My 1st experience at a Unitarian Universalist church

[Underwraps]

CLIFF NOTES VERSION: This progressive church was old fashioned and fuddy duddy just like a regular boring traditional church except for their message.


It was a ahead of it's time- the organization of secular humanists. There's nothing they promote that I don't agree with. (see below).

I can see how a church like this had to be created where well meaning folks wanted to embrace more beyond traditional Christian beliefs and agenda, yet still wanted to gather and organize and get stuff done. Ralf Waldo Emerson and his counterparts like Margaret Fuller were the forefathers and mothers. They were progressive, openminded, revolutionary,...

So, I walk in and what am I most struck by? Just how much their church structure is exactly THAT. It was very churchy! It's a completely traditional church structure from the pamphlet, welcoming guests, hyms (sans worship of a specific diety- and all about their tenets below). There was a lot of grey hair, some couples with young children, and my guess- some same sex couples, but if one didn't notice that- there would be NO difference compared to say a traditional Lutheran or Presbyterian service. A bit dry, boring, uninspiring and almost lifeless, though good content and with nice people.

There was maybe 1 bored lone teenager.

When I do go to a Christian church I normally visit a modern style church. Still plenty of bible thumping and strict core beliefs, but the people there are young and vibrant. Young couples, college age kids, single 20 somethings. People dressed the way they feel most comfortable- tattoos showing, some nose rings. No hate speech against homos. (oops). No judgment. The teens are glad to be there for the most part.

I hate to say it but churches are part content part show and LOTS of spirit when they are at their best. The Unitarians are missing it on that point. With the anything goes openmindedness they should be brimming with hipsters and young adults. Nope. Dry and "same old same old".

Me and Jesus have issues, but I don't mind singing a rockin' out song to "the Lord" with a good band on stage- it's sincere for them and they love what they do and the songs are uplifting and often transcendening for me.

I will still go back to learn more from the Unitarians, but they are like an old brand that needs updating and the other product may not be the content they want, but they have their marketing and packaging figured out- and the fans LOVE it- and it makes them feel good and alive and loved.

I went to be inspired and came away wanting to shake them up to WAKE UP! They are the PROGESSIVE ONES! They should rock that stance and go full hilt with it! Nope, we listening to pretty and sometimes depressing violins and quiet hymns.

You have GOT to be kidding me is what I thought. ROTFL!!

One femmy guy chatted me up. I'm going back to flirt some more with him, but the youngster hotties at the other church way out beauty the old/fat/nerdy men at the Uni church. Sex sells.... lol. "Forgive me lord and be with the starving pygmies in New Guinea." - Larry the Cable Guy

Straight from their website:



There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Unitarian Universalism (UU) draws from many sources:

• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
• Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
• Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
• Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

These principles and sources of faith are the backbone of our religious community.

 

[PICK3]

Is it a sin to go to church with the express intent of scoring poon

 

[PICK3]

Did they follow their service by passing a collection plate?

 

[Oceano]

Me and Jesus have issues, but I don't mind singing a rockin' out song to "the Lord" with a good band on stage- it's sincere for them and they love what they do and the songs are uplifting and often transcendening for me.

'Jesus and I', surely? one can't put oneself ahead of the Lord!

I will still go back to learn more from the Unitarians, but they are like an old brand that needs updating and the other product may not be the content they want, but they have their marketing and packaging figured out- and the fans LOVE it- and it makes them feel good and alive and loved.

You're still talking about Church here right?

One femmy guy chatted me up. I'm going back to flirt some more with him, but the youngster hotties at the other church way out beauty the old/fat/nerdy men at the Uni church. Sex sells.... lol.

What's a 'femmy guy', and are you really sure it's a Church you're looking for, maybe speed dating would work better?

 

[PICK3]

Sounds interesting, butt I'm pretty gullible in a sheepish kinda way.

I'd be afraid I'd end up in at a "retreat" swilling some kool-aid mixture

 

[musclemom]

Sounds interesting, butt I'm pretty gullible in a sheepish kinda way.

I'd be afraid I'd end up in at a "retreat" swilling some kool-aid mixture

UUs are pretty cool. Really what they're trying to create is the positive, community spirit of conventional church without the hellfire and damnation. A place where Buddhists, Christians and Wiccans can rub shoulders, acknowledge they all have some basic, core similarities, accepting the differences, and build a community of acceptance.

UUs and Quakers, good peeps. You don't have to believe in THEIR god, just acknowledge that humans ain't all there is

 

[Underwraps]

Did they follow their service by passing a collection plate?

Is it a sin to go to church with the express intent of scoring poon

LOL! I KNEW someone was going to say something about that!
It was an arrow pointing in a direction to see if you'd really miss the main point which is that it really lacks attraction for youth and younger folks by the fact of their abscense.

It caters to the older set of people that don't want their parent's church, but didn't know to model a new church in any other way but their parent's church as if doing so would be a REAL sin. So, it's okay to be a bit off the main path and not do the Jesus (only) thing, but nooo we can't do anything else different from our parents. I thinks it's the region I'm in too. I'm sure there are more hip UU churches in bigger cities.

And, YES, they DID pass an offering plate and not a deep more private bin, but a shallow basket so you can see what everyone else put in. LOL.

 

[Underwraps]

'Jesus and I', surely? one can't put oneself ahead of the Lord!



You're still talking about Church here right?



What's a 'femmy guy', and are you really sure it's a Church you're looking for, maybe speed dating would work better?

Yeah, I gave you plenty of chum to gorge yourselves on. Ha ha.

On one hand, the church has to reflect what the "clientele" are comfortable with and many churches have a traditional service and a more modern service to cater to younger and older. It's not about the "marketing" to "sell" church. But, like a product, any church interested in keep the next generation interested will evolve naturally according to the members and the leadership. A church that is wanting to keep every age interested will offer a venue for the younger people to express themselves in different ways which usually is reflected in the music choice.

It's not a church that has a sense of being up to date, so those age groups are not represented well there. It's like going to your lesbian grandma's Lutheran church. The people are nice and trying to do a good thing, but they are comfortable with their style and don't seem interested in updating the external things since the tenets are eternal and universal.

They're good people- just their style is so ironically UNprogressive when their message is still very much PROgressive.

Oh, and "femmy" means he was sensitive, soft spoken, gentle, maybe he tilted his head as he spoke. He talked like a GIRL!!! Oh, puuhleeze. We have gender stereotypes and don't pretend we don't. I don't think there's anything wrong with all the shades we come in. Many people blurr the lines between the gender polars and I think that's just being human. It IS what it IS and it's okay to call someone by their most pronounced physical traits. It makes me laugh when someone won't tell me someone is Asian or Black because we're suppose to be "color blind". There's nothing wrong with our uniqueness. PC PC PC crap.

Btw, femmes kinda turn me on in fact. - but that's another tangent....

 

[Underwraps]

UUs are pretty cool. Really what they're trying to create is the positive, community spirit of conventional church without the hellfire and damnation. A place where Buddhists, Christians and Wiccans can rub shoulders, acknowledge they all have some basic, core similarities, accepting the differences, and build a community of acceptance.

UUs and Quakers, good peeps. You don't have to believe in THEIR god, just acknowledge that humans ain't all there is

The right spirit was there, just dressed in bad lesbian sense of fashion. Kinda hokey and nerdy. Lovable, but no modern pulse though the message is still progressive.

Church shouldn't be "trendy"- a good King of the Hill episode on that topic. But, young folks today have their own generation, sound, and look and none of that was seen or felt there. It was circa 1984 Lutheran without Jesus talk.

"Shalom, Sala'am, blessed be, Amen"

 

[Underwraps]

Sounds interesting, butt I'm pretty gullible in a sheepish kinda way.

I'd be afraid I'd end up in at a "retreat" swilling some kool-aid mixture

Yup, one has to always stay away from the kool-aid. I hear the coffee is okay though.

 

[shirlene29]

Im not gonna read all that...I'll pretend i have better things to do...but i thought the universalists unitarians got swallowed up by another organization?? maybe that was only locally

I tried to buy a piece of property from them years ago and it got all screwed up because it had sloppily changed hands too many times...the title search cost me three grand...
I really wanted that place bad, thier attorney was a moron though and said it was unsaleable.

and yeah, I researched them when I was trying to negotiate with them..I liked their ideology

 

[musclemom]

The right spirit was there, just dressed in bad lesbian sense of fashion. Kinda hokey and nerdy. Lovable, but no modern pulse though the message is still progressive.

Well, I have to be honest, you're going to find that in any institution, including paganism.

For a spiritual tradition to remain viable, there has to be a degree of dynamism, but you still need to hold onto the traditions, and those traditions become hokey. You update shit too much, it loses the meaning, the feeling, the spirit of the thing.

Staying abreast of the times simply for the sake of being trendy is a guarantee fail because the trend WILL eventually become passe.

Look at it this way, Wiccans celebrate the wheel of the year. Half of those sabbats are centered around harvest festivals which basically have ZERO pertinence for most people in our modern culture, but we still honor the spirit of those festivals and find ways to make the celebrations pertinent for our times, beyond honoring the ancestors.

One of the comfortable things about an institution and tradition is that it is memories/echoes of times gone by. It's a safe place.

Just my take on it, I've never belonged to a conventional church or even been a christian so I could be totally off base, too.

 

[b0und]

Hmmm, I don't know if we have these Unitarians here in Australia. Maybe I could check them out. Sounds like they would welcome a know-it-all humanist.












b0und (not only know-it-all, but know-it-all-better )

 

[Oceano]

Yeah, I gave you plenty of chum to gorge yourselves on. Ha ha.

On one hand, the church has to reflect what the "clientele" are comfortable with and many churches have a traditional service and a more modern service to cater to younger and older. It's not about the "marketing" to "sell" church. But, like a product, any church interested in keep the next generation interested will evolve naturally according to the members and the leadership. A church that is wanting to keep every age interested will offer a venue for the younger people to express themselves in different ways which usually is reflected in the music choice.

It's not a church that has a sense of being up to date, so those age groups are not represented well there. It's like going to your lesbian grandma's Lutheran church. The people are nice and trying to do a good thing, but they are comfortable with their style and don't seem interested in updating the external things since the tenets are eternal and universal.

They're good people- just their style is so ironically UNprogressive when their message is still very much PROgressive.

At my church I get the impression people see it as a duty to go and are generally happy to get out of there. What age are you btw, late teens or early 20s? (if you don't mind me asking)

Oh, and "femmy" means he was sensitive, soft spoken, gentle, maybe he tilted his head as he spoke. He talked like a GIRL!!! Oh, puuhleeze. We have gender stereotypes and don't pretend we don't. I don't think there's anything wrong with all the shades we come in. Many people blurr the lines between the gender polars and I think that's just being human. It IS what it IS and it's okay to call someone by their most pronounced physical traits. It makes me laugh when someone won't tell me someone is Asian or Black because we're suppose to be "color blind". There's nothing wrong with our uniqueness. PC PC PC crap.

Btw, femmes kinda turn me on in fact. - but that's another tangent....

maybe u is lez?

 

[Underwraps]

Per Shirlene's post: I have no clue, but sounds like that local church had a money mess in it's background. I bet they had trouble making the mortgage?

Per MM- How ya doin' woman? - Yeah, the balance between tradition and keeping things dynamic is a tough thing to maintain. I definately sense these older folks are forging their own ideas, but in a safe familiar form. It's like if the wheel ain't broke, don't fix it, but they don't see their wheels are made of wood vs rubber and would move faster with some change.

A new epiphany: They are overly intellectual.

Spirituality has inner and outer forms and each affects the other. A good rockin' uplifting song is like a natural high that feeds the seed of what I have growing inside me. The best unitarian church experience for me is a U2 concert. Frickin' Bono is a master of feelin' good vibes and at "One" with your fellow human beings. I get all misty at some point somewhere at one. That's how I was hoping to feel and maybe they do have their moments, depending on the guest speaker or performer. I'm sure it's the type of church to have African drums come in and such. I'll be visiting awhile just for the learnin' and community. But, I've learned in past mistakes to first pay my dues before trying to get people to take on new ideas and change and tell them what to do.

Yeah, any organization has to have a regular fluid way of doing things, but they can't lose sight of the fact that people are of all ages and they are missing a huge segment of the population that ironically is at the age where they are questioning the most, seeking, and also have the most energy. With what unitarians can embrace, their rooftop should be coming off the hinges with ideas and vitality- like a U2 concert! : ) There's nothing holding them back, but their own creaky ideas of convention. How ironic!

Bound- I'm sure Aussies have Unitarians.

Btw, they're very gay friendly too and not just gay friendly, it's part of the agenda. They are to gay issues and tolerance what the Black churches in the south were to the U.S. Civil Rights movement.

I wish them luck on that, but history has shown, even though homosexuality has and always will be part of the variety of human kind, they will always be marginalized because they will always be a minority. Royalty of the past and entertainers could be gay, but regular every day Tom, Dick, and Harry getting married, adopting kids, pushing strollers down the street, kissing in public (saw this lately at a TGIF), getting divorced, etc.... Well, who knows? Maybe someday...

 

[Underwraps]

At my church I get the impression people see it as a duty to go and are generally happy to get out of there. What age are you btw, late teens or early 20s? (if you don't mind me asking)

I grew up in the 80's. So, describe YOUR church to me. What's it like? Traditional? Modern? Charismatic? Dry? Where I often visit, sure, there will always be bored teens who had no choice but to go where parents bring them or they are there and happy b/c their friends are there and to hell with the churchy stuff. There will always be that resistance. But, overall, people look happy to be there. It's friendly, positive. It's still hard chore on doctrine though. They want visitors to feel comfortable, but true believers and members to feel challenged.


maybe u is lez?

Ha ha. No, soft men are just far less intimidating and my personality type is submisive and supportive so I can't handle overly dominating types. That's why a lot of "femmy" guys date old country Asian women. By contrast, they make them seem masculine!

 

[Oceano]

I grew up in the 80's. So, describe YOUR church to me. What's it like? Traditional? Modern? Charismatic? Dry? Where I often visit, sure, there will always be bored teens who had no choice but to go where parents bring them or they are there and happy b/c their friends are there and to hell with the churchy stuff. There will always be that resistance. But, overall, people look happy to be there. It's friendly, positive. It's still hard chore on doctrine though. They want visitors to feel comfortable, but true believers and members to feel challenged.

It's traditional. Stone-built, fairly cold, wooden pews. Church takes place on Sunday morning and lasts for about 45mins. It consists mostly of hymns, usually the same hymns every week, the sermon last about 6-8 minutes (the best part), then it's over and everyone seems happy at the end. To me it all seems processional, not very interactive, but I think most are ok with that. In all, it's always been what it is, it's not something that enthuses me massively. Then again it's easy, hardest part is being bothered to go on Sunday morning.

Ha ha. No, soft men are just far less intimidating and my personality type is submisive and supportive so I can't handle overly dominating types. That's why a lot of "femmy" guys date old country Asian women. By contrast, they make them seem masculine!

'Old country Asian women', is that like aged Asian women that live in rural areas?

 

[PICK3]

It's traditional. Stone-built, fairly cold, wooden pews. Church takes place on Sunday morning and lasts for about 45mins. It consists mostly of hymns, usually the same hymns every week, the sermon last about 6-8 minutes (the best part), then it's over and everyone seems happy at the end. To me it all seems processional, not very interactive, but I think most are ok with that. In all, it's always been what it is, it's not something that enthuses me massively. Then again it's easy, hardest part is being bothered to go on Sunday morning.

Do these zealots ... I mean participants have get togethers to serve the local community?

 

[nimbus]

how often are you in chuch?

 

[needtogetaas]

Is it a sin to go to church with the express intent of scoring poon

Its is most certainly not a sin and in fact its the 11th commandment bro of my book bro. Ye shall score the best and most slutty slam pig poon in church... I mean for example check out the torpedo tits on this chick ^^^^^ My god what a blessing...



BTW Bitme we missed you bro, welcome back. Its ok to use your normal account bro no ones going to ban you again man.

 

[nimbus]

underwraps is biteme?

 

[Underwraps]

underwraps is biteme?

Lol! I thot I was Shrimp? That's what people told me. He's greasy and gross. Yuck.

 

[nangiggles]

Lol! I thot I was Shrimp? That's what people told me. He's greasy and gross. Yuck.

Shrimp passed away Underwraps, and I dont mean his e-persona, I mean in real life He was a really nice person as well.

 

[Underwraps]

It's traditional. Stone-built, fairly cold, wooden pews. Church takes place on Sunday morning and lasts for about 45mins. It consists mostly of hymns, usually the same hymns every week, the sermon last about 6-8 minutes (the best part), then it's over and everyone seems happy at the end. To me it all seems processional, not very interactive, but I think most are ok with that. In all, it's always been what it is, it's not something that enthuses me massively. Then again it's easy, hardest part is being bothered to go on Sunday morning.



'Old country Asian women', is that like aged Asian women that live in rural areas?

Holy yawn. That is traditional and a sermon only 6-8 minutes? I never heard of such a thing unless it was me shutting off the TV and cutting a pastor short. That IS a very traditional church. If the sermons are good, then that's great. The rest is just church business and the preferred way to worship which can come in many many styles. That is just not my style. That's grandma's church.

Churches only change if the people want it to that's why it's ironic that modern churches pushed for their own style, though the message is still basic Bible stuff and a progress UU church doesn't think to bother to change. I'm multiply redundant now.

As for "old country Asian women"- ha ha. I should say women from old Asian countries who are old fashioned. Semantics is such a pain sometimes. ha.

 

[*ebony*]

how many different churches are there now? its like a new group/church forms every yr?

 

[musclemom]

how many different churches are there now? its like a new group/church forms every yr?

That's kind of like counting the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin, isn't it? Okay, you have all the mainstream Christian/Moslem/Hebrew/Buddhist/Toaist religions. Then include subgroups like Jehovah's Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, Scientologists, throw in the various pagan/wiccan/witch/heathen/satanic traditions, then try to include cults based on one of the existing religions/movements/traditions? And don't forget traditional, ancestral based practices. The mind boggles, really.

 

[PICK3]

Its is most certainly not a sin and in fact its the 11th commandment bro of my book bro. Ye shall score the best and most slutty slam pig poon in church... I mean for example check out the torpedo tits on this chick ^^^^^ My god what a blessing...

^^^
good info!

 

[Underwraps]

That's kind of like counting the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin, isn't it? Okay, you have all the mainstream Christian/Moslem/Hebrew/Buddhist/Toaist religions. Then include subgroups like Jehovah's Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, Scientologists, throw in the various pagan/wiccan/witch/heathen/satanic traditions, then try to include cults based on one of the existing religions/movements/traditions? And don't forget traditional, ancestral based practices. The mind boggles, really.

Yeah, it's exponential. When the Protestants finally broke away after no resolution, it's been 1+1, then, 2x2, 4x4, etc...

And now there are so many different kinds and styles and movements, that's why, once again per my OP, why do the UU folks not bother to change it up a bit and be less .... churchy? I'm still mystified...

Oh, and per the Coptic Christians, I wish I knew more about the loose "Christian" churches before Constantine created the Catholics and the oxymoron "universal" Catholic church concept. I guess the UU are stealing the term back. No offense to Catholics. They just believe size matters...

 

[RottenWillow]

Yeah, it's exponential. When the Protestants finally broke away after no resolution, it's been 1+1, then, 2x2, 4x4, etc...

And now there are so many different kinds and styles and movements, that's why, once again per my OP, why do the UU folks not bother to change it up a bit and be less .... churchy? I'm still mystified...

Oh, and per the Coptic Christians, I wish I knew more about the loose "Christian" churches before Constantine created the Catholics and the oxymoron "universal" Catholic church concept. I guess the UU are stealing the term back. No offense to Catholics. They just believe size matters...

In the U.S, The Church has lost most of that attitude in recent years. It was always more humble over here, but more so now. When we were in Spain and Germany last Summer for some Formula One races though I did imagine there was the historical amount of grandiose pomposity in Europe.

 

[Underwraps]

In the U.S, The Church has lost most of that attitude in recent years. It was always more humble over here, but more so now. When we were in Spain and Germany last Summer for some Formula One races though I did imagine there was the historical amount of grandiose pomposity in Europe.

The Catholic church has done and seen it all. But, with 1,500 (or so) years of history of growth and power struggles, it's just a matter of course. Human beings with ill intention will use any organization to get power and money.

Btw, I am a product of that history as well. My ancestors were Christianized by the Jesuits, the Spanish rulers, the inquisition...etc... and my relatives are still hard core ROMAN Catholic. OLD school, not this modern stuff on the U.S. mainland.

The modern Catholic church is not that different from their early rivals now: the Lutherans, Anglicans, etc... I can see much more leaning towards personal spirituality today than the strict culture of outward reverence for God of the past.

 

[Underwraps]

Shrimp passed away Underwraps, and I dont mean his e-persona, I mean in real life He was a really nice person as well.

That's the most positive thing I've ever heard said about him. That's too bad about his death. Was it health or accident?

When I went back to search his posts to see what the deal was about all the Shrimp pounding, he actually replied to a thread of mine then disappeared- hence thoughts I was him perhaps? Anyway, I hope he lived a fulfilled life.

 

[nangiggles]

That's the most positive thing I've ever heard said about him. That's too bad about his death. Was it health or accident?

When I went back to search his posts to see what the deal was about all the Shrimp pounding, he actually replied to a thread of mine then disappeared- hence thoughts I was him perhaps? Anyway, I hope he lived a fulfilled life.

Well PERSONALLY I appreciated him, good guy, he gave me lots of support when I moved here to FL.