John 1:1-2 3 and 14: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

I'm going to preface this by saying that if you've visited one UU Congregation you've only experienced one UU Congregation. I get that no 2 are exactly alike, and most aren't even necessarily similar. I want to say that before I get into this.

So, my wife and (up until today) had been members of one of our local UU Congregations for a little over a year. (January was the 1 year annieversary of us becoming members, though we had started attending several months prior to becoming members.) Everything, we though, was going really well. That's why we became members, afterall.

But then, last spring, some issues started to arise for us. It started with a Master Planning Committee and the congregation wanting to rennovate the church building. There seemed to be two minds about what needed to be done. There were those of us who wanted to fix the accessibility issues that exists within the current building (For example, the church has multiple levels, there are stairs up to the sanctuary, there are stairs to the basement where a lot of the meeting spaces are, there really is like no main floor to this place, there are like 5 different levels, it's crazy. So real issues for folks with even minor mobility issues. And folks who are hard of hearing are having issues hearing the sermon, stuff like that.) and to update the building to help us better live out our faith. (Add a shower, add a washer and dryer, add an ADA compliant restroom, add gender neutral restrooms, make modificationst to allow us to shelter those experincing homelessness, stuff like that.) And then there were folks who wanted to make cosmetic changes to the building. One big one being the restoration of the sanctuary facade, this large midcentury facade that is this whole wall in the sanctuary.

This facade became a pretty big issue. The congregation was hoping to raise $1 million for the whole project to finance these renovations. The original sticker price on the restoration of the facade was $300,000. Well, as we got further along into this process, the price doubled. Restoring this facade, and making no other rennovations, was now going to run north of $600,000. And the congregation was going to have to decide what to do. Well, they decided to plow ahead with the full restoration of this facade. (To be 100% fair, the facade was a big sturctural issue. But! There were other options. Like replacing the facade with a traditional standard wall.) So now, more than 60% of the expected money to be raised was going to this one project that wasn't going to fix any of the real issues we discussed that needed to be fixed. And now no money is planned to be spent making the improvements that would allow us to better live out our professed faith and values.

To boot, while all of this is going on, we have our annual church meeting about the budget. A proposal from the floor comes up to give the ministers and church staff a 5% cost of living raise. (Keep in mind, even with this raise they're actually still going to be making less because inflation is greather than 5%.) Much is made about the fact that this will cause the budget to be unblanaced and we'll have a budget deficit. (All while people are making pledges to finance the restoration of this facade. Folks are willing to give the money to restore this facade but not to give a cost of living raise to church staff? What's that about?) So, this whole thing is really causing me to second guess my decision to be a member here and whether or not this congregations' values are what they say they are.

Well, summer comes and our minister is going on a sabbatical at the end beginning of September. Before she leaves, a letter is sent out from her to the congregation. In this letter she reveals that several months ago she had challenged the board to address instances of Islamophobia that she's experienced at church from members of the congregation that she's informed them of. (She is a woman of Iranian descent and is visibly so.) The implication being that they haven't yet done so, and indeed it turns out they had not. I'm shocked by this revelation. I wait patiently for the board or one of the various other leadership committees or the sabbatical minister to address this. Nothing happens. Months pass. So, in late November I email the board about this situation. Ask why nothing has been said or done. Our minister has been subjected to bigotry and intolerance at church, they've been informed, they've been asked to act, they're not acting. Why?

Well, the sabbatical minister asks to meet with me. I meet with her. One of the things I said was "Our board lacks the courage of convicition to even issue a statement condemning Islamophobia?!" She takes this idea as a suggestion to the board. By late December they finally issue a statement condemning Islamophobia. (Which is, in all honesty, the bear freaking minimum. It took them from late August when the letter went out to late December to issue a simple statement condemning Islamophobia.)

I'm going to add that I was participating in this group's CUUPs group. Before the minister went on sabbatical she asked us to do the Samhain service on 10/30. We were happy to do this because we had just reorganized the group and this would serve as a good re-introduction to the congregation. We do an ancester communion ritual, invite members of the congregation to bring pictures of lost loved ones, we include the names of some recent members of the congregation who passed away in the ritual, goes really well I thought. Well, afterwards a board member approaches me and thanks me for keeping the ritual "reasonable" and proceedes to tell me how some previous iteration of the group had worn robes, and had staffs, and etc. I was floored. Imagine coming up to someone who performed a personalized and meaningful service for the congregation and telling them that a more full and complete expression of their faith practice would be unreasonable and unwelcomed? So, I say that to say that I too had experienced religious intolerance from this board.

Our minister's sabbatical ran through the beginning of January. She comes back, immediately announces that she is resigning and goes into detail about why. The previously alleged instances of Islamophobia are given greater explanation. Well, crap really hits the fan as a result. This overwhelmingly white and overwhelmingly older congregation loses it. They get super defensive. They deny, deny, deny, deny these allegations of Islamophobia.

The congregation is basically split in two now. Those who believe the former minister was wronged and those who don't. (In fact, the board issued a statement following her resignation in which they say "How do we care for those who were hurt by Rev.(redacted) and also embrace those who feel she was wronged." Pay attention to that language used there. It is a fact that the former minister allegations of Islamophobia hurt members of the congregation, but the rest of us only "feel" that the minister was wronged. To me it was unbelievable.

So, as you can imagine, tensions have ran white hot in the aftermath of this. White older members of the congregation post in the church's Facebook group about how they've never seen, heard, experienced, or witnessed any Islamophobia or phobia or any other kind at this Church. Meanwhile, POC and other religious minorities (such as myself, a pagan) within the congregation who speak up and talk about what we have experienced in the way of intolerance, microaggresions, xenophobia, are told that it isn't intolerant, racist, bigoted, etc, or told we are blowing it out of proportion, making more of it than it is, or have it denied altogether.

The powers that be in the congregation simply will not listen to those who try to talk about where, when, and how we have been hurt, marginalized, offended, or belittled by the church as a whole or specific members within the congregation. They do not want to hear any experiences that might be negative. Which makes it impossible to learn or grow from.

As a result of all of this, today my wife and I resigned from membership at this church.

I tell this story here not to attack or criticize UUism as a whole. But to recount my personal experience with a UU church over the last year and some change. Hopefully other UUs can learn from this. Learn what not to do when someone says that something isn't right at church, that they've been racially abused, when they've experienced religious intolerance, when they've been hurt by church. Please listen to folks. Please don't dismiss them. Don't gaslight them. Don't tell them it didn't happen. Or that they didn't mean to hurt you so it's okay.

I don't know if this applies to this sub, but LOST was a show that incorporated themes of religion/spirituality, free will, destiny, science, philosophy, synchronicities, mythology, demigods, elements of consciousness, quantum physics, magical elements, dreams/visions, it's own Source, and a whole lot more.

If anyone has any thoughts on it, feel free to post them.

I don't know if this applies to this sub, but LOST was a show that incorporated themes of religion/spirituality, free will, destiny, science, philosophy, synchronicities, mythology, demigods, elements of consciousness, quantum physics, magical elements, dreams/visions, it's own Source, and a whole lot more.

If anyone has any thoughts on it, feel free to post them.

Just curious. A family member sent me some material on the Unity Church…which I’m interested in actually.

A proposal to replace Article II of the UU Bylaws (which in turn will replace the Seven Principles and Six Sources) will be voted on by UU delegates to UU General Assembly in June. The agenda for Article II is outlined here.

...

EDIT:

The proposal of the Article II Study Commission is a significant rewrite of Article II in the UU Bylaws. It fact, it does replace both the Seven Principles and the Six Sources.

More information can be found on the Study Commission website. They are currently accepting feedback through an online form, until April 30.

The website with essays is: https://savethe7principles.wordpress.com/. (And to correct an assumption some people made, I had nothing to do with the creation of the website.)

A proposal to replace Article II of the UU Bylaws (which in turn will replace the Seven Principles and Six Sources) will be voted on by UU delegates to UU General Assembly in June. The agenda for Article II is outlined here.

...

EDIT:

The proposal of the Article II Study Commission is a significant rewrite of Article II in the UU Bylaws. It fact, it does replace both the Seven Principles and the Six Sources.

More information can be found on the Study Commission website. They are currently accepting feedback through an online form, until April 30.

The website with essays is: https://savethe7principles.wordpress.com/. (And to correct an assumption some people made, I had nothing to do with the creation of the website.)

I suppose I should not be surprised, but leaving a group we found to be unsympathetic to anyone unlike themselves, determinedly anti-intellectual to the point of harming themselves and devoted to mindlessly repeating cable TV slogans would be unsympathetic to our need to find a group closer to our more thoughtful point of view. Our, now former, friends have treated our decision to begin attending our warmly friendly and accepting, somewhat offbeat and kooky, highly intellectually charged local UU church with a mixture of disdain, aspersions that we lack agency and are somehow being led or tempted by dark forces and bland and unthoughtful sloganeering.

We had a friend over for lunch and walk around our neighborhood and he told us we were being lazy and didn’t want to ”do the hard work” of being a Christian as narrowly defined by the group. When gently cajoled with the story that some idiots had decided that the Bible did not mention water treatment and therefore the government and dark insidious forces were preventing us from the benefits of “raw water”. Some nitwits sickened themselves and their children by drinking water from a culvert (don’t do this) and I asked our friend gently to find some common ground and see if he agreed that some anti intellectual trends were causing Christians to harm themselves. The only example he could think of, gears clearly grinding hard, was that some communities and countries were trying to deemphasize use of petroleum which was OBVIOUSLY outrageous. I began to explain that we used to drive by massive smoke belching refineries in Louisiana surrounded by poor neighborhoods and although it might be familiar and convenient to fuel our vehicles with petroleum products it would be beneficial to all to be less…. Our friend‘s blank stare and complete confusion cut off a long treatise on the environmental and health impact, historically temporary nature and geopolitically unfortunate addiction to cheap oil as fuel. They are really just not interested in any kind of critical thinking and it saddens me.

suddenly, we have no friends and I am worried about my spouse who needs social contact much more than I.

anyone want to commiserate?

I'm a cubscout leader in the US. My best religious experiences were not from the United Methodist church I was brought up in, but from participating in nondenominational vespers at the scout summer camp where I worked as a youth. The BSA had (maybe has?) a program called "A Scouts Own Religion" that says any religion a scout follows is valid. My experiences in scouts shaped my view of religion, and eventually I joined a UU fellowship as a result. Many members declare they are buddist, christian, humanist, athiest, agnostic, etc. I don't think I'm any of these.

First of all, my concept of god is an idea of a supernatural connection between humans that compells us to be good. I feel there is some supernatural element. I feel that the religions that give god a name do it to simplify the concept. Making god an entity instead of a feeling gives god a voice. It's not human conscience compelling you but gods voice. I think it's an artistic way to present the concept.

Second, I think that demigods and saints serve a useful purpose. They give a person something to focus hope upon when they need a mental lift. I'm praying to St. Anthony to help me find my keys, or Freija to help my crops grow better, or Ai'wa when pandora is invaded by blackwater operators etc. I sort of believe that these fictional characters become real enough when we need them to be.

I also think we can't even comprehend the complexity of god, but that god must be accepting of our attempts. God is good, so I think god is goodness and kindness, not that god just likes goodness and kindness. I think it's right that people follow their minds and express faith as they see fit.

So what am I? How do I describe this concept? Religion is a significant part of Scouts. I don't want to lie to others and tell them I'm Christian or whatever. I don't feel the need to identify as Christian. I do think Jesus was real and taught people what is right, but I also think that an indescribable force exists which is bigger and more pure than the Christian concept of god. So what am I? What theology should I study to educate myself? I feel like my god IS goodness, kindness, and hope. So what do you call it?

Are they appropriate in today's UU church, or exclusionary relics from last century?

I noticed that there’s some similarities.

Like most congregations, ours is recovering from the effects of the pandemic, but realistically, needs to turn the tide of years of declining membership.

I’m looking for innovative fundraising ideas, particularly those that help the church reach out to the community and hopefully, attract more newcomers.

TIA

I am an agnostic-atheist, black female in my mid-forties. I am poor, since I am an immigrant and a live-in maid. I basically have no social life. So I decided to attend a UU church since I was feeling down and needed to be uplifted. I attended a UU service this Sunday, it made me even more depressed! It was the most boring thing I have ever experienced! Not to mention, that other than some kid who got some scholarship, and one other person who looked to be in their late 20's or early 30's, I, a woman in my mid 40's, was the youngest person there.

Don't get me wrong, the operatic music was well performed, and the orchestra was very impressive. But it's 2023! I feel like this was the same music they were playing 50 years ago. The sermon was empty platitudes like you would hear from a politician looking for votes in an upscale white, suburb. Nothing of any substance. The sort of lib-speak that is void of humanity. I almost fell asleep and had to resort to doing my Duolingo French lessons on my phone.

As I looked around at these 70 and 80 yr olds, I just wondered where the UU church will be in a decade or 2. Or maybe it's just a social club for well to do aged boomers, and they don't care what happens when they're dead....Sad thing is, I'll probably go back next Sunday. But they certainly are not going to be attracting younger people with what they are doing now.

I am thinking of attending this year's GA, despite the high cost ... $500 per person. I am my congregation's delegate. However, if I'm reading the website right, it looks like all in person attendees will be required to mask indoors at all times. This is so atypical I find it almost hard to believe. No church in my area requires masks for all, doctors do not require masks, and I live in New England which was a pretty committed mask wearing area during the pandemic height.

Can anyone offer some insight?

Additional questions-- does the UUA board mask fully when they meet? Do all UUA staff always mask indoors?

Hi UU folks with disabilities & our allies! How can our homes be more accessible? We all want to welcome diverse guests into our homes, and 100% of us are aging. Click below for the new issue of the UUCE Accessibility Task Force (ATF). Find out about a free, national webinar this Sunday, 4/30, noon pt. Please share:

https://conta.cc/3L0FNb7

Hi UU folks with disabilities & our allies! How can our homes be more accessible? We all want to welcome diverse guests into our homes, and 100% of us are aging. Click below for the new issue of the UUCE Accessibility Task Force (ATF). Find out about a free, national webinar this Sunday, 4/30, noon pt. Please share:

https://conta.cc/3L0FNb7

hey I've got a question. As a trans muslimah would U be accepted into the UU community?

One of the things I have noticed in the local UU congregation is the fact that the minister frequently gives thinly veiled sermons about church development, especially in the area of church fundraising or volunteering your time (but especially about money). The sermons often have an attention getting title like "Exploring Your Relationship With the UU Church" or some such thing. I actually want to explore my spirituality, not be guilted that I have to give more money or time to the church. I do understand that the light bill and staff need to be paid (or the coffee made for after the service). But the constant sermons about development can be a turnoff to members or attendees that don't have the means or are of a lower socioeconomic class.

Hi there y'all. I am probably going along with a friend to a local UU service this weekend. My friend is a member of UU and is involved in some volunteer community work that uses the UU's meeting space a couple of week nights per month. This volunteer group is open to all, not just UU folks, and I've wanted to get involved, but I thought it might be nice to get to know the UU community there as well.

Partly it just feels like good manners to make that effort. But I've also been wanting to widen my personal sphere of community and work on developing my spiritually a bit. And now I feel oddly shy!

I guess I just don't know what to expect. I've never been particularly religious. My mother has been an active member of Unity Church my whole life and I attended the youth programs there as a kid, fell away from that in my teens, identified myself as an atheist for a long time, then came around to the idea of a non-religious spirituality. In time I've come to define that spirituality as pagan in nature.

I live in a relatively progressive city in a deep red state. I don't really know other pagans, I don't have anyone to share my practice with, have discussions with, or learn from. I've felt very lonely in this regard, and sometimes also silly. I know my local UU does do services and hosts events for some pagan holidays like Yule, so it may be a good opportunity to connect with some of that community.

I'm not and never have been Christian, despite attending Unity as a kid. I know that Unity is based in Christianity specifically and UU is not, but since childhood I haven't attended any kind of Sunday service at all. I guess I worry that I'll stand out or will obviously "not belong" in some way, or that I'll be too out there even for UU, or even more intimidating: that I'll like it and want to come back.

I know no two UU communities are identical but I guess I'm asking what, in general, should I expect?

Edit: even if I haven't responded, I have read all of your comments and I appreciate y'all's input! Thanks!

I've known of UUism since my pagan teens, but I've never participated it it because I was scared and there wasn't a UU church in 50+ miles.

I still don't have a UU church in 50+ miles (AFAIK), but I have discovered the church of the larger fellowship. As a trans LGBT+ person, it's so hard to balance activism and anger and peace and refuge. I'm trying so hard to grow peace in myself but it's so difficult and so rewarding. I know anger sucks so much out of myself that could be used for better things, so anger isn't something I encourage or want in myself anymore. The CLF is helping me so much to make peace.

I have also loved how the CLF has challenged me. I'm trying to expand my listening skills and trying not to make quick, survival judgements on people. I have ASD, and eventually you become like you've been in war, you learn how to make a snap judgement on somebody because it could very well be life or death. But now I'm trying to heal from that, and I'm thinking of the thing in a recent CLF service - holy curiosity. I want and need to stop being so reactive, I want to really experience other people with real curiosity.

Can I call myself UU? Even though I haven't signed some book in a place I can't reasonably access?

Hello. I am doing this is a last resort because I am hungry and pretty much on the brink of homelessness. Please pray for me. I lost a loved one in September that I took care of and have been in between work from home jobs and now have no job and no home in two weeks. I lived off my fathers income because I took care of him. I am now down to nothing and live in a rural area and I have my rent internet and everything due. No speakable family and no transportation. I’d appreciate anything if anyone could help, and even if you can help financially please send me prayers. I have thought about giving up but I don’t want to but it makes it dang near impossible not to. I am also ostercized for living in a small southern town and being lgbtq. Anyways I’m sorry to ask for this but I need money in the worst way I literally don’t know where my next bill or meal is going to come from? And if you say I’m faking I don’t care and won’t respond. Please help me even if it’s prayer. I also have cashapp if anyone could help.

TW: CSA as the *middle question, please skip if it is sensitive for you

Are they allowed to swear? I’ve been lurking a bit and I have not seen anyone swear in this forum. It’s not a deal-breaker, and it’d be expected in a tolerant religious forum, but it’s interesting.

How the the UU Church handle things like child abuse? While I imagine the extremely progressive policies turn away a lot of would-be abusers, abusers can exist in all places and any positions of power. What does the UU do to both prevent and rectify any issues of child abuse / SA? While I agree that all humans should receive love and dignity, I believe that victims have a right to safety that takes precedence to an abuser’s right to community and I have no interest in being part of a church that does not reflect these values.

What’s the rub? These values seem to reflect the interests of many young leftist Millenials and Gen-Z - many of us are desperate for community, lonely, and depressed, and this church seems to be a great place to fulfill those needs and reconnect with others. Why aren’t more people a part of this? Admittedly, I thought Unitarians were just leftist Christians until a mom’s Facebook group post explained it further, which piqued my interest. I also saw a noticeable lack on info on social media - are Unitarians against evangelizing online?

ETA: Is polyamory accepted in the UU? I am not poly but I’m just wondering

I asked the new Google Artificial Intelligence named “Bard” about Unitarian Universalism and I love it’s response!

Bard Unitarian Universalism Description

“Unitarian Universalism is a religion that emphasizes freedom of thought, tolerance, and social justice. Unitarian Universalists believe that all people are created equal and that we are all responsible for making the world a better place. They are committed to exploring the meaning of life and to finding ways to live in harmony with one another and with the planet. Unitarian Universalism is a growing religion, and it is attracting people from all walks of life. If you are looking for a religion that is open and welcoming, that encourages you to think for yourself, and that is committed to making the world a better place, then Unitarian Universalism may be the right choice for you.”

Hello everyone, I’m 15 and I have autism and I believe that dolls/action figures have souls and that marriage is eternal. I want to establish an independent Unitarian Universalist church for my action figures that is just for them and I want to become the Minister of my congregation. I was wondering if there are any Unitarian Universalist minister in this sub who could virtually ordain (by saying a blessing for me in a comment here) me as the minister of my congregation of my action figures.

I like: -community gatherings -doing stuff together like gardening or cleaning up trash -making and eating meals together sometimes -basically cult behavior but just once a week max.

I believe: -no “God”. -i am open to the consideration there may be a higher power. I will never have faith in one or be convinced of it. -And I don’t believe in “Jesus” whatsoever. -I like psychedelics and -believing we’re all connected -I think humans are alike to nature with no greater purpose than to live similar to the trees and ants have no greater purpose.

I’m thinking maybe Unitarian Universalists (?) And I do like the values of Taoism and Buddhism but they lack a “church” community. Whatcha think?

Who leads it? A pastor??

Whats the content?? What do they talk about? (if everyone believes something different and follows a different book, what do they do?)

Is it interactive? (Or is one person speaking to the rest)?

Is it kinda like AA where you can come and stand in the back corner and no one will acknowledge you or speak to you, or are people super friendly and try to get everyone to engage?

Hello, I am 35 years old and I have diabetic neuropathy and have not been able to work because of it. I singed up on my disability but have been denied, but keep applying. I do not want to do this, but I lost my dad in Sept. and I stayed and took care of him. When I lost him, I lost everything. He didn't have any insirance and left behind a lot of medical bills. I am asking if someone can please help me with anything? My cashapp is $rcb5167 and my paypal is the same if you can help. He was an elderly man and caught covid and it set up on his lungs and killed him. I have no food or money and my rent is coming due and I have no way to pay for any of it, I know I shouldnt beg online, and It looks suspsicious, but I swear to you it's the truth. I miss that man so much I cannot stand it sometimes. What is a way I can miss him less? Also, I have been cast out by the rest of my family because I am gay. Anyways, please just send me good vibes and help if you can, I have also contacted churches and ministries but that did no good. Sorry for the long post, I just needed to rant I guess. I just dont get how my family can hate me so bad for just being me. I know there are other who have it rough, but this is pretty rough. Please send good vibes also.

Hey guys and gals.

As the title says, anyone here a religious "refugee", as in someone who came to the UU Church after escaping from another religion they desperately wanted to leave? I remember reading stories of UUs who used to be Jehovah's Witnesses but got tired of the cults repressive practices, as well as how they got shunned by their family and friends for going their own ways instead of being obedient and thus, found shelter in the UU Church and converted. Same thing with evangelical Christians who got tired of the fire-and-brimstone stuff, like being gay and abortion are "evil" chose to be a Unitarian-Universalist instead. Anyone had stories like this where you guys converted to UUism after escaping from religions, or even cults, you guys wanted to leave?

I'm hoping you can share some of your favorite readings, prayers or poems that brought you some comfort and/or closure after a loss.

​

I'm not one that really relates much to bible verses or the traditional catholic church preachings, but after suffering a loss in my family, my heart feels like it's craving some spirituality.

My spouse and I are looking to attend a service soon (our first). We have a 4 month old that will have to come with us. Of course if she’s fussy one of us will step out with her, but are UU services generally accepting of infants? Probably my religious trauma, but I’m terrified of getting looks from people if she starts fussing.

The other day I was chatting with my partner. We’re in our 40s, have a 9 y/o daughter, small three bedroom place, couple cars: life is really good.

We came around to some other family that is in a higher tax bracket than we are. They already have a massive house in an expensive area. Apparently no locals use the public beaches where they’re at, they become members at a private beach where the only requirement is money. Maybe $5k to join? We love (and like!) this family; they are totally reasonable people.

I have things like this beach in my life too! I just bought a pair of $700 headphones that I love. Yessssss (insert Jack Nicholson crazy town yes-face gif) there are $1k headphones I’d also love!

So, there is a philosophical question here: how much is enough? Why do I live and feel the way I do about all this stuff? I think the answer is straight forward enough (consumerism, rat race, keep up with Jones, capitalism): but for me, it’s gonna be a journey of unlearning. Like all journeys begins with a step, I’ll start with a Reddit post.

What do you think? Do you struggle with living in the moment? What about Buddhism? Read any good books about this?

Sure letmegooglethatforyou.com lmgtfu, but I usually find some excellent minds and community right here in subreddits and my algorithms are different than yours.

Thanks!

Are there any Filianyi or Deanics here? I just found out about Filianism the other day and it’s tickled my religious studies curiosity. If there are any what do you believe and where are some good communities to find more information?

I'm looking to see if this is gonna be a comfy place for someone like me? I left the church due to the fact that for me a loving God cannot exist in the same place as a hell. I also have a hard time accepting that a loving God would allow so much suffering.

However I miss the community that comes with church, and I do believe in a Power. I subscribe to animism, and I think that Power is the Spirit of the Universe.

Hey everyone!

I was raised UU, but haven't been back to regular service since before high school. My partner is Hindu, and because I am not spiritually religeous, I celebrate hindu holidays and we eat by his religeous dietary restrictions. Hinduism is an open practice, but we have no temples specific to Hinduism in our area, and he worries as a non-indian practitioner coming in with a white partner, he might be judged. I had suggested maybe we could check out some of the UU's in the area, see if maybe there are individuals there he can connect with that he might find a spiritual community where he can go to a regular weekly service, and he's very interested.

He specifically really wants to be able to wear traditional temple wear and is concerned about the public perception of this in a congregation. In support of his beliefs, I've become more of a philosophical hindu that an spiritual one, and I dress in a saree with him when we celebrate holidays, and I put on Tilak with him. He's asked if this would be odd or shunned in a UU setting if we were to show up dressed like we were going to Temple. I wanted to turn to our greater community here to see if anyone has had experience with their UU on this, and maybe some suggestions of UU congregations in New Jersey that would be open to us.

It could be a Christian or Muslim that left a homophobic church/religious setting but still holds onto their views or a racist agnostic because they only heard what their own race told them and rarely interacted with other races?

Since we are about accepting those who are different from us and respecting their opinions, but at the same time, giving room to debate their ideas and accept the possibility we could be wrong, what would be a ideal way a Unitarian Universalist would approach the person about their views?

https://thebridgeblog.webflow.io/posts/the-laws-of-the-universe-aka-the-12-commandments