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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
What is this religion? (probably spelled the first word wrong) I hear about it fairly frequently, and it doesn’t always seem to be in the best light…
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Christy_Beth
Guest
My older brother is into that. At least he used to be. From what little I know of it, it comes across as a “new age” type thing. He believes in “auras” and personal “energy.” That is, one’s “energy” can be seen by those who know how. That sort of stuff. Oh, he’s also into the Reike bit as well. I’m not impressed with it. Once, when the family was together for a meal, he gave the “grace.” It started out with “Mother/ Father God…”
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juno24
Guest
Unitarian Universalism is a non-religion. I say non-religion because it encompasses EVERY religion, and accepts all of them as being true. The basic tenets are that whatever belief one subscribes to is the correct one, because what is truth for one is not necessarily truth for anyone else. They prize individual enlightenment and “spirituality” over and above any absolute truth.
I did a quick google search and found this on beliefnet about UU’s.
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flameburns623
Guest
Unitarian-Universalism is a merger of two separate Protestant movements of the 1700’s–the Unitarians, who believe that Jesus was not God and denied the Trinity; and Universalists, who believethat God will eventually pardon and save all of humanity. Actually–they are today largely a hodgepodge of liberal theological speculation–one can believe in almost anything or in nothing much at all. There even used to be a small movement of U-U’ers who styled themselves liberal Bible-believers; I don’t know the current status of that movement withing U-U. Some Unitarian-Universalist congregations are fairly Christian or even rather liturgical in their approach. Others–probably the majority these days–look more like something New Age or incorporate a lot of Eastern religious philosophy, Wicca, or other offbeat ideas into their worship. One will almost certainly find strong support for homosexual rights, women’s ordination, abortion ‘rights’, euthanasia, etcetera within the average U-U congregation. The U-U church of the 80’s and 90’s seemed in fact to be more political than spiritual–earlier manifestations had stressed poetry, mysticism, personal spirituality much more. I haven’t been exposed to the U-U movement since college, some 20-plus years ago but think I have given you some answers. Perhaps others know more.
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Liberian
Guest
My uncle, who is as hard-boiled and atheist as I have ever met, attends a Unitarian-Universalist church. My wife told me once of a UU service she attended which was dedicated to bicycle repair, complete with “Sprocket-Man” in jump-suit and cape processing up the aisle. She did not go back.
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WanderAimlessly
Guest
Unitarian Universalists are the ultimate Relativists. They believe that right and wrong are based on the individual. Hence, everything is true if you believe it is true. That is why you hear weird things about them.
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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
Ah. I thought someone I know WAS one so I thought I’d check up on them. Thank God they aren’t a Christian cult!
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Christy_Beth
Guest
I guess it depends on what you call a cult!! Some might call the UU’s a cult. There are some who refer to the RCC as a cult.
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dirtydog
Guest
Christy Beth:
No, I’m afraid they are Legion.
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jaydog77
Guest
Actually being a Unitarian Universalists does have its advantages. You can have a Star Wars themed wedding in their churches.
They also have cool commercials, like the one where they depict the Catholic church as a club with a velvet rope where they only let in “certain people”, but obviously not practicing homosexuals and people would otherwise try tear down the church from the inside.
I gotta work on this sarcasm thing…
They also have cool commercials, like the one where they depict the Catholic church as a club with a velvet rope where they only let in “certain people”, but obviously not practicing homosexuals and people would otherwise try tear down the church from the inside.
I gotta work on this sarcasm thing…
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cheddarsox
Guest
Jaydog,
that commercial was UCC, United Church of Christ, not Unitarian Universalist. However, the sentiment could just have well have been.
Unitarian Universalists are a liberal religious organization. People of all spiritual paths are welcome there, it is a non-creedal church. So it is OK if people don’t all believe the same thing. There are seven principles which are the common ground for the members.
The church draws on religious traditions from many faiths as its teaching texts, believing that there is truth and lessons to be learned from many traditions.
It has a Christian history, Unitarian meaning not believing in the trinity, and Universalism, belief that all are saved. However, it is no longer a Christian denomination, though some individual UU churches are rather Christian in practice.
A previous poster is correct in saying that most UU’s are pro-choice and promote equality for folks of all sexual preferences. Most, but not all. It is a very diverse group. In the congregation I attend we have atheists, christians, pagans, buddhists, jews, and many other faiths all making church together.
In practice, it does what most other churches do. There is a Sunday svc, all sorts of committees, classes for all ages, community service projects, a choir, collections for charity, etc.People attend for all the same reasons they would attend any other church, spiritual growth, fellowship, wanting to congregate to better serve the community.
But basically, as far as Catholic teaching is concerned, they are all going to hell in a handbasket!
cheddar
that commercial was UCC, United Church of Christ, not Unitarian Universalist. However, the sentiment could just have well have been.
Unitarian Universalists are a liberal religious organization. People of all spiritual paths are welcome there, it is a non-creedal church. So it is OK if people don’t all believe the same thing. There are seven principles which are the common ground for the members.
The church draws on religious traditions from many faiths as its teaching texts, believing that there is truth and lessons to be learned from many traditions.
It has a Christian history, Unitarian meaning not believing in the trinity, and Universalism, belief that all are saved. However, it is no longer a Christian denomination, though some individual UU churches are rather Christian in practice.
A previous poster is correct in saying that most UU’s are pro-choice and promote equality for folks of all sexual preferences. Most, but not all. It is a very diverse group. In the congregation I attend we have atheists, christians, pagans, buddhists, jews, and many other faiths all making church together.
In practice, it does what most other churches do. There is a Sunday svc, all sorts of committees, classes for all ages, community service projects, a choir, collections for charity, etc.People attend for all the same reasons they would attend any other church, spiritual growth, fellowship, wanting to congregate to better serve the community.
But basically, as far as Catholic teaching is concerned, they are all going to hell in a handbasket!
cheddar
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jaydog77
Guest
Which “truths” of Islam are embraced? 72 virgins? Multiple wives?
What about the “truths” of one religion that contradict the “truths” of another religion that is embraced in this church?
What are these “truths” that are believed in and embraced?
What is worshipped on Sunday if each of the religions that have “truths” to bring to the table can each have their own god (including Atheism where Man is god)?
One last question, you said most members “promote equality for folks of all sexual preferences.”. Does that include bestiality and pedophilia?
What about the “truths” of one religion that contradict the “truths” of another religion that is embraced in this church?
What are these “truths” that are believed in and embraced?
What is worshipped on Sunday if each of the religions that have “truths” to bring to the table can each have their own god (including Atheism where Man is god)?
One last question, you said most members “promote equality for folks of all sexual preferences.”. Does that include bestiality and pedophilia?
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Holly3278
Guest
It’s an extremely misled religion. Do a search online and you’ll no doubt find plenty of info.
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Christian4life
Guest
I have prophetic dreams sometimes, and I dreamed once that a really terrible leader would come from their church…I mean monumentally terrible.
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dirtydog
Guest
Most of my prophetic dreams involve realizing that I’m in a crowd dressed only in my undershorts. That is also monumentally terrible.
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Christian4life
Guest
Did you ever have the one wear you show up to school and then realize you forgot to get dressed? That one plagued my childhood.Most of my prophetic dreams involve realizing that I’m in a crowd dressed only in my undershorts. That is also monumentally terrible.
Now I have an irrational fear of going shopping in my bedroom slippers. But I accidentally do it all the time.
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cheddarsox
Guest
UUism is non creedal, there is no list of specific truths from other religions that one should/must believe. There is no list of specific truths that is embraced. It is left up to the individual. However, in general it is accepted by most members that most religions have teachings within them that are worth studying.
I would not call the Sunday svc a worship svc, though some uu churches do refer to it as such. There doesn’t appear to be any real mutal worshipping taking place. There is time set aside for each individual to worship their own concept of the divine.
Most atheists I know certainly do not consider man to be god, they simply don’t believe in any god at all, but I’m not going to try to defend their position. They are capable of speaking for themselves.
In my experience, I have never met a UU that supports bestiality or pedophilia openly, or speaks of them as appropriate sexual choices. But, people are people, I am sure that there are those among UU’s just as there are those in any denomination.(there certainly were among the Catholics I grew up with)
The commonality among UUs is acceptance of the seven principles:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Justice,equity and compassion in human relations.
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
The rights of coscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
Respect for the interdependant web of all existence of which we are a part.
UUism is in no way compatible with Catholicism, but neither are they godless, wanton people who gather to do ill and practice self service. They are regular folk who genuinely care about spirituality and seek to gather with others to challenge one another. They participate in similar activities that other churches do. collecting food for the local pantry, housing the homeless, building habitat houses, singing in the choir, getting together for fun and fellowship.
Yes, it is true that many do not worship or even recognize the God that Catholics do. Many UU’s have come to this denom after not finding their spiritual needs met in other religions.
I am not expecting you to embrace UUism, but casting “evil” aspersions into the conversation isn’t really neccessary or useful either. No, they don’t believe or practice as you do, but that does not automatically mean they believe and practice all that you consider evil. You can disagree but still keep it reasonable.
Or maybe, you really thought they believe in having sex with virgins after death and kids and animals before…If so, I’m happy to be able to set you straight.
cheddar
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jennstall
Guest
This is all spot on. I was a UU for a few years and then left because I never felt like any UU would ever commit to anything belief-wise. The Unitarian Universalist Association works on a Congregationalist model so every UU congretion is different. There are also many UU committees that cater to different “spiritual” groups. I know for a fact that there’s a UU Pagan group and there’s a UU Christian group, so there is probably a UU Buddhist group and a UU Atheist group too. The home of the UUA is Boston and they are definitely strongest in New England and many of the NE congregations are still really quite Christian, but those tend to be mostly older congregations. UUs are very involed in social justice issues and some congregations are really nothing more than places to get together and work on those issues while drinking coffee, with no religious focus whatsoever. They also tend to have big social lives in the congretion – coffee houses, summer camp, concerts, etc.
It is without a doubt the most wishy-washiest church (Assocaition really, the official name doesnt’ include the word “Church”) ever though and that always drove me crazy.
CONGREGATION – see, I do know how to spell it.
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David_Paul
Guest
I was baptized first Congregationalist and then a Unitarian at about the same time Unitarians merged with Univeralists . Studied halfheartedly for the ministry.
Congregationalists and Unitarians shared churches and ministers from the Revolutionary era on. Even in the 1970s, in rural New England one could find churches which were both. Perhaps some still survive.
The best, most fair, history of the faith I’ve found anywhere is here, in the 1917 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia..
Thomas Jefferson, John, Abigail and John Quincy Adams were Unitarians. So was the early feminist Julia Ward Howe who wrote the lyrics to the Battle Hymn of the Republic (they came to her in a dream).
At first, the church was Christ centered. That phase was best expressed in William Ellery Channing’s 1819 sermon Unitarian Christianity . In short, Christ was seen as a reforming Rabbi.
T.S. Eliot came from an old and prominent Unitarian family. Eliot, himself, became as Russel Kirk writes here “a classicist in literature, a royalist in politics, and Anglo-Catholic in religion.”
There is a movement to restore the faith to that of Channing, Daniel Webster and Joseph Priestly.
I doubt it will succeed. And even it it does, it contains within itself the seeds of its own destruction. It did not take long for the Unitarians of Jefferson’s era, who valued liberty, to devolve into marxists.
Congregationalists and Unitarians shared churches and ministers from the Revolutionary era on. Even in the 1970s, in rural New England one could find churches which were both. Perhaps some still survive.
The best, most fair, history of the faith I’ve found anywhere is here, in the 1917 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia..
Thomas Jefferson, John, Abigail and John Quincy Adams were Unitarians. So was the early feminist Julia Ward Howe who wrote the lyrics to the Battle Hymn of the Republic (they came to her in a dream).
At first, the church was Christ centered. That phase was best expressed in William Ellery Channing’s 1819 sermon Unitarian Christianity . In short, Christ was seen as a reforming Rabbi.
T.S. Eliot came from an old and prominent Unitarian family. Eliot, himself, became as Russel Kirk writes here “a classicist in literature, a royalist in politics, and Anglo-Catholic in religion.”
There is a movement to restore the faith to that of Channing, Daniel Webster and Joseph Priestly.
I doubt it will succeed. And even it it does, it contains within itself the seeds of its own destruction. It did not take long for the Unitarians of Jefferson’s era, who valued liberty, to devolve into marxists.
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TeriGator
Guest
I wondered this very same thing. Once I actually said it aloud to my husband, the fervent anti-religion fanatic, and he started defending them. He doesn’t think much of Christian worship either, so it’s all the same thing to him, and he felt that I had no room to criticize.
While I don’t know a lot about the church, I do know that the one directly across from our development hosts a psychic fair once or twice a year. It’s a big deal, too, they advertise and have quite a crowd.
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