The UU church just released a ten minute video to expand membership. You can view it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wezp1W2HKlU&mode=user&search=
What do you think about the UU church - or are you even familiar with it? If you are a current member, what do you like or dislike about your own church organization? Is it possible to have a cohesive church group where the beliefs of the members can vary so much? I'm interested in serious answers - I'm curious what others think.
2007-10-21 08:23:19 · 14 answers · asked by Eileen 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Edge - could you explain your answer? It's very nice to receive answers, but when there is no explanation, it makes the answer a little less useful for consideration.
2007-10-21 08:32:09 · update #1
I think they are wonderful; warm, witty, well-read, intelligent and devilishly handsome. I've been one since 1973. We all believe in the worth and dignity of each individual, but don't all have the same belief about the nature of God. This amuses, confuses or annoys normal people, Protestant, Catholic and Jew alike.
Read more, if you like:
http://www.stanuu.org/beliefs.html
and
http://www.stanuu.org/newfaq.html
What I like about them is their willinness to accept each other. What I don't like is they sometimes seem determined to jump onto every liberal bandwagon that rolls through town.
Our congregation is not as cohesive as a Lutheran churcn in a town settled by Norwegians who have been Lutheran since the 1600's, but we get along.
2007-10-22 03:52:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is, indeed, possible to have a cohesive church where beliefs vary. Our congregation has a huge variety, ranging from Humanist to Pagan; from liberal Christian to Atheist.
Among the many common threads that bind us:
*Respect - For one another; for humanity - and the humanity in every person; for each others' beliefs however different from our own; for the natural world and our impact on our environment...
*Community - Within our congregation we care for each other, rally around when someone is in crisis, celebrate victories and milestones together. Within the community at large you will find disproprotionately large numbers of UUs working in interfaith and/or ethnically diverse groups, providing food to the hungry; marching for peace, stocking an AIDS pantry, building Habitat for Humanity homes...
*Democracy - UUs believe deeply in the democratic process. We practice it in our congregational meetings and we are active voices in local and national government.
There is much more. I encourage you to explore the Unitarian Universalist Association's website: www.uua.org.
Speaking more personally, it was not until I joined a UU Congregation that I actually felt like I belonged somewhere; that I had something to say; that I was valued as a person. I was painfully shy and didn't think I would ever be able to speak in front of a group. Now, some 20 years later, I have served in many leadership positions, am often sought out as a reader or speaker, feel fully engaged in the process of living... I could go on and on, but I reckon I have to stop somewhere. I'll leave you with some of my favorite words: Mindfulness! Synchronicity! Randomness!
-Zee
2007-10-22 08:33:19 · answer #2 · answered by Zee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't watch the video but I've gone to UU services many times. I like UU. Very liberal and inclusive. Gay friendly. Intelligent talks/sermons.
All of the UU people I have personally met are Humanists and do not believe in personal gods. That is true of me as well.
Those that do believe in a higher power, tend to believe in an abstract, impersonal, higher power that might be called things like the Ground of Being or The Universe.
The best way to experience UU is to visit the local fellowship and get to know the people. UU is all about fellowship. At least that has been my experience.
2007-10-21 08:38:01 · answer #3 · answered by kc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, in the last days there will be a one world government as well as a one world church. Some say it will be the Catholic church, but the UU might also be a possibility. You have to stand for something or you'll fall for anything....so the saying goes. When people don't even know what they believe, this church might sound pretty inviting.
2007-10-21 08:31:32 · answer #4 · answered by Joyful Noise 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was recently told on here that I am a Unitarian Christian because of my beliefs, but I had not heard of this church before. (There are none in my town or any nearby).
I think it's great that there seems to be such a positive message for everyone.
I believe that Jesus did welcome everyone to his sermons with great love and compassion and I think that most churches are missing this today.
PS- He even got alot of 'flack' from people because he hung out with 'sinners'.
*EDIT I think that some Christians will consider this an Anti-Christian church because of the tolerance of people and their lifestyles...hence my PS above.
2007-10-21 08:35:55 · answer #5 · answered by Jaye16 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eileen,
It is not possible to have a GOD Driven worship if most of the members do not know who GOD IS and what HE stands for. I am a Christian and I have a great deal of religious tolerance for others but I do not believe that the UU group is a religious worship group, in my opinion. Have a great week.
Thanks,
Eds
.
2007-10-21 08:28:36 · answer #6 · answered by Eds 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question is quite similar to this one:
answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20071013120726AAlaYjE&grp_name=SF-YRUU-announce&grp_spid=1600126272&grp_cat=/Religion___Beliefs/Unitarian-Universalism&grp_user=2
An old answer to your second question: "we need not think alike, to love alike". Getting a majority vote at my church takes a thorough discussion first, but getting people to sign up to cook for our homeless shelter is so popular that we actually get a waiting list for volunteers.
Some people say that "true Christians" would not join a UU church... but Jesus would get along with us just fine; he taught peace and compassion, so do we.
2007-10-22 15:11:03 · answer #7 · answered by Riley37 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm additionally an atheist - or in line with danger an agnostic with atheism as a working concept - and UUism suits me fantastic. i will get alongside with theists who opt to feed the hungry and heal the ill; as an early Unitarian mentioned, "we choose no longer think of alike to love alike". I additionally like the dawn metaphor, as follows: if via "dawn" you propose that impressive, awe-inspiring adventure that happens while sunlight actually rises above the flat Earth, then I share the sweetness and awe yet I unquestionably have a distinctive wisdom of the reason (i think of this is an optical phantasm brought about via the around Earth's rotation). If via "God" you propose that impulse in direction of compassion and connection that human beings experience, and you believe that it is likewise an all-powerful omniscient international-becoming previous guy interior the sky who needs to furnish us rules, properly, then I share the warmth fuzzies, yet as with sunrises, I unquestionably have a distinctive wisdom of the reason in the back of the sensation.
2016-10-04 07:24:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think any true Christian would not even consider joining the UU church.
2007-10-21 08:28:51 · answer #9 · answered by Bible warrior 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Looks like Socialism with a bit of New Age Philosophy thrown in. No mention of sin or salvation in Christ as God. In fact salvation was 'by character - how you lead your life.' Concentrates on you and what you do - which is idolatry. Has nothing to do with Christ.
2007-10-21 08:50:38 · answer #10 · answered by cheir 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋