UU: Divorce or rejuvenation?

UU: Divorce or rejuvenation?

It also remains doubtful Universalism’s pre-merger Judeo-Christian tradition, its faith in Jesus, or its belief in universal salvation will still resonate with more than a few remnants after a denominational split. On the other hand, Unitarianism’s historic commitment to reason, freedom of conscience, and our common humanity are part of what draws and holds many individuals to Unitarian Universalism even now, though the UUA itself pays little homage to these cherished principles. Indeed, many are likely to become deeply troubled upon learning of the UUA’s deviation from these core values and will seek an alternative, either by demanding institutional change, or deciding to abandon a faith that has abandoned them. For these, I hope a renewed commitment to Unitarianism alone will be a better alternative, along with the formation of a new association of Unitarians, including individuals and their communities, that can finally move forward toward our common goals because we have reconnected with our historic past. 

As in many a marriage, it is possible to initially be drawn together by a shared passion, to marry because of common interests, to share many years of happiness together, but to eventually grow apart, realize the relationship isn’t working anymore, and to finally break up, hopefully departing as friends. I suggest that time has come for our denomination, and, with this essay, propose its members begin seriously discussing the dissolution of the UUA.

Eklof, Todd. The Gadfly Papers: Three Inconvenient Essays by One Pesky Minister . Kindle Edition. 

You can’t have a divorce and complain the marriage didn’t work if it was not, in good faith, even been tried. 

The seven principles and the eight sources are the ties that bind but they are rarely discussed in a thoughtful way as the values and roots which bind UUs together. What has contributed to the failure so far with the merger is poor leadership and dysfunctional governance. The failure to educate and train the ministry and lay people is a significant factor in the denomination’s malaise.

It is not time to throw in the towel but a time to roll up our proverbial shirt sleeves and get to work. UUs have excellent values which are sorely needed in a weary world which has lost its spiritual foundations. It is time for a vitalization of the perennial philosophy which is found in an interreligious understanding of what is fundamental to being human.

There is a need to move beyond the egocentric and ethnocentric levels of consciousness to the worldcentric and integral levels. UU is poised to do this, but it lacks the nerve and a theology which plots the course and provides the tools. It is time to step up, not call it quits. 

There are small groups like UU A Way Of Life ministries and others willing to venture forward to create a preferred future where the seven principles provide a framework and sustain the mission. Join us today.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #302 - Where darkness was I look upon the light.

 Lesson #302

Where darkness was I look upon the light.

Remember there are two worlds we experience during our incarnation: the world of the ego full of fear and grievance, and the world of Spirit full of peace and Love. Which would we choose?

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we improve our conscious contact with God through prayer and mediation. It also takes forgiveness which is the dropping of judgment.

In Unitarian Universalism, we support each other in our affirmation and promotion of the inherent worth and dignity of every person who has been created by Divine Love.

Today, it is suggested that we look upon the light which dissolves darkness. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. Instead of continuing to wander in the dark we can turn on the lights. The choice is ours and is what the Course calls a “miracle.”

Having turned on the lights, I can see clearly now.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #301 - And God Himself shall wipe away all tears.

 Lesson #301

And God Himself shall wipe away all tears.

When we consider the characteristics of the two worlds, the world of the ego and the world of the Spirit (Love), we come to understand that in the world of Spirit there is no judgment, no anger, no fear, no grievance, only the world of Love and in this world there are no tears.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we seek to improve our conscious contact with God which is the world not just of joy but of bliss.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person which, when realized, wipes away all tears and brings great peace and joy.

Today, it is suggested that we give up our judgment, engage in forgiveness, and allow our Divine Source to wipe away all our tears.

How to join a UU church? "Just sign the book."

                                                             Just sign the book

In the report’s concluding remarks, Rev. Paul N. Carnes, who would later be elected President of the UUA, stated, “religious liberalism has little to meet the challenge of today's need, or win our own personal need, if all it offers is a casual ‘Join us and you can believe anything you want to’—as if religious convictions were to be left to such ephemeral judges as whim and wish!”[127]

Eklof, Todd. The Gadfly Papers: Three Inconvenient Essays by One Pesky Minister pp.71-72

When Rev. Dr. Eklof quoted Rev. Carnes, it made me laugh as I remember the first UU church I got involved with around 2005. I had attended several times and after a service asked the part time minister what I had to do to join the church. He said, “Sign the book.”

I said, “What?”

He said, “Just sign the book.”

I said, “What book?”

He said, “The membership book.”

I said, “Are there any classes or instructions regarding the qualifications for membership?”

“No, just sign the book,” was all he said.

I thought to myself, “What the hell kind of a church is this?”

Now looking back I don’t know whether it is more funny or cruel. I think it is a sign of ministerial incompetence. I am reminded of Groucho Marx’s comedic statement that he didn’t think he would want to be a member of any country club that would admit any person like himself into membership.

What kind of a church would just take anybody into a covenantal relationship without even explaining to the prospective member what that relationship might involve? More was required for me to join Rotary that to join a UU church. 

No wonder UU is dying and can’t attract and retain committed members in meaningful covenantal relationships. Is it a matter of easy come, easy go? If we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #300 - Only an instant does this world endure.

 Lesson #300

Only an instant does this world endure.

One of the key concepts of A Course In Miracles is the idea that we live in two worlds: the world of the ego and the world of the Spirit(Love). Today we are reminded that only an instant does the world of the ego endure and then we are free to join the world of the Spirit if we choose.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we improve our conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation, what today is also called mindfulness.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote seven principles and it is by joining with others in this effort that we bypass the world of the ego and engage in the world of the Spirit.

Today, we can comfort ourselves by reminding ourselves that only an instant does this world of the ego endure. We are free to refocus on the world of Spirit anytime we choose. We are reminded of the saying when we are afraid, resentful, angry, guilt ridden that “this, too, shall pass” for only an instant does this bullshit endure.

UU offers the hope for a spiritual journey but provides no map.

 Spiritual journey with no map

This jumbled, if not relativistic, understanding of what Unitarian Universalism means to UUs themselves becomes apparent in a 2005 Commission on Appraisal report entitled, Engaging our Theological Diversity, asking UU members, “What holds us together?” One participant said, “It’s the support network.”[118] Another saw “the UU movement as an interreligious dialogue.”[119] Another said UU congregations are comprised of “people who didn’t fit in”[120] anywhere else. Still others actually complained about us not having a common belief. “This is where the UUA falls down,” they said, “and why you have CUUPS and the Buddhists and the Christians and all these little subgroups—because we offer the hope of a spiritual journey, and we offer no tools to do it with.”[121]

Eklof, Todd. The Gadfly Papers: Three Inconvenient Essays by One Pesky Minister . Kindle Edition.  

In his Gadfly Papers: Three Inconvenient Essays, in the second essay, “I want a divorce,” Rev. Dr. Todd Eklof points out that after the merging of Unitarianism and Universalism in 1961 into Unitarian Universalism, the denomination was set off on theological drift. Since then It has wandered aimlessly. And while it talks a good game, and says some attractive things, it doesn’t deliver the goods.

Eklof cites the 2005 Commission on Appraisal Report which writes that while UU offers a hope for a spiritual journey it offers no tools. The sermons of UU ministers and lay leaders are a composite of social justice themes and self-help psychobabble. Instead of a lectionary, some congregations have monthly themes like “hope,” “kindness,” “mercy”, etc. Most of these sermons amount to a motivational speech based on pop psychology rather than an informative explication of theological concepts based on the perennial philosophy. There is no common core of understanding, values, and/or ethical vision tied to any meta narrative and overarching theological understanding.

It seems that UU stands for nothing and anything will do to fill up worship time and pulpit sermons. 

To solve the problem of amorphous ambiguity some congregations try to create a center of gravity by using one of the six sources and so they tend to be focused on Christian concepts or Buddhist concepts or humanistic concepts or Earth Centered philosophies. This can be somewhat helpful to local congregations but does not help with a broader affinity at the Association level. What is it that all UU congregations believe and hold in common? Herein lies the Tower of Babel that is the source of trouble for the dysfunctional  organization that is the UUA.

Eklof suggests that a divorce may be indicated but  another option is a transformation to a higher level of cultural maturity which would embrace and teach the perennial wisdom that all religious traditions have in common. This requires investment in training and funding interreligious teachers and scholars and improved training for UU ministers and lay leaders. The people are hungry for it and need it in order to continue to grow and develop spiritually. It is what we are committed to here at UU A Way Of Life.

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #299 - Eternal holiness abides in me.

 Lesson #299

Eternal holiness abides in me.

Peace Pilgrim called it the “Divine Spark.” Other words and phrases for it are “The Force,” “Ground of Being,” “Soul,” etc. Today, in A Course In Miracles it is called “Eternal Holiness.” These terms all refer to the non dualistic Oneness from which we have separated ourselves at our birth, our physical incarnation in our current lifetime.

In Alcoholic Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we seek to become more consciously aware of our Divine origin and essence through prayer and meditation what, today, we call “mindfulness.”

In Unitarian Universalism we join together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person recognizing that there is an eternal holiness which is our primary nature no matter what kind of nonsense and mistakes we have made in our lives.

Today’s lesson suggests that we acknowledge that Eternal Holiness abides in me and everyone else in the world.