference.”
—Natalie Calzadilla, Spiritual Life/Business Coach and Illustrator
“This book is a love letter to God/dess and to ourselves: eloquent, witty, inspiring, and challenging. After experiencing this, I’m proud to call myself a Miccosukee Universalist. Full of great actionable material.”
—Houston Cypress, Miccosukee Indian and Coordinator of Love the Everglades