UU service and politics

[rodeosweetheart]

I know many of you are UU folks, and we went today to check out our local congregation. The people were incredibly warm and welcoming, which is really nice in a church. But I have to ask, is the service usually political? The speaker got up and talked about immigration, and while I actually did agree with everything he said about the issues, he become extremely political and spoke rather insultingly about both Republicans and Tea Party people.

Is this normal for aUU service, or is the speaker's talk considered not a part of the service? (If that makes sense.)

I really like that these folks live out their beliefs, but I was a bit taken aback by people speaking ill of others in church. I'm not trying to offend anyone who is UU, just asking for opinions. Thanks.

[iris lily]

...I really like that these folks live out there beliefs, but I was a bit taken aback by people speaking ill of others in church. Is this sort of par for the course at a UU church? I'm not trying to offend anyone who is UU, just asking for opinions. Thanks.

That is exactly my memory of the UU church I attended as a child. Holier than thou attitudes prevail even in those who aren't interested in being holy.

I can say this as someone who comes from a long line of UU's. If they'd been successful at indoctrinating me I'd be 4th or 5th generation. But it didn't take. The main reason is that I don't have interest in religious community, I get my social stuff elsewhere (and I really hate hymns!) but that superior attitude you encountered is something I will never forget.

[Alan]

I think it has less to do with the church itself, but rather with the people who feel drawn to it. You see the same attitudes here, at least among the more active posters, with relatively few outliers.

[Rosemary]

It sounds like they were having an outside speaker who was not accustomed to speaking in a church. I'd give it another chance. Our small UU congregation often has outside speakers and the programs can vary tremendously. They try to seek a balance between topics that include social justice, spirituality, science, local issues, and the arts. Often, members recommend speakers they've seen elsewhere, but not all the speakers have been "pre-screened."

[Kestrel]

Well. As a UU my answer is: No ...... and ...... yes. Social Justice is one of UU's "guiding principles". That can mean speaking out (both in church and in public) about policies that we consider unjust. And naming names. And going out and doing something about it. Are we perfect? Of course not. We have as many hypocrites as any other church. And our services are as varied as any other church's (well, probably more varied; I don't know). And different UU churches have a different focus - some more spiritual, some more political, some more ... whatever. And many UUs are NOT Liberal Democrats! Shock! But people of "like minds" tend to find each other, whether political or religious. And act on that. If UU doesn't fit you, that's OK. You aren't going to hell for all eternity because you don't "believe" like we do.

[rodeosweetheart]

"It sounds like they were having an outside speaker who was not accustomed to speaking in a church. I'd give it another chance. . . Often, members recommend speakers they've seen elsewhere, but not all the speakers have been "pre-screened."

Thanks, Rosemary, that makes a lot of sense and was kind of what I was trying to get at.

Iris Lily, yours was kind of reaction I had, so that was why I was checking! Thanks for sharing your experiences.

I've reread my original post and am taking out "par for the course" because I think it is rather insensitive and well, dumb. I would not want people to judge my religious practices based on one manifestation in one place. So out it goes.

[rodeosweetheart]

Thanks, Serendipity, I don't believe that anyone goes to hell for all eternity, so not to worry. And I hope I did not offend you,sorry, I was curious and had felt drawn to UU (my granddad was instrumental in revitalizing a UU congregation in Savannah, Ga.).

[poetry_writer]

Well. As a UU my answer is: No ...... and ...... yes. Social Justice is one of UU's "guiding principles". That can mean speaking out (both in church and in public) about policies that we consider unjust. And naming names. And going out and doing something about it. Are we perfect? Of course not. We have as many hypocrites as any other church. And our services are as varied as any other church's (well, probably more varied; I don't know). And different UU churches have a different focus - some more spiritual, some more political, some more ... whatever. And many UUs are NOT Liberal Democrats! Shock! But people of "like minds" tend to find each other, whether political or religious. And act on that. If UU doesn't fit you, that's OK. You aren't going to hell for all eternity because you don't "believe" like we do.

If the UU church names names, can the Baptists also name names without someone hollering SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE? No.

[Gina]

What's a UU?????

[rodeosweetheart]

Unitarian Universalist. My granddad always just said Unitarian, so I don't know if this has always been the correct terminology. The lady at church yesterday said the Unitarian part was actually from Transylvania, and the Universalist part was added on in New England. Although I made have heard that wrong--I always thought Unitarians were from New England, the Transcendentalist. I have never heard of the Transylvanian origins.

As is obvious, I am just repeating what I have heard here, so I may be completely off!

[Kestrel]

General info about UU history: this is from a pamphlet, "Unitarian Universalist Origins: Our Historic Faith" --

http://www.uua.org/publications/pamphlets/introductions/151249.shtml

We're just "people" ... sometimes we say dumb and insensitive things when we should know better. I wish we were "perfect" (actually, I don't :-) -- we wouldn't be as interesting).

[Gina]

Unitarian Universalist.
I've heard of Unitarians but had no idea they had a second name. Thanks.

[rodeosweetheart]

Serendipity, thank you so much for the fascinating link. The Transylvania connection was true! This is so interesting--I had absolutely no idea that is where Unitarianism began. I also had no idea that these roots went back to early Christianity. I really appreciated the link.:)

[Zoe Girl]

I attend a UU church and sometimes i do not agree with things along the social justice line. I was surprised talking to a friend from our Buddhist group within the church that he felt the same way about our support for a local family whose one parent was up for deportment. It seemed questionable to use a lot of church resources for a choice their family made to not do it legally, even if I agree that the immigration process is really needing an overhaul. Even those of us in social service type jobs are not always on the liberal party line, I feel a little overwhelmed with the impact of immigration in my field honestly.

My ex boyfriend went with me a few times, the last time he was really uncomfortable since he is from a Texas Baptist background, actually went to seminary. It is not really an issue between us because we have respect for each other, however we have been talking more and if we want to give it a serious try one thing i would want is to find a place we are both comfortable. I saw a Methodist church with a Buddhist evening service as well, so who knows. But the liberal politics would not be comfortable for him.

[iris lily]

Also I never learned a beeping thing about the bible in UU Sunday School. Now, I know that teaching Sunday School is a thankless job, but I hated it. The main source of my biblical knowledge is Andrew LLoyd-Weber's Jesus Christ Superstar. Now that is sad.

Universalists joined up with Unitarians to form the current UU organization. The oldest church in our Victorian neighborhood is a charming little stone church from the 1860's that was originally a Unitarian church before there were Universalists attached to it. My great grandfather was an early member of a Universalist church in a tiny town in Iowa. That church still stands, it's New England clapboard style and is plain but pretty.

I am fond of church buildings if not what goes on inside.

[JaneV2.0]

Although I suspect the UU denomination is one of few I'd be comfortable with, I still can't support politicking from the pulpit.

I have a number of clergymen in my family background--a fact which never ceases to amuse me.

[rodeosweetheart]

Yes, the Universalist add-on is a little confusing to me. When we lived near Geneva, Illinois, there was a gorgeous Gothic style stone church, Unitarian, from the mid 19th century, and it is interesting, Iris, that the one in your town was pre-Universalist joinup, and even more interesting that you had a Universalist ancestor. I was thinking they were rarer, but then, all I ever heard of was the Unitarian part.

Jane, I am so minister averse that I have considered becoming a Quaker. As a Catholic, I am drawn to Franciscan Catholicism because Francis preached to the animals, and I would rather have animals as congregants anyday!

[reader99]

The uni-tarian concept, as opposed to tri-nitarian, has been around since the git-go, and had its supporters in a variety of European countries including Transylvania:
"Unitarians trace their history back to the Apostolic Age (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_Age), i.e. the life of Jesus and the decades immediately after his death, and claim this doctrine was widespread during the pre-Nicene period (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ante-Nicene_Period), that is, before the First Council of Nicaea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea) met in 325. Many believe their Christology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christology) (understanding of Jesus Christ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Christ)) most closely reflects that of the "original Christians." (For a discussion of the New Testament (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testament) evidence, see Nontrinitaria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism)
The term Unitarian (in Latin) was first used by Polish and Dutch Socinians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socinians) from the 1660s.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Unitarianism#cite_note-5)
Transylvania and Hungary
No distinct trace of anti-Trinitarian opinion precedes the appearance of Biandrata (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biandrata) at the Transylvanian court in 1563. His influence was exerted on Ferenc Dávid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferenc_D%C3%A1vid) (1510–1579), who was successively Roman Catholic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic), Lutheran (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran), Calvinist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinist) and finally anti-Trinitarian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Trinitarian)." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Unitarianism

My mother was a Unitarian, and I grew up in the LRY youth group.

[Kestrel]

It's my understanding that there are still Universalist churches in the US, but I'm not sure about Unitarian. (Those that didn't join the UUA in 1961.)