went to my first Unitarian services this past Sunday

[davidinalameda]

it was the Solstice celebration

Oh my goodness--it was so fantastic

I'm probably going to end up joining the church

the congregation is in Oakland

I felt so much at home and got such a great vibe from everyone

[Warpy]

1. They're good people

and they accept atheists and Buddhists and people from all disciplines, as long as they bother to think about things.

You feel optimistic with those folks.

What a contrast with the fundies and puritans.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Can you imagine packs of raving Unitarian fanatics

in the streets with torches & pitchforks?

Me neither.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. I'd be comfortable with the Unitarians politically and in some senses,

theologically, but I like a little more of the mystical and ceremonial in my observances. That's why I ended up as an Episcopalian. I was told about a Bible study class in my parish in which everyone went around and told what they really believed about a certain topic. The priest's comment was, "I think you've mentioned almost all the beliefs that were considered heresies in the early Church, but in the end, who really knows?"

I like that attitude.

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. That's so great!

I've been considering it for awhile, but reprehensor nearly floored me the other night when he said, "We should go to a Unitarian service sometime."

:wow:

So I guess we are. I'm rather looking forward to it, having been godless for some time now.
FSC

[oneold1-4u]

5. A great church of diversity

They allow GLBT artists and performers to have shows and concerts in their churches and even "sock hop" dances on their carpets.
They are an expanding church and need money and strength of members to challenge the religious "right". Their politics is so quiet though, that not enough people know of them, but a whisper is often well listened to!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. The congregation in Portland is huge and growing

They started in a Colonial-style church and have kept expanding until they took over a defunct evangelical church on the same block.

Despite the growth of the fundie megachurches in the suburbs, the Unitarians and the Episcopalians have the largest individual churches in the city proper.

[GOPBasher]

8. That's good news.

Normal religious people to counter the religious right nutjobs.

[kimchi]

6. I'm so glad, Dwickam!

I am very impressed with the UU, because they are always more than willing to rent space to our Grove for celebrations (and we are under the CUUPS umbrella right now for tax-exempt status).

Happy Solstice to you, and have a wonderful New Year.

[GOPBasher]

9. That's really cool.

Good for you!

[Maat]

10. Yeah, another member of a progressive church.

In fact, quite a few here. Myself, I'm part Unitarian, and support the Unitarian church that is about 45 minutes from my house.

But, I, too like my services to be a bit more 'spiritual' and 'ceremonial,' so I regularly attend services at (and am a member of) the Church of Religious Science (ucrs.org, rsintl.org) that focuses on affirmative goal-visualizing prayer (and various meditative practices).

I'm proud giving money to both of these human-rights affirming churches.

I think that each one of us, who attends a congregation, has to not only take a look at what we are supporting in our individual church, but also what we are contributing to in terms of the national or worldwide administrative body.

For example, and I do not wish to offend, but if one is contributing to a Southern Baptist Church, even if one's own congregation is liberal and inclusive, one is contributing to the support of the Southern Baptist Convention (the administrative body) and Richard Land. Take a look at their resolutions - stating that the man is the 'spiritual head' of the household. Then take a look at Richard Land's statement that is fine for the wife to work outside of the home - if the husband gives her 'PERMISSION.' I could never live with myself contributing to this nonsense.

We need to starve the Religious Right beast - by joining and supporting progressive faiths and churches (like UU, Church of Religious Science, United Church of Christ, Metropolitan Community Churches, etc.).

I'm glad one of my fellow DUers is happy in the Episcopal Church, which did the great thing of promoting Rev. Gene. But if one is a member of the Episcopal Church, is one also contributing to the Worldwide Anglican body - that is giving American Episcopals crud for supporting and promoting Rev. Gene? I have heard that Rev. Gene (the first openly gay Bishop) has offered to take on a lesser role in the church so that it does not break up. That is sad...

I offer these comments questioning - so that I can explore the best course for progressives - and not to deliberately offend. This is one of my favorite subjects. I learn every time someone comments.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. The Anglican Communion

If it were up to the First World churches only, Gene Robinson's consecration would be largely non-controversial. The objections come mostly from the Anglican churches in the Third World.

Their own indigenous societies are still highly traditional, with homosexuality either taboo or hidden.

During the General Convention, one of our former priests, an out lesbian, hosted a visiting priest from Uganda. He was genuinely bewildered to find himself in a household where two women were living together as a couple, and he told them that such things never happened in Uganda. "Men love women, and women love men, and that's all there is to it," he said. Well, there undoubtedly are same-sex couples in Uganda, but they would have to sneak around instead of living together openly.

I doubt that most of the Church of England is upset by Gene Robinson. We are talking about England, after all. But the majority of the world's Anglicans are in the African and Asian countries of the former British empire, and they are having fits over this issue, so as happened with women's ordination thirty years ago, the powers that be are taking a noncommittal approach and waiting for the objectors to die off. It's a slow process, but it works eventually.

[Maat]

12. Hey, thanks for the response.

I learned something! And you're working for progress. I support the Rev. Gene and hope he doesn't back down. And I think that is so cool of your former priest to stand tall.

I guess that there is an argument to be made for sticking with one's progressive Episcopal congregation - and supporting progress (because progress is being made). Thanks again for the info.

[pelagius]

13. Some first world Episcopal churches...

...oppose Robinson's consecration as a bishop, though. There's a network of such churches headquartered in -- wait for it! -- TEXAS. Are we starting to see some patterns emerging here? :-)

This is a process. Changing religious belief takes time, but, to be fair, if you would have raised the issue of gay marriage in even progressive secular circles thirty years ago, people would have thought you were some kind of nut.

[Hey Nineteen]

17. Some Episcopal/Anglican links for more info

A great un-official site with a TON of links to Anglican stuff worldwide:

http://www.anglicansonline.org

The Episcopal Church USA's website:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org

And HERE is the aforementioned Texas-based fundie sect within the EC:

http://www.americananglican.org/

They call themselves the 'American Anglican Council.' They're relatively small, but they have the support of a few bishops. During last year's big fight over +Robinson they were trying to get the worldwide Anglican Communion to recognize them instead of the Episcopal Church, as the true American province of the Communion. They keep talking about splitting off, but there are legal issues with church property ownership etc. And I'm not sure they would really ever do it anyway.

[GOPBasher]

14. I'm with you.

My wife goes to a Southern Baptist church, and it drives me nuts. She's liberal, so it's not affecting her much, but her tithing indirectly supports the Southern Baptist Convention.

[itzamirakul]

16. Another Religious Scientist here..

I, too am a member of the First Church of Religious Science-NYC. I joined and have studied with the church for nearly 35 years.

The first time I attended, I remember the minister saying, "We don't want to change you from being a Methodist, or a Baptist, or a Jew, or whatever religion you have practiced. We just want to help you become a better Methodist, or Baptist or Jew or whatever faith you have chosen."

That was enough for me - a Methodist at the time. I joined Religious Science and I have never looked back.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. Unitarians are cool

I've attended zkr and the Dances of Universal Peace at the Unitarian Church in Eureka Springs AR. Unitarian and Unity churches are both open to the Dances.