If there is no central doctrine or dogma in the Unitarian Universalist Church is it a religion?

Question

UU's seem to accept all religious beliefs as valid, how can they do that?

Answer 1

I guess they keep an open mind, which is something only agnostics atheists, and UU's seem to be able to do. Why not try that yourself some time, but I suggest you start small, with something like Maybe revelations isn't going to happen, since the author actually said it was just a dream.

Answer 2

It's been a while since I have looked over the church's doctrines...but it is a form of religious pluralism where many religions and worldviews are accepted as valid paths through life or for salvation. I can't remember the basis upon which UUs developed this view, but one way to come to this conclusion is to view all religions as revealing various aspects of the same god. The religious tolerance source gives an decent overview of exclucivism (what most christian churches are) and pluralism.

Hmm, is it a religion? I would say yes since they place value on studying various spiritual views and the definition of religion includes "A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader." UU is kinda like combining secular humanism with spiritualism only they don't require members to be necessarily spiritual.

Answer 3

UU is to churches what Mycroft Holmes' club was to gentlemen's clubs - a place for people who didn't fit elsewhere but wanted the benefit of the organization. See the Adventure of the Greek Interpreter for more on Mycroft, Sherlock's older brother, and his club.

We don't all accept all as religious beliefs as valid. I personally think the Mormons are fooling themselves when the baptize dead ancestors, and that Scientology is a hoax. Most Mormons and Scientologists would differ with me. (On their half. Most Mormons think Scientologists are crazy as hoot owls, and vice versa.)

We do accept the fact that different faiths work for different people, and we don't have a statement of belief as a condition of membership, the way Jews, Christians and Muslims do.

As to how, we just can. We're tolerant. It's not like anyone could prove that their way was right, as clearly as you can prove the squares of the sides of a right triangle equal the square of the hypotenuse.

Religions can be a system of rules to live by instead of a system of dogma. Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are like that. We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person, among other things. Some of us belive it because it is obvious, some because they believe the Lord created every person. The why doesn't matter to us. The how does; how we treat each others.

Answer 4

UU's believe in what is called "synchretism", that is, the possibility that all religions can be harmoniously blended together into a delicious lamb's stew. However, they are still trying their best to get Ganesha up on that cross, but the twelve-armed elephant refuses to go, and, oh no, Ganesha, put Mohammed back in the well, bad Ganesha!

Answer 5

The generic term unitarian means the belief that God is one individual.

Answer 6

There are over 30,000 so called religions out there. I dont think that is the way God planned it. You can make a religion out of anything from the looks of things.