UU offers hope of a spiritual journey with no tools to do it with.

 

Unitarian Universalism offers the promise of guidance for a spiritual journey and then devolves into affinity groups which sometimes provide somewhat of a path but not a path based on perennial wisdom. The biggest contribution to this failure is the seminary training which lacks appropriate theological training for UU professional leadership.

Is Unitarian Universalism irrelevant?

Is Unitarian Universalism irrelevant?

One of the central functions of religion is to teach people how to discern the workings of the spiritual in their lives. To put it plainly, it is to help people become aware of what their soul desires and  to help their minds pay attention to this awareness.

Harry Hollywood, 06/08/21

Most churches with their leaders, priests, pastors, ministers fail in this central task because they are not aware of their own souls' desires let alone the people to whom they aspire to minister and serve.

What does the soul desire ultimately? Unification with the Divine.

How is that unification to be achieved? It is described in the spiritual literature as “The Way” and it can take many forms although whichever way is taken leads to the same destination.

Unitarian Universalism is one such way and because of its lack of clarity and focus, it often is experienced as irrelevant and nothing more than a means to fellowship and socialization and/or a pursuit of social justice objectives. In this way of functioning, UU misses the point and is off the mark and will continue to decline as a vehicle of spiritual growth and experience.

We go to the same church.

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What would Osho have thought about Unitarian Universalism?

"I am not a teacher. I am not teaching you anything at all. I am not a bridge between you and the Bible, between you and the Gita, between you and the Koran. I am not even a bridge between you and God – no. I am not giving you a teaching, a dogma, a creed, a philosophy, a theology. So understand the difference between a teacher and a master."

Osho




What would Osho have thought about Unitarian Univeralism?

Would you like to hear about Unitarian Universalism?

What do Unitarian Universalists have to offer the world?

One of the unique characteristics of Unitarian Universalism is that it does not require any particular credal belief. The joke is that UUs can believe in anything. Well, yes, but, while we do not necessarily subscribe to the same creeds, we do have the same values. Here are the seven values which UUs subscribe to:

1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The UU Blues by Nate Hill from the Unitarian Universalist church of Spartanburg

Is a Unitarian Universalist church a "God talk free zone."

Unitarian Universalists say they are proud that they don't believe in anything and its a calling card for other nihilists looking for  social connections.

Jeremiah Sutton told his friends that they don't have to believe in anything to join his First Unitarian Church. "Oh it's great! No creed. No theology. No pomp and circumstance. Just some febrile hymns and coffee. The coffee is usually very good."

Joey Marcuse agreed. "Yeah, the coffee is great and sometimes they even put out some cookies, crackers and cheese, and the carrot sticks with the Ranch dip are the best."

"You go to church for the coffee," asked Sarah with a bit of a frown.

"Sure," said Jeremiah, "and the fellowship. They have all these old people there. At first I thought you have to be over 60 to join this church. It looked like an AARP convention. But they were all really nice and seemed to really want us to join. They thought Joey and me were a gay couple which seemed to really excite them."

"Yeah," Joey said. "I told them I was transitioning from Joelle and that seemed to really turn them on. Jerry and I didn't have the heart to tell them we were straight. We didn't want to let them down."

"I don't know," said Sarah. "Doesn't seem like the place for me. I kinda want to know more about the Higher Power if you know what I mean, and drinking coffee, eating carrot stickes and pretending I'm a lesbian doesn't seem like it would be helpful."

"Yeah, well, they don't seem too interested in spirituality if that's what you're looking for. In fact, talking about religion and stuff seems to make em nervous. I asked one guy what he thought about Jesus and he said he was an atheist and not only didn't believe in Jesus, he didn't ever believe in God," said Jeremiah.

"I asked him what God it was that he didn't believe in, and the guy just snorted and excused himself and walked away," said Joey.

Sarah said, "Maybe they should put up a sign at the entrance that says, "God talk free zone."

Ask Alexa: Is Unitarian Universalism growing or shrinking?

Alexa: Is membership in Unitarian Universalism growing or shrinking?

In the United States it is shrinking. In 2009 there were 1,048 congregations with 164,684 members and in 2019, ten years later there were 1,029 congregations with 154, 704. In ten years there were 19 fewer congregations and 9,980 fewer members.

Alexa: Why did the piece of fruit have seeds?

Because it believed in plant parenthood.

What do Unitarian Universalists believe in?

What do Unitarian Universalists believe in?

They believe in a covenantal relationship with others to affirm and promote seven principles so that people become aware of their innate holiness and sanctify their spiritual lives.

Pass it along.

What does a UU look like?

The Rev. David Gillespie has a blog named "David's Dish" and on March 15, 2008, he had an interesting article entitled, "What's a UU look like?"

Rev. David crunches the numbers from the Pew Forum's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey 2008. He finds some surprising things in terms of UUs age, geographical location, income, and educational level. If you are interested in demographics, Rev. Gillespie's article is a place to start.

Most UU congregations are white and would love to welcome people from all racial and ethnic backgrouns. We tend to be older although there have been younger family folks coming in larger congregations. 

At UU congregations everybody is welcome: young and old, rich and poor, Ph.D's and drop-outs. We welcome people of all races, religions, sexual orientations.

Unitarian Universalism is a huge tent, and a UU looks just like you. Won't you join us?

"Come On People, Smile On Your Brother, Everybody Get Together, Try To Love One Another, Right Now"

The Youngbloods - Get Together

The day Texas tried to say that Unitarian Universalism was not a religion

I missed this story when it happened (2004) but apparently a recent Texas Comptroller attempted to remove the tax exempt status of the Unitarian Universalist Church, by denying that it did not fit Texas' definition of a church because it did not advocate one strict doctrine. This put the state of Texas in the business of defining what a religion is, and specifically stating that it must involve belief in a higher power. Without such belief, the religion is "creedless" and not a religion in the eyes of the state.

From the blog, The Weaker Party. To read more about this situation click here.

Why I am a Unitarian Universalist.

Editor's note:

What has influenced you to become a Unitarian Univeralist if you consider yourself one? If you haven't joined a congregation, but perhaps visit or are interested in learning more why?

I am a Unitarian Univeralist after many years as a Roman Catholic because I love the principles and find them a solid basis for my spiritual growth and development.

Correspondence - Is "modern" Unitarian Univeralism a product of rationalism and the enlightenment?

The following is an exchange with an evangelical Christian.

05/21/19

You wrote:

Modern Unitarian universalism is a product of rationalism and the enlightenment.

Unitarian Univeralism refers to itself as a “living tradition” and identifies at least six sources for that tradition:

1. Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder
2. Words and deeds of prophetic women and men
3. Wisdom from the world’s religions
4. Jewish and Christian teachings
5. Humanist teachings
6. Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions.

 

The Unitarians emerged in the later part of the 16th century in response to the Protestant revolution and did argue against the Trinitarian notion teaching that there was only one God. This is what the Jews taught, based on the idea of monotheism. Francis David, a Unitarian pioneer said, “We need not think alike to love alike.”

The affirmation we say in church on Sunday where I attend, First Univeralist Church of Rochester is:

“Love is the doctrine of this church.

The quest for truth its sacrament,

And service is its prayer.

To dwell together in peace,

To seek knowledge in freedom,

To serve humanity in fellowship.

To the end that all souls shall grow in harmony

With the source and meaning of life.

Thus do we covenant with each other and with all.

Both the Unitarians and Univeralists were thought of, at one time, as Christian denominations, and as you point out with the introduction of rationalism and transcendentalism they no longer are welcome in the National Council of Churches. However, many UUs, myself included, identify strongly with Christian roots.

Personally, I love Jesus, but like Gandhi say, “I would become Christian if I ever found a church that actually followed the teachings of Jesus.” Having been raised a Roman Catholic, I have found Unitarian Univeralism to more closely embrace the actually teachings of Jesus than any other denomination or religion I have studied.

Sincerely,

David Markham