Friday, August 26, 2022

What is Unitarian Universalism’s primary message to the world?


Society and the world are in grave trouble when logic, reason, and the scientific method are disregarded. Rejection of science and lack of critical thinking exists in both the right and left. Anti-science in the far right is commonly associated with creationism and climate change denial. Areas of anti-science in the far left include being anti-GMO or anti-nuclear and rejecting scientific knowledge that conflicts with postmodernist social justice ideologies. (Salzberg 2016) (Pearce 2012) (Shermer 2013)


Cycleback, David. Against Illiberalism: A critique of illiberal trends in liberal institutions, with a focus on Unitarian Universalism (pp. 42-43). Center for Artifact Studies. Kindle Edition. 


Some of us have moved on to what is being called “post postmodernism” recognizing that there is Truth beyond social construction. The bumper sticker is “Reality doesn’t care anything about your beliefs.”


Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The emphasis can be on “responsible” instead of “free.” Most UUs agree that not just anything goes. If a religion teaches that you can believe everything you’ll fall for anything.


The UUA has not articulated any clear vision or mission for the denomination. What is UUs message to our contemporary world? It seems to be about social justice which is not unique and too limiting for a religion. While social justice can be an application of a religion’s values it doesn’t answer the question of why those applications were chosen as a manifestation of the values.


The first principle is the affirmation and promotion of the inherent worth and dignity of every person and this principle springs from a belief in the unconditional love of Life’s creations by the Transcendent Source. Not everyone believes this and certainly don’t act on this belief. There is a lot of work to be done if UU wants to share this message with the world.


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