This year I took a job at a grocery store that allows mustaches, but not beards. I've had a beard for about 15 years. I needed the job, so I bit the bullet and shaved. I hate it. I'm tired of looking at a stranger in the mirror, and I get razor burn every time. It occurred to me that I might be able to get a religious exemption for this arbitrary rule--were I Muslim, Sikh, or Orthodox Jew, it wouldn't even be a question. Obviously it's a little less clear in our case, but I think I might be onto something. Does anyone have any relevant experience or advice? Any UUA documentation I could show to the GM that would support my position?

Anyone else thinking about spinning up a uua.social Fedi server (like Mastodon)? We could crowd fund it on Faithify. I'd want the UUA folks to be aware of it and hopefully support it, at least in spirit.

Hi peeps! We are moving from Chattanooga to St. Louis in about 8 months. We will likely be living in the Kirkwood area of St. Louis. Does anyone know if there are are CUUPS chapters in the area? Thanks!

I do actually believe in God but not the traditional viewpoint. In the last few years I had a business and two relationships fail, other business problems, health problems, family problems...you name it, I have encountered it. It's been getting steadily worse.

None of my friends are able to help, and despite praying, God seems distant. I've spoken to my minister, she has said she has felt the same on occasion. My therapist references the story of Job (she is Christian) but it's cold comfort when I am suffering now. Unless she knows specifically when the suffering will end, it's not helpful.

I still pray and have not lost my faith, since I have had God appear in my life before in remarkably dramatic ways. But still the torrent of bad news is unrelenting, so I am on the edge of despair sometimes.

Posting here instead of Christian subs because Christians always say "God's perfect timing" which is NOT helping (like the last three therapists I saw)

Does anyone here have experience with Second Unitarian in Chicago? I live on the north side and am considering checking it out.

Hi there! I’ve recently started exploring UU churches in the area and it feels like a good home for me. I’ve been exploring all over the area (I’m in Boston) and while I’ve attended lovely sermons, I’m having trouble finding a congregation that has people my age (I’m in my 30s). Everyone at Sunday service seems to be over 60. I wonder if Sunday service may just not be the right place to start? Anyone in the are (or in general) have any advice?

I am an ex-Christian and I have religious trauma related to that. I went to an in-person UU service for the first time Sunday. I got teary-eyed multiple times because I was quite awestruck. I’ve never had the experience of walking into a sanctuary that displays pride flags or hearing the Reverend invite trans and GNC kids to join the Girl Scouts troop during announcements. I had a wonderful time overall, but I have a few concerns. I can mostly handle hearing the word “God” and there was no mention of Jesus. The Bible was used during the sermon (Genesis), but its validity was questioned in a way I can appreciate. I am just wondering… is UU the wrong place to leap to, in general, if I want no associations with Christianity whatsoever? Or could I potentially find a different church that doesn’t reference the Bible? I am atheist-leaning, definitely humanist, but mostly still figuring it out.

I am also thinking about the perpetuation of Christianity and wanting to avoid that. This article encapsulates my thinking perfectly: https://brill.com/display/title/37153 To me, secular and liberal Christians are still perpetuating the harm of all other Christians, or they would drop the religious moniker altogether. I am wondering if I’m being hypocritical by being UU. Also, I’m really sorry if I offend anyone by writing this post. Thanks for reading.

Hey all! So I am originally born and raised Roman Catholic. I do not really find comfort in this religion anymore with their thoughts and feeling towards the lgbt community civil right etc. But I still love Mary and her place in the religion. I don’t see her as a god but I love the idea is saints and such. I don’t know if I believe Jesus is the “one and only” son of god (it’s hard to change that idea after growing up with it) but…is this religion for me? If not is there any other place for me?

Does your congregation use a church management system, such as Breeze or Planning Center (there are a ton). Is that your donation platform or do you use something else? Or just a donation platform, such PayPal, or?

Hello, as the title says I'm trying to remember the UU book I was given to read for my Coming of Age journey though the UU church. It was black, and it had a chalice on it or maybe flames on it. I believe it had a history of the church, but don't remember much more than that.

I'm revisiting books of my late adolescent and young adult life. I stepped away about a decade ago from the UU church after attending a few years and then going off to college. Then work kept me from attending due to the hours I had been delt, then COVID hit, but recently I felt something come over me, and I'm wanting to reflect on things in my life.

I'll be elated if anyone knows what I'm talking about and I plan on attending my first UU service again very soon.

Im asking this in good faith but as a Jew I do not trust UU and dont really understand it. From my perspective, like Jews for Jesus, its essentially a Christian org that pretends its not despite having ministers, churches, celebrating Jesus, ect. I like all the left-wing aspects of UU but I have a hard time not seeing it as another way for Christians to destroy minority religions by assimilating them. I also find the using of our and others religious ceremonies and symbols and stripping them of their religious significance, presenting them as set dressing for a mostly Christian audience is offensive. Please correct me.