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Hello everyone, I’m 15 and I have autism and I believe that dolls/action figures have souls and that marriage is eternal. I want to establish an independent Unitarian Universalist church for my action figures that is just for them and I want to become the Minister of my congregation. I was wondering if there are any Unitarian Universalist minister in this sub who could virtually ordain (by saying a blessing for me in a comment here) me as the minister of my congregation of my action figures.
TW: CSA as the *middle question, please skip if it is sensitive for you
Are they allowed to swear? I’ve been lurking a bit and I have not seen anyone swear in this forum. It’s not a deal-breaker, and it’d be expected in a tolerant religious forum, but it’s interesting.
How the the UU Church handle things like child abuse? While I imagine the extremely progressive policies turn away a lot of would-be abusers, abusers can exist in all places and any positions of power. What does the UU do to both prevent and rectify any issues of child abuse / SA? While I agree that all humans should receive love and dignity, I believe that victims have a right to safety that takes precedence to an abuser’s right to community and I have no interest in being part of a church that does not reflect these values.
What’s the rub? These values seem to reflect the interests of many young leftist Millenials and Gen-Z - many of us are desperate for community, lonely, and depressed, and this church seems to be a great place to fulfill those needs and reconnect with others. Why aren’t more people a part of this? Admittedly, I thought Unitarians were just leftist Christians until a mom’s Facebook group post explained it further, which piqued my interest. I also saw a noticeable lack on info on social media - are Unitarians against evangelizing online?
ETA: Is polyamory accepted in the UU? I am not poly but I’m just wondering
Hello. I am doing this is a last resort because I am hungry and pretty much on the brink of homelessness. Please pray for me. I lost a loved one in September that I took care of and have been in between work from home jobs and now have no job and no home in two weeks. I lived off my fathers income because I took care of him. I am now down to nothing and live in a rural area and I have my rent internet and everything due. No speakable family and no transportation. I’d appreciate anything if anyone could help, and even if you can help financially please send me prayers. I have thought about giving up but I don’t want to but it makes it dang near impossible not to. I am also ostercized for living in a small southern town and being lgbtq. Anyways I’m sorry to ask for this but I need money in the worst way I literally don’t know where my next bill or meal is going to come from? And if you say I’m faking I don’t care and won’t respond. Please help me even if it’s prayer. I also have cashapp if anyone could help.
Hi there y'all. I am probably going along with a friend to a local UU service this weekend. My friend is a member of UU and is involved in some volunteer community work that uses the UU's meeting space a couple of week nights per month. This volunteer group is open to all, not just UU folks, and I've wanted to get involved, but I thought it might be nice to get to know the UU community there as well.
Partly it just feels like good manners to make that effort. But I've also been wanting to widen my personal sphere of community and work on developing my spiritually a bit. And now I feel oddly shy!
I guess I just don't know what to expect. I've never been particularly religious. My mother has been an active member of Unity Church my whole life and I attended the youth programs there as a kid, fell away from that in my teens, identified myself as an atheist for a long time, then came around to the idea of a non-religious spirituality. In time I've come to define that spirituality as pagan in nature.
I live in a relatively progressive city in a deep red state. I don't really know other pagans, I don't have anyone to share my practice with, have discussions with, or learn from. I've felt very lonely in this regard, and sometimes also silly. I know my local UU does do services and hosts events for some pagan holidays like Yule, so it may be a good opportunity to connect with some of that community.
I'm not and never have been Christian, despite attending Unity as a kid. I know that Unity is based in Christianity specifically and UU is not, but since childhood I haven't attended any kind of Sunday service at all. I guess I worry that I'll stand out or will obviously "not belong" in some way, or that I'll be too out there even for UU, or even more intimidating: that I'll like it and want to come back.
I know no two UU communities are identical but I guess I'm asking what, in general, should I expect?
Edit: even if I haven't responded, I have read all of your comments and I appreciate y'all's input! Thanks!
One of the things I have noticed in the local UU congregation is the fact that the minister frequently gives thinly veiled sermons about church development, especially in the area of church fundraising or volunteering your time (but especially about money). The sermons often have an attention getting title like "Exploring Your Relationship With the UU Church" or some such thing. I actually want to explore my spirituality, not be guilted that I have to give more money or time to the church. I do understand that the light bill and staff need to be paid (or the coffee made for after the service). But the constant sermons about development can be a turnoff to members or attendees that don't have the means or are of a lower socioeconomic class.
Hi UU folks with disabilities & our allies! How can our homes be more accessible? We all want to welcome diverse guests into our homes, and 100% of us are aging. Click below for the new issue of the UUCE Accessibility Task Force (ATF). Find out about a free, national webinar this Sunday, 4/30, noon pt. Please share:
Like most congregations, ours is recovering from the effects of the pandemic, but realistically, needs to turn the tide of years of declining membership.
I’m looking for innovative fundraising ideas, particularly those that help the church reach out to the community and hopefully, attract more newcomers.
TIA
Are they appropriate in today's UU church, or exclusionary relics from last century?
I'm a cubscout leader in the US. My best religious experiences were not from the United Methodist church I was brought up in, but from participating in nondenominational vespers at the scout summer camp where I worked as a youth. The BSA had (maybe has?) a program called "A Scouts Own Religion" that says any religion a scout follows is valid. My experiences in scouts shaped my view of religion, and eventually I joined a UU fellowship as a result. Many members declare they are buddist, christian, humanist, athiest, agnostic, etc. I don't think I'm any of these.
First of all, my concept of god is an idea of a supernatural connection between humans that compells us to be good. I feel there is some supernatural element. I feel that the religions that give god a name do it to simplify the concept. Making god an entity instead of a feeling gives god a voice. It's not human conscience compelling you but gods voice. I think it's an artistic way to present the concept.
Second, I think that demigods and saints serve a useful purpose. They give a person something to focus hope upon when they need a mental lift. I'm praying to St. Anthony to help me find my keys, or Freija to help my crops grow better, or Ai'wa when pandora is invaded by blackwater operators etc. I sort of believe that these fictional characters become real enough when we need them to be.
I also think we can't even comprehend the complexity of god, but that god must be accepting of our attempts. God is good, so I think god is goodness and kindness, not that god just likes goodness and kindness. I think it's right that people follow their minds and express faith as they see fit.
So what am I? How do I describe this concept? Religion is a significant part of Scouts. I don't want to lie to others and tell them I'm Christian or whatever. I don't feel the need to identify as Christian. I do think Jesus was real and taught people what is right, but I also think that an indescribable force exists which is bigger and more pure than the Christian concept of god. So what am I? What theology should I study to educate myself? I feel like my god IS goodness, kindness, and hope. So what do you call it?
I suppose I should not be surprised, but leaving a group we found to be unsympathetic to anyone unlike themselves, determinedly anti-intellectual to the point of harming themselves and devoted to mindlessly repeating cable TV slogans would be unsympathetic to our need to find a group closer to our more thoughtful point of view. Our, now former, friends have treated our decision to begin attending our warmly friendly and accepting, somewhat offbeat and kooky, highly intellectually charged local UU church with a mixture of disdain, aspersions that we lack agency and are somehow being led or tempted by dark forces and bland and unthoughtful sloganeering.
We had a friend over for lunch and walk around our neighborhood and he told us we were being lazy and didn’t want to ”do the hard work” of being a Christian as narrowly defined by the group. When gently cajoled with the story that some idiots had decided that the Bible did not mention water treatment and therefore the government and dark insidious forces were preventing us from the benefits of “raw water”. Some nitwits sickened themselves and their children by drinking water from a culvert (don’t do this) and I asked our friend gently to find some common ground and see if he agreed that some anti intellectual trends were causing Christians to harm themselves. The only example he could think of, gears clearly grinding hard, was that some communities and countries were trying to deemphasize use of petroleum which was OBVIOUSLY outrageous. I began to explain that we used to drive by massive smoke belching refineries in Louisiana surrounded by poor neighborhoods and although it might be familiar and convenient to fuel our vehicles with petroleum products it would be beneficial to all to be less…. Our friend‘s blank stare and complete confusion cut off a long treatise on the environmental and health impact, historically temporary nature and geopolitically unfortunate addiction to cheap oil as fuel. They are really just not interested in any kind of critical thinking and it saddens me.
suddenly, we have no friends and I am worried about my spouse who needs social contact much more than I.
anyone want to commiserate?
A proposal to replace Article II of the UU Bylaws (which in turn will replace the Seven Principles and Six Sources) will be voted on by UU delegates to UU General Assembly in June. The agenda for Article II is outlined here.
...
EDIT:
The proposal of the Article II Study Commission is a significant rewrite of Article II in the UU Bylaws. It fact, it does replace both the Seven Principles and the Six Sources.
More information can be found on the Study Commission website. They are currently accepting feedback through an online form, until April 30.
The website with essays is: https://savethe7principles.wordpress.com/. (And to correct an assumption some people made, I had nothing to do with the creation of the website.)
![]() | This banner hung at Unitarian Universalist Church (or Congregation?) of Oak Park before it merged with Beacon Unitarian to form Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation. What the heck is that symbol? Meat grinder? [link] [comments] |
Just curious. A family member sent me some material on the Unity Church…which I’m interested in actually.
I don't know if this applies to this sub, but LOST was a show that incorporated themes of religion/spirituality, free will, destiny, science, philosophy, synchronicities, mythology, demigods, elements of consciousness, quantum physics, magical elements, dreams/visions, it's own Source, and a whole lot more.
If anyone has any thoughts on it, feel free to post them.
I'm going to preface this by saying that if you've visited one UU Congregation you've only experienced one UU Congregation. I get that no 2 are exactly alike, and most aren't even necessarily similar. I want to say that before I get into this.
So, my wife and (up until today) had been members of one of our local UU Congregations for a little over a year. (January was the 1 year annieversary of us becoming members, though we had started attending several months prior to becoming members.) Everything, we though, was going really well. That's why we became members, afterall.
But then, last spring, some issues started to arise for us. It started with a Master Planning Committee and the congregation wanting to rennovate the church building. There seemed to be two minds about what needed to be done. There were those of us who wanted to fix the accessibility issues that exists within the current building (For example, the church has multiple levels, there are stairs up to the sanctuary, there are stairs to the basement where a lot of the meeting spaces are, there really is like no main floor to this place, there are like 5 different levels, it's crazy. So real issues for folks with even minor mobility issues. And folks who are hard of hearing are having issues hearing the sermon, stuff like that.) and to update the building to help us better live out our faith. (Add a shower, add a washer and dryer, add an ADA compliant restroom, add gender neutral restrooms, make modificationst to allow us to shelter those experincing homelessness, stuff like that.) And then there were folks who wanted to make cosmetic changes to the building. One big one being the restoration of the sanctuary facade, this large midcentury facade that is this whole wall in the sanctuary.
This facade became a pretty big issue. The congregation was hoping to raise $1 million for the whole project to finance these renovations. The original sticker price on the restoration of the facade was $300,000. Well, as we got further along into this process, the price doubled. Restoring this facade, and making no other rennovations, was now going to run north of $600,000. And the congregation was going to have to decide what to do. Well, they decided to plow ahead with the full restoration of this facade. (To be 100% fair, the facade was a big sturctural issue. But! There were other options. Like replacing the facade with a traditional standard wall.) So now, more than 60% of the expected money to be raised was going to this one project that wasn't going to fix any of the real issues we discussed that needed to be fixed. And now no money is planned to be spent making the improvements that would allow us to better live out our professed faith and values.
To boot, while all of this is going on, we have our annual church meeting about the budget. A proposal from the floor comes up to give the ministers and church staff a 5% cost of living raise. (Keep in mind, even with this raise they're actually still going to be making less because inflation is greather than 5%.) Much is made about the fact that this will cause the budget to be unblanaced and we'll have a budget deficit. (All while people are making pledges to finance the restoration of this facade. Folks are willing to give the money to restore this facade but not to give a cost of living raise to church staff? What's that about?) So, this whole thing is really causing me to second guess my decision to be a member here and whether or not this congregations' values are what they say they are.
Well, summer comes and our minister is going on a sabbatical at the end beginning of September. Before she leaves, a letter is sent out from her to the congregation. In this letter she reveals that several months ago she had challenged the board to address instances of Islamophobia that she's experienced at church from members of the congregation that she's informed them of. (She is a woman of Iranian descent and is visibly so.) The implication being that they haven't yet done so, and indeed it turns out they had not. I'm shocked by this revelation. I wait patiently for the board or one of the various other leadership committees or the sabbatical minister to address this. Nothing happens. Months pass. So, in late November I email the board about this situation. Ask why nothing has been said or done. Our minister has been subjected to bigotry and intolerance at church, they've been informed, they've been asked to act, they're not acting. Why?
Well, the sabbatical minister asks to meet with me. I meet with her. One of the things I said was "Our board lacks the courage of convicition to even issue a statement condemning Islamophobia?!" She takes this idea as a suggestion to the board. By late December they finally issue a statement condemning Islamophobia. (Which is, in all honesty, the bear freaking minimum. It took them from late August when the letter went out to late December to issue a simple statement condemning Islamophobia.)
I'm going to add that I was participating in this group's CUUPs group. Before the minister went on sabbatical she asked us to do the Samhain service on 10/30. We were happy to do this because we had just reorganized the group and this would serve as a good re-introduction to the congregation. We do an ancester communion ritual, invite members of the congregation to bring pictures of lost loved ones, we include the names of some recent members of the congregation who passed away in the ritual, goes really well I thought. Well, afterwards a board member approaches me and thanks me for keeping the ritual "reasonable" and proceedes to tell me how some previous iteration of the group had worn robes, and had staffs, and etc. I was floored. Imagine coming up to someone who performed a personalized and meaningful service for the congregation and telling them that a more full and complete expression of their faith practice would be unreasonable and unwelcomed? So, I say that to say that I too had experienced religious intolerance from this board.
Our minister's sabbatical ran through the beginning of January. She comes back, immediately announces that she is resigning and goes into detail about why. The previously alleged instances of Islamophobia are given greater explanation. Well, crap really hits the fan as a result. This overwhelmingly white and overwhelmingly older congregation loses it. They get super defensive. They deny, deny, deny, deny these allegations of Islamophobia.
The congregation is basically split in two now. Those who believe the former minister was wronged and those who don't. (In fact, the board issued a statement following her resignation in which they say "How do we care for those who were hurt by Rev.(redacted) and also embrace those who feel she was wronged." Pay attention to that language used there. It is a fact that the former minister allegations of Islamophobia hurt members of the congregation, but the rest of us only "feel" that the minister was wronged. To me it was unbelievable.
So, as you can imagine, tensions have ran white hot in the aftermath of this. White older members of the congregation post in the church's Facebook group about how they've never seen, heard, experienced, or witnessed any Islamophobia or phobia or any other kind at this Church. Meanwhile, POC and other religious minorities (such as myself, a pagan) within the congregation who speak up and talk about what we have experienced in the way of intolerance, microaggresions, xenophobia, are told that it isn't intolerant, racist, bigoted, etc, or told we are blowing it out of proportion, making more of it than it is, or have it denied altogether.
The powers that be in the congregation simply will not listen to those who try to talk about where, when, and how we have been hurt, marginalized, offended, or belittled by the church as a whole or specific members within the congregation. They do not want to hear any experiences that might be negative. Which makes it impossible to learn or grow from.
As a result of all of this, today my wife and I resigned from membership at this church.
I tell this story here not to attack or criticize UUism as a whole. But to recount my personal experience with a UU church over the last year and some change. Hopefully other UUs can learn from this. Learn what not to do when someone says that something isn't right at church, that they've been racially abused, when they've experienced religious intolerance, when they've been hurt by church. Please listen to folks. Please don't dismiss them. Don't gaslight them. Don't tell them it didn't happen. Or that they didn't mean to hurt you so it's okay.
John 1:1-2 3 and 14: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
I was raised Catholic, but I’m non-practicing. I don’t agree with most of the Catholic ideology and I always felt negative after leaving mass instead of uplifted. I’m a mom to two toddlers and I’m starting to consider how I’d like to incorporate religion into their lives. I think it’s important for kids to be raised with some kind of belief system with the freedom to eventually choose for themselves what they believe. I really like the UU philosophy, but it seems like my local branch is mostly pagan leaning. I’m completely accepting of pagan beliefs, but I still lean more toward Christianity ( I believe in some aspects of the Christian god, believe in heaven, hell, and purgatory). Is it possible to raise kids as Christian UU’s within a mostly pagan congregation?
I grew up without religion or religious education. I tried reading the Bible when I was younger, just to see what all the fuss was about, but got so turned off by Lot and his daughters that I didn’t continue. I feel self-conscious of the allegories in western literature and culture that I don’t fully grasp because I don’t know the stories of the Bible. I want to try to understand where fundamentalists are coming up with their way of thinking. I want to understand history better. I want to know what the Bible really says, not what people say it does. Now 4 years into being a UU, I want to give it another shot, read the whole Bible, and approach it critically, like in a Jefferson Bible fashion. Has anyone else made this journey to tackle the “big book”? Is there a commonly agreed upon version, or one that religious scholars typically use? Any recommendations for making a read-through meaningful or successful?
Hi, all. I’m new-ish to my congregation, which is the first church I’ve joined as an adult. I’m really enjoying the community, the minister, and UU-ism in general.
My congregation has been without a settled minister for a few years. We finally found one who we like, who likes us back, and all parties want to make it official. Later this year we’re holding a settling ceremony and I’d like to get our new minister something to show my appreciation of their work and the positive impact they’ve made.
Would getting them a gift be appropriate? And if so, what kind of gifts would a minister like/use/appreciate? I get that everyone is different, but any ideas would be useful.
Thanks so much!
Title says most of it.
I'm curious about the UU church. What is it like? Do they require financial contributions? I'd be willing to give sometimes since it's likely how the church survives, but I can't do 10% of my income like I did as an Adventist.
I miss the community of the church. I can't really hang out with my old friends without hearing all about end times bull crap and Ellen White this and Ellen White that.
I do not want to be a part of another Christian church. I'm an atheist now, religion in general seems toxic to me. But the UU church does interest me. Those who have experienced it, what can you tell me about it? Would it be a good fit for an atheist or would the church of Satan be a better option?
I am a late 30s Dad with a couple of kids (6 and 4). Haven't done church since I dated a preachers daughter in high school. I am not exactly socially adept. My wife works Sunday mornings and I am the religious nutter anyway. I already felt like I made a bad impression as I went to online UU meetings for my local UU during the pandemic; even joined up. But I got cold feet and had some personal issues come up when I was all set to make my appearance and canceled about a month out. They didn't get the message apparently as they were expecting me.
I eventually went once late last summer but it was super awkward as I have never done social events with just me and the kids before. My kids didn't want to separate from me, so I went to the kids class with them. No one really talked to us. I felt a bit weird about an interaction with my 3 year old daughter and a Church lady getting on to her almost immediately for what was honestly something extremely minor. We are a "Good Inside" family and never really get on to our kids about anything. Tears were shed... awkwardness.
I really want my kids to get the OWL and RE education, but I just haven't had the will to try again. I am also not sure what I want personally out of, or what I can give to the UU if anything. I am not sure if I can really handle the heavy socializing that seems to be what Church is about.
Anyway, how should I approach this whole Church thing? Thanks for any pleasant replies.
I think I first heard about UU in a Tara Brach interview with Pete Holmes.
I grew up Catholic. I like meditating and Buddhism.
I’d love to hear what it’s like growing up in it. And I’d love to hear other convert’s journeys.
I’m interested in joining a congregation. Unfortunately the closest UU church is over 50 miles away from me so I’m considering online attendance for the most part.
Edit: Whoops. Title typo. Six weeks.
I love having the opportunity to make inter generational friends but I would also love friends my age. What’s the demographics like for your community?
I’m 34M Filipino American
We often hear people talk about the Unitarian roots of Humanism, especially individuals like John Dietrich and the Unitarian signers of the Humanist Manifesto I. What doesn’t get talked about as much is how Humanism became part of the Universalist tradition. Does anyone have any insights or resources I could use to learn more about Universalism’s historical relationship to Humanism?
Can someone please give me a brief overview of the history behind how atheists, humanists, agnostics, and deists ended up a part of these two Christian denominations? Did some Unitarian minister or Universalist minister just wake up one day and come out to the congregation as a humanist? How, exactly, did the incorporation happen?
The progressive views of Unitarian really appeals me. But aside from that I know almost nothing about church. The culture, how the service is like, is it family friendly, etc.
If you’re open to talking with me on text or on phone, please reach out
Preferably someone located near New York (where I’m at)
As the title says (online would do as well). I consider myself a bit of a journeyman when it comes to religion. Started out in a Catholic+Theosophy home. Then just after I completed my national service I joined the Krisna movement because of a girl. That didn't go too well. I have been simultaneously looking at the Islamic (smaili) movement, but would like to broaden my horizon regarding the Unitarian church. I am really just looking for something that blends the wisdom of many faiths together but is also sensible, doesn't have too many strict demands about about personal hygiene and dietary customs, and above all is non-racialist, peace-loving and humanist.
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!
![]() | Why do you think UU rates badly? [link] [comments] |
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?