The Coffee House - the UU Fellowship Thread

[Green Gaia]

You may be, Tigress. Although I don't know for sure...

 

[Tigress]

I was just wondering because I personally don't know all that many. It seems most have come to Unitarian Universalism from some other religious path.

 

[Davidium]

So, I guess I'm a TU, trinitarian universalist. And yes, cupcakes are great! We can't have an event at our house without chocolate cupcakes with pink icing.

Thank you for the warm welcome. It's quite dead in the Anglican Tea Room since we stopped offering free beer.

luna

Many of the early American Universalists were trinitarian.... and some still are...

So, welcome! Besides, Unitarian does not mean what it once did, in relation to the trinitarian/unitarian controversy. I mean, there are many UU's who believe in multiple deities...

On a more coffee house note, I'm both excited, depressed, and apprehensive... all at the same time.

This past sunday was my last sunday morning service as the Administrator and Student MInister at my church.... so I'm sad.

This coming Sunday I will be preaching at my largest UU church yet (600 member) ... a memorial day service....so I am excited about that... and after that, I will be preaching that afternoon at my first ever non-UU church (MCC).

And then, I am apprehensive, because on June 2nd I am leaving my little Island to be a hospital chaplain for the summer....

So... I'm just confused everyone! Happy, Sad, depressed, excited, apprehensive, worried, frustrated, hassled, all of it, wrapped up in one.

I think I need a espresso.....

David

 

[Green Gaia]

I think you need a hug, David! :hug: Wow, I will be thinking of you.

 

[Davidium]

Thanks Maize...

And to top it all of... my partner and I are spending the summer apart... myself as a hospital chaplain in Knoxville TN, and she as staff on an archaeological dig in American Samoa...

(sigh)

Make that a double espresso.....



David

 

[Tigress]

Besides, Unitarian does not mean what it once did, in relation to the trinitarian/unitarian controversy. I mean, there are many UU's who believe in multiple deities...

Sorry to interject, but I think it's important to clarify that there are still Unitarians separate from Unitarian Universalism. This is also true of Universalists.

 

[Davidium]

Sorry to interject, but I think it's important to clarify that there are still Unitarians separate from Unitarian Universalism. This is also true of Universalists.

Thank you... you are correct...

What I should have said was that Unitarianism in the UU context does not fully mean what it once did in relation to the unitarian/trinitarian controversy..

If you would like to see an organization of such non-UU Unitarians, just google "American Unitarian Conference"....

David

 

[lunamoth]

Thank you... you are correct...

What I should have said was that Unitarianism in the UU context does not fully mean what it once did in relation to the unitarian/trinitarian controversy..

If you would like to see an organization of such non-UU Unitarians, just google "American Unitarian Conference"....

David

Thank you for the info. That's OK, my universalism probably isn't what it is in the UU or the Universalist meanings either.

Hope you can find some peace in the busyness of you life these days David.

cheers,
luna

 

[Tigress]

You're welcome, Davidium. I knew what you meant, I just wanted to clarify it for others.

 

[uumckk16]

So, I'm ridiculously behind here - I just barely read the entire thread all the way through - so I have lots to say. =D

I think I may be a UU heretic. I like coffee, but I don't love it. I only drink it infrequently. I hope the UU Inquisition will not be knocking on my door as a result of this admission...

Uh oh...I'm in the same boat as you, like it, but don't love it...I'd better watch my back... *hides*

"Church of All Souls" is growing on me too. But an across the board change seems unlikely. I wonder how many would support the change?

You mean, instead of calling our religion "Unitarian Universalism", call it the "Church of All Souls"? Or did I misunderstand you? Interesting idea...

I devote my life to peace. And yet, I'm discriminated against by so many people because of my origin and my religion. I'm told to go home, I'm called horrible names. And I never react violently. I try to talk calmly to them, try to ignore them, just continue on and pretend they aren't there. I'm physically assaulted, I'm spit at. I've had my Qur'an thrown in the trash. Most of this discrimination comes merely because I am part Arab. And much of this happened before 9/11, before people knew that Afganstan existed and there was terrorism in this world.

Jamaesi, your story brought tears to my eyes. It's so tragic that people are so discriminatory.

As a somewhat-sheltered Caucasian, I can't say I've ever personally witnessed much discrimination. But I've heard about it. A friend of mine who is half black was told back in third grade or so that the other student hated her "because her dad was black". Another friend of mine, who is black and extremely intelligent, told me once that he works extra hard because he feels he has to 'prove' his intelligence - like people would otherwise assume he was stupid.

I had an au'paire (sp?) from France come to live with my family right after 9/11. While she was born and raised in France, her family was from Algeria and she was Muslim (and appeared Middle Eastern). The au'paires flew to the U.S. literally about 2 weeks after 9/11. The family she was originally with ended up basically kicking her out - she told me back then the 'reasons' the family had for hating her (she said the wife claimed she was only in the U.S. to party and meet guys), but now that I'm older I've realized there was probably more to it than that. So she came to live with us 4 months or so after 9/11. She became like a big sister to me. The idea of her race or religion being a problem never crossed my mind. (The only thing I can remember thinking about it was "Huh, funny, I pictured her with blond hair" .) And why should it matter? It just absolutely blows my mind.

*Proceeds to rant*

I have friends who are white, black, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, mixed race, Mormon, Catholic, Methodist, Protestant, UU, Jewish, atheist, agnostic, straight, bisexual, Democrat, Republican, and more. But that's not why they're my friends, necessarily, and that wouldn't be the reason they weren't my friends if they weren't. They're my friends because they're good people, and while we may disagree on some things (my Mormon friend and I obviously have some rather strong disagreements, such as with gay marriage), we just have to look past those things.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, and I'm not implying that anyone here has been racist or anything. This is just something I feel passionately about, and these are the things that came to mind as I read and pondered the several pages of this thread that discussed anti-Muslim behavior.

Sorry to ramble, but there was one other point that came to mind: The November 19th massacre by U.S....marines I believe, who killed 24 Iraqi civilians, including children, in retaliation for the death of a fellow marine who was killed by a bomb. Who are the terrorists?

I'm really reminded of the starfish story.

Thanks for sharing, jamaesi

Five months ago I walked into a unitarian universalist church for the first time in my life. This weekend I joined as a member.

That's great, Karl! I too have been attending a UU church for 5 months...My first visit was January 1st (took care of *that* New Year's resolution pretty quickly!). I have yet to join officially, but I certainly plan to.

And then, I am apprehensive, because on June 2nd I am leaving my little Island to be a hospital chaplain for the summer....

Good luck, David!

---

Phew, well, again, sorry for the rambling. I'm glad to be part of UUism, and this forum! :hug:

-McKenna

 

[Green Gaia]

You mean, instead of calling our religion "Unitarian Universalism", call it the "Church of All Souls"? Or did I misunderstand you? Interesting idea...

Welcome, McKenna!

Umm.... thumbs back through the pages.... Yes, I think that's what I was talking about. But I don't see the name being changed anytime soon. If I remember correctly, we were discussing what would be a good name for our religion that positively stated what we believe in and stand for now instead of being named for movements that were rejecting doctrines of traditional Christianity.

 

[uumckk16]

Welcome, McKenna!

Umm.... thumbs back through the pages.... Yes, I think that's what I was talking about. But I don't see the name being changed anytime soon. If I remember correctly, we were discussing what would be a good name for our religion that positively stated what we believe in and stand for now instead of being named for movements that were rejecting doctrines of traditional Christianity.

Hm, I think you have a good point. "Church of All Souls" would certainly reflect the positive aspects of our religion more, the inclusiveness and all that. And I guess it would make it broader since, although some of us have beliefs similar to the original concepts of unitarianism and universalism, many others do not. I wonder what the process would be for changing the name? It would most likely be quite difficult so you're probably right in saying that it isn't going to happen anytime soon (also, I can already hear the arguments over semantics with the words "church", "souls", and even "all" - ), but it's a nice thought.

 

[Mathematician]

June 5th, and the TV is livid with discriminatory politicians and activists. I just wanted to post this to show my support of all my gay sisters and brothers out there.

 

[uumckk16]

June 5th, and the TV is livid with discriminatory politicians and activists. I just wanted to post this to show my support of all my gay sisters and brothers out there.

I second that.

The vote in the...Senate (I think?) is soon, correct? (I'm very up on the latest news in politics, obviously... )

 

[BrandonE]

Just a post to say hi everyone. I'm new to the forum and to UU. My wife have visited several UU churches over the past several years, but while we enjoyed them, they just were'nt right for us at the time. We've moved back to our hometown since then, and we've just joined the UU church here. We're really happy to be there and look forward to being there a long time.

 

[Green Gaia]

Hi Brandon! Nice to meet you. What made you seek out a UU church to begin with?

 

[BrandonE]

It's a long story (like I imagine it is for most people), so I'll try to give you the short version. I was raised in the United Methodist Church (in the South, no less) by fundamentalist parents. I started to question what I'd been brought up to believe in hs after reading Emerson in American Lit. In college, my view of the world expanded, and my faith went by the wayside because I couldn't belive in the wrathful god that I was raised with. I missed church though, since I was there a LOT when I was a child and always enjoyed the community of it. A Methodist minister at the school opened my eyes to a broader view of what god could be, but he retired soon after and was followed by more traditional ministers. My wife and I tried a couple of UU churches in Atlanta while we were still in school, but while we liked the philosophy, it wasn't the right time and place for us. After school, we moved back home and had no real religious practice for a few years. We had a son and looked again for a church, but thought the local UU congregation was too "out there" for us (we're both engineers and outwardly fairly conservative with liberal ideologies). A few years passed and my parents began trying to press the issue of church because we "had a son to think of". That led to a discussion on our wishes that didn't go over so well (things have since been mended). We really did want our son to have a religious education, so finally decided that the "out there" church was better than the alternatives. After visiting again, we realized that they weren't so out there after all, and we fit in just fine. Turns out our initial visit when we decided they were strange was a transitional period between ministers and the annual RE sunday service to boot (the youth were singing "Time Warp" from Rocky Horror as part of the service, so maybe you can see why we thought it was weird). Now we love the congregation and signed the book this past Sunday.

 

[PowerfulWolfWoman]

This is a good weekend visit UU congregations! Feathers and I plan to go to Iowa City, to visit the UU group there. I believe it will be a good match for us--they're quite a diverse group (naturally, with the University being there) and we hope to make this one of the communities we belong to.:camp:

 

[uumckk16]

It's a long story (like I imagine it is for most people), so I'll try to give you the short version. I was raised in the United Methodist Church (in the South, no less) by fundamentalist parents. I started to question what I'd been brought up to believe in hs after reading Emerson in American Lit. In college, my view of the world expanded, and my faith went by the wayside because I couldn't belive in the wrathful god that I was raised with. I missed church though, since I was there a LOT when I was a child and always enjoyed the community of it. A Methodist minister at the school opened my eyes to a broader view of what god could be, but he retired soon after and was followed by more traditional ministers. My wife and I tried a couple of UU churches in Atlanta while we were still in school, but while we liked the philosophy, it wasn't the right time and place for us. After school, we moved back home and had no real religious practice for a few years. We had a son and looked again for a church, but thought the local UU congregation was too "out there" for us (we're both engineers and outwardly fairly conservative with liberal ideologies). A few years passed and my parents began trying to press the issue of church because we "had a son to think of". That led to a discussion on our wishes that didn't go over so well (things have since been mended). We really did want our son to have a religious education, so finally decided that the "out there" church was better than the alternatives. After visiting again, we realized that they weren't so out there after all, and we fit in just fine. Turns out our initial visit when we decided they were strange was a transitional period between ministers and the annual RE sunday service to boot (the youth were singing "Time Warp" from Rocky Horror as part of the service, so maybe you can see why we thought it was weird). Now we love the congregation and signed the book this past Sunday.

Welcome, Brandon! Glad you found us :hug:

I didn't know the Methodist church was so conservative?

 

[Karl R]

Welcome Brandon, WolfWoman, and uumuck.

I didn't know the Methodist church was so conservative?

It varies greatly from church to church. Usually the methodist church will match how liberal/conservative the surrounding region is. In the south (and particularly the rural south) conservativism is very common.