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“Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion: The Wisdom of Jonathan Haidt”
Dr. Michael Sullivan will be presenting a creative understanding of why good people are divided by politics and religion. It is based on the work of social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. Dr. Haidt concludes that “morality binds and blinds”. Using the six foundations of morality derived from his research, we can gain a better understanding of…
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Nature’s Lessons for a Kinder Society: The Wisdom of Frans de Waal
There is a popular belief about Nature that we live in a dog-eat-world of brutish survival of the fittest. If such a pessimistic world view ever makes you depressed, primate psychologist Frans de Waal offers an optimistic counterpoint. He found striking evidence that animals other than humans have empathy and a sense of fair play,…
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The Way of Gratitude: The Wisdom of Galen Guengerich
Retired psychologist Dr. Michael Sullivan will be sharing the insights and inspiration of a leading Unitarian minister about our experience of gratitude. Rev. Dr. Galen Guengerich sees gratitude as a central source of meaning in life. In his book The Way of Gratitude, he offers it as a new spirituality for today, especially for the…
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On Love and Death: The Wisdom of Forrest Church
The Rev. Dr. Forrest Church was a leading Unitarian theologian and minister who wrote many influential books including a popular introduction to Unitarian Universalism, A Chosen Faith (with John Buehrens). Two of his books profoundly influenced Dr. Michael Sullivan, a psychologist, in becoming a UU after moving to Columbia with his wife Susan in 2008.…
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The Remarkable Benefits of Volunteering
In a consumerist society that values money, volunteering can be diminished as unpaid work. In reality, it pays remarkable dividends. As Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Giving freely of our time and energy in service to other persons or causes…
In-Person Services, Columbia, SC Sundays 11AM
Speaker: Dr. Michael Sullivan
For the past 16 years Dr. Michael Sullivan has happily been a member of UUCC, where he has served as a Board member and committee chair. He is a retired psychologist whose professional work has been recognized by many psychological associations, including the American Psychological Association’s designation as a
“Citizen Psychologist”. Mike enjoys delivering Meals On Wheels as his volunteer job in retirement. He is also a super fan of the South Carolina women’s basketball team; his stats about their record-breaking attendance are frequently circulated by Coach Dawn Staley on social media.