Is anyone here a Unitarian?

Question

I was just reading about what they believe on Wikipedia. One quote I especially like is one that I've espoused for years without knowing about Unitarianism.

"We do not, however, hold the Bible - or any other account of human experience - to be either an infallible guide or the exclusive source of truth. Much biblical material is mythical or legendary. Not that it should be discarded for that reason! Rather, it should be treasured for what it is. We believe that we should read the Bible as we read other books - with imagination and a critical eye. We also respect the sacred literature of other religions. Contemporary works of science, art, and social commentary are valued as well. We hold, in the words of an old liberal formulation, that "revelation is not sealed." Unitarian Universalists aspire to truth as wide as the world - we look to find truth anywhere, universally."

I love it. This may bring me back to Church.

wassumpmang -- that's what you got out of the summary of Unitarianism? Oh, no, my friend. From the people I've read posting here, and from the summaries I've found on the internet, Unitarians do not reject God or Jesus. Some may, but you don't have to. They are simply about searching for truth without dogmatism.

Answer 1

I am a UU Pagan. I love it there.
Every path is valid.
Find the closest Church and drop in. You'll like it.

Answer 2

I'm a sixth generation Universalist, now Unitarian Universalist. (UU or Unitarian Universalist is the proper way to refer to our denomination, Unitarian is not a proper usage now.)

I can see from some of the responses that some people just don't understand us. That's fine, not everyone is going to be able to handle the personal responsibility for their own spiritual growth.

We are a liberal religion and allow a wide variety of spiritual practice in our congregations. I'm glad to see that many people have had positive experiences with our congregations. It is amusing to see some posts on this board that refer to us as a cult. Truth is that these people either don't know what a cult is (think that everything that is not Christian is a cult) or have never really been to or investigated what our congregations are about.

If you are interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalist, the web address for the Unitarian Universalist Association is given below, along with the link to the congregation finder.

Answer 3

I am. I maintain the web site for my little UU church, too.

"Whassup" made a common slander - that we don't believe in anything. We do; we're just not united in our opinions about the nature of God. We all believe in the worth and dignity of every person. Someone who was racist, sexist or homophobic would be as out of place in a UU congregation as a Jew who ate ham sandwiches, a Baptist who drank, smoked, gambled and danced, a Zen Buddhist who contemplated the sound of two hands clapping or a Mormon who didn't care about genelogy.

This is a standard answer I save and paste now anad again to save typing:

I've been a UU since 1973, formally. I believed what they did before then, but didn't know there were people like me who got together on a regular basis.

We are people who don't fit in a normal church because of our beliefs. I sometimes compare our church to the Diogenes Club. Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's brother, was a member of the Diogenes Club. If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, you will know; if not, the analogy will be lost on you.

It is an odd little denomination that has three major beliefs.

1) The worth and dignity of each person. In practice that means we welcome (and ordain) Blacks, Whites, Ladies, GLBT's and other minorities and majorities.

2) A free and responsible search for truth and meaning. In practice that means we question some parts of the Bible and that most of us believe in evolution.

3) The democratic process. In practice that means each congregation hires (and fires, if they deserve it) their own minister, instead of having a bishop send us a new one. We have more librarians and ACLU members per capita than some other churches, too.

We have four other principles. Those three are the ones you hear about most often, and the three that set us apart from some other denominations.

We believe every person should make up his her own mind about the nature of God, which amuses, confuses or annoys normal people. We have Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Theists and Wiccans among us. Some of our members are from mixed marriages, like Catholics and Jews or Mormons and Presbyterians.

If you leave your Q open long enough (sometimes 20 minutes is enough) someone will tell you we are a cult. Cults are new, have a single mindset and have a single, charismatic leader. We've been around for 200 years. We don't have a single mindset. Our leaders are not particularly charismatic and change every 5 or 10 years. Calling us a cult is like calling Donald Trump a communist, but that doesn't stop people.

If you are still interested,
http://www.stanuu.org
has a Beliefs page and an FAQ page. The site has 40+ sermons, if you are REALLY interested. "Adventures of a UU Web Master", on the Guest Sermons page, is warm, witty and well-written.

Answer 4

I'm not a Unitarian, but have attended Unitarian services, and feel that there's a lot to like about their openness and tolerance. It's certainly one of the more progressive churches out there. In the Unitarian Universalist church, you're permitted to make up your own mind about issues, and are encouraged to use reason. I like Unitarianism for a number of reasons, but especially because the Unitarians are not asking anybody to adhere to some sort of rigid, dogmatic party line.

Answer 5

I tell you what. I've been to Uniterian churches and I've studied world religions. Here's my opinion:

Metaphysical beliefs are not what it's all about if your looking for HELPFUL beliefs to put into your life. I don't say that any specific belief system is incorrect. I don't even say that you should not adopt a belief as you see fit, sir. My point is that the way you live your life, and whether it's happy and productive or not will not be answered simply by an opinion about supernatural things.

I look for what's universal in belief systems. You'd be amazed, if you investigate, how much they all come to the same conclusions on what to do in THIS life.

Answer 6

I read about it recently too and got interested. I'm Pagan but I like the idea of attending services and learning about many different religions and taking what feels right to me personally.

Seems like a very nice church. I think I got a few Unitarians answering my question about it if you look through my question history.

Answer 7

I've been approached by the Unitarians and wish to investigate further. I know I find inspiration everywhere I look and I place none of it ahead of science other than when someone claims that science is all there is. I find beauty in all faith and I find all people divine and seek to find what joins us. This tendency to seek union is from my heart by Gnosis, from my tolerance by Wicca, from my knowledge of scripture by fundamentalist Christianity, and from my many contacts with those wise Atheist Buddhist with whom I've found deep inspiration. Some of the deepest experiences with God I've found were from the theachings of Rumi.

Who can claim any of them as undeserving?

If God is Love as Christ taught then everywhere people love one will find God.

Answer 8

no authority, no one to be responsible, do whatever you feel is right and then when you die, no authority either, no God of love to comfort you. When you deny the authority of the Word, you deny God. God is not a rapist. He does not force his love on anyone. He offers it to everyone. Unitarians reject God and his forgiveness. He is our Lord and Savior. If you don't want him, you don't have to accept him, but you will die alone in your sin if you reject his authority.

Answer 9

according to some whats ur religion website, thats what i am

Answer 10

maybe some other place besides church!

God Bless