Any Unitarian Universalists here? - Page 3

[Amy in NH]

Me too! Me too!
I sporadically attended UU church for a couple of years as a child (during visitations with my Dad) so I knew vaguely about the doctrine. I wanted my kids to have a well rounded religious education, so I looked for a UU church in our area last year and found one in St J VT, a 1/2 hr away. I can't tell you how happy I am that I did! I love our teeny 40 member community! This is the first group religion experience I've had as an adult and I'll tell you I'm hooked. It feels so good to fit in somewhere spiritually, and I can't believe how well it just clicked - I knew right away. The kids had been to a Catholic church a few times with their grandfather and weren't thrilled when I told them we would be going to church, but they really enjoy it too and look forward to going each week.

I guess my biggest problem is being a non-Christian dealing with fundamentalist Christians in the community. Does anyone else ever feel a little bit judged?

[rachelle-a-tron]

YES!!!!!! Holy crap, people will ask me what church I go to & I tell them & they are like "What... they don't believe in God or they are a cult."

Ugh.

Originally posted by Amy in NH
I guess my biggest problem is being a non-Christian dealing with fundamentalist Christians in the community. Does anyone else ever feel a little bit judged?

[rachelle-a-tron]

: Start mini rant :

Sometimes I feel torn. I grew up Catholic & I don't neccesarily believe in the bible, but I don't not believe, if ya know what I mean? I can identify with the whole image of God & heaven, I identify with Taoism, but I also connect with aspects of Buddhism.

When people ask me what I believe I feel like a idjit when I say Im a UU, then they ask what I believe as a UU & I say Im a UU with christian, taoist & buddhist leanings.


I have no idea where this came from... Iv'e just been contemplating faith alot lately.

: End mini rant :

[Teresa]

Well, I'm a Humanist UU, and it's my experience that only other UUs will ask what spiritual practices you follow as a UU.

Un-Unitarian-Universalists generally want to just know about UUism. So I reel off the 7 principles that the congregations aspire to.
1. Inherent dignity and worth of every person
2. Accepting each other and encouraging spiritual growth
3. Free and Responsible search for meaning and truth
4. Justice and Compassion in all relationships
5. Use of conscience and democratic processes
6. Working for liberty, justice & peace for all
7. Respecting the interconnected web

Of course, I sometimes get them out of order, but for Un-UUs that's usually enough--they'll connect with a principle or two and there will be one or two that they struggle with--or outright disagree with depending on their particular faith.

Now that my daughter's 5, I think it's time to start teaching her to memorize them!
All the posters/prints of the principals are either to 'cutesy' or too formal, though I do like the one that uses the rainbow as a mnemonic device.

What do you all do at home with the kids? The principles are really for congregations, but I think that it's one of the clearest ways to explain what our faith is about, but also good to think of as something we can aspire to all the time as individuals.

Gotta go--time for our morning nature walk.

[rachelle-a-tron]

I guess what I was trying to say was people ask what UU's believe. I usually just tell them about the principles & then tell them what I believe as a UU. Then I have them totally confused.

Originally posted by Teresa
it's my experience that only other UUs will ask what spiritual practices you follow as a UU.

[hahamommy]

I know exctly what you mean about the judgement that is alive and well here in my town, too. The kids will often talk about *church* and the fun stuff they do with their friends there and the grownups are so excited to hear that word come from my kids, they assume I've been *saved* ~ which I have, but not in the same sense! I refer to *our fellowship* and often do not mention UU at all. Not because I'm not proud, but because I don't want to fight that fight ~ again!
We have wallet cards in our fellowship that describe the 7 principles and the basis of UU faith ~ I've handed them out to my family to quell their *goat sacrifice* fears (we never schedule a sacrifice on a weekend someone's family is visiting :LOL)

the 7 principles that the congregations aspire to.
1. Inherent dignity and worth of every person
2. Accepting each other and encouraging spiritual growth
3. Free and Responsible search for meaning and truth
4. Justice and Compassion in all relationships
5. Use of conscience and democratic processes
6. Working for liberty, justice & peace for all
7. Respecting the interconnected web

When I gave my talk on unschooling and UU, these were the examples I upheld for how I'm raising my kids. Times tables be damned, I'd prefer offspring who aspire to living these principles every day
~diana

[sunmountain]

Just wanted to add something about what the Unitarians and the Universalists believed before they joined forces.
Unitarians believed in the teachings but not the divinity of Jesus and the Universalists believed that everyone was graced with salvation.

Honestly I have no idea how some of you all deal with communitites that look down on non-christians. That would drive me insane. Most ppl are surprised to find out we are not christian, but I don't usually get scoffed at for being a panthiest-UU lol!

[Sierra]

mamajulie, I saw a reference you made to this thread in the Talk...forum, and I thought I'd just stop in and say hi, perhaps joining the conversation a little. I'd have to disagree on the "more of a philosophy than religion" standpoint...something I preached a sermon on last year. I am a lifelong UU, and I was called to ministry a couple of years ago while working in Public Health, which led to my appointment as Director Of Religious Education at a UU church in Washington. I am beginning my second year of service as DRE and also seeking to expand my vocational education, and I am in love with the work I do. Anyway, every now and then it seems a thread comes up in this forum and we're reminded that there are many like-minded folks on these boards. It's good to see you all here.

Sierra

[mamacrab]

Since this thread is for UU who mostly have small children, I wanted to chime in with a song we learned at RE last week. Its sung to the tune of "Doe, A deer" from Sound of Music, its based on the 7 prinicples, and it allows small children to start getting an idea of what UU's believe:

"One, each person is important
Two, be kind in all you do.
Three, we're free to learn together
Four, and search for what is true.
Five, each person needs a vote.
Six, build a fair and peaceful world
Seven, the earth is our lifeboat,
And that will bring us back to me and UU!"

[Teresa]

Mamacrab--love it!
We'll start adding it to our morning circle.
Thank you!
Teresa

[I Believe in Fairies]

Okay, since we made the hop to teaching and kids - what do you all do with a prayer at night? I've really been struggling with this. I don't want to be too deity specific, I don't want it to be selfish either, nor do I want my DD weighed down with depressing thoughts of others.

Can I say how nice it is to go to a church where "liberal" is not a dirty word? : D

(We just started singing Do a Deer, so this song is great! THANKS !!)

[mamacrab]

Elizabeth, I've been wondering about this too, since my almost-6-year old has become interested in prayers and God. All on her own, she has occasionally begun saying a prayer before bed. This is what she said the other night, "Dear God, thank you for minds that think, thank you for hearts that love, and thank you for hands that are ready to serve." (Thats a variation on what we say when we light the chalice.)

We say this before we eat: "Thank you, Earth, for food; thank you, friends, for love."

I'd love to hear form other UU's about this. Do you teach your children to pray? And if so, what prayers do you use?

I'm glad you guys like the song- I edited it to correct a few typos.

[DaryLLL]

Sierra, interesting point. How do you make the distinction between philosophy and religion? As a gnostic, who has read Plato and reads Paul in the light of that, I wonder.

In 100 words or less, hehe!

[Sierra]

DaryLLL, let me give that some thought and reply a little later. I don't have much time for posting right now (we're getting ready to start our Yule Play rehearsals on Sunday), but I *will* give it some thought and post as soon as I get a chance!

Sierra

[Kelakemama]

I finally found UU and was amazed that my beliefs actually had a name!LOL!
I've been to a UU church in my area, but I felt pressured to put my Dd in the nursery(which I didn't ). It was a very small community with mostly older people. However, there is another one half and hour away that i want to give a try. I feel that it will fit our family better.

BTW, i love this thread!

[meg]

I'm jumping in way late on this thread, sorry.

DH and I recently joined our local UU church and are excited and enthusiastic about it. There is a really positive and accepting energy with the UU church which is so refreshing.

I find church to be very intense and personally emotional every Sunday but I think it's good - cleansing!

I love the song mamacrab posted and will teach it to my 2 year old ds who loves to sing "Doe a Deer."

Thanks for starting this thread!

[newmomi]

new UU

i was looking into joining a UU church and after reading some of the posts i am more exicted about it. we have a church in the city that we live in, its real old and there is about 40 members. just want to say hello and say that we are excited about joining.

allyn
moma to savannah 3/12/03

[norasmom]

I just wanted to thank you for starting this thread. I read "A Chosen Faith" a few years ago and have been thinking about going to a uuc ever since. When my dd was born in August this became much more important. We went for the first time last Sunday and I enjoyed it very much. I am intrested in learning more about the faith and the church in my area doesn't have another orientation class 'till spring, so if anyone can recomend any other books on the topic I would appreciate it. I will be checking out the web site mentioned earlier. Thank you all for sharing about your faith.