lilithu
The Devil's Advocate
Was he in the "Voices of a Liberal Faith" vid? For whatever reason, I thought that guy was in TX. If not, then there is at least three UU Muslims that we know of.
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UU Salad Bar
- Thread starter Trey of Diamonds
- Start date
Trey of Diamonds
Well-Known Member
Was he in the "Voices of a Liberal Faith" vid? For whatever reason, I thought that guy was in TX. If not, then there is at least three UU Muslims that we know of.
Nope, this is a different guy. I'm surprised we don't see more Universal Sufis coming to UU churches. It seems like a good fit in my opinion.
lilithu
The Devil's Advocate
My guess is because we have little to offer them. They already have a community. They already have a theology that is more thought out than ours. Just because they agree with our universalism doesn't mean they have to join us.
Trey of Diamonds
Well-Known Member
My guess is because we have little to offer them. They already have a community. They already have a theology that is more thought out than ours. Just because they agree with our universalism doesn't mean they have to join us.
No, but like us they suffer from low numbers and places to congregate. I wouldn't think they would join UU churches as members but I could certianly see them sharing space.
lilithu
The Devil's Advocate
Well of course they would be welcome.
jamaesi
To Save A Lamb
Well, in the one I went to in Columbus sometimes, not near as often as say the Bible or Asian scriptures.
It was always heartwarming to have someone come up to me and greet me with "assalamu alaykum" though.
I'm Sufi but still Sunni (Hanafi). You have to be some flavour of "traditional" (Sunni/Shia and whatever school in that you follow) Islam to be Sufi.
Trey of Diamonds
Well-Known Member
Doodlebug02
Active Member
Christianity, Islam, Secular/Non-religious, Buddhism, Native American Spirituality (Primal Indigenous), Judaism, and NeoPaganism. I am always seeking out more spiritual paths to draw from though.
Trey of Diamonds
Well-Known Member
J Bryson
Well-Known Member
Christianity: The Sermon on the Mount is without parallel, and I do like the idea of a God who loves the world that much. Whether or not I actually believe in God varies. I can do without the cultural prejudices of some of the apostles, though, and Revelation stopped interesting me once I quit using psychedelics.
Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Athiest: All that we have to work with in day to day life is the evidence of our own senses, and our own reasoning abilities. You may be working without a net without dogma to fall back on, but that makes it that much more satisfying when you get to the other side of the tightrope.
Buddhism: The Eightfold Path provides some wonderful guidelines for life. Also (and ironically) I've never felt as connected to the universe as a whole as when I've practiced Buddhist detachment.
Spiritism: While I have no proof to offer, the idea that there is something beyond the life that we live, that we continue in some form, is enormously comforting to me.
Judaism: My girlfriend was ultra-Orthodox as of a couple of years ago. She ran far from that community, but still finds value in many of the traditional teachings. She's shared some of this with me, and it's given me much to ponder.
Baha'i: It was through studying the concept of multiple messengers of varying faiths that I was sent back on the path to UU. Of course, I've stretched the concept a bit farther than they do, and disagree with much of the dogma, but I'm still grateful.
Neo-Paganism: In between the Wiccan Rede, the expression of nature consciousness through environmental work and activism, the high proportion of role-playing and comic books geeks involved, and the awesome parties, I can't think of anything bad to say about this crowd. Also, they taught me the value of rituals in one's life, which was another push to start attending church.
Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Athiest: All that we have to work with in day to day life is the evidence of our own senses, and our own reasoning abilities. You may be working without a net without dogma to fall back on, but that makes it that much more satisfying when you get to the other side of the tightrope.
Buddhism: The Eightfold Path provides some wonderful guidelines for life. Also (and ironically) I've never felt as connected to the universe as a whole as when I've practiced Buddhist detachment.
Spiritism: While I have no proof to offer, the idea that there is something beyond the life that we live, that we continue in some form, is enormously comforting to me.
Judaism: My girlfriend was ultra-Orthodox as of a couple of years ago. She ran far from that community, but still finds value in many of the traditional teachings. She's shared some of this with me, and it's given me much to ponder.
Baha'i: It was through studying the concept of multiple messengers of varying faiths that I was sent back on the path to UU. Of course, I've stretched the concept a bit farther than they do, and disagree with much of the dogma, but I'm still grateful.
Neo-Paganism: In between the Wiccan Rede, the expression of nature consciousness through environmental work and activism, the high proportion of role-playing and comic books geeks involved, and the awesome parties, I can't think of anything bad to say about this crowd. Also, they taught me the value of rituals in one's life, which was another push to start attending church.
SoCalUni
New Member
Hi everyone I chose other because potluck wasn't in the list .
I do believe in a creator and identify mostly with the concept of God ( Christian ) but I am monotheistic I do not be in a holy ghost and I do not believe that Christ was a savior only that he did exist and may have been a prophet of some kind (I believe those of the Muslim faith accept him as this also if my memory serves me).
I really feel that who ever created us had the compassion to come to us in any form or concept that each individual or group chose to identify with in the past or does so now.
I believe in some kind of afterlife but that may be from having it burned into my head from childhood. More so than afterlife I think the important thing is the relationship you have with your creator and whether or not you use it to be a good person. If there is no creator in your life then being a good person because of your exclusive membership in club humanity works...... anything to encourage behavior that does no harm (some people do not contribute or give aid but never hurt anyone so this is why I say do no harm). And lets face it there some pretty hideous people that have done horrific things in the name of religion or their perception of religion so having the relationship does not make an automatic good guy.
There is something to be said for most other beliefs like Buddhism, Taoism,Judaism, Wiccan, just about any you can think of there are so many out there that have insightful ideas, and much to contribute and I look forward to learning everything I can.
:thud:
.I do believe in a creator and identify mostly with the concept of God ( Christian ) but I am monotheistic I do not be in a holy ghost and I do not believe that Christ was a savior only that he did exist and may have been a prophet of some kind (I believe those of the Muslim faith accept him as this also if my memory serves me).
I really feel that who ever created us had the compassion to come to us in any form or concept that each individual or group chose to identify with in the past or does so now.
I believe in some kind of afterlife but that may be from having it burned into my head from childhood. More so than afterlife I think the important thing is the relationship you have with your creator and whether or not you use it to be a good person. If there is no creator in your life then being a good person because of your exclusive membership in club humanity works...... anything to encourage behavior that does no harm (some people do not contribute or give aid but never hurt anyone so this is why I say do no harm). And lets face it there some pretty hideous people that have done horrific things in the name of religion or their perception of religion so having the relationship does not make an automatic good guy.
There is something to be said for most other beliefs like Buddhism, Taoism,Judaism, Wiccan, just about any you can think of there are so many out there that have insightful ideas, and much to contribute and I look forward to learning everything I can.
:thud:
lilithu
The Devil's Advocate
If you believe in the Christian "God" but not Christ and the Holy Ghost, I presume you believe in "God, the Father." Why do you believe in "God, the Father" and not the Holy Ghost? Just curious.
William Ellery Channing believed in a loving Father God. (Hence, sermons like "A Father's Love for Persons.") Ralph Waldo Emerson, otoh, believed in "the OverSoul," which is an English translation of the Hindu Brahman. In my opinion, the OverSoul is the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit (or Spirit of Life). When I pray to God, it is to the Spirit whom I pray.
But of course, there is no right or wrong here. Each part of the trinity represents a valid (but incomplete) view of deity. I am just curious as to what about God, the Father speaks to you.
Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet. But he was a very special prophet, higher than Moses or Elijah, etc. Even higher than Mohammed in some ways. Out of all the humans who have ever existed, only two were created by God's own "hands" (figuratively, as opposed to via the process of procreation), Adam and Jesus.
bicker
Unitarian Universalist
Not to speak for SoCalUni, but I took SoCaUni's statement to be one indicating a belief in something different from what Christians believe, despite the label "God (Christian)". I personally won't read into that labeling, as much as you have, until SoCalUni clarifies it.
There are folks ("Deists") who do (essentially) believe in what is probably most closely mapped into Christianity as "God-the-Father", specifically; i.e., that some supernatural entity created reality, set it in motion, and then stepped back, allowing reality to exist without inference.
There are folks ("Deists") who do (essentially) believe in what is probably most closely mapped into Christianity as "God-the-Father", specifically; i.e., that some supernatural entity created reality, set it in motion, and then stepped back, allowing reality to exist without inference.
lilithu
The Devil's Advocate
Yes, I agree that Deism is a good match for "God, the Father. And I would ask them the same question.
Trey of Diamonds
Well-Known Member
*bump*
We have some new UUs on the forum so I thought I would resurrect this old poll.
We have some new UUs on the forum so I thought I would resurrect this old poll.
EverChanging
Well-Known Member
The best term for me is probably UU/Humanist, but I have found that none of these labels are adequate, and that's okay.
I chose Christianity, Secular/NonReligious/Atheist/Agnostic, Neo-Paganism and Other (to include my own form of pantheism, which depending on your perspective might also be considered panentheism, but both words wouldn't really encompass my experience there, either, only come close to it.)
I probably could have chosen Buddhism in some ways, but I didn't because I still don't know a lot about it. I have experimented with centering prayers, sometimes in Christian form, though there isn't much of a difference, at all, from Buddhist centering prayer/meditation. It is my understanding that Christian monks and nuns picked up the practice from Buddhist monks centuries ago. A UU friend of mine, a very special and joyous person to me, has introduced me to an Al-Anon group. The God language is uncomfortable to me, but God can be anything in Al-Anon, even the Al-Anon group itself. (She had the same issues coming into Al-Anon.) In many ways, its principles and slogans remind me of Buddhism -- there are slogans, mantras, thought-stopping/meditation techniques to deal with anxiety, anger, etc., and an emphasis on acceptance, one day at a time, take it easy, focus, meditation, prayer. In many ways I find it similar to the Buddhist idea of detachment. Al-Anon literature draws from many sources -- poetry, world religions, etc.
As for Christianity, I find many traditional practices and holy days beautiful in their own way, but that is probably because of their similarity to neo-paganism, which I also find beautiful. A History of God really influenced me and the Eastern Orthodox view of the trinity strikes me as more spiritual and more compatible with the Christian doctrine of Unitarianism than the doctrine of the trinity as it is emphasized in the West. (The Orthodox are trinitarians, but their orientation is more mystical and emphasizes the mystery and unity of the Godhead whereas in the West, the trinity is often more intellectualized and the distinction of the persons is emphasized over unity.) While I don't believe in gods, the trinity was once described to me as a communion between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (also referred to as the Mother, Child, and Womb in some liberal churches) and that the love between the Father and Son is so strong that the Holy Spirit is the love itself between them, the bond of union. I thought this was extremely beautiful as poetry. However, I don't feel completely comfortable in Christian churches. It feels like something is missing. I don't feel much inspiration from reading the Bible, either. While there might be appealing aspects of Christianity, it is my understanding that Christianity is something different from the Bible -- there are connections, Christianity is based on the Bible, but the Bible is often so ambiguous, strange, and antiquated that I don't think there is any "biblical" Christianity -- the Bible is often contradictory or confusing or lost in translation, etc. I have read some of the books left out of the Bible, like the Gospel of Thomas, and I find these even less fulfiling.
Neo-paganism is interesting to me, especially because of its compatibility with pantheism and even Humanism -- there is no universal, authoritative neo-pagan creed. I have neo-pagan friends who have influenced me. I don't have any connections with the gods, but I enjoy reading about them -- in Greek mythology recently -- because of how human they are. They are reflections of ourselves, our psyche. I find Greek mythology a more rich source than the Bible, but everyone's different.
Secular/Non-Religious/Humanist/Atheist/Agnostic. This describes my worldview and the ethics that I (try) to live up to. I think all Unitarian Universalists are humanists in a more general sense of the term in that they stand up for their ethics and challenge perceived injustice whether it comes from secular or religious authority. There is no room in UU'ism or Humanism for quoting an ancient text, even the Bible, to justify cruelty or injustice. This type of general humanism is a natural outgrowth of democracy and the separation of church and state -- human good (and life on the planet in general) comes first, and religion is not a legitimate excuse to harm others or to excuse ignorance. Both UUs and Humanists believe in a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning."
I chose "other" for pantheism or panentheism. That one's a little difficult to explain. A short explanation is that, for whatever reason -- I look toward neurotheology for an explanation -- I have had experiences that some neo-pagans might say were the gods, though I tend to think of them as "friends" or "helpers." It is my understanding that they are a part of me, my psyche, and come from me, representing an interconnection between "me" and the rest of the universe. They exist in my mind, my mind stems from my body and brain, which stems from the universe, an interconnected whole. They are emergent from the universe, as I am, but I don't think they objectively exist any more than I do. I just call it pantheism/panentheism, but if anyone asked, I'd just say I was an atheist because I doubt most people would get what I'm saying (like I said, no labels seem adequate for me, except UU). I don't believe these experiences are supernatural in any way, but I doubt some of my other atheist friends would really relate to it, and often times, I don't even know how to relate to it or how to connect with them on a more consistent basis. Since learning about UU, though, I have heard of other Humanist/atheists with similar experiences, and they often blend their Humanism/atheism with neo-paganism and pantheism. It might help to join a meditation group, though I don't know of any nearby. There is a Christian church nearby that practices centering prayer (also used in Buddhism), however, and I might try that.
I chose Christianity, Secular/NonReligious/Atheist/Agnostic, Neo-Paganism and Other (to include my own form of pantheism, which depending on your perspective might also be considered panentheism, but both words wouldn't really encompass my experience there, either, only come close to it.)
I probably could have chosen Buddhism in some ways, but I didn't because I still don't know a lot about it. I have experimented with centering prayers, sometimes in Christian form, though there isn't much of a difference, at all, from Buddhist centering prayer/meditation. It is my understanding that Christian monks and nuns picked up the practice from Buddhist monks centuries ago. A UU friend of mine, a very special and joyous person to me, has introduced me to an Al-Anon group. The God language is uncomfortable to me, but God can be anything in Al-Anon, even the Al-Anon group itself. (She had the same issues coming into Al-Anon.) In many ways, its principles and slogans remind me of Buddhism -- there are slogans, mantras, thought-stopping/meditation techniques to deal with anxiety, anger, etc., and an emphasis on acceptance, one day at a time, take it easy, focus, meditation, prayer. In many ways I find it similar to the Buddhist idea of detachment. Al-Anon literature draws from many sources -- poetry, world religions, etc.
As for Christianity, I find many traditional practices and holy days beautiful in their own way, but that is probably because of their similarity to neo-paganism, which I also find beautiful. A History of God really influenced me and the Eastern Orthodox view of the trinity strikes me as more spiritual and more compatible with the Christian doctrine of Unitarianism than the doctrine of the trinity as it is emphasized in the West. (The Orthodox are trinitarians, but their orientation is more mystical and emphasizes the mystery and unity of the Godhead whereas in the West, the trinity is often more intellectualized and the distinction of the persons is emphasized over unity.) While I don't believe in gods, the trinity was once described to me as a communion between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (also referred to as the Mother, Child, and Womb in some liberal churches) and that the love between the Father and Son is so strong that the Holy Spirit is the love itself between them, the bond of union. I thought this was extremely beautiful as poetry. However, I don't feel completely comfortable in Christian churches. It feels like something is missing. I don't feel much inspiration from reading the Bible, either. While there might be appealing aspects of Christianity, it is my understanding that Christianity is something different from the Bible -- there are connections, Christianity is based on the Bible, but the Bible is often so ambiguous, strange, and antiquated that I don't think there is any "biblical" Christianity -- the Bible is often contradictory or confusing or lost in translation, etc. I have read some of the books left out of the Bible, like the Gospel of Thomas, and I find these even less fulfiling.
Neo-paganism is interesting to me, especially because of its compatibility with pantheism and even Humanism -- there is no universal, authoritative neo-pagan creed. I have neo-pagan friends who have influenced me. I don't have any connections with the gods, but I enjoy reading about them -- in Greek mythology recently -- because of how human they are. They are reflections of ourselves, our psyche. I find Greek mythology a more rich source than the Bible, but everyone's different.
Secular/Non-Religious/Humanist/Atheist/Agnostic. This describes my worldview and the ethics that I (try) to live up to. I think all Unitarian Universalists are humanists in a more general sense of the term in that they stand up for their ethics and challenge perceived injustice whether it comes from secular or religious authority. There is no room in UU'ism or Humanism for quoting an ancient text, even the Bible, to justify cruelty or injustice. This type of general humanism is a natural outgrowth of democracy and the separation of church and state -- human good (and life on the planet in general) comes first, and religion is not a legitimate excuse to harm others or to excuse ignorance. Both UUs and Humanists believe in a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning."
I chose "other" for pantheism or panentheism. That one's a little difficult to explain. A short explanation is that, for whatever reason -- I look toward neurotheology for an explanation -- I have had experiences that some neo-pagans might say were the gods, though I tend to think of them as "friends" or "helpers." It is my understanding that they are a part of me, my psyche, and come from me, representing an interconnection between "me" and the rest of the universe. They exist in my mind, my mind stems from my body and brain, which stems from the universe, an interconnected whole. They are emergent from the universe, as I am, but I don't think they objectively exist any more than I do. I just call it pantheism/panentheism, but if anyone asked, I'd just say I was an atheist because I doubt most people would get what I'm saying (like I said, no labels seem adequate for me, except UU). I don't believe these experiences are supernatural in any way, but I doubt some of my other atheist friends would really relate to it, and often times, I don't even know how to relate to it or how to connect with them on a more consistent basis. Since learning about UU, though, I have heard of other Humanist/atheists with similar experiences, and they often blend their Humanism/atheism with neo-paganism and pantheism. It might help to join a meditation group, though I don't know of any nearby. There is a Christian church nearby that practices centering prayer (also used in Buddhism), however, and I might try that.
Gaura Priya
IRL
"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth."
-- Baha'u'llah
Baha'i Faith - Although I was a member for only one year, it was a crucial time in my life in between my teenagehood and young adult life, and I still carried the teachings over throughout the years. Although I personally accept Baha'u'llah as a great Prophet and Manifestation of God, I am beginning to believe that the 'Cause of God' that Baha'u'llah speaks of, is the Cause of Love and Unity, and have best been exemplified by the Unitarian Universalist community.
It makes me so sad that the Baha'i organisations have created this beautiful liberal Faith into a cage of dogmatism and authoritarianism. And yet that vivifying Spirit is still alive in the Cause of Unitarian Universalism.
"O CHILDREN OF MEN!
Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory."
-- Baha'u'llah
-- Baha'u'llah
Baha'i Faith - Although I was a member for only one year, it was a crucial time in my life in between my teenagehood and young adult life, and I still carried the teachings over throughout the years. Although I personally accept Baha'u'llah as a great Prophet and Manifestation of God, I am beginning to believe that the 'Cause of God' that Baha'u'llah speaks of, is the Cause of Love and Unity, and have best been exemplified by the Unitarian Universalist community.
It makes me so sad that the Baha'i organisations have created this beautiful liberal Faith into a cage of dogmatism and authoritarianism. And yet that vivifying Spirit is still alive in the Cause of Unitarian Universalism.
"O CHILDREN OF MEN!
Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory."
-- Baha'u'llah
Last edited by a moderator:
Trey of Diamonds
Well-Known Member
*bump*
We have some new UUs on the forum so I thought I would resurrect this old poll.
^ What he said. ^
Antiochian
Rationalist
1. Indigenous, specifically Native American
2. Buddhism: although I have some major disagreements with some of its teachings, I respect it as a peaceful, loving religion.
3. African traditional & diasporic
4. Spiritism (Is this the same thing as Spiritualism?)
5. Neopaganism
6. Secular (I'm basically agnostic as to afterlife and literal existence of deities)
7. Pastafarianism (Because it's cool!, and I happen to love spaghetti.)
2. Buddhism: although I have some major disagreements with some of its teachings, I respect it as a peaceful, loving religion.
3. African traditional & diasporic
4. Spiritism (Is this the same thing as Spiritualism?)
5. Neopaganism
6. Secular (I'm basically agnostic as to afterlife and literal existence of deities)
7. Pastafarianism (Because it's cool!, and I happen to love spaghetti.)