First I want to be clear and say I know who the Gadflys are and I don't agree with them. However, I do have a question. Why don't they just make their own separate denomination of UUism and spread that? I know in the Gadfly Papers there is an argument about splitting the denomination or dissolving it, in which I do not agree, but how come they don't officially separate and create a new Denomination outside the UUA? At that point they could dictate how they want their form of UUism to run and make changes to their version of the covenant if they so wish, without having to try to manage to (in the only words I can think of at the moment) "take over" the Association from the inside?

Also I guess a secondary thing to add upon this would be, do you think if the covenant changes next year, that they would split anyways due the fact they are generally against the 8th Principal (as far as I know of) and they more then likely would not like the new 3rd Value of Justice due to it incorporating parts of the 8th principal within it?

Hello everyone! I'm not UU, I'm more of a humanist, and I've gone to probably a dozen Sunday services of the UU church near me over the past year. I've volunteered my time to help out with projects on a handful of occasions. And I've attended some luncheons. I keep hoping that the sunday service will improve once I know more people and can feel more comfortable.

I really like the few people I've gotten to know, but to be honest, I do not like going to the services on Sunday. There are references to belief in God and faith (which I don't believe), touchy feely stuff, hymns being sung, etc. It feels like a bad fit for me in that sense.

This Sunday, one of the songs was all about faith in God being the answer and I just closed my hymnal and stood there politely, even though the choir leader was trying to get everybody to participate. I'm not going to participate when I don't believe.

And the coffee hour afterward feels awkward to me because while some folks have talked with me, it feels mostly like small talk. People there gravitate toward the people they already know well and are friends with and I feel left out. Yesterday after the touchy feely service, I just left and didn't go to coffee because I just felt so mismatched with the service. (Small group situations have been much better.)

I'm curious how many folks regularly skip attendance on Sundays and just do other offered activities that have more depth and actual participation and sharing?

Or could you share things your UU does to welcome visitors in a way that makes them comfortable and feel included?

I get the sense that this community genuinely wants to be welcoming, but just misses the mark and that's why they are not getting new and/or younger people attending again after a first visit.

Is there a branch in Toronto ON?

One of the things I keep hearing about when it comes to comparing UUism to other religions or especially Christian denominations, most people compare it to The United Church of Christ, by saying they're like UUs disguised as Christians or that UCC Christians are basically Christian Unitarians.

Because of that, and especially with the UCC is recognized for being very liberal compared to other denominations, is the UCC that similar but with a more Christian twist or are there more differences than similarities?

Can someone explain exactly WHAT Unitarian Universalism is?

Thank you!

A member of our Fellowship reflected on why it is important for all children to see themselves represented in childrens literature. She's a librarian and educator who has thought about this topic for many years.

She reads a commonly-banned book at the beginning of the video (until January, when our permission to include that reading expires). Set aside 15 minutes and watch the video. Here's the link: https://youtu.be/A8IjBv3RnDo

Can someone help me understand why an atheist would want to lead a congregation? My current experience is an atheist uu minister that is very clearly anti christian. How can you be UU and anti Christian? How can you lead a congregation of people who believe in many different things but you actually look down on certain beliefs? I’m not a Christian, but I am UU and my understanding is that we’re open to all.

Found UU 4 years ago. It had been a healing journey and going well. We got a new minister 2 years ago and it’s entirely changed my view. Our church wasn’t big into UUA and for the first time in years I felt like this was a church I could actually be part of. New minister is head over heels for the UUA and now it feels like we’re getting UUA shoved down our throats every week. It’s completely turned me off. I don’t go very often. Feels like I’m back in a Christian church being told what I have to believe.

Hi, I'm interested on learning more about UU and was looking for some books to read. The problem is I have very poor eyes sight so I rely on the accessibility features of ebook readers to get by. I can't seem to find many UU books to purchase in a digital format. Is there something I'm missing or are UU books in digital format not really a thing?

Hi there. I'm a progressive Baptist minister who just landed a great staff job at a large UU congregation. I'd like to explore UU better to understand and serve the congregation.

I'd appreciate any books you'd suggest about being Christian and UU, as well as books about the modern history of UU. I already have a basic understanding of UU culture and history from online sources and previous experience, so I'm looking for something a little more academic and in-depth.

To be clear, I'm already LGBTQ+ affirming, universalist, pluralist, etc. I'm quite comfortable with my Baptist heritage. I don't need to be convinced *out* of being Baptist, just guided *into* UU.

Has anyone here ever been on a pastoral search connitteee for a UU congregation?

If so, what was the experience like? Did you find it rewarding or frustrating? or both? How time-consuming was it? What did you have to do? I am imagining that you would have to somehow figure out what the congregation wanted in a minister, then cast a more or less wide net for a candidate, then evaluate the candidates? Right?

I‘m trying to figure out if I should volunteer/try to get myself nominated for a search committee that my congregation is putting together,

Another issue: We had been a lay-led congregation for our entire history until we stuck our toes in the water a few years ago with a part-time interim minister who is now leaving. I am not sure if this is an anomaly or not, but we never had a vote about whether or not we wanted a minister in general before hiring our first minister, partly because sentiment was split on the issue and partly because those who really wanted to hire a minister, saw a perfect opportunity (someone local that they liked and would be willing to take a part-time position) and wanted to take action before that opportunity went away, So, instead of having a vote on whether or not we wanted a minister in general, we just had a vote on whether or not we would hire that one person in particular for a short period of time as sort of a trial run.

Well, now that this contract minister is leaving, instead of having a vote about the “experiement” and whether or not we want to continue to have a minister, they just decided to go ahead with another search.

I have pointed this out and was told that we will indeed have a vote soon (at our next quarterly meeting), but it is clear that they are still going ahead with forming the search commiteee in the meantime.

So, I am feeling a bit befuddled by and apprehensive of the process so far.

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Hello!

Thank you for having me.

I'm an atheist in Southern UT that is going to try out the UU here in St George, UT. I'm interested in seeking a sense of community and joining social circles outside of just kids school, our neighborhood etc in a place that is welcoming to an atheist.

What should I expect? Will I be welcomed as an Atheist?

Also, I dont know how to ask this without coming across as ageist or something, but can I expect millennials like myself? I dont mind what age anyone is, but would like it if there are other families or possibly other millenials.

Oh boy, I don't even know where to start. My grandma raised me since I was little because my parents were out of the picture due to drug abuse and my father died when I was 1. Anyway, I loved her more than anything. She was my mentor, mother, friend, everything. My grandma was always single when she had me so it was just me and her for 35 years. I continued to stay at home after high school and worked and lived with my grandma. She was the best. She took me fishing for the first time and taught me how to throw a curve ball. We was poor but I didn’t know it. She always found a way to take me to Pizza Hut after those ballgames. She never missed one btw. Even if she had to take an oxygen tank. She loved those cigarettes lol. I swear sometimes I can still smell them here and she’s been gone a while. We lived in the southern United States so she was a great cook and we know food here trust me. I am hungry right now and I have no way of getting any food I’d do anything for her to cook me one more meal.

Well, about a couple years ago my grandma went for a regular checkup and it came back breast cancer. She had her right breast and then a few months later her left breast removed. She did fine for a while but the cancer ended up coming back more aggressive than ever and she died two months ago. I didn't work because I took care of her for the past year and half and I lived in her apartment. She did have just enough burial insurance to bury her but thats it. I also have a severe disability and am applying for disability right now, I have been turned down but I am appealing.

Anyways, since I lived off her income as she did as her caretaker since it was just us and since I am just a grandson I have no income anymore.I do not have a car and live in the middle of nowhere. I have applied to wfh jobs but my internet just got shut off and my electric gets shut off at the end of the month and I will also be evicted unless I can pay the bills. I also have no food and am honestly hungry. I have been so cripplingly depressed since she died I cannot get out of bed some days and I don't have a car and the nearest jobs are 10 miles away. I have horrible legs and they are so bad I have tried to work but it feels like someone set my legs on fire. I have went to the doctor and applied for disability and food stamps but like I said it taked forever and I have no speakable family to ask for a ride. I know people have it worse than me and some people will tell me to suck it up, but I have been hit with everything at once and I miss my grandma.

If anyone can help, I will list my cashapp Pp and venmo below. I know this looks awful, but I don't care. I know I am not lying and I miss my grandma more than anything. Even if you can't give anything please send good vibes, but any little bit helps, like I said I am down to no food at all and everyhing is due.

You know, I think there is a special place in heaven for people who raise children who know one else wants. She saved me from foster care and I will be forever grateful for that.

Cashapp $winterstorm55 Venmo @winterstorm55 PayPal @winterstorm55

So this was something that passed through my mind when I was thinking about the nature of the divine, the concept of a supreme being, and what it would mean to be The One.

So I'll pose this in the classic philosophical thought statement. If we suppose God to be omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient then it would mean that God is everything everywhere. Every action and event in existence is, in the literal sense, caused by God. This would then mean that the realm of infinite possibilities and actions is open only to God as a being without limits. God has done everything, is doing everything and will do everything. However, this presents a paradox (as so often happens in questions about God).

What defines our freedom as limited beings is the fact that there are only so many things we can do and we have to forgo options to choose other options. In essence, having a choice is necessary for freedom to exist. However, by God's own nature, God will do all of the choices. God cannot, in fact, abstain from any choices as God is everyone making all possible choices. So, here's the question that currently has my brain acting like a cat batting around a ball of yarn. Isn't having no limits itself a kind of limitation and makes any action you take meaningless because you have access to all of the actions?

I'm on a spiritual journey and have been told that thos place is accepting of wherever your at in your spiritual journey

Hello, I am asking for prayers for my life. It is a mess. I am down to my last loaf of bread I had frozen, disconnect notice on electric and water and just to my end. I am in my 20's and feel like I am going nowhere. I have no job, car or family. I lost the only family I had about a year ago and I have tried to work but I cannot due to crippling anxiety and I have horrible type 2 diabetes and get infections a lot. I have no family I can borrow off of and my credit is trash, so I can't borrow money. I have cashapp if anyone can help. My cashapp name is $captainmidnight515, if anyone could help I would greatly pay you back when I get on my feet, if not please send me good vibes as I have never felt this low in my life. I literally have no food, rent is 2 months behind, getting evicted at the end of the month, health is hot, no family, sometimes I just feel like I should not be here. I am gay also and my speakable family disowned me for that. I have been to several churches to no avail. I was able to apply for disability but was told it could take months to years upon years to get it. I just need help right now, my stomach is hurting from hunger, and I need some help. I also have paypal. My paypal is rcb5167. I am ebarrased to do this but I have nowhere else to turn. I have tried to get help from churches and other organizations, but to no surprise I was turned away and told they didnt have anything. But I know there are people who have it worse than me, but I am scared I cannot make it. I dont have a car or anything and live in a rural area. I am so scared. Please, even if you cant send me money please send me good vibes and thoughts. I know this looks very suspicious, and I do not blame you for thinking that, but I swear I am not lying and am at the end of my rope, I really think I can't go on. Sorry, I hope I didn't make you depressed by reading this. I miss my family, but i am still weirdly mad at them? Is this normal? I have applied for medicaid and am going to try and get mental help when it gets approved it just takes forever. I would just like to ask everyone again, to send good vibes, I really feel like I cant go on and if you can send anything please do anything will help. This is very embarrasing to do, but I have no other options. On top of all this I’m just starting to transition to the woman I’ve always been so that isn’t helping either. This is the worst feeling in my life and I don’t know if it will get better is that the scary part is.

So hey there is it possible for being both as some people called me out that you can't worship Christ being a Hindu but Hinduism allows it

My church has just put out a document in which we read that “chalice lighters” (the children who light candle in the chalice at the beginning of each service) “are expected to state their pronouns.”

To my ears, “expected” sounds coercive. (A little like there might be a nun waiting in the wings to slap them with a ruler if they don’t state their pronouns). I would rather the document read “chalice lighters are encouraged (or strongly encouraged) to state their pronouns.”

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What do you all think?

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Hi everyone!

I'm a 32-year-old American woman from the South. My early years were spent attending a small Methodist church in my hometown. However, due to personal reasons linked to an experience there, I distanced myself from it. Since my mid-teens, I've identified with Secular Humanism. I also identify strongly with liberalism.

I've always been intrigued by different cultures and religious beliefs, though I personally don't subscribe to supernatural notions. A few years back, I attended some UU meetings in my previous city, but I haven't explored it again since relocating.

I'm keen to hear from fellow atheists about their experiences with the UU community. I'm genuinely looking for a group of like-minded individuals, though I admit the term "church" still brings some unease.

Your insights would be greatly appreciated!

I had a kind of tough emotional experience at church this week. My minister gave a talk about updating article 2. She said it is an exciting movement for UUs. We are changing with the time. We have identified six values that represent UU today which will replace / update the princples and sources.

The whole thing just made me feel left out, like those 'we' statements didn't really have anything to do with me.

I am emotionally invested in being a living tradition, and I was aware that the article 2 commission did a lot of work, and I have seen the six values. None of that was a surprise. And I'm not here to fight change.

What was surprising to me was how it made me feel. Being informed "we" as a religion are going through these changes made me feel ...alone? Irrelevant. It's such a contrast to the 8th princinple project which had so much positive discussion, which each church was invited to opt into.

I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same or has words of wisdom for me.

We have a local UU Congregation and I have been a few times trying to decide if it's for me or not. The last time I went, a lady in charge of various committees came up to the microphone and started yelling at people and swearing saying what the hell is wrong with all of you and why don't you come to the things I set up. Sounds like she is in charge of various meet ups, maybe work parties or fund raising things, and she clearly just got fed up that not enough were attending.

What got me though is it seemed perfectly normal and nobody batted an eye to her yelling at and swearing at everyone in the room. Not a very respectful way to be heard and if I'm honest it really put me off to that Congregation and I haven't been back since.

Does this kind of thing happen often? Was it an unusual thing? 🤔

This is pretty detailed so my apologies for the length…you should see my emails. :)

Our congregation has been experimenting with a version of Whole Worship where all ages are present for the entire service. Young children (ages 1-6 or so) sit on rugs at the front of the sanctuary to the foot of the podium playing with toys, wriggling and interacting as young kids do. Throughout the room there are a handful of very young children in their parents’ arms.

There are between 5 and 10 young kids at every service. They do have one role near the end of the service when they drop stones in water before a moment of silence.

There have been concerns voiced by a substantial proportion of the congregation: the moment of silence is never silent, the kids are a constant distraction during the message, and the lack of an alternate place for children during the service does two things - it puts a burden on families who want their children to be in a kid friendlier space during the service and does not offer targeted religious education for kids.

We used to have the first portion of the service for whole worship and then the kids would go to the lower floor - which is 80% child oriented art, education and play spaces - for religious education / kid social time.

Although church leadership claims our form of whole worship is common in UU, the group who has been disenchanted with the state of affairs has been unable to find any congregation who is currently doing service this way.

Has your congregation tried whole worship in this manner?

If so - Has your church stuck with it? How have you dealt with the distractions and noises young children provide?

Church leadership has decided to offer two services - one at 10 geared towards kids, fellowship between and a second service at 11:15. With less than 100 active members it is hard to see how this works long term so maybe there is another way we haven’t considered.

Thanks for getting this far and have a great day / week / season.

Recently I was involved as a designer with a UU church. One of the members took a disliking to me and sent my personal information to the congregation, including my name, phone, email, address, and financial information. She then claimed I was unprofessional, scamming the organization, and mentally unhealthy.

The board and congregation believed her. They fired me.

The way this congregation treated me was abysmal, I've never experienced anything like it in my nearly 50 years of life. I've never had a design client treat me this bad, ever. And I've worked with well over a hundred with marketing, design and consulting.

What I want to know is ...

Does the UU condone stigmatizing mental health?

Has this happened in your congregation / fellowship? If so, how was it handled?

If not, what is the best policy for addressing this?

I've reached out the the local conference and to the main headquarters about this.

As it stands for me and how I was treated, I'm not seeing any difference between UU and any other toxic organized religion. And unless there is accountability within the organization, I'll not attend any UU ever again.

Edit : Some extra info and I wanted to add that this has been a massively demoralizing, soul-crushing experience. The way UU presents itself makes it seem very welcoming and inclusive, and my wife and I had intentions of joining as members. There is no way we want to associate with abusive people and those who enable it. Stigmatizing mental health is hate speech.

My fiancée and I are getting married in September next year. Neither of us are baptised, nor Church-goers but we would like to share our relationship with a higher power so have chosen to be married in a Church. My family is Anglican, so we have booked a date with our local Anglican Church.

When it comes to my own spirituality, I strongly align with the beliefs of Unitarian Universalists. I believe in a higher power, appreciate the principles of Christianity, Humanism and when travelling, have always revered the sacred spaces of all religions - from Shinto to Buddhist to Muslim, with the highest regard. I believe that wherever I pray, or connect, that higher power will hear me.

Our priest is liberal and doesn't expect us to be baptised. However, he has offered baptism is we are interested. In terms of connecting with God, something is calling me to be baptised. I feel as though it will be a symbolic gesture of my spirituality that I've never undertaken in my life before, as it has been an entirely personal journey.

Despite this, however, my beliefs are so liberal, I feel I would completely lack integrity by being baptised. My fiancée and I, for instance, have a live-in relationship and this will not change. I also believe that humans are human and much of the strict 'rules' purported by Christianity doesn't reflect the multitude of experiences, mistakes, learnings, growth etc. that encompass being human.

And yet still, I feel an urge to have that connect with god solidified in baptism - even though I will not live my life according to the rules of a strict Christian Church. I feel in such a crisis and the experience has left me with so much shame, even though usually, I feel comfortable with my choices and life. I don't feel like I can be baptised unless I follow the rules exactly as it really lacks integrity.

Ironically, I have no issue with being married in the Anglican Church. I respect that space and see it it as a space of reverence that is a pathway to that higher power, due to the faith of the people who worship there.

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I'm not sure what to do, or even perhaps what I am asking because I'm having trouble even explaining my own complicated feelings around this dilemma. Any advice from your perspective is so welcome.

I'm interested in becoming a Unitarian as my town has a Unitarian church and I'm a bisexual man and a panentheist. I believe God is the soul of the universe and the universe is his body, all living things are consciousness that broke off or emanated from God's consciousness. But my theology relies on mind-body dualism. So when I read the sources of the Unitarian Church and found this one, "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." I wondered, what does that mean? Is the Church taking a firm stance that mind-body dualism isn't a thing and taking a stance in favor of metaphysical materialism? Would love to have this explained, thanks.

The Heritage Fondation has basically created a document called the 2025 Project which calls for America to be turned into a Christian Country in which the LGBT and non-Christians rights would no longer be recognized.

Do you feel this could be the end of us in the United States?

https://naunitarians.org/project/left-vs-left-whats-happening-here-aint-exactly-clear/

The talk starts at 4:00. The first 45 minutes are a general discussion, contrasting identity liberalism with traditional (enlightenment) liberalism. An overview of how this is affecting UU begins at 48:50. And then a specific discussion on the UUA Article II begins at 59:10.

The motion to change Article II (which will replace the Seven Principles with Six Shared Values ), was passed provisionally at GA 2023. The final vote will take place next summer, at GA 2024.

EDIT: the title wording should have been "... and the upcoming vote to replace the Seven Principles," because the Principles will not be replaced unless this is approved by 2/3 of the delegates to GA 2024. Regardless of how you feel on this issue, this is a good time to get engaged with the delegate selection process in your congregation.

"Final approval of the Article II proposal requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the 2024 General Assembly to adopted [sic] the revision as the new Article II of the UUA bylaws."

https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/article-ii-study-commission

Have they flocked to the mainline churches, such as the ones in the Presbyterian, Congregationalist and Anglican traditions? Have they become Christadelphians or Adventists? Are they still around after the fusion with the Universalist Association?

I am really curious to see if there are still biblical Unitarians, that are similar to John Biddle and Isaac Newton, who have not went into the Church of God, nor to the Christadelphian religion.

Hi, I’m new to this community but attend a UU congregation in Oklahoma. We have lost 3 of our Pride flags that are hung from our flag pole outside the building. The vandalism is escalating in that they used to steal them. Now they cut and slice them with a box cutter. The vandalism has been reported to the local police but to no avail. I’m just wondering if anyone else has had similar issues in their community, if we should be preparing for more violence or if any one has suggestions other than reporting to the authorities on how we can mitigate this. Thanks

Hi! I am a Catholic Christian and I am theologically very conservative. Yet I have always valued ecumenical dialogue and interfaith communities: I find them so enriching. So I am fascinated by UU. I believe that "Unitarian Universalism" can speak to me too. To me "Unitarian" means affirming the Unity of humanity and "Universalist" means that every experience is welcome. Though I believe that only a specific religion Is the true one, I believe that I can find elements of Truth in all faiths. I respect other people's beliefs and I would not try to force mine on them. So, although being a Trinitarian Unitarian could sound as a paradox, do you think I could be part of the group? Thank you in advance

The first time I went to my only nearby UU congregation, I was treated to a sermon centering on the idea that As women, we are natural mothers, even if we don't have children of our own. I'm an infertile woman in my 30s, I've had a hysterectomy, I don't have or want my own children, I'm not a mother, I will not be a mother in the future. Yet throughout the sermon I was informed that all women are naturally maternal, blah blah blah. It really sounded no different than what my conservative Christian family used to tell me when I still talked to them.

I didn't want to stay for coffee hour. When I tried to leave, two long-time members kept trying to corner me into an unwanted conversation and literally stood in front of the door. Only when I asked them "Why are you blocking the door?" did they sheepishly move out of the way.

Because I'm apparently quite stupid, I went back again last Sunday. This week's sermon was about something related to racial inclusivity. The congregation is almost entirely White, which is ironic given their lip-service to "diversity", but I don't find it inherently problematic to be in a heavily-White crowd. I'm Indian American and there was a Black couple there as well, but literally everyone else was White. Oh well. The problems began during coffee hour when I was repeatedly questioned about my life experiences as an Indian American. I'm sure they thought they were "questioning their beliefs" or whatever, but in reality they were just projecting a bunch of false assumptions onto me and then making baseless accusations. I was honestly disgusted and I left after about 25 minutes.

I won't be returning again. This is the only UU congregation within an hour of my home. If this is how they treat their guests, I don't want to find out how they treat me when they feel comfortable.

I recently moved states, and attended a service with one of my local UUA's to hopefully find a congregation that I fit into. As expected, the population of the UUA was predominately older folks (60+), and due to the area, predominately upper class and white. The service was wonderful. The congregation left some things to be desired.

There was a side meeting held to discuss the recent adopting of an eighth pillar, one that specifically strives to bring racial equity and undo behaviors within the congregation or within themselves in order to make it a welcome place for all. We were able to share during the meeting, but my partner and I had little to contribute if only because we were new and did not know enough of what had been happening to say too much on it.

I guess to summarize, the congregation has been having discussions about how they might go about actually adopting this pillar, but not a lot has been done to actually do that. It's talked about almost as if the fact that we are talking about it is worth celebration, and yet it has been two years since the pillar was adopted, and no committee or leadership has been created to address it. Understandably, many in the congregation who are impacted by microagressions or outright discrimination in and out of the co gregarious are frusterated. Some individuals voiced their frusteration, asked when there was going to be a planning phase, some actions done, and there was a lot of "we tried our bstz but don't know what we are doing" and "it's up to the congregation to decide how to adopt these principals". The I dociduals impacted have voiced that it is a lotto shoulder to be expected to lead the charge in dismantling beliefs about their intersectionalities, and holding accountability for microagressions against them, and that congregational leadership should and needs to hold a more active role.

I see why there is frusteration. I had multiple interactions with mostly older men that were pretty uncomfortable. They didn't like when I corrected them, changed subject, or waved the conversation off. My partner did not get the same kind of treaent or interest despite being new as well, and announcing that he was new to UUA's all together. It was frustrating, not infuriating, but I definitely felt put off by it.

I'm going to try a different congregation in a population that is more like partner and myself, and looking online, it seems that congregation bringd in many diverse speakers. So my thought was, maybe there were initiatives in other UU's we could point to, so leadership can tyen pivk their brains and take action, since their main hold up seems to be that they don't feel they know what they shoukd do. I do have groups and activities I want to be a part of with the lovelier people from this first one (specifically their LGBTQIA and young adults), and these seem like good places to test sone of these steps so we can see if it is appropriate for this congregation. I also wanted to bring the conversation here, to see if any one had adopted similar things into their congregation, and perhaps what suggestions you all may have in navigating this kind of behavior within the congregation, having accountability, and addressing concerns in these meeting with leadership, e.c.t

Hi - I've been trying to find a picture of the actual symbol designed by Hans Deutsch and used in WW2 era. Do any of you know where I could find it, or if you could share it with me? There are a lot of interpretations of the flaming chalice symbol that can be found online, but none that are directly attributed to Deutsch (from what I've seen). Any help appreciated!

I believe every religion leads to the same God. Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, and many more are extensions of the Supreme divine.

God came to earth as those formed in different periods to encourage unity and spread positive teachings.

Does anyone have the same beliefs?

Specifically the UK. The closest we have here are Unitarian churches but I haven’t been able to find any UU congregations.

Edit: I’ve just realised that the “Unitarian” churches here are actually closer to UU congregations than traditional church congregations. Thanks for your replies!

Hello, I am doing this because it is literally a last resort before homelessness. I am in my 30's and have taken care of a family member for the past 8 months. The family member passed and I tried to find a job really hard because I just lived off of their income, anyway, no job and the months passed and I lost my car and I got diabetic neuropathy and now I cannot work a job outside of the home because of my legs. I also have crippling anxiety and live in a rural area. I have applied to endless online jobs but to no avail. I am losing my internet and probably going to be homeless at the end of the month. I have no speakable family because they dont like that i am gay and i also have horrible credit so i cannot borrow money. I know this looks suspicious as hell, but I promise you it is not, it is just a last resort. I am hungry and going to lose everything. If anyone could help at all my cashapp is $captainmidnight515 anything that you send will help me. Also, if you cannot send money please send prayers. I missed my loved one I took care of so bad, and so much heartache, but I would still do it again, we have some good times. Please just send good thoughts and vibes, I have also tried a few churches and food banks to no avail. Sorry, and I know people have it worse than me, just feeling down. I just do not want to live anymore. Will this ever get better? I hope it does but I don’t think it will. I just miss them and all this is just more than I can take. Please just manifest, pray for me, anything, there has to be an end to this. I know there are people with it a whole lot worse than me but this still hurts awful.

Hello, I am doing this because it is literally a last resort before homelessness. I am in my 30's and have taken care of a family member for the past 8 months. The family member passed and I tried to find a job really hard because I just lived off of their income, anyway, no job and the months passed and I lost my car and I got diabetic neuropathy and now I cannot work a job outside of the home because of my legs. I also have crippling anxiety and live in a rural area. I have applied to endless online jobs but to no avail. I am losing my internet and probably going to be homeless at the end of the month. I have no speakable family because they dont like that i am gay and i also have horrible credit so i cannot borrow money. I know this looks suspicious as hell, but I promise you it is not, it is just a last resort. I am hungry and going to lose everything. If anyone could help at all my cashapp is $captainmidnight515 anything that you send will help me. Also, if you cannot send money please send prayers. I missed my loved one I took care of so bad, and so much heartache, but I would still do it again, we have some good times. Please just send good thoughts and vibes, I have also tried a few churches and food banks to no avail. Sorry, and I know people have it worse than me, just feeling down. I just do not want to live anymore. Will this ever get better? I hope it does but I don’t think it will. I just miss them and all this is just more than I can take. Please just manifest, pray for me, anything, there has to be an end to this.

So, honestly, I’m not sure all that becoming a UU member entails... But I’ve been going to UU services — maybe 6 or 7 over the past few months — and so far I’ve really enjoyed the sense of community and how the services/sermons make me think more deeply about what’s going on in the world and in other people’s lives. I love that they share the donation baskets with organizations that are philanthropic and justice-oriented. I enjoy the singing and the stories and the little moments of meditation.

I think I want to do more and to even try making new friends with the UU crowd, but I’m worried about the whole “membership” aspect and how similar it may be to more traditional/organized religions. I don’t want to feel like I’m obligated to come each week or feel like I’m trapped in some kind of agreement to be UU… and the prospect of having a “chalice guide” (as they call it) kinda gives me cult vibes. 😅(Side note that may relevant: I was once approached by the door greeter and she kept thanking me for joining, telling me I should come back again, and touching my arm. It made feel pretty uncomfortable — I guess because it reminded me of how some Christian churches proselytize. Since then I’ve waited until the last minute before going in to avoid another situation like that. Everyone else has been great lol!)

All that being said, I totally understand if that’s, you know… kinda the point of going to church haha. Maybe you can’t be a part of the UU congregation without jumping in. At the end of the day though, I’m really looking for a way to socialize with like-minded people, to establish some routine to my life, and explore my spirituality as an Atheist. I don’t necessarily want to take unfair advantage of the community — but I’m just not yet passionate about the church or engrossed in its philosophies. I think I need to become involved on my own time and in my own terms.

Here’s my big question: Do I need to become an official member to take part in the church? For instance could I try out some of the clubs/activities first to see if it’s all a good fit? I’m thinking maybe this Sunday I will try one of the post-service groups that do meditation or group work… and I saw they have trunk or treat planned for this October which sounds like a lot of fun. (I’m a single woman, no kids, and I don’t get any trick or treaters where I live!!) Would it be okay to just show up, listen to the service, donate some money, and take things slow? Is there a point where I’ll no longer be welcome as a “guest”?

I’d really love any advice.. I sent an email to the church a few days ago basically saying all this and they only replied “come next Sunday and we’ll talk to you about the membership process.”

Hello! I joined the UU church recently, although I had always been vaguely aware of it, in a way, I was a UU without knowing it!

I recently had a mental health crisis after using psilocybin, and ended up having an incredibly intense, scary, ego-death trip without my consent (I took a very small dose, but my doctors think that because of several chronic conditions, my body doesn't metabolize substances the same way as the average person). I had to do out-patient treatment for a month, but the nature of my crisis is not entirely psychological, so it helped, but only a little. Essentially I entered a crisis where I don't see anyting as real, and the concept of time triggers severe, all-encompassing panic. It's hard to describe, but I am chronically disoriented, things seem upside down and inside out and my own mental processes are very disorganized. Imagine trying to send a work email with a hangover, after stepping off a roller coaster. And the keyboard is set to another language, and the screen is not facing you.

Somehow, among this, I decided to join a UU church. I say I go every Sunday, but truthfully, my grasp of time and space is so scattered that it's not even easy to type this. And it's extra scary because I'm a boring, uptight professional who never dabbled in substances. What is happening to me is my dirty little secret.

In UU I find a little wedge of partial peace. I find myself not being able to feel fully present during service, but some things stick. I notice for even mere seconds at a time that I quiet the unrest and ask myself "How can I be of service?" " How can I uphold my promise to this person/animal/community" "What new promise can I make internally to be a better wife/daughter/sister?". And although I haven't chatted other members yet, even as I type this, I feel the love of this community is real. I know people are rooting for me, the way I am rooting for them, even without reading these words.

So thank you all for being a part of this, whatever it is. Thank you for your service, for your commitments, for your just being you.

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Do people who don’t label themselves as UU go to UU services or watch UU services online. I’ll use me as an example I label my as a Liberal Quaker but I like watching UU services online more than going to online Friends meetings. I know this is a weird question to ask. I just want to know.

Hello, I am doing this because it is literally a last resort before homelessness. I am in my 30's and have taken care of a family member for the past 8 months. The family member passed and I tried to find a job really hard because I just lived off of their income, anyway, no job and the months passed and I lost my car and I got diabetic neuropathy and now I cannot work a job outside of the home because of my legs. I also have crippling anxiety and live in a rural area. I have applied to endless online jobs but to no avail. I am losing my internet and probably going to be homeless at the end of the month. I have no speakable family because they dont like that i am gay and i also have horrible credit so i cannot borrow money. I know this looks suspicious as hell, but I promise you it is not, it is just a last resort. I am hungry and going to lose everything. If anyone could help at all my cashapp is $captainmidnight515 anything that you send will help me. Also, if you cannot send money please send prayers. I missed my loved one I took care of so bad, and so much heartache, but I would still do it again, we have some good times. Please just send good thoughts and vibes, I have also tried a few churches and food banks to no avail. Sorry, and I know people have it worse than me, just feeling down. I just do not want to live anymore. Will this ever get better?

I am an agnostic atheist, who recently attended a few UU churches. I thought because the church seemed progressive I might enjoy it. I didn't. And then it dawned on me: THIS IS A COMPLETE WASTE OF MY TIME! I think UU churches attracted boomers who would simply become Nones if they were millennials or Gen Z. I am actually a late X-er in my early 40's, but even I see no use in religion. It must be much easier for millennials and Z, to just dismiss religion altogether as something their parents or even grandparents did. As unnecessary superstition amd ritual.

We all know the movie The Exorcist. Demonology is a fascination with me as if I can show proof of it then I show proof of a God. Maybe not Christian but something good versus evil. This priest's diary came to the public of the real life exorcist of the real 14 year old boy the movie was based on. Not sure what to think about it.Is This Exorcist Real?

Do you know of a congregation who is practicing sociocracy as a governance model? I know there are some and my congregation would like to pursue it. Thanks!

Ref: https://www.sociocracyforall.org

Could someone explain the difference please?

I stumbled upon UU on tiktok and went down the rabbit hole and it seems like something I’d be very interested in. My boyfriend and I both struggle with religious trauma (I grew up baptist, he grew up catholic) so we’re a bit iffy and both feel a little like it’s “too good to be true”. I’m at a point in life where I’m trying to hone in on my spiritual journey and what exactly that is for me. I see that this church is welcoming of all religions, so is this a good idea for people who have experienced religious trauma and have a bit of a bad taste in their mouths for the religions that hurt us?

I'm asking various Christian adjacent subreddits their reaction to an excerpt to a speech given by the non-Christian ʻAbdu'l-Bahá given in 1912 in New York City. Do you feel that he gives an accurate rendering of the mission of Christ and the apostles and the nature of His Kingdom?

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"The divine Prophets came to establish the unity of the Kingdom in human hearts. All of them proclaimed the glad tidings of the divine bestowals to the world of mankind. All brought the same message of divine love to the world. Jesus Christ gave His life upon the cross for the unity of mankind. Those who believed in Him likewise sacrificed life, honor, possessions, family, everything, that this human world might be released from the hell of discord, enmity and strife. His foundation was the oneness of humanity. Only a few were attracted to Him. They were not the kings and rulers of His time. They were not rich and important people. Some of them were catchers of fish. Most of them were ignorant men, not trained in the knowledge of this world. One of the greatest of them, Peter, could not remember the days of the week. All of them were men of the least consequence in the eyes of the world. But their hearts were pure and attracted by the fires of the Divine Spirit manifested in Christ. With this small army Christ conquered the world of the East and the West. Kings and nations rose against Him. Philosophers and the greatest men of learning assailed and blasphemed His Cause. All were defeated and overcome, their tongues silenced, their lamps extinguished, their hatred quenched; no trace of them now remains. They have become as nonexistent, while His Kingdom is triumphant and eternal."

*Brave Souls

I’m a Naturalistic Christopagan that has been getting involved with my local CUUPs chapter but am searching for a local UUCF chapter to supplement the Christo part of my practice alongside the Pagan. So far, I have been able to develop my Christianity by also attending an Episcopal Anglo-Catholic church as well as a United Methodist Church & I really enjoy them both. I was wondering if there is anybody else in my position & what were your experiences like attending Christian churches while remaining actively involved with the UUA in a non-Christian capacity? Or for those who are involved with the UUCF, do you supplement your practice with other denominations & if so, which ones?

I’m a Naturalistic Christopagan that has been getting involved with my local CUUPs chapter but am searching for a local UUCF chapter to supplement the Christo part of my practice alongside the Pagan. So far, I have been able to develop my Christianity by also attending an Episcopal Anglo-Catholic church as well as a United Methodist Church & I really enjoy them both. I was wondering if there is anybody else in my position & what were your experiences like attending Christian churches while remaining actively involved with the UUA to some degree or another? Or for those who are involved with the UUCF, do you supplement your practice with other denominations & if so, which ones?