This seems to me like a book many UU people would appreciate. Has anyone here ever heard of it?

I tried to explain someone what is UU, but it seems to me so difficult to explain this 'liberal religion' and 'non credential religion' stuff and what's UU objective and all of that.

How can I explain all of that in a simple way, so I can be understood?

I might have asked this ages ago but i will do an update in that case, because i want to know the opinion of Swedenborgs work if anyone is familiar with his writings.

He apparently has some universalist views but seems to favor, or at least those who are more his followers, favor an eternal hell- but hell isn’t ECT, it’s a hell you can “feel more comfortable in since you chose to go there with all your heart, and THATS why it’s eternal- and God will not force you or help you to go back to him.

So instead of the idea that “everyone Eventually goes back to heaven,” it’s “you have the option to,” which is no different than that of a christian or someone who says “hell is kicked from the outside,” (which only can do so much, especially if this means that god isn’t powerful enough using his heavenly resources to get his own children to not enjoy hell. This to me just means if they feel they can “breathe” better in hell, then god and his angels didn’t do a good enough job helping the person out of hellish mindsets- even if it’s all in their own free will). Swedenborg followers even clarify that “everyone is predestined for heaven,” but it’s just the “worse of the worse in hell,” which still doesn’t make me feel better- considering the sweetest person you know could favor something hellish so much they could just choose hell- that’s the cycle of thinking i’m currently stuck with.

thoughts? cause i’m losing hope of being a confident universalist the more i read hell NDEs, swedenborg, etc.

To be clear, my atheism is not the gnostic anti-theist position. I am open to the idea that a god may exist in the form of the prime mover. Sort of a clock maker who, on the first certain swing of the pendulum, moved on to their next project. No more than that.

I've been attending a small UU church for the last 4 months or so and have been enjoying it. We're a tiny dot of blue in a sea of red and it's nice to be around some like minded people once a week. I agree with the covenant of right relations and the 7 principles. I've even volunteered to help with the upkeep around the church, cleaning and whatnot.

So I'm looking for reading material to help me square my irreligious views with the language and teaching of the Unitarian church.

​

Before I begin I'd just like to wish everyone a great everything and hope you're all well. I am actually going through a not so great period in my life now

but I've never let that stop me from praying or believing. Also warning it may be rambly.

​

So this post is about the synthesis of varying belief systems and religious beliefs and how they all integrate. I'm a practicing UU, and have believed in

God/Higher Power/Whatever for about 36 years (probably my lifetime) But I also draw insight and strength from all religions. Until I discovered UU in my

twenties I thought I was the only person who did this!

​

This sometimes puts me in conflict with views centred in only one religion or doctrine. For instance my two closest therapists are Christian and Buddhist - I'm

open to discussing religion in session as it's a powerful healing force, but I sometimes have to challenge them or interpret their statements in view of

my own beliefs.

​

In dark times I admit that I wonder and question my faith (which is not necessarily a bad thing, since faith SHOULD be questioned!) Maybe I have it all wrong.

Maybe I should just be one religion, a good Buddhist/Christian or whatever, and that would solve everything. But I believe that to just be the blandishment of

the ego.

​

But then I remember WHY I believe this - and it is not just because of UU. Because I have had direct spiritual experiences that resemble each of the major religions

(and then some) I have experienced the cessation of samsara in meditation. I have met and spoken with God (as we know Him) I have experienced the sensation of

flames lightning and burning away depression, similar to certain Shinto texts.

​

As a scientist, therefore, I must believe that they are all true (and William James' books seem to corroborate this) We all experience God differently, but it's

there. (or not there, if you are atheist) I don't think I would believe so ardently if I hadn't actually seen prayers being answered.

​

At the same time, we live in a modern and digital age, and so a lot of the sacred texts must be interpreted (one of my favorite questions is "If Buddha/Jesus

could use Instagram what would they post?") I experience God most directly through video games/anime, which raises a lot of eyebrows but it true to my experience.

I still have bills to pay. I'm very sex positive, so I don't agree with a lot of the more traditional views of society (for instance, I don't believe in marriage

as an institution) and believe spirtuality and sexuality are interlinked, which some conservatives aren't on board with.

​

It's sometimes (often!) a lonely path to walk as I seek the intersection of all paths, constantly refining and interpreting information (the Net has too much!)

striving to be true to my authentic self and what God wants of me. It's not easy, which is why I am posting here I guess - wondering if others have similar

struggles or ways of believing and viewing the world.

​

This is just me being UU in the way I know best, I'm not prescribing anything or saying my way is best. Be well and I am happy to discuss!

​

Before I begin I'd just like to wish everyone a great everything and hope you're all well. I am actually going through a not so great period in my life now

but I've never let that stop me from praying or believing. Also warning it may be rambly.

​

So this post is about the synthesis of varying belief systems and religious beliefs and how they all integrate. I'm a practicing UU, and have believed in

God/Higher Power/Whatever for about 36 years (probably my lifetime) But I also draw insight and strength from all religions. Until I discovered UU in my

twenties I thought I was the only person who did this!

​

This sometimes puts me in conflict with views centred in only one religion or doctrine. For instance my two closest therapists are Christian and Buddhist - I'm

open to discussing religion in session as it's a powerful healing force, but I sometimes have to challenge them or interpret their statements in view of

my own beliefs.

​

In dark times I admit that I wonder and question my faith (which is not necessarily a bad thing, since faith SHOULD be questioned!) Maybe I have it all wrong.

Maybe I should just be one religion, a good Buddhist/Christian or whatever, and that would solve everything. But I believe that to just be the blandishment of

the ego.

​

But then I remember WHY I believe this - and it is not just because of UU. Because I have had direct spiritual experiences that resemble each of the major religions

(and then some) I have experienced the cessation of samsara in meditation. I have met and spoken with God (as we know Him) I have experienced the sensation of

flames lightning and burning away depression, similar to certain Shinto texts.

​

As a scientist, therefore, I must believe that they are all true (and William James' books seem to corroborate this) We all experience God differently, but it's

there. (or not there, if you are atheist) I don't think I would believe so ardently if I hadn't actually seen prayers being answered.

​

At the same time, we live in a modern and digital age, and so a lot of the sacred texts must be interpreted (one of my favorite questions is "If Buddha/Jesus

could use Instagram what would they post?") I experience God most directly through video games/anime, which raises a lot of eyebrows but it true to my experience.

I still have bills to pay. I'm very sex positive, so I don't agree with a lot of the more traditional views of society (for instance, I don't believe in marriage

as an institution) and believe spirtuality and sexuality are interlinked, which some conservatives aren't on board with.

​

It's sometimes (often!) a lonely path to walk as I seek the intersection of all paths, constantly refining and interpreting information (the Net has too much!)

striving to be true to my authentic self and what God wants of me. It's not easy, which is why I am posting here I guess - wondering if others have similar

struggles or ways of believing and viewing the world.

​

This is just me being UU in the way I know best, I'm not prescribing anything or saying my way is best. Be well and I am happy to discuss!

I'm using the G word in this post, substitute as you will!

I was introduced to this concept by a minister and have since read up on it. The way God speaks to me is that when I come to Him with a decision that I need guidance with (and these are typically big ones like deciding which major) when I feel a sense of peace from it, I know it is His will.

If not, I will feel agitated and antsy. I also incorporate things like TRE into this process, as well as talking to other humans. I use head and heart, and take all major decisions to God.

I recently tried to use muscle testing to speak to Him and it doesn't work, but prayer and meditation seem to have.

I thought I would post here to gain more knowledge and insight about this. It's mysterious and profound.

Hello friends,

My grandmother Dorothy is an amazing person who is currently being rushed to the ER from her post-acite rehab care facility after being unresponsive this morning. We need her. We love her and are not ready for her to go. I don’t think that she is ready to go.

She is a believer in prayer, angels, and Jesus Christ as her primary spiritual guide, along with guidance from an array of Buddhist philosophy and teachings.

I am not a believer in prayer or angels, but I would be grateful if a kind person or a community of any faith or spiritual background would please pray on her behalf. It is important to her, and I would like for her to know that someone is doing that kind of caregiving work for her.

I’m not sure if there is a “typical” way that people make this kind of request; she had been on the prayer list of a group of nuns but I believe they are not currently active. I am reaching out to UUs because my UU friend told me that “absolutely anyone can be a UU,” so I reasoned that my post would be seen by praying people from many faiths and traditions which I believe my grandmother would feel good about.

Thank you for reading, and you can message me if your prayers include more personal details.

The UUA has a very interesting story and potential but I see that does not attract many ethnic minorities. It is a church for liberal white people with $$ (that is the perception outthere)

Maybe part of it is that the denomination tends to minimize/hide its Protestant and Christian roots, which I think was/is a mistake.

Hi folks! I grew up "Jew...ish" if that makes sense, but consider myself atheist. I've recently moved to a rural area in the belly button of the Bible belt, and am looking for a community for my family to join that is focused on community works, kindness, equality, etc. There's a UU congregation right down the road that I'm interested in trying out tomorrow. My research tells me that it's very inclusive and along the lines of what I'm looking for. So I guess the question is, what should I expect at my first visit? What's the dress code? I have a 5 year old that I'd like to bring, is that OK? It looks like they have kids "services" but I'm not sure if I should keep him with me at first. I'm definitely a bit anxious about going, since "church" is not something I'm used to at all. Any help is appreciated!

Hello! I was raised UU and have been living in a fairly religiously conservative rural location. My partner and I moved around a lot for several years before settling into our current location. Lately, I've been feeling drawn to developing a UU-based community / service in our rural area. I reached out to UUA and they had encouraged us to reach out to our Regional Representative and/or consider starting a Covenanting Community. I did this and they encouraged us to participate in our nearest fellowships virtually. There are well established UU Fellowships within 100 miles in two directions, but the travel on a Sunday is too much for our family. We are also craving human connection (in lieu of virtual services). I'd like to have services here, but we don't have space to host in our small house. Any thoughts about how to bring people together? I don't use Facebook, but had been thinking of posting a newspaper ad. Thoughts?

I am becoming less and less comfortable with the overt political partisanism I see in my church (and am supposing that my church is not an outlier here).

Just one example: I found the overturning of Roe shocking and tragic. I have always whole-heartedly supported a woman’s right to choose and find this new ultra-conservative attack on woman’s autonomy scarily regressive.

However, just because I (as well as many other people in our congregation) feel this way, doesn’t mean that I want our minister to make a public statement condemning this decision (I.e. taking an explicitly partisan stand). I don’t want a minister that says: “We need to yell louder.” I don’t want a minister that essentially declares our congregation a safe space for any person who wants an abortion. I don’t want my minister to simple echo whatever the political consensus of the congregation is (or seems to be).

Why? Well, I believe that first and foremost, churches should be models of ideal communities. And ideal communities should (in my view) be open to the “other” — to people who don’t necessarily think exactly like us and yet still agree with all our principles. It is perfectly possible to be pro-life and see oneself as living according to our principles. It is perfectly possible to want stricter immigration policy and still see oneself living according to our principles. It is perfectly possible to ask questions about various controversies swirling around transgenderism and still see oneself living according to our principles.

Our minister likes to go on about how our church is a sacred space. I am an atheist, so I definitely grin and bear it. But I was quite spiritual for a long time and have a sense of what a sacred space is. To me, a sacred space is a space that stands apart from and against the world and the failings thereof. It is a space in which to be our best selves along with other people who are trying to be their best selves.

However our minister openly suggest that our sacred space needs to be a political space. She actively promotes the use of sacred language as a political weapon. In fact, the sermon we heard last week was all about wielding sacred language to make political change. Is the answer to the Right‘s politicization of conservative Christianity to go ahead and build a politically left religion? Do two wrongs make a right? I don’t think so.

I feel so despairing about politics in this country, but don’t believe the “both sides“ thing. Sure, the left has its issues, but fortunately they have not gone off the deep end in the unbridled pursuit of power for power’s sake. I would love more than anything else for us to regain political sameness and balance. I don’t know how that can happen at the moment. But I sure as hell know it’s not going to happen by having UU’s wrap themselves in a ball of anger and yell louder.

If any change is going to come, it going to take many years of concerted strategic political effort. I suppose this could happen in UU congregations (just as Black churches were instrumental in the Civil Rights movement). But I don’t see any of this happening. I just see a lot of rage, political othering and using leftish politics as a church brand-building exercise, as a form of collective identity construction.

​

So, in short, I’d like to see one of two things either:

1. Having our “sacred space,” be informed by a broad, generous interpretation of our principles and hence be de-politicized.
2. Fully commit to one issue and actually make change (which would involve analysis, having a plan, organization, etc.) and not merely yelling, whining, getting upset then trying to calm ourselves, building a collective identity as “justice seekers,” etc., etc.,

One or the other.

Im curious to know what others think about this?

I regularly attend an online-only congregation of the Christian Universalist Association, and it got me thinking. Does the UUA have anything similar?

I watch live streams of services, like from All Souls in Tulsa, but that's not quite the same!