What do you all think of Unitarians? I’ve been reading through a lot of sites about it, it sounds like something I definitely would be very into. It’s open to anyone and everyone, it’s non-condemning, it’s questioning, it’s free thought, it’s personal faith…I’m thinking of going this Sunday…it would be my first time in a church in 19 years (discounting weddings and funerals).
Here’s the principles, which I pulled off their site:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Justice, equality, and compassion in human relations.
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Here also is the ‘Statement of Purpose’ for the church near me:
We are a community united in a common search for religious meaning in our individual lives. Ours is a church free from dogma and creed, devoted to the use of reason, feeling and compassion in exploring all areas of religious experience. Ours is a society devoted to this search and obligated to promote those guarantees which make such a search possible.
We affirm the worth of all human beings. We trust people’s ability to build their own faith. We seek to encourage people to think for themselves. We recognize that people will differ in their opinions and lifestyles and feel that these differences generally should be honored for each person is the final source of authority for his or her own life.
We exist to offer a warm, open supportive community. We want to provide a place where individuals can meet and find intellectual stimulation and emotional support through all the stages and difficulties of life.
We seek to act as a moral force in the world, believing that ethical living is the supreme witness of religion. We are deeply concerned about the effects of our current action on future generations. We seek to promote one universal humanity, undivided by arbitrary classifications or superficial traits, with allegiance to the cause of a united world community.
By recognizing our human shortcomings, we unite in the hope that in working together we may come closer to realizing these ideals.
Read through all of it! I want to know what everyone here thinks about it, maybe your own experiences or thoughts.
Sounds pretty good in the literature but a lot of people get annoyed because they don’t really stand for anything. Liberal Christian, yep come over to us, Wiccan, cool we will take you, Buddhist, we love you. Like I said it does sound good and it works for some people although the people that I have known have become dissatisfied with them including a Wiccan and a Buddhist. They really have no theology of their own. Basically, whatever you want to believe is fine. It sounds good in the beginning but then it begins to get tiring because you are just assembling with a group of people with little to share. I see the idea and I certainly don’t want to critisize it in any way other than the fact that it is SO non-ideological that it makes some people feel that it is pointless.
Speak for yourself, shag. I cherish the non-credo approach, the openness to other viewpoints, the acceptance of science and reason as legitimate ways to explore more than just the physical universe, and I especially enjoy getting together with like-minded folks to worship (from an old anglo-saxon word meaning “to pay attention to things of worth”).
Basically, if you’re a pure wiccan, or buddhist, or baptist, you will probably not follow the UU mindset. But if you’re UU, you can take what you can use from a wide wealth ideas and leave the rest. And do so in the company of others of similar bent.
Ah, but we do stand for something…*** We seek to act as a moral force in the world, believing that ethical living is the supreme witness of religion. We are deeply concerned about the effects of our current action on future generations. We seek to promote one universal humanity, undivided by arbitrary classifications or superficial traits, with allegiance to the cause of a united world community***
True, not all congregations live this out perfectly, but if you like a community of people who are not hung up on small differences, like the nuances of a particular religion, then it can be a great source of support, friendship, and philosophical exploration. Many UU congregations welcome leaders from all faiths to teach about their particular brand of religion. If you are a thinker, a seeker, and welcome polite debate, it can be just the right “church” for you.
I’ve checked out several different UU congregations and have found each to be very different, depending on the style of the minister.
One was actually quite Christian and formal, and this pagan did not feel comfortable or welcomed.
One seemed lovely, but my ex mother-in-law is very active there so I haven’t been back for quite a while.
The one that I attended weekly for several months caused me to decide to give up on the UU “church”. Calliope, I am very much the type of person you describe - interested in many different theologies, open to other viewpoints, and searching for a group to worship with and have stimulating discussions with. I found none of that at this congregation. Every week we discussed world events, the community, and outreach programs (which by the way are great). Then there would be some light glossing over of a vague spiritual analogy to whatever was happening at the time (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Passover, etc.) Then members would get up and talk about the church finances.
I felt that I could have attended a town council meeting and gotten as much out of it spiritually. In the end I was simply bored, and my husband and I decided not to go anymore. Which is a shame, because now that we have a daughter we’d really like to be involved in something religious and community oriented.
As Morgainelf said, it really depends on the minister. Our local UU church is quite formal with a basic belief-in-God theology, but that might also be because I live in a rather religiously corservative area. On the other hand, I’ve never known it to turn away anyone who doesn’t follow the “status quo”, as it were.
Their Sunday School teaches basic tenents of all the major belief systems, not just Christianity, the idea being is that, to grow into a thinking, nonjudgemental adult, you must be informed of everything that the world has to offer. I have no idea if Wicca is included, though.
I’ve attended UU services a few times in my life, and yes, the intellectualism of it is quite attractive. But, to me, anything spiritual seems to get lost within it…
Advancing education and knowledge, as well as doing good works has always been a major focus at my UU church.
We’ve had a “gay” meet and greet, which was essentially an “Ask the Gay Guy” thing, only in person and with lesbians as well. We have information sessions about different parts of the world and different cultures both positive and negative. Positives are emulated (as much as possible) and negatives are discussed and opportunities to help are developed. (Where possible). etc. etc.
There is no particular faith required - just a commitment to do your best and help others.
Good points all…I’d think that people who are not fulfilled enough spiritually by this are the people that want to be guided to their spiritual decisions. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, either. Of course, there also will be some cases, such as Morgainelf’s, that they just talk about finances etc. shrugs
What I see it as is a group of like-minded people that are open, want to think and learn, want to accept all people, faiths, cultures, and want to help each person know who they are so they can make the right decision on their own faith. They also seem to want to help humanity and community as a whole, not to mention nature, without persecution or condemnation.
Of course, this is what I get just by reading it. I have never actually been to a meeting yet. I like what I’m hearing, though, and I’m enjoying the comments.
You don’t even have to believe in god to belong to the Unitarian church. There are many athiest/agnostics at my uncle’s congregation. However, I don’t know why they call it a “church”. I prefer to look at it as a social club. Which is great.
As a UU, I can definitely understand the concern that there is a “lack” of actual spirituality in UUism. This can vary widely from Church to church, however. Some are very much political entities (as it sounds Morgainelf’s experience was), and others are not. as kiz says, the sunday school program does involve a great deal of learning about many religious belief systems, which is in keeping with our 4th principle, “A free and resopnsible search for truth and meaning.” We try to indoctrinate our children as little as possible, and give them the tools to evaluate their own spiritual/religious needs.
As you suggest, Castaldi, it can be a very unfulfilling religion if one is looking for his or her spiritual path to be micro-managed. I highly suggest you look at this link, which is to a sermon a guest gave at my church last fall. Dennis Ferrill is a UU as well as a practicing Zen Buddhist. The beginning of the sermon might be a bit dull, but later on he addresses what religion and spiritual practice really mean, how that fits into Unitarian Universalism, and what burden that places on the individual UU. Is UU truly a religion? What does that even mean? I think this is an interesting sermon for anyone, UU or not, so check it out (no, not trying to preach here, but I think this may answer some of the questions addressed in this thread).
As a UU, I can definitely understand the concern that there is a “lack” of actual spirituality in UUism. This can vary widely from Church to church, however. Some are very much political entities (as it sounds Morgainelf’s experience was), and others are not. as kiz says, the sunday school program does involve a great deal of learning about many religious belief systems, which is in keeping with our 4th principle, “A free and resopnsible search for truth and meaning.” We try to indoctrinate our children as little as possible, and give them the tools to evaluate their own spiritual/religious needs.
As you suggest, Castaldi, it can be a very unfulfilling religion if one is looking for his or her spiritual path to be micro-managed. I highly suggest you look at this link, which is to a sermon a guest gave at my church last fall. Dennis Ferrill is a UU as well as a practicing Zen Buddhist. The beginning of the sermon might be a bit dull, but later on he addresses what religion and spiritual practice really mean, how that fits into Unitarian Universalism, and what burden that places on the individual UU. Is UU truly a religion? What does that even mean? I think this is an interesting sermon for anyone, UU or not, so check it out (no, not trying to preach here, but I think this may answer some of the questions addressed in this thread).
