Unitarian Universalists

by SpunkyChick 30 Replies latest jw friends

  • SpunkyChick
    SpunkyChick

    Thanks Julie for your response!

    Our church is involved in all kinds of community activities, many of them in conjunction with other religions (such as Catholic Services).

    I noticed that today in the info packet I was given. I was impressed!

  • Silverleaf
    Silverleaf

    MY DH and I went to a UU Church several years ago and we enjoyed it. They had some interesting topics for discussion, everyone was welcome and they seemed like genuinely nice people. We stopped going because it seemed more of a social exercise than a spiritual one [not that that's necessarily bad] but I still felt I was missing something. If I ever felt the need to go back to a church setting I would go back there.

    Silverleaf

  • franklin J
    franklin J

    yes,

    I attended a service yeas ago, out of interest( obviously after my JW life) They were all very friendly, and came up to introduce themselves to me after the service. The song played was " How are things in Glockamora", which I think is from the the Rogers & Hammerstein operetta, "The Mikado". But what I remember most is that there were eerily no children anywhere. My current neighbors are members of the Unitarian church and are nice people and good neighbors.

    Frank

  • ESTEE
    ESTEE

    I have never been to a Unitarian Church. Thought maybe one day I'd try it, though.

    One question: Is it a positive message?

    What I mean by that is ...

    Does their message imply that I"m helpless? ... Because I choose to think I'm self-empowering and strong.

    Does their message ask, "Teach me to Fear" ...? ... Because I have chosen to shed the jw fear -- and never pick up FearTM as a religiously-imposed heritage -- ever again!

    Does their message tell me I'm in spiritual darkness ...? ... Because I choose light as my living space...

    Does their message tell me I'm confused ...? Because a place of Clarity is how I choose to see myself.

    These negative church messages would imply that I need this group because I am helpless without them, fearful without them, in spiritual darkness without them, and in confusion without them. And that is pure co-dependent B*ll Sh*t!!!!

    No Armageddon talk! No Hellfire talk! No Rapture talk! Just live now ... and happily!

    These are questions that I ask before investigating a church group. I only visit places with a positive message.

    ESTEE

  • Navigator
    Navigator

    I belong to a Unity Church myself, but know several UU's who are really great folks. Like Unity and Religious Science, they have a goodly number of female ministers. The UUers are the most inclusive group that I have ever run into. The range of beliefs within a given congregation is awesome.

  • Lady Lee
    Lady Lee

    Unitarian Universalist Association Principles and Purposes

    We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote

    • The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
    • Justice, equity 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.

    The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:

    • Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
    • Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
    • Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
    • Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
    • Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
    • Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

    Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.

    The Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association

    The Unitarian Universalist Association shall devote its resources to and exercise its corporate powers for religious, educational and humanitarian purposes. The primary purpose of the Association is to serve the needs of its member congregations, organize new congregations, extend and strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions and implement its principles.

    The Association declares and affirms its special responsibility, and that of its member societies and organizations, to promote the full participation of persons in all of its and their activities and in the full range of human endeavor without regard to race, color, sex, disability, affectional or sexual orientation, age, or national origin and without requiring adherence to any particular interpretation of religion or to any particular religious belief or creed.

    Nothing herein shall be deemed to infringe upon the individual freedom of belief which is inherent in the Universalist and Unitarian heritages or to conflict with any statement of purpose, covenant, or bond of union used by any society unless such is used as a creedal test.

    http://www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html

  • Carmel
    Carmel

    I've attended several UU services in addition to speaking twice on my faith and my having lived in Isreal for four years as a religious volunteer. Enjoyed the people but don't equate to their partisan political activism and milktoast religious ideas.

    carmel

  • gumby
    gumby
    With its historical roots in the Jewish and Christian traditions, Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion -- that is, a religion that keeps an open mind to the religious questions people have struggled with in all times and places.

    Another faith built on myths, and and stories that have copied older stories. Why do people keep looking for answers in these places? All you get is a bunch of people "guessing" as to answers of questions. I suppose if it makes ya feel better to believe something you think might be true......can't hurt anything........unless it harms others in some way.

    Gumby

  • hooberus
    hooberus
    There is a break-away group that advocates the Bible. Their website is at http://www.biblicalunitarian.com/html/. I've been in touch with them and feel they offer much more of what I was looking for.

    herk, I have been to this site, and I am concerned about their teachings. Not only do they deny that Jesus existed as God before he was born to Mary, but they deny that he existed at all in any form before being born to Mary. Even the Watchtower admits that Jesus pre-existed his being born to mary (though they believe that He was an angel.)

    The following is from the site:

    "There is no question that Jesus figuratively ?existed? in Abraham?s time . However, he did not actually physically exist as a person; rather he ?existed? in the mind of God as God?s plan for the redemption of man ."

  • gumby
    gumby
    However, he did not actually physically exist as a person; rather he ?existed? in the mind of God as God?s plan for the redemption of man ."

    I thought he was made up in the minds of men as a redeemer.

    BTW.....anybody heard of his whearabouts?

    Gumby

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