gatheringwater
New Member
Many newcomers to Unitarian Universalist congregations say they felt like they were "coming home" when they first attended. For some long-term UUs, however, a shifting culture of belief gives them the unsettling feeling that someone has rearranged the furniture in their religious home. Just take a look at a news story about the General Assembly that is being published in newspapers around the country: Unitarian Universalists Debate God's Place in Church
In the article, a workshop speaker shared his concern about the decline of atheism and agnosticism in our religious community "'When I first joined our denomination, it was the faith of the skeptics, the nonconformists and the outsiders,' said Haught, editor of the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia. 'Now we are turning more churchy. Our national leaders throw in all this God talk. We are pretty sure it's not the Methodist-Presbyterian kind of God talk, but they won't say what they mean. Our current (UU) president advocates a 'language of reverence' but won't say what he's revering.'"
At the same time, other GA speakers were calling for increased use of a language of reverence in our congregations. One worship service acknowledged that this change may alienate some of our members, but that those who left would be replaced by newcomers.
A new publication, Engaging Our Theological Diversity addresses the anxieties related to theological change while articulating a common ground of shared beliefs and values. It is the current discussion topic at Coffee Hour, a group blog for Unitarian Universalists. I invite you to take a look and to share your own perspective on this issue. I am particularly interested to know, whatever your theological stripe, what it would take for you to feel you were no longer welcome in your religious home?
In the article, a workshop speaker shared his concern about the decline of atheism and agnosticism in our religious community "'When I first joined our denomination, it was the faith of the skeptics, the nonconformists and the outsiders,' said Haught, editor of the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia. 'Now we are turning more churchy. Our national leaders throw in all this God talk. We are pretty sure it's not the Methodist-Presbyterian kind of God talk, but they won't say what they mean. Our current (UU) president advocates a 'language of reverence' but won't say what he's revering.'"
At the same time, other GA speakers were calling for increased use of a language of reverence in our congregations. One worship service acknowledged that this change may alienate some of our members, but that those who left would be replaced by newcomers.
A new publication, Engaging Our Theological Diversity addresses the anxieties related to theological change while articulating a common ground of shared beliefs and values. It is the current discussion topic at Coffee Hour, a group blog for Unitarian Universalists. I invite you to take a look and to share your own perspective on this issue. I am particularly interested to know, whatever your theological stripe, what it would take for you to feel you were no longer welcome in your religious home?