Responses to:
What is the meaning for you of our question "what is the future of UU Christianity" and why is it important?
Who, what, and why is Jesus Christ? What is a UU lens and how can the story be engaged in the 21st century?
"Who do you say that I am?" This is the question to sit with.
Unitarianism is about moral perfection. Universalism is about salvation for all. How can these two DNA strands [illegible] together?
Are denominations still galvanizing, useful, and cogent, or have they outlived their usefulness?
"Who do you say that I am?" How can we, each and [illegible] advance an answer to this?
I want Unitarian Universalism to exist.
Do we want Christian Unitarian Universalism in general or specific unitarian and universalist Christianity?
UU Christianity, with its tradition of being non-hierarchical, non-creedal, and having respect for other religions is worth preserving.
If UU Christianity is to survive in the 21st-century, it must change its paradigm and become part and parcel of the living soul within each of us. The ways of celebrating no longer exist, for an hour, on Sunday mornings, but rather at times that fulfill one's needs. God never closes down for lunch but exists 24/7/365.
For me, I come from an Episcopalian background. I do not call myself a Christian because the label is confusing to others, since my views are not those of an Orthodox Christian. I would rather call myself a theist with process theological leanings. I feel that it is important for unitarian universalists as a denomination to come to terms with our Christian heritage, despite the fact and even more because of the fact that many within our denomination have come out of oppessive Christian denominations. I feel we have to somehow make peace with that and acknowledge our rich christian heritage within unitarianism and universalism. I also feel that whether we like it or not, we still live in a country where many of our fellow American are Christian, or define themselves as Christian, whether fundamentalist, evangelical, liberal, or somewhere along the theological spectrum. As unitarian universalists, if we want to change the world, we have to be able to work with other people across different theological lines who have different views, not only within but outside unitarian universalism.
What is the meaning for you of our question "what is the future of UU Christianity" and why is it important?
Who, what, and why is Jesus Christ? What is a UU lens and how can the story be engaged in the 21st century?
"Who do you say that I am?" This is the question to sit with.
Unitarianism is about moral perfection. Universalism is about salvation for all. How can these two DNA strands [illegible] together?
Are denominations still galvanizing, useful, and cogent, or have they outlived their usefulness?
"Who do you say that I am?" How can we, each and [illegible] advance an answer to this?
I want Unitarian Universalism to exist.
Do we want Christian Unitarian Universalism in general or specific unitarian and universalist Christianity?
UU Christianity, with its tradition of being non-hierarchical, non-creedal, and having respect for other religions is worth preserving.
If UU Christianity is to survive in the 21st-century, it must change its paradigm and become part and parcel of the living soul within each of us. The ways of celebrating no longer exist, for an hour, on Sunday mornings, but rather at times that fulfill one's needs. God never closes down for lunch but exists 24/7/365.
For me, I come from an Episcopalian background. I do not call myself a Christian because the label is confusing to others, since my views are not those of an Orthodox Christian. I would rather call myself a theist with process theological leanings. I feel that it is important for unitarian universalists as a denomination to come to terms with our Christian heritage, despite the fact and even more because of the fact that many within our denomination have come out of oppessive Christian denominations. I feel we have to somehow make peace with that and acknowledge our rich christian heritage within unitarianism and universalism. I also feel that whether we like it or not, we still live in a country where many of our fellow American are Christian, or define themselves as Christian, whether fundamentalist, evangelical, liberal, or somewhere along the theological spectrum. As unitarian universalists, if we want to change the world, we have to be able to work with other people across different theological lines who have different views, not only within but outside unitarian universalism.
Responses to:
What are your needs and hopes for UU Christianity?
Need: Christian Unitarian churches that aren't afraid to be Christian.
Need: To talk about and act on "hows" not just "whats."
There is a need for a fully human Jesus -- one identifiable with the poor and oppressed. But, is Jesus fully divine? Is this important or necessary?
There is a need for meaningful, ancient, vital worship.
A mystical dimension...transcendentalism!
Want respect among all; Christian Fellowship to continue within UUA as a supportive and nurturing fellowship, not separative.
Hope: Worshiping in a uniquely Christian way.
I think that unitarian universalist christianity can help us ground our faith in more than just political platitudes. I think many people outside of unitarian universalism see us mainly as a collection of people who can believe anything we want, and that we are no more than a politically liberal organization that has substituted left-wing ideology for theology. We are much more comfortable discussing our political beliefs on a particular issue than our own personal theological beliefs because ideology has become the new orthodoxy on which we can all agree. If we want to become more inclusive, not only enthically, but theologically, I think some form of the christian message can help with this.
What are your needs and hopes for UU Christianity?
Need: Christian Unitarian churches that aren't afraid to be Christian.
Need: To talk about and act on "hows" not just "whats."
There is a need for a fully human Jesus -- one identifiable with the poor and oppressed. But, is Jesus fully divine? Is this important or necessary?
There is a need for meaningful, ancient, vital worship.
A mystical dimension...transcendentalism!
Want respect among all; Christian Fellowship to continue within UUA as a supportive and nurturing fellowship, not separative.
Hope: Worshiping in a uniquely Christian way.
I think that unitarian universalist christianity can help us ground our faith in more than just political platitudes. I think many people outside of unitarian universalism see us mainly as a collection of people who can believe anything we want, and that we are no more than a politically liberal organization that has substituted left-wing ideology for theology. We are much more comfortable discussing our political beliefs on a particular issue than our own personal theological beliefs because ideology has become the new orthodoxy on which we can all agree. If we want to become more inclusive, not only enthically, but theologically, I think some form of the christian message can help with this.
Responses to:
Who are we? What is the UU Christian community?
God? Believe in him in different ways.
The UUCF is Jonah. The UUA is Nineveh. And we are pissed.
Worship: the way of bringing our questions to God.
The original UU Christian concept of faith can no longer be found within the walls of the UUA but rather has become a separate and distinct post denomination of its own rite. I personally subscribe to the tenets of the Unitarian Christian Church of America and the Unitarian Universalist Faith Alliance and Ministries (both are non-UUA affiliations although in kindredness follow similar programs).
Who are we? What is the UU Christian community?
God? Believe in him in different ways.
The UUCF is Jonah. The UUA is Nineveh. And we are pissed.
Worship: the way of bringing our questions to God.
The original UU Christian concept of faith can no longer be found within the walls of the UUA but rather has become a separate and distinct post denomination of its own rite. I personally subscribe to the tenets of the Unitarian Christian Church of America and the Unitarian Universalist Faith Alliance and Ministries (both are non-UUA affiliations although in kindredness follow similar programs).