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Find a Stillness, hymn 325 out of the grey hymnal, has text from Carl G. Seaberg. The footnote says the text was based on a Unitarian Transylvanian (i.e., Hungarian) text. The rhythm, particularly in the first measures of the third and fourth systems, is very Hungarian. Anyone have the actual Hungarian text?
EDIT: Thanks everyone! I've got some good books on my to-get list now.
Are there any books you guys would recommend for a 4-5 year old? Ours is starting to ask about where our world came from, what death means, and other big questions.
I've been trying to explain in an age-appropriate way, but thought maybe some books would help her understand topics like this.
Also, since my husband and I don't have the same beliefs, I wanted to find kids books that highlight diversity of religions.
Thanks!
Question is in the title. This is something that's bothered me ever since I found out about it -- we have cross-credential acknowledgement for various Christian ministers, and we take from Indigenous cultures many things depending on the congregation, but an indigenous Medicine Person does not qualify as a Minister despite having to go through their nation's training to be their nation's version of a holy person. Why not? Is this something we should have?
A few years ago the minister where we went left and a new one came in. The sermons turned into constant talk of gender and LGBTQ equality topics. We tried 3 other UU places in the area and it was all quite similar. Lots of woke woke woke woke woke. Because of this, we left the community, but we’re thinking of trying again. Look, I’m fully accepting of anyone and everyone and have been my whole life. At a UU place, this is just preaching to the choir - everyone already is welcoming to all types! So why do we have to keep talking about it - and almost ONLY this!? It gets old. I’m much more interested in true spiritual and scientific topics. My question: is this what UU has become everywhere? What is the vibe where you live?
I’m a second year MDiv student at SKSM, walking/paving a path toward ministry (whatever that ends up looking like). SKSM does a great job fostering intimacy and rigor in the virtual spaces, but I’m sad to not have greater connection with other seminarians. I have a wonderful community of friends and family, but don’t feel like many understand the discernment and formation process I’m going through. Would love to hear if there are others who feel the same.
This may be a stupid question. But is there any body of scripture that’s specific to UU? I know it derives inspiration from multiple bodies of scripture but is there any text/holy book that only UUs claim?
Firstly, good day to anyone who reads this. This is my first ever reddit post.
Over this past weekend I was on a rabbit hole on various topics of research, one of which was the famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. While researching his work, I found a church he did in Oak Park Illinois which is called the Unity Temple. From there, I discovered UU, did a cursory search and for the most part, liked what I had found, and I'd even found a local church to which I went for service this past Sunday.
Now, I haven't been in a place of worship by choice in at least 20 years. As a child, I grew disillusioned with organized religion (baptized Catholic, loosely raised Christian). There are multiple things and reasons I could point out why I never stuck with it, but that isn't currently the goal of this post.
Now, I've lived a moderate, fair life which has had its own struggles, trials and tribulations as well as it's fair share of exceptionally awesome experiences and things. The one thing that really stuck to me was the intellectual melding with the spirit of "who/what are we?" and "why are we here?".
Now, I'm a fairly analytical person, I like to think, and most times often than not, I tend to over think and over analyze things in to ways that make sense to me. I look into history to see what people have done in various places and situations, and I learn from the past in order for me to live in the present and move forwards to the future. All my questions and answers are calculated off of research and learning, with the exception of the aforementioned spiritual questions.
I suppose in the easiest way of explaining, I believe in the Force from Star Wars, but not in the sense of how George Lucas wrote it, and not what the actual Jedi religion believes in. All people, all things, all beings, all matter and elements and everything is all interconnected in some way, shape or form. This fact is what I am certain of in my own way of understanding.
What I am looking for on clarification is, is the UU church right for me? Am I welcome (I know I am, but will others be there to help me in my search for knowledge and answers?). Is there anybody else who feels this way that can point me in some directions and help me focus my thoughts and feelings into a genuine way of exploitation that I can hold onto and draw strength and resolve from?
Sorry for the lengthy post, I will gladly explain more in the comments if there are any questions.
Thank you for your time.
It was a really good experience! I particularly liked how the sermon brought in ideas from a variety of cultures. My little daughter, meanwhile, had a lot of fun in the childrens' room with other kids.
We go to a UMC church as well, and while it's very nice and very progressive, the congregation there is implicitly expected to all be Christian - and it shows through in the sermons and the prayers. I attend with my Christian spouse for the sake of family time, but I feel a bit out of place there as an Agnostic/Secular Buddhist.
The UU, meanwhile, mentioned the Buddha, and Greek philosophy, and other roots of humanity's beliefs in something greater and unchangeable. There were no Bible verses quoted and no Biblical prayers chanted out loud (things I've been uncomfortable with since my deconversion from Christianity). Instead, I felt very acknowledged and seen and reminded of the good of humanity. :)
The one sad thing is that our UU church (by comparison to the well-funded UMC) is small, and doesn't have as much in the way of inspiring music. However, I'll be interested to check out their events and groups outside the Sunday service. Seems like there are good volunteer options and family activities.
Anyway, just wanted to come here and say that I'm glad Unitarian Universalism exists, and thank the community as a whole for being so open-minded.
So I'm now looking into this faith and started reading a pocket guide book on Kindle, and
Wow
I haven't read much information, but. Maybe this is what I've been looking for?
I think I looked into it previously, but saw that UUs would take things from scripture, and decided to explore Satanism for a bit. But. This seems to really draw me in. More than the idea of Quakerism did. The principles UUs share and the sources of info, and the fact that the congregation is all for loving others and bettering humanity. It seems awesome.
I may have found my spiritual home.
Not completely sure yet, but we'll see if that's the case :)
I also love that all religious backgrounds are accepted. This just seems wonderful so far.
I realize this may vary from congregation to congregation, or even person to person, but I'd there any communal framework for the practice?
EDIT: Thank you for the detailed and helpful responses, everyone! I think we'll try going next weekend and see how it goes :)
In your experience at UU churches, do they have some type of childcare or Sunday school for little kids? Mine is 4 years old and doesn't like sitting through church services. She currently does Sunday school at a very liberal Methodist church (instead of staying at the service), but I was hoping to introduce her to UU sometime. Is it accomodating to children?
I looked up UU, even congregations in my area and their websites. Kinda got a grasp, but not really, like the actual belief system, if there is any? A UU explanation for dummies would be appreciated.
I'm fairly new to UU, and I'm very new to pagan practices of just about every kind. My local UU is trying to put together a celebration of Ostara and is asking for input on what members would like to do and see...
I'm interested in joining but I'm admittedly feeling a little overwhelmed. I don't exactly "subscribe" (for lack of a better term) to any particular religions or belief systems and am not terribly familiar with the practice of spiritual traditions so it's all just a bit daunting. If anything, I guess The Prophet by Khalil Gibran would be my spiritual reference guide if I had to choose?
Do any CUUPS members out there have suggestions on where I could start? I know this should be fun but unfortunately I have quite a bit of anxiety over it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
I recently left a high demand religion (mormonism) and while I don’t miss being religious I do miss the community. I attended UU once and really enjoyed it. However, I’m not super anxious to join another church at the moment. How long can I keep attending before being expected to become a member? What does membership look like?
I often hear it said that our Seven Principles and Six Sources are not a creed, but a covenant. I guess I'm having a hard time understanding the difference. The Seven Principles and Six Sources are a statement of what Unitarian Universalists accept to be true or, in the case of the Sources, what they accept to be valid ways of knowing, correct? Can someone please explain to me how the Seven Principles and Six Sources aren't a creed?
Hello everyone! I was raised catholic, attended Sunday school and did the whole confirmation into the church. But I’ve never agreed with the religion and have had many issues with there treatment. For a long time I’ve turned my back to God or any type of spiritual practice. I believe that’s partly due to how the Catholic Church made me feel about myself. Within the last few years I’ve lost my mom and my Dad all before turning 26 and having a son of my own. I’ve struggled a lot and been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and ptsd from the deaths. Recently it became very bad and I had no desire to live. I felt I was a terrible person and didn’t deserve to be a father or have happiness. I opened up and I started medication and things have been so much better. But I’m realizing their is a hole in my heart I’ve tried to fill with many different things and none have worked. After the new medication had kicked in and my depressive and anxious fog started to lift I begin to crave spiritual experience again. I found a UU congregation near me and I would love to attend but I’m very nervous due to how catholic mass also made me feel judged and that I was not a good person. I also came out gay as well recently. I feel I’m starting to grow and head in a positive direction but I’m really missing that faith piece.
20 odd years ago I participated in some amazing teen events and am now looking for similar for my teenage son. I did a Washington trip, went to GA, and participated in several lock-ins at churches in the south and Midwest. Is there stuff like that going on? There is not a strong youth group for teens at the local fellowship and I can't find anything online. Any ideas?
I was raised a UU. I stopped going to church in my teens. Was always an atheist or agnostic.
Recently have been learning more about Jesus, but not really willing to call myself a Christian. I think one of the best things about being raised UU is having the awareness that all people from all around the world are equal, I don't need to believe "my way" is correct, and the billions of people who follow any other religion are wrong. But ya I haven't gone to a service in a long time but still think I mostly identify as a UU just believing no one way is correct and all people have the right to believe in whatever they choose.
Every time I argue with a fundamentalist Christian type they insist that they have proof of Old Testament stories occurring. Here is a Pastor with such proof. You will see it isn't proof but just speculation and it is bad speculation at that. Really, the Christian god can't be verified with all of these inaccuracies of what the bible says versus what we know happened.
So I was in a coffee hour zoom break room with the CLFUU (separate from their regular zooms). The conversation was basically about oppression vs liberation and what could that look like for various people. I piped up because as a low income person on SSDI there’s a lot of restrictions that go with different levels of SSI and SSDI. In my case, I basically can’t choose who I get to marry if I get married and the big one that gets everyone stumped is I can’t work but so many hours. The kicker is, that rule only applies if I want to stay in the oppressive lower class of America. I never wanted to be here but despite having a college degree and am relatively smart; most people (even others on these degrading programs); only stick with the oppressive belief that you can’t work too many hours or make to much money on Social Security programs. My degree is in Sociology, so I totally understand what I’m talking about when I say I want to break out of poverty, not be on SSDI and get the opportunity to be middle class or better. I’m sick of living in public housing and other shit. In this break room, two others were also on similar programs. The man was trying to support my goals and understood what I was trying to achieve but the lady who was also on an SSA program was still in the poverty/oppressive mindset of “you can’t make too much money on SSDI, etc”, the man and I called her out, she apologized but nothing got solved because the break room timed out and I was so mad I left the coffee hour. I’ve had similar issues with my local UU basically being classist toward me too. So I don’t know why UU’s don’t encourage their disabled people more to fight the ableism and classist oppression that our US government puts us in. It saddens me how much so many disabled people I live with in my apartment and online who don’t try harder to fight the classism and ableist oppression they’ve been dealt.
Hello ya'll! I'm interested in becoming an UUA minister. I was formerly an ordained minister with a non-denomination congregation as well as worked 10+ years in ministry with the Salvation Army and United Methodist Church. (my theology has become way more liberal and progressive). I have a Master of Theology, but from my understanding, I would need to complete a MDiv. I would enjoy doing so, but am quite leery of the cost, as well as I can't really move and attend in person as I own business's where I live. Does anybody know of a low-cost, online MDiv?
Also, I feel that I have enough relevant experience and would have no problem starting at a congregation tomorrow (hopefully, I don't come across as arrogant!). I don't mind furthering my education, but would rather not wait years until I finish an MDiv, etc.
My observation (I humbly admit I could be wrong) is that there are congregations that are in need of ministers (I have noticed some having openings for over a year!). Yes, some are part-time positions, but I feel someone like me (who doesn't need full-time work) could fill the congregation's needs.
Any advice or thoughts? Thanks!
What would you recommend for someone like me that is interested in UU, and is seeking to practice it outside of the US or other countries that have UU congregations?
A great number, if not the majority of the members of my local church are agnostic or atheist. There are quite a few who practice Wicca/wicca-influenced paganism. I’m one of the only Buddhists who regularly attends (AFAIK, the only one.)
I would love to hear from other UUs who are otherwise religious (especially Buddhist UUs) about their experiences! Personally, I love my congregation and I almost always have a great time when I go, but I sometimes find myself bored with some of the more secular aspects.
Hello I am an early 40’s single male. Live alone, no children and no friends. I have depression so bad that I got fired from my job two weeks ago. . I lost a very close family member and have been literally the lowest point in my life. I am now to the point that I do not have the power to even turn on a light because the light just makes me more depressed. I know reddit has some really good people though and I hate to ask but could someone please maybe spare me $10 to get something to eat? I was single so I really never bought groceries just ate takeout mostly cause it’s so cheap and now I am dead broke, no job, no food, no way to pay rent at the end of the month, and still waiting for my unemployment to be approved and searching for jobs and cannot find any due to having no car (I worked previously from home) and it is a rural area. I have cashapp if anyone can help, I hate to do this and this is the most embarrassing thing to ask, but I have asked churches for help and to no avail. Honestly living in a small southern town and being openly lgbt is awful. I so cannot wait to get a way out of here and move up north. But right now I’m hungry. I’ve been calling my therapist off and on and it’s helped a little but when you lose the person who raises you it takes a lot out of you. Especially when you’re used to seeing them everyday. Anyways, I know I don’t have it any worst than most and need to look at the bright side, but it’s hard. If anyone could help me with anything at all I will get it back to you when I get on my feet I swear. And I will eventually I just need a little help right now and have no one. I’ve also tried payday loans but no job and a horrible credit history has barred me from that. Anyways, thanks for reading and please send me positive vibes, and even if you can’t help I feel better just venting and am open to all advice. I’m just hungry and literally ate my last piece of bread this morning. Anyway, thanks so much for reading this. And hope I didn’t depress you too bad today.
Sabbath and it’s relevance
A short thought on this subject-https://twitter.com/the_sigmamale/status/1616820138518654976?s=20&t=BVyBEARhBNtM9i9_xMiO2A
Do UUs ever hire their Interim minister as their settled or developmental minister?
I'm in a process of leaving my lifelong faith of Mormonism. Thinking of stopping by the UU church in my community. Do you think this is a good place to start my church hopping adventure? Also, what should I expect? What are the Sunday services like? Do they have childcare during the service or do families sit together? This is all very new to me.
Hi, friends! I am relatively new to UU. I started attending virtual services early last year and began going in-person in the late fall. I definitely believe that I have found my spiritual home with this congregation. My congregation is starting to talk about General Assembly this year in Pittsburgh, PA and I have a few questions for those of you who had been before.
Thank you!
I am new to organized religion, and we have begun to learn about our local UU and attend some events and services. We would love to connect and give back to our community more, but I’m a little at odds, wondering if I am being a little bit stingy or self-oriented in nature, if that makes me a poor fit to the community?
I would like to introduce our toddler to diverse people and families, and lead by example that all people are worthy, and also teach her about giving back. My household is pretty high earning (about $300k/annually) and we have some of our own financial goals (supporting a good education and growing family, supporting aging parents, early retirement). When it comes down to it, I just don’t want to give 10% (or even 5%) of my income away. I am comfortable with committing to $5k in the first year, and increasing $1k a year until we reach $10k, and hold steady at that. I know that joining a church should not be about money, but I’m wondering if I feel this sense of covering my needs first (including the needs of those who are most important to me), is that at odds with the ethos of the UU community?
After attending since mid 2020 my family and I finally joined our local UU church as members. So excited to become more involved in both the congregation and surrounding community!
Hey folks. I was raised heavily catholic (my dad is a deacon). When I was a teenager and became old enough to think rationally and really question things I went through an edgy atheist phase, and the older I got and the more research and studying and reflecting I did I came to believe that the concept of God that I had been debunking was a rather underdeveloped one at best, and became more open minded to religion. These days I consider myself an agnostic with heavy pantheist leanings. I think that there is some wisdom to be found in most religions.
In my research, UU seems to be the closest thing to a religious community that would match my beliefs. However, from what I've found the actual practice has less to do with discussions or rituals or whatever addressing life questions and issues from an existential or spiritual perspective as much as it is all about social justice without any solid metaphysical or existential belief motivating it.
Now, don't get me wrong. I think social justice is extremely important, but why not just make it an organization instead of a religion if the only thing connecting it to religion is the fact that it takes place in a church?
I think our society right now is experiencing a crisis of meaning in our secular age, and it's not surprising that people are turning to politics to find meaning. You also have political organizations that are dressed up as churches. On the right, you have baptists who've turned their pulpits into political soapboxes, and on the left you have UU. Not to say that these are the same. One preaches fascism and the other social justice, but neither seem to properly address that crisis of meaning.
From the sermons I've listened to, I just never got the sense that this is a place where I can experience the wonder and mystery that I would hope to expect from a religion that matches my beliefs.
According to google “Unitarians believe that God is only one person. Unitarians reject the Trinity and do not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.” Is this true of every single Unitarian Universalist or is this just a general Statement?
On this lovely new year Sunday, “Let us purge the statements of outgrown crudities, cruelties, falsities, blasphemies, Infamies! Let us dare to believe that the light of Lord today is holier than the mistakes about Him made by those who walked in darkness.”
I was part of a huge UU church in Rochester NY.. it had a lot of members and multiple ministers. Now I’m part of a new UU church in the South and it seems like we have maybe… 25 families? I’ve only been going for 3 weeks now, maybe there are more..
But if these churches are financially independent and not tied to UU as a whole, how do they get enough money to pay the bills and to pay our minister??
I don’t know why but I have anxiety about this sometimes! His wife works as a hospital chaplain, I just worry that they don’t have enough members to keep this minister and his family here and I really like them.
UPDATE: They came out with the budget last weekend and said they were far behind what they needed, they fired two staff without getting congregation vote so there was a little stink about that at our parents meeting today. BUT in the past 24 hours they had a couple of generous gifts (100k! What the heck! When it looks like there are only like 30 people in services sometimes) and they are going to try and vote to rehire that staff. (I wonder what they will do with the severance packages they gave out to them???) anyway, so apparently they have many more members who don’t always come to services and I’m so happy to hear they can make their ends meet… I even found out they’re planning some big time renovations using capital campaign money.) thanks to y’all for calming my nerves. I’m happy there are people with more money than I who also find this UU mission a worthy cause.
Does anyone have suggestions for a daily reflection or meditation book geared toward UUs, pagans, Buddhists or Stoics beside The Daily Stoic? Preferably UU-oriented and with a Kindle Edition? My Google skills are failing me. Usually my superpower, but can't find something that fits.
Thanks and happiest of New Years!
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I'm from the Caribbean, I've try to make contact with a local Unitarian universalist church I had called them but apparently they haven't been there for 5 years , I try to go to the church physically but it was close i even try to contact them in their Facebook and no one answer, I don't know what else to do.
Hi friends,
I recently realised I believe in and feel the presence of God, after being a staunch atheist for my whole life. I was raised atheist, I was that smug kid on the university campus reading Richard Dawkins with the cover held proudly out. So realising I feel faith for the first time ever has been an unbelievably destabilising event. I have a great support network but nobody close to me can really seem to understand how huge this is for me... That I'm having to rebuild my entire metaphysical worldview from the ground up.
Prayer has been helpful, and I've found UU sermons to be extremely meaningful to listen to. I'm confident that UU is a church I'd like to explore more, and I've emailed my local chapter, but UU doesn't have a huge presence here in Australia.
I guess I'm looking for advice, comfort and stories, especially from any siblings who have also found faith after atheism. I'm feeling very lonely as I go through this process of figuring out what I believe.
Thank you all, and blessings 💜
I'm interested in becoming a Unitarian Religious Educator but I can't seem to find anything online about what credentials I need. Does anyone have any resources or knowledge on the subject? Thanks!
I have just finished A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism. What are some other books you can recommend for learning about Unitarian Universalism?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km9Rv_3bN5E
What do you think of this video? Examples of comments made on it are as follows:
One can at least commend them for not falsely calling themselves Christians.
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There is a Unitarian Universalist church near where I used to live. I never could understand what they stood for and never seemed to have a spiritual foundation that I could see. There was not any "glue" to hold them all together. I like your method of explaining things and find you easy to understand. Thank You for bringing insight to all of the different belief systems. I always look forward to your presentations.
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When coming out of my non-Christian beliefs, I went to a UU congregation. I still believed in God, but didn't know what that meant. Once I found that their roots were Christian, then it started me on my journey to Christ. I never became a member and then went to the UCC , then UCC in an ecumenical church with 4 denominations, the Episcopal Church. Now after years of study and looking, I became in Orthodox Christian. I'm done. No more needing to search. I'm home.
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Interestingly, this pseudo-church denomination, UU, has held fairly steady in membership over the last few decades, while most other denominations are imploding. On the other hand, their membership is only about 150K.
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If you don't support the idea that there is, ultimately, a right answer to spiritual questions, how can you say you're 'pro-reason?' I mean, even if you're a spiritualist like me and see the fullness of God as incomprehensible, to deny objective truth is to embrace absurdity and deny the existence of right and wrong...which can be discerned through reason. How can they make the world 'better' if they can't sort out good from evil objectively? What then would be the difference between meaningless change and progress?
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They claim to believe in science, yet do not believe there is "one right answer". They don't believe in empirical truths, but in personal truths. As an actual Unitarian with an education and background in a field of science, I find this organization to be deeply alienating and offensive to my beliefs.
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What do you get when you mix a Unitarian and a Jehovah's Witness? Someone who rings doorbells but doesn't know why.
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If you don't believe in something, you will fall for anything. This doesn't sound like any sort of Church, just a place to gather and talk. I guess the sermons are just for entertainment and allowing people to feel good for the sake of feeling good. It sounds like the perfect attitude in today's society. Don't tell anyone they are doing wrong, it might hurt their feelings.
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I have visited several UU congregations and I was told you could believe anything except for Bible Based Evangelical Christianity.
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Finally, someone defends us with what we are really about!
The assumption that UU's "can be anything" is actually a common misconception. We actually have 7 core principles and an overarching covenent that must be adhered to. Anyone is welcome to attend UU services but membership in the church requires dedication to upholding these principles and this covenant.
Are there any Unitarian Universalist churches in Canada?
I grew up in a southern Baptist church and through out childhood was told to do as my mother told me even though I was being abused and bullied, told i suffered depression because my faith was not strong enough. As an adult i was and still am rejected because i am not acceptable to my family.
I am now 55 and my mother passed away 2 years ago and can't bother me anymore and break my no contact. I have PTSD, ADHD etc. Plus as a woman decided not to procreate. Never married, no friends or family. Will i be rejected?
I am proud to be a Unitarian Universalist and I hope we UUs can help the world to have a brighter future!
I am agnostic but religions fansinate me. I want to learn more about some of them so I decided to reach out and speak with people who are members.
There are not unitarian universlists in my country (as far as I searched) so I decided to ask here. I would like to speak with somene in order to tell me about his/her religion.
Thanks in advance.
We could speak here on viber , telegram or on instagram if you want.
I'll try to keep this short: a friend and I have plans to attend a UU service this weekend. I saw pictures on Facebook of the congregation with their hands on each other's shoulders, which makes me really nervous because neither my friend nor I tolerate physical touch well. If we sit and the end of a row, would it be unforgivably rude for us to say something like "no thank you?" Is there any chance of us passing on this without making a scene?
Hi there, I've been having a discussion with someone regarding a cultural practice called a karakia. It's basically a Maori prayer shared at the beginning of a meeting or event.
The discussion centers around cultural practices in a secular environment. I support the Maori culture but not the religious aspect and have said that Karakia shouldn't be performed in public secular environments (govt, schools, councils etc).
The person I'm in discussion with says prayer isn't inherently religious and calls the karakia 'secular prayer' even though it most often references God or deified ancestors.
The guy I'm talking with isn't very good at presenting a straight forward argument and I'm trying to conduct a good faith discussion, not win an argument so I'm looking to explore the notion of secular prayer.
TYIA for any engagement.
So I decided to leave a UU singles group because it didn’t lead me anywhere. Mostly because most of the people in there seemed to be more interested in friendship and just talking UU stuff instead of romance and sex. WTF, the people in there seemed so wishy washy, is this normal for UU people? I’ve only been UU since 2017 and not always available to go to a physical church. So I only understand a bit of the UU culture 😅
Or just in the Midwest? Asking because I might be moving soon.
Due to mobility aids and a health decline, my disability suddenly became visible while I was part of a UU congregation. I had to start using a wheelchair. And when I did, dear Gods, it was like someone flipped a switch. My church went from just looking at me a little funny for my cane use to being downright hostile toward me and my chair. The amount of ableism I encountered was disgusting. People routinely leaned on my chair, even after being told not to. People moved my chair with me in it without my permission. I got rude comments practically every 5 seconds. It was so bad that the congregation was willing to allow me to be homeless because no one wanted to house a disabled person. That was the most common reason given to my face, anyway.
Is there a point to me trying again in another state?
https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/psc-nominee-president
November 15, 2022
The Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA) Presidential Search Committee is pleased to announce the nomination of the Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt for UUA President, for the 2023-2029 term. Rev. Dr. Betancourt is an experienced leader and theologian in Unitarian Universalism, including formerly serving as a professor at Starr King School for the Ministry and as Interim Co-President of the UUA in 2017. She currently serves as Resident Scholar and Special Advisor to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.
Review the Nomination Process section of this announcement for more information on how the PSC made its determination, and for information on the process for running by petition in accordance with the UUA Bylaws.
The President is the primary public and spiritual leader of Unitarian Universalism, as well as the UUA’s Chief Executive Officer. The member congregations of the UUA, through their delegates, elect the President to represent and lead the faith on a path to Beloved Community, in which people of diverse backgrounds, identities and theological beliefs can thrive. The President must be committed to transparent, shared, and aspirational leadership, using their understanding of power and privilege to advance transformative faithful practices within the Association. At the heart of this work is the UUA’s commitment to dismantling oppressive societal systems and creating communities of equity, belonging and liberation. This requires centering the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, members of the LGBTQIA+ communities, people living with disabilities, and those with other marginalized identities. The President leads UUA staff, volunteers and members of the denomination to create a Unitarian Universalism that welcomes the questions, gifts, and talents of all who are attracted to this faith tradition.
The Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt currently serves as Resident Scholar and Special Advisor on Justice and Equity at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). She previously served as interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Womanist Theology and Ethics at Drew University Theological School in 2021-22. From 2016-2021, she was on the core faculty of Starr King School for the Ministry, and served as its Acting President for a term. She was the UUA’s Director of Racial and Ethnic Concerns from 2005-2009. In 2017, she was appointed as one of the three-part team of UUA Interim Co-Presidents. She has been a member of the UUA Appointments Committee since 2016, and previously was a member of the UUA Nominating Committee.
Rev. Dr. Betancourt’s ministry centers on work that is empowering and counter-oppressive. Her academic work focuses on the environmental ethics of liberation through a womanist and Latina feminist frame. She previously served as the Senior Minister at the First UU Church of Stockton, CA, as Consulting Minister of the UU Fellowship of Storrs, CT, and as Interim Minister at the UU Church of Fresno, CA.
She holds a Ph.D. in religious ethics and African American Studies from Yale University, graduate degrees from Yale University in Religious Ethics and African American Studies, and an undergraduate degree from Cornell University with a concentration in ethnobotany. She is an ordained UU minister, with a Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry. Her book, Ecowomanism at the Panamá Canal: Black Women, Labor, and Environmental Ethics is available from Lexington Books (published February, 2022).
Under the UUA Bylaws, the Presidential Search Committee (PSC) is responsible for nominating candidates for UUA President. The PSC is made up of seven members, five elected by the General Assembly and two appointed by the UUA Board of Trustees. The PSC was established in the UUA Bylaws in 2010 through a vote of the General Assembly, to support the democratic process of nominating candidates to serve as UUA President. Prior to the creation of the PSC, all candidates for the UUA Presidency ran by petition. The 2023 Presidential election is the second time the PSC has led the nomination process.
Two members of the PSC were appointed following General Assembly 2021 (one later resigned), and the five elected members were affirmed by the General Assembly in 2022. The PSC members are, in alphabetical order by last name: Rev. Jaimie Dingus, Denise Rimes, Cathy Seggel, James Snell, Rev. Theresa Ninán Soto and Marva Williams.
For this nomination, the PSC developed and led a fair and timely application and nomination process that was open to any leader who is a member of a Unitarian Universalist congregation. Over its first few months, the PSC reached out to a wide variety of stakeholders to provide feedback on the Presidential job description and key qualifications, the development of the application and interviews, the recruitment of potential qualified applicants, and on the overall nomination process. Congregations and members of the public were kept informed of the nominating process throughout the spring and summer of 2022.
In addition to opportunities for input from the general public, the PSC consulted key interested parties, including religious professional groups such as the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA), the UU Ministers’ Association (UUMA) and the Association for UU Music Ministries (AUUMM); identity-based groups such as Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM), Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), EqUUal Access, and Transgender UU Religious Professionals Together (TRUUsT); youth and young adult communities; and UUA staff. Based on this input, the PSC sought candidates who could address the current needs of the UUA, and support the UUA’s mission and its commitment to the recommendations of the Commission on Institutional Change’s 2020 report, Widening the Circle of Concern. The PSC worked with the UUA Board of Trustees to establish a presidential job description capturing these qualifications, which was approved by the Board in February 2022.
The application and nomination timeline of the presidential search process was:
The PSC received applications from Unitarian Universalists who represented a range of experiences and talents, including ordained ministers and non-ordained leaders. The candidate pool was comprised of majority women and transgender/non-binary individuals, and a majority of people who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC).
At the conclusion of its process, the PSC unanimously nominated two exceptionally qualified leaders to be candidates for President. One of those nominees declined the nomination. Once the nominations were made, the committee determined that the only fair and appropriate course of action was to move forward with the nomination of Rev. Dr. Betancourt, rather than reopening the application process. The PSC members respect the decision of the nominee who withdrew, and will continue to honor their privacy, as was done throughout the interview process.
Nomination petitions from additional candidates may be submitted, according to the procedures described in the UUA Bylaws and Rules, by February 1, 2023. The election will conclude in June 2023, and the next President will be announced at General Assembly 2023. The current UUA President, Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, will reach the end of her term and will serve until her successor takes office. As with the current President, the next UUA President will serve a single six-year term and will not be eligible for re-election.
The search for a President of the Unitarian Universalist Association asks us to live into our best selves and our most imaginative futures, working to fulfill our deeply held aspirations. The Presidential nomination process is a call to covenant and to making our values real in the world through our actions. As shared in the June 2021 Commission on Appraisal report, Rev. Carol Cissel notes:
We are the promises we make and the vows we break. In this faith, Unitarian Universalism, covenants bind us together and strengthen our relationships. They create a pathway toward inclusiveness and, in times of both joy and sorrow, remind us that we are tough, resilient, and thoughtful.
So may we, in faithful keeping of our promises as a movement, elect our next UUA president. The PSC was unanimous in its belief that UUs are blessed by the candidacy of Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt. Once the election process concludes and the new UUA President is announced at GA 2023, our Association will continue on its transformative journey to create the anti-oppressive, multicultural world we all imagine.
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This announcement constitutes the PSC’s report for nominations, as required by UUA Bylaw Section 9.5.
For questions and additional information, please reach out to [elections@uua.org](mailto:elections@uua.org) and visit this elections page.
For more information contact [elections@uua.org](mailto:elections@uua.org).
Hi peeps! We are moving from Chattanooga to St. Louis in about 8 months. We will likely be living in the Kirkwood area of St. Louis. Does anyone know if there are are CUUPS chapters in the area? Thanks!
I do actually believe in God but not the traditional viewpoint. In the last few years I had a business and two relationships fail, other business problems, health problems, family problems...you name it, I have encountered it. It's been getting steadily worse.
None of my friends are able to help, and despite praying, God seems distant. I've spoken to my minister, she has said she has felt the same on occasion. My therapist references the story of Job (she is Christian) but it's cold comfort when I am suffering now. Unless she knows specifically when the suffering will end, it's not helpful.
I still pray and have not lost my faith, since I have had God appear in my life before in remarkably dramatic ways. But still the torrent of bad news is unrelenting, so I am on the edge of despair sometimes.
Posting here instead of Christian subs because Christians always say "God's perfect timing" which is NOT helping (like the last three therapists I saw)
Does anyone here have experience with Second Unitarian in Chicago? I live on the north side and am considering checking it out.
Hi there! I’ve recently started exploring UU churches in the area and it feels like a good home for me. I’ve been exploring all over the area (I’m in Boston) and while I’ve attended lovely sermons, I’m having trouble finding a congregation that has people my age (I’m in my 30s). Everyone at Sunday service seems to be over 60. I wonder if Sunday service may just not be the right place to start? Anyone in the are (or in general) have any advice?
I am an ex-Christian and I have religious trauma related to that. I went to an in-person UU service for the first time Sunday. I got teary-eyed multiple times because I was quite awestruck. I’ve never had the experience of walking into a sanctuary that displays pride flags or hearing the Reverend invite trans and GNC kids to join the Girl Scouts troop during announcements. I had a wonderful time overall, but I have a few concerns. I can mostly handle hearing the word “God” and there was no mention of Jesus. The Bible was used during the sermon (Genesis), but its validity was questioned in a way I can appreciate. I am just wondering… is UU the wrong place to leap to, in general, if I want no associations with Christianity whatsoever? Or could I potentially find a different church that doesn’t reference the Bible? I am atheist-leaning, definitely humanist, but mostly still figuring it out.
I am also thinking about the perpetuation of Christianity and wanting to avoid that. This article encapsulates my thinking perfectly: https://brill.com/display/title/37153 To me, secular and liberal Christians are still perpetuating the harm of all other Christians, or they would drop the religious moniker altogether. I am wondering if I’m being hypocritical by being UU. Also, I’m really sorry if I offend anyone by writing this post. Thanks for reading.
Hey all! So I am originally born and raised Roman Catholic. I do not really find comfort in this religion anymore with their thoughts and feeling towards the lgbt community civil right etc. But I still love Mary and her place in the religion. I don’t see her as a god but I love the idea is saints and such. I don’t know if I believe Jesus is the “one and only” son of god (it’s hard to change that idea after growing up with it) but…is this religion for me? If not is there any other place for me?
Hello, as the title says I'm trying to remember the UU book I was given to read for my Coming of Age journey though the UU church. It was black, and it had a chalice on it or maybe flames on it. I believe it had a history of the church, but don't remember much more than that.
I'm revisiting books of my late adolescent and young adult life. I stepped away about a decade ago from the UU church after attending a few years and then going off to college. Then work kept me from attending due to the hours I had been delt, then COVID hit, but recently I felt something come over me, and I'm wanting to reflect on things in my life.
I'll be elated if anyone knows what I'm talking about and I plan on attending my first UU service again very soon.
I especially want to hear from latecomers to UU: what was the moment you realized UU wasn't just something you do on Sunday, but had become an integral part of your life, your relationship/marriage, your family?
I think it hit me when I quoted a hymn to comfort my partner. She was feeling guilty about a struggle we'd had the night before. I had already forgiven her, but she was having trouble letting go. So I quoted #637, A Litany of Atonement: "We forgive ourselves and each other; we begin again in love."
It clicked for her, and I realized I was using words of comfort in much the same way I saw other religious traditions doing.
Backstory: I was born to a Baha’i family in 2009, I’ve been curious about religion since I was maybe 4. When I was in 7th grade I became a Muslim, but I left Islam recently. I do love Jesus, but I don’t believe he was God, just probably a prophet who sent down the Holy Bible. I am also bi and I know you guys accept LGBTQ. I also really love how the belief of this sect is that everyone will eventually be saved. This sounds like the religion for me. How do I convert?
I get the impression Unitarians are more liberal, but do you tend to affiliate with a political party, or is it more about just accepting people?
I’ve been attending UU lately, and I’ve enjoyed it, so I feel it’s important to start contributing financially because I’m getting something out of it, but I want to find some financial transparency before I do.
I practice Buddhism after surviving a Catholic childhood. I want an open spiritual community with diversity and no particular flavor of god.
I went to the local UU church a couple weeks ago and loved it. I was very excited by all the diff kinds of people there, and they do anti-racism work which is something I'm looking for.
But yesterday the service started out with singing a song that had God in the refrain. OK, I understand, some people use the G word but it can mean a lot of different things. Fine. Then, horror: the last peppy verses addressed "the Lord". I lost it. Left crying. I went to a lot of trouble excising supernatural sexist abusers out of my life. WTF? I'm so disappointed.
You wouldn't think it possible to have a crisis of faith in Unitarian Universalism and yet here I am.
I am having a real problem reconciling my UU principles with trusting my gut when it comes to people who give me bad vibes. I've been burned too many times in giving people the benefit of the doubt and I'm unwilling to continue to raise children to be kind to creeps who may, in fact, be predators.
I know this makes me prejudiced, but I'm starting to think I've been gaslighted into accepting unacceptable behavior. I'm speaking in particular about excusing people on account of them be neurodivergent. This has been a reoccuring issue and I'm at my breaking point.
Can Atheist, Agnostics & Pagans be members of the unitarians, do they have to renounce their old position and embrace the new position or do they retain their own position and identity in the group?
I am a former Baptist pastor who “left the faith” and now hold to beliefs that are most similar to UU. I currently work as a Hospice Chaplain, but would like to become ordained so I can work in a hospital setting. I have my Master’s from a Southern Baptist seminary, but wasn’t sure how this translate over to UU ordination. Also, I have not yet settled into a UU congregation as my family is still processing my change and I’m taking things slowly. I’ve visited a few, but haven’t been consistent in one. Is there a minimum amount of time in a church that is needed before ordination?
All UUs are invited to post as comments various stories about UU churches, UU Ministers, and sermons by them.
So, I'm one of the many people out there who lives too far from a congregation to attend in person services (something like an hour and twenty to reach the closest one). For me, a congregation is meant to be a community, and how much can I really be a member of that community living so far away? Plus I really do use Sunday as a day of rest and I'd feel horribly guilty about using that much gas. Anyway, I've made my peace with this and just listen to a streamed service when I can, but I've always wondered what the limits for other people would be. I would say, personally, I'd be willing to drive something like 45 minutes, but not much further.
I believe Covid is real, but do not support the vaxxes as I have friends who have gotten blood clots and other adverse reactions. I think Fauci and rest have lied. I wear N95. The fact that no one cares about freedom, and accepts all this, and questions nothing really bothers me. I went with an agree to disagree stance but it's been hard, I don't feel safe, because I do question the Covid narrative and the failures of public health and believe the vaxxes have been harmful. The left's focus on censorship, failed public health and more has brought me to a level of disgust. My UU pastor is a nice guy but praises Bill Gates every minute from the pulpit. Every church member bought into the mainstream narrative, and I feel SO ALONE.
I waited things out but now it's been three years, turning people into pincushions for the biosecurity fascist state seems to be permanent for now, I can't go with it. That's what the left now supports and I am done. I supported all other vaccines but not these vaxxes. Friends of mine have DIED and have had blood clots and other bad things happen.
With politics, I'm done, the left left me. Supports megacorporations, tyranny, and now horribly of most, war where full war mongering where we are risking nuclear war with Russia is now in vogue. I feel too afraid to share my real political opinions and I guess I don't fit anymore. My church has gone extreme "woke" and even though Covid has destroyed our lives and is now endemic, no one is allowed to talk about it and has to follow the "official narrative" like a robot.
I used to be part of the antiwar movement, what happened with that as they all seem to want nuclear war with Russia and forget part of the lessons learned from Bush and the Middle East?
I used to like my UU church A LOT but since Covid now I feel lonely there and like I don't fit in. I am still technically a Universalist.
I was Muslim till I was forced out for being trans so I hope to find acceptance here. Any special procedures I need to follow
One Sunday, the Unitarian Universalist church in Florida that David Burton was attending featured a Sufi Muslim leading a "universal service"--which included passages from the Jewish and Christian Bibles, the Qur'an, and Buddhist and Taoist texts.
To Burton, it was what a UU service should be, drawing meaning from the spiritual wisdom of various faiths. Instead, Burton said, "That was one of the most controversial services ever held in that church."
"Theists and Christians are almost unwelcome in many UU congregations," said Burton, an attorney who lives in northern Virginia. "It's rare to hear a UU minister discuss God from the pulpit. On many occasions, when a minister does discuss God from the pulpit, it leads to division because there's such a strong humanist or atheist representation."
The problem, as he sees it, is that the Unitarian Universalist Association--the denominational organization of UUs--has strayed far from its roots, emphasizing diversity and pluralism and in the process leaving no room for traditional belief. To counter that trend, he has started a new organization seeking to return Unitarianism to its roots as a God-centered liberal religion based on spiritual exploration.
The new Unitarian organization has taken the name American Unitarian Association. To those with knowledge of UU history, that name speaks volumes about the intent of the new organization: Before merging with the Universalists in 1961 to form the UUA, the main Unitarian denomination was called the American Unitarian Association.
And that has the UUA crying foul, and planning to file a lawsuit against the new AUA within the next few weeks.
"The UUA doesn't have any problems with this group's theological and political perspectives," said John Hurley, spokesman for the UUA. "We do have a problem with their use of the name, which is the name of one of the antecedents of the UUA."
But to Burton and Dean Fischer, co-founder with Burton of the new group, adopting the AUA name sends the message that its members want to return to a Unitarianism they think has been abandoned by the UUA.
The UUA is the latest liberal religion to face charges that in the name of tolerance and diversity it has abandoned its core beliefs. A recent Hartford Seminary survey found that the fastest-growing religious groups place the strictest demands on members--which is not what religious liberals tend to do. Meanwhile, across the spectrum, denominations are facing pressure from small but vocal groups to re-emphasize traditional religion over liberal theology and left-leaning politics.
In recent months, several Episcopal parishes have opted to associate with an African Anglican diocese, rather than their local one, claiming they are theologically closer to the more conservative Africans. In 1999, Reform Judaism, after a bitter debate, adopted 10 principles pushing the denomination toward more traditional Jewish ritual. And in the United Methodist Church, the conservative Confessing Movement, launched in 1995, declaring that the UMC "is now incapable of confessing with one voice the orthodox Trinitarian faith."
While conservative movements are particularly strong today, they are an ever-present element of liberal religion, said William Hutchison, a historian of American religion at Harvard.
"It's not only natural, it's a good thing. Liberal movements at some point need corrective measures," Hutchison said, explaining that without them, faith groups can veer too far from where they started.
The new Unitarian organization, which was incorporated in September 2000 but only became public in late December, remains small; its founders declined to discuss how many members it has garnered so far, saying only that membership is growing at 20% per month. Co-founder Dean Fisher said a quarter of the group's members are clergy or have a pastoral care background, and that several UU congregations are considering affiliating with the new group. The organization's first major event will be held April 21-22 in Alexandria, Va.
The UUA bills itself as a "non-creedal" religion, which means members decide for themselves what to believe and how to act. Founded as a Christian faith, the modern Unitarian movement was formed in the early 19th century. Unitarianism, as the name implies, rejected belief in a divine trinity in favor of believing that God is one and indivisible.
As Unitarianism grew during the 1800s, its membership included Ralph Waldo Emerson and U.S. President William Howard Taft. Then, as modernism and secularism developed around the turn of the 20th century, Unitarianism embraced these new ideas and began shedding dogma. With the birth in the1930s of the humanist movement--which rejects any traditional notion of God--Unitarianism's shift away from Christianity became more apparent. To this day, secular humanists remain influential in the movement.
The American Unitarian Association merged in 1961 with the Universalist Church of America, and the AUA name was retired. Secular humanism was a dominant force in the newly formed UUA through the late 1980s, when many UUs began to seek a more spiritual path, Hurley said. Since then, he said, UU humanists have been joined by resurgent UU theistic and Christian movements, along with newly formed UU Buddhist and pagan groups.
"Compared with 20 years ago, theism has clearly made a comeback, in particular with the laity but also with the clergy," said Roger Finke, a religion sociologist at Penn State University and author of "Acts of Faith: Explaining the Human Side of Religion."
In his book, Finke tells of a UUA pastor in New York City who a few years ago was booed in UUA churches when he "concluded services with a benediction that invoked 'God.'" Today, though, that pastor says he can "get away with God language with impunity."
Gila Jones, an active UU member, said the UU's religio-political balance is partly a result of its leadership. As younger people take over, she expects to see an even heavier emphasis on spirituality.
"The group I call the 'pre-boomers' tends to be rather intellectual, suspicious of traditional religion, and very interested in politics," she said. "The boomers and post-boomers, on the other hand, are frequently involved in redefining religion on their own terms and discovering a spirituality that is meaningful to them personally."
She added: "As people of my generation start to have more time to devote to leadership, UUism will turn more towards spirituality and somewhat away from politics. That's already happening. Many of the pre-boomers feel threatened by these changes."
However, she believes the AUA has defined itself too narrowly by focusing on monotheism and rejecting political activism: "The UUs I know who feel UUism is too political are not in favor of removing all politics from our religion," she said. "I know many UUs who want more spirituality in UUism, but few of them are monotheists."
Still, the trend toward greater spiritual emphasis has not accelerated far enough or quick enough to make everyone happy. Even within the UUA, there are some who are dissatisfied with where the denomination stands religiously.
Davidson Loehr, pastor of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, Texas, said he isn't familiar with the new AUA group, but he sounded many of the same themes.
"There isn't the degree of honest and probing religious discussion there should be, mostly because in UUism.the politics is primary, the religion is secondary (or worse)," he wrote in an e-mail correspondence. "I've hardly ever found colleagues who are interested in or able to carry on any informed and significant discussion on religious questions, so I share the frustration of folks who wish there were fewer UU political/social cells, and more UU churches."
He added, though, that he stays with the UUA because "there is still more freedom to pursue what I believe is honest and responsible religion than there is in any other denomination."
To the founders of the new AUA, however, theistic UU groups do not have a strong enough voice in the UUA and are not welcomed or respected nearly enough. And they, too, complain that politics has been given too heavy an emphasis.
"Most people don't get up on Sunday to hear a political rally," Burton said, "but to hear an intelligent discussion on ethics, on religion, on how to live one's life."
I’ve never read anything about this and I’m curious because I tend to overestimate others’ authority.
I’m guessing this has been discussed-/what the ideal balance is, how much members should defer, etc, and I’d love to hear some of the most common takes.
Doctrinally, I feel at home with Unitarian Universalism, but after attending a number of services (or whatever they are called) here in New York City I cannot help but wonder if I would be welcome in it. Here at least, UU seems to be a branch of the Democratic party, and its not-as-liberal-as-it-thinks-it-is "woke" wing at that. And so, while I agree with the theological underpinnings of this movement, I am not at all on board with its politics, and do not appreciate being hectored from the pulpit on same.
So do I belong here or not, and if not, can anyone recommend a UU or even a Deist congregation in New York that is not an arm of the Democratic (or any other) political party?
Has anyone else gone to a unitarian universalist church just to find out that nearly everyone that goes there is fake? I'm only asking because I may try a different uu church some day but if they're all like this then I know to avoid them.
I' m not going to go into too much detail just in case someone from my old church is on here but I had been going since I was a teenager, I live in a very conservative state and wanted to go somewhere accepting. My church had always acted very open minded, very welcoming of everyone etc. But it's turning out that that isn't true. They have been discriminating against my mom and I just because we do not have as much money as the rest of them do and despite claiming to be into equality for all and supporting women's rights, they are protecting a man that's been obsessed with me since I was a teenager.
Just to keep it short, I'll sum it up, the head of the care them bullied my mom repeatedly for needing help with a bill, and the man that's been obsessed with me has a long history of harassing women, even violently harassing them and no one at the church sees anything wrong with any of this despite being aware of it all. We have no minister and we've told the president and the entire board of the church about this, they don't see anything wrong with it. They know how severely this man's obsession with me messed me up emotionally, they don't care, they've defended him repeatedly and told me it was my fault for it happening even though my mom and I have been trying to get it to stop for years.
I'm recovering from a bad religious experience and haven't been to church in 6 months,.but I miss being part of a community. From what I've read, UU sounds like it might be a good fit.
I’ve been attending my church since early this year. I started out lurking in online services and then started coming in person when we opened back up for that. I grew up with no religion in particular. I never felt much of a need for it in my life. But now I’m in my late thirties and after the isolation of the pandemic I felt a real need for community, and a welcoming place for open spiritual inquiry.
So now I finally found a weekend Journey to Membership class that works with my schedule. I would have done it sooner—I’m not having cold feet or waffling on commitment—I just have a conflict with the usual dates they’re held. And I’m kind of excited. Membership isn’t a prerequisite for most church activities, but I feel like I want to more meaningfully participate in the community. I’ve started to really appreciate having ritual, and even social obligation, in my life. I see it less as a burden and more about contributing to the larger human project.
Guess I just wanted to put that out there. I’m a little introverted and I want to be more of a “joiner” in general but I also don’t want to overcommit to things and lose interest when the novelty wears off. So I think I’m taking a good step.
So I've heard of this church and the jist I've gotten is that it's very human rights oriented and open minded but I don't exactly understand the particulars.
Atheist here but I respect peoples' faith (as long as they don't use it to hurt others) so I'm wondering if it would be a good community for me and my family.
Hi are there any unitarian churches on the united states territories like Guam and Puerto rico?
I just saw a big "Flatch Unitarian" sign on a promo for a new Fox sitcom. Anybody else notice?
https://sports.yahoo.com/locally-shot-welcome-flatch-premieres-182135669.html ... I guess that's what this show is about.
Could be good, could be terrible. It is weird seeing mainstream culture acknowledge that UU's exist, outside the random Simpsons joke.
Just curious. I do believe consciousness continues after death, but am wondering if I'd fit in as a UU believing this