Presenter: Pat Gleich, Ph.D., Social Science and Sociology.  Charles Dickens 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, exposes Dickens’ Unitarian roots and demonstrates that a profound inner transformation is possible even without explicit religious references. He shows that a person can undergo a deep personal renewal—one that inspires compassion and generosity toward others. Through Scrooge’s dramatic change of heart, Dickens suggests that his readers, too, can move from a cold, self-absorbed outlook to one grounded in kindness, hope, and goodwill, rejoining the human community in the process. Rather ironically, to Dickens, this renewal was the essence of Christmas.

Topics: Mind & Spirit, Unitarian Universalism