I was raised a christmas and easter christian, and in college, would attend services with friends because I liked the contemplative, spiritual seeking feeling I got in church. What I didn't like was how I agreed with less and less of what I was being asked to profess.
First it was miracles and magical thinking involved in prayer. Then itwas the divinity of Christ and the trinty. Then it was finally God as a person who would intervene in my life if He chose to do so. I finally stopped going when I realized I was self-censoring too much to really give myself over to the feeling I was seeking.
I didn't engage in religion for a long time, until I started attending a UU church. I had heard of UU but had assumed that one had to believe in God. When I learned about its truly non-credal stance, including belief in any divinity, I was so excited to find a religion that would be accepting of a hard core atheist.
I have been a member of my church for going on 5 years now. I am a member in a covenant group which allows us to discuss different spiritual topics and our personal beliefs. One comment someone made last night about why she attends church is for the spiritual authenticity she finds there - everyone comes with their own personal truths and their own paths, and in the church, we are encouraged to share those truths with each other without judgment or being told we are wrong.
That is the UU ideal, and like all ideals, is not always fully lived. But it is a core value of the UU church, and that is very important to me - to be surrounded in a community of people who will accept my crazy ideas - may not agree or believe them - but will respect me for having them. And won't mind if I change my mind or ask them questions about theirs.
Spirituality does not require a Divinity, though some do have a God as their center of their spirituality. I find, however, that there is plenty in the universe to celebrate and wonder at. My church helps me see those wonderful things and celebrates them, in so many ways I never would have imagined.
First it was miracles and magical thinking involved in prayer. Then itwas the divinity of Christ and the trinty. Then it was finally God as a person who would intervene in my life if He chose to do so. I finally stopped going when I realized I was self-censoring too much to really give myself over to the feeling I was seeking.
I didn't engage in religion for a long time, until I started attending a UU church. I had heard of UU but had assumed that one had to believe in God. When I learned about its truly non-credal stance, including belief in any divinity, I was so excited to find a religion that would be accepting of a hard core atheist.
I have been a member of my church for going on 5 years now. I am a member in a covenant group which allows us to discuss different spiritual topics and our personal beliefs. One comment someone made last night about why she attends church is for the spiritual authenticity she finds there - everyone comes with their own personal truths and their own paths, and in the church, we are encouraged to share those truths with each other without judgment or being told we are wrong.
That is the UU ideal, and like all ideals, is not always fully lived. But it is a core value of the UU church, and that is very important to me - to be surrounded in a community of people who will accept my crazy ideas - may not agree or believe them - but will respect me for having them. And won't mind if I change my mind or ask them questions about theirs.
Spirituality does not require a Divinity, though some do have a God as their center of their spirituality. I find, however, that there is plenty in the universe to celebrate and wonder at. My church helps me see those wonderful things and celebrates them, in so many ways I never would have imagined.
