Atheists, Pagans & Buddhists: would you join the Unitarian?

Question

Universalist Church? They are wide open for atheists, Buddhists et al. There's a pretty good sense of community there.
Do you feel the need for a community or are you okay as things are now?

BTW, I am not UU. I have a friend who is so I thought I'd ask.

Answer 1

I totally adore the Unitarians. They are such wonderful, loving people, and I have attended services at a local unitarian church. I think they do more to bring tolerance and understanding to the world than all other faiths combined.
However, I do like my own personal path and have a community already.

Answer 2

I'm an agnostic. I joined the UU church. I felt the need for community. If you'd like a 2500-word essay on "My spiritual Journey", write to me via my profile.

Answer 3

The congregation in my city are a large team. they're supportive of their acquaintances and family contributors to the nth degree. even although many anybody is skeptical of the religion they have been raised in, they do no longer desire to depart their church homes or temples by way of experience of community to be stumbled on there, the social secure practices internet a church provides, the convenience of shared rituals and celebrations. those people at UU grant a place for non secular seekers to stroll their very own course devoid of lacking out on a based community. i think of they're large. "There are 1000's of paths up the mountain, all greatest contained in the comparable course, so it is not suitable which course you're taking. the only one dropping time is the guy who runs around and around the mountain, telling anybody that his or her course is erroneous"-

Answer 4

I can't say I've ever looked too deeply into UU, because I'm happy enough as I am.

But from a glance (spurred by you question) it appears to be something I could possibly live with. Though I can't see a UK branch which might be a bit of a drawback!

As for community, well, it isn't too central to me at present. Friends, family and Y!A acquaintances seem to fill the role, so far.

Thanks for the idea though!
.

Answer 5

I'm afraid that I'll have to decline your very kind offer and thank you for thinking of my welfare.

My Buddhist's Dharma or Teaching advises me to discard rituals and other processes which do not progress me towards a Path of an awakened awareness or through the act of following such. cause either myself or other's suffering.

Although you offer a community which, by your description is "open" to others, I have to say that I would not require such for me to be aware of suffering and to find ways of ridding myself of my delusions and thereby awakening my awareness.

My goal is to rid myself of my selfish, self serving and delusional attitudes which hinder my awareness of and therefore my actions towards other Beings and the best way for me to achieve this is to understand the Dharma's teachings on my many consciousnesses, examine and discard my stupid reliance on my clinging attitudes and finally realise that the person whom I call "me" doesn't exist in any real sense, but is a conglomerate of other consciousnesses forever fighting within my psyche for control. Once these "other" consciousnesses are recognised for their impermanence, I can become aware of my true nature and become the true person I should be.

I am well enough concerned for this that I must gratefully yet sincerely decline your fine offer. I bow to your kindness.

Allow me to continue my pursuit and I will endeavour to promote loving kindness and compassion for all Beings including yourself both through my thoughts, deeds and words and I offer these in recompense for any unintended offence.

Peace from a Buddhist...

Answer 6

I am okay where I am now, and I have some serious problems with HISTORICAL unitarian beliefs and the fact that they are not followed nor acknowledged in the uua.

I also have trouble with the idea of universal salvation, as it implies something to be saved from.

I don't need a social club.

Answer 7

Personally I am OK with the pagan community in my area, but I do know many pagans that attend the UU church on a regular basis. I would not be opposed to it, but it would not be my first choice.

Answer 8

I might if I felt a need to be part of a church... I think for people who were part of a church and just stopped believing, it's a good place for them to fill the community or activity void that religion left. I feel no such void. And I'm perfectly content with my Sunday mornings how they are.

Answer 9

There are no Gelugpa lamas/teachers, that I'm aware of, in Unitarian Universalist churches, so I don't go to them. That they're open for people who like their church is absolutely wonderful... and I'm serious, I'm not being rude about it... I honestly think it's really cool.

_()_

Answer 10

as a pagan, i belong to a wonderful group with people who walk all paths of paganism. we perform 8 semi public sabbat rituals each year with a crowd of up to about 60 adults and children. each ritual is performed by a different denomination's priesthood, so we get to experience wonderful new things each time!
so no, i have a wonderful community where i am and it's expanding very quickly!
(but thanks for the invite!)