Acceptance and encouragement

[robtex]

The third principle reads:
"Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations"

What does this mean to you and how do you apply it in life. (footnote)
http://www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html

Threads on prinples one and two:

1) http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33428

2) http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33733

 

[uumckk16]

The third principle reads:
"Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations"

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. To me it's talking about spiritual acceptance...accepting that we do not all have the same beliefs, but that we should not only accept each other for those differences but encourage each other.

From learning about others' beliefs, we can further our own. From encouraging others and ourselves to grow spiritually, we continue to be a living tradition and don't become stuck with an old set of beliefs.

 

[Mathematician]

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. To me it's talking about spiritual acceptance...accepting that we do not all have the same beliefs, but that we should not only accept each other for those differences but encourage each other.

From learning about others' beliefs, we can further our own. From encouraging others and ourselves to grow spiritually, we continue to be a living tradition and don't become stuck with an old set of beliefs.

Very nice post, uu. We must encourage everyone to reach spiritual peace. Instead of opening the door to your faith and your faith alone, you must show them all the different rooms.

 

[michel]

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. To me it's talking about spiritual acceptance...accepting that we do not all have the same beliefs, but that we should not only accept each other for those differences but encourage each other.

From learning about others' beliefs, we can further our own. From encouraging others and ourselves to grow spiritually, we continue to be a living tradition and don't become stuck with an old set of beliefs.

Isn't avcceptance an extremely healthy attitude to life anyway ? (apart from it's relation as to faith)?

 

[robtex]

I think to me this one is part of what makes UU UU and not some other religion. No dogma, no creed no doctrine. On any given day UU's get together person leaning towards taoism sits next to a person who accepts Jesus as his savior who is behind an agnostic who is sitting next to the gay couple one of whomo is Pagan and the other whom is an atheist, who hold hands during the service. Pick any UU church anywhere in the country and probably somebody in that group could visualize that being their UU church.

This principle to me means I don't need to feel intimidated or in fear of the buddhist, the muslim or the pagan. It means I don't need to try to convert the agnostic to atheism or pressure the Jew for reject the Torah as holy.

It does mean it is my obligation to help them, by recommending readings and sharing the intellectual resources I have, so that they can draw their own conclusions in their own time even if those conclusions are different than mine.

It makes a bigger goal of living in harmony with those who believe different instead of trying to get them to see reality my way. This principle is why UU really wouldn't work with a dogmatic structure.

This principle shows that the search the sharing of ideas and the acceptance of one another in a loving an nuturing atmosphere is more important than any final conclusions any of us reach.

 

[uumckk16]

Isn't avcceptance an extremely healthy attitude to life anyway ? (apart from it's relation as to faith)?

Yeah...?

Sorry, I don't get your point...are you arguing with me, or just furthering what I was saying?

This principle shows that the search the sharing of ideas and the acceptance of one another in a loving an nuturing atmosphere is more important than any final conclusions any of us reach.

:yes: