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wandering soul
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 Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:03 pm Post subject: Unitarian Universalism |
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Unitarian Universalism is a religion that is welcoming to people who are atheists, agnostics, as well as deists and theists. It is a very tolerant religion, welcoming to a wide range of beliefs.
Do any of you think that this could be a good religion, or are you skeptical of all religion, even Unitarian Universalism, which is very big on tolerance and social action?
You can read more about Unitarian Universalism at www.uua.org
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Moloth
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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i think we may have some Unitarians here...
i dunno.. if someone LIKES the fellowship, the ritual and the social aspects of a church-like environment, but doesn't want the B.S. that comes with religion, i think its a great idea.
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total |
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Philosophos
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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I went to a couple of services. I liked them.
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Moloth
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Philosophos wrote: | | I went to a couple of services. I liked them. |
what on earth was the 'service' like?? i mean, what did they talk about?
i'm curious as all hell to know what an atheist church has to say... O_o
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total |
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Specus_Meretricis
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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I went to one with a friend and it was very New Agey and Woo Wooey. If I have to go to church, or tolerate a certain religious group, I'd rather put up with the Catholics. At least they have passion.
Remember that episode of The Simpson's, when Bart is playing a video game with Flander's kids? If you shoot someone, they are converted to Christ:
Bart playing Billy Graham's Bible Blaster
Bart: "Got him!"
Rod: "Naw...you just winged him and made him a Unitarian."
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Philosophos
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Moloth wrote: | what on earth was the 'service' like?? i mean, what did they talk about?
i'm curious as all hell to know what an atheist church has to say... O_o |
It's not necessarily "atheist," although many of the people at the church I went to were.
The first time you go, you introduce yourself. Then there was a ceremony where people come up to the podium and light a candle and talk about either their troubles or joys (it's completely voluntary). Then there was a talk/discussion on the pastor's recent travels abroad (he just came back when I first went), and then we sung some secular-type hymns. Afterwards, there was coffee and snakes in the basement, where people chatted.
The church I went to offers some various educational opportunities, where you can learn about other religions and so forth. It also does charity work.
I liked it for 2 reasons: It's a place to meet people who you may not otherwise meet in a comfortable setting, and the open discussion is cathartic. I have mixed feelings on ceremony (sometimes in the mood, sometimes not).
| Specus_Meretricis wrote: | | I went to one with a friend and it was very New Agey and Woo Wooey. |
As there's very little stuff you have to "buy" in UU, the atmosphere differs from church to church. Besides the candle-lighting, nothing was new-agey nor "spiritual" (in the metaphysical sense) or theistic about the one I went to. But I was told afterwards of another close to my home that focused much more on theist-type beliefs.
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Sultan Borat
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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I thought the UU is dead?
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Moloth
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Afterwards, there was coffee and snakes in the basement, where people chatted. |
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total |
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Philosophos
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Moloth wrote: | | Quote: | | Afterwards, there was coffee and snakes in the basement, where people chatted. |
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Heh.  Snacks. Snacks.
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Moloth
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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AH.
that makes more sense...
ya scared me for a sec.. lol...
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total |
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BarkAtTheMoon
O Captain, my Captain
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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Location: Wilmington, DE
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Philosophos wrote: | | Moloth wrote: | what on earth was the 'service' like?? i mean, what did they talk about?
i'm curious as all hell to know what an atheist church has to say... O_o |
It's not necessarily "atheist," although many of the people at the church I went to were.
The first time you go, you introduce yourself. Then there was a ceremony where people come up to the podium and light a candle and talk about either their troubles or joys (it's completely voluntary). Then there was a talk/discussion on the pastor's recent travels abroad (he just came back when I first went), and then we sung some secular-type hymns. Afterwards, there was coffee and snakes in the basement, where people chatted.
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Almost sounds like an AA meeting.  Coffee and snakes?  Or is that supposed to be snacks and just a real weird typo?
Edit: Never mind, you answered Moloth while I was typing.
Here's what I don't get about these secular type churches. What of your description actually requires it being a "church service?" All of the above could easily have just been a, I don't know, community pot luck dinner, crab feast at the local firehall, or something like that. Is it so engrained in people, even secular/atheist types and such, to have this desire to go to church and revert back to theistic traditions that we need to make it this formal service? Why not just make it a social club/gathering, that would probably be more enjoyable anyway, possibly related to common interests? That's why I joined the private club I play ball at. We play good volleyball for a few hours, then go down to the basement bar and have a few beers and shoot the shit, and I've gotten to know a bunch of good people there and the opportunities for charity work and such are just as available.
It's basically the same issue I have in the spiritual atheist threads, why do we need to take a perfectly reasonable social gathering or set of philosophical/intellectual/ways to live ideas, and piggyback it on theistic-like terminology and rituals?
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Moloth
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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| BarkAtTheMoon wrote: |
It's basically the same issue I have in the spiritual atheist threads, why do we need to take a perfectly reasonable social gathering or set of philosophical/intellectual/ways to live ideas, and piggyback it on theistic-like terminology and rituals? |
i guess because some people LIKE it. *shrug *
like i said above, i guess some people just LIKE the ritual, the gathering, the social aspects...
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total |
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BarkAtTheMoon
O Captain, my Captain
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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Location: Wilmington, DE
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Moloth wrote: | | BarkAtTheMoon wrote: |
It's basically the same issue I have in the spiritual atheist threads, why do we need to take a perfectly reasonable social gathering or set of philosophical/intellectual/ways to live ideas, and piggyback it on theistic-like terminology and rituals? |
i guess because some people LIKE it. *shrug *
like i said above, i guess some people just LIKE the ritual, the gathering, the social aspects... |
I guess so. It's just so easy to accomplish the same stuff without the ritual or a more non-church service sort of ritual. Kind of like the stuff we did in my fraternity in college. At least then the rituals were always followed by beer, chicks, and parties.
And since when was church ever fun? It's always been a drag. Most Christians I know, at least the moderate ones, have to guilt trip themselves into going. Sitting on a wooden pew for an hour is never enjoyable.
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"The very existence of flame throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, 'You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.' - George Carlin
"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people." - Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey |
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ChrissyFos
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds a lot like a cult to me.
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kmisho
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Location: Richmond, Virginia USA
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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Not long ago I spent a lot of time with UUers. The services at the church here in Richmond (They had discussed calling it a church or not but decided to out of mere tradition. I asked.) Are mainly human rights and environmentalism preaching interspersed with folk and classical music.
VERY UNLIKE normal churches I've been too, many of them were HIGHLY educated. Two of them I got along well with were a retired medical statistician and retired engineer who worked for NASA in the 60's.
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Now this religion happens to prevail/Until by that one it is overthrown/Because men dare not live with men alone/But always with another fairy tale.
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