Epistemological Coffee

I’m one of the two co-leaders of the coffee crew at my church, University Unitarian Church.

One of tasks for coffee crew is to send out a weekly reminder email. For reasons of tradition, interest, and keeping myself entertained I often tell a little story, share witty observation, or make a joke. (They all loved last week when I told them that we had gotten an espresso machine and were going to be taking orders for lattes before the service to be ready and prepared after the service.) This week I shared part of my understanding of truth which seems as if it belongs here. I’ve omitted people’s names but beyond adding a few links its the same email I sent just a few minutes ago. Enjoy!

Good Morning My Dear Coffee Ministers,

I was chatting with Christa, one of the organizers with Sound Alliance yesterday.

I was telling her the story of my faith journey and at one point I had become a hardcore(ish) atheist, believing that god didn’t exist, and I had explored some secular humanist groups, but I was unsettled with their positions and exposed beliefs as I realized they were as dogmatic as some of the other religions I was moving away from. She then asked me how I had such balance in my view of the world. True to form, I didn’t have an answer at that time.

But as I’ve thought through it, I realize that this really comes from a core belief of mine that completely absolute truth is unknowable, and probably non-existent. Now if this was the daily standard of truth that I used, it would be a formula for not being able to operate in the world, so I have lesser standards of truth that I use. Of course, I have one exception to my understanding of truth, and that is its an immutable truth that coffee is good.

Serving up truth for first service is the rock solid team of [a rock solid team of three folks]. If all y’all could arrive and get started setting up around 8:30 am that’d be wonderful.

Continuing the deliverance of truth for second service is the team of [another great team of three folks]. If one of you could arrive by 11 am to relieve the first crew, and the rest could arrive before first service that would be most helpful.

Cleaning up the true-coffee soaked towels this week is [a guy with a washer and dryer who used to co-lead coffee crew with me]. If everyone could gather them up as you work through the day that’d be wonderful.

I’ll be checking in as my covenant group is providing the center table. I’m not sure if this’ll be a busier or slower coffee crew because of easter. I’m guessing it’ll be an average sunday, but so we’ll find out. As always, if there is anything that [my awesome co-lead on coffee crew] or I can help you with in your true coffee ministry, please let us know.

Warmly,
Nick