3. We focus on what we know by experience.

Over the past 500 years or so, human beings have come to rely more and more on reason and science as the basis of human knowledge. As a result, religion and its defenders have been engaged in an often-brutal tug-of-war with science and its defenders over what we most truly know.

Unitarian Universalists have ended this test of strength between reason and revelation by letting go of the rope. For us, it’s no contest: if what we know from our experience contradicts what we’re told by an ancient wisdom text, reason trumps revelation every time.

TJ never identified as a UU, although he did sometimes attend UU services.

the UUs were formed in the early 60s. He didn't see Christ as God. Unitarians didn't believe in the Trinity and Universalist didn't believe in hell. They merged into the UUs later.

But he never identified as such in much the same way George Washington embraced parts of Christianity while never identifying as Christian.

Don't try theology. Cause you kinda suck at it. It's bad enough reading that type of muddle from people who are sincerely religious, but reading it from people who have rejected religion for all practical purposes, but who simply don't want to be called atheists and still like to play church on Sundays, is a little creepy.

Hell, metaphor that it is, has frozen over.

speaking as someone who was a cradle Unitarian.

Christian trinitarianism doesn't even align with their own good book.

1/8 are atheists and 3/8 agnostics. I don't know where you get your ideas.

The big draw is that people of all beliefs can come together to work for social justice and help communities without pushing a religion.

This is our religious dogma

1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.


Sorry you find that "creepy"

That's just something you made up. Go back and read what I wrote again.

In any case, what you've delineated is humanist philosophy (nothing wrong with any of that) maybe with a teeny bit of godishness sprinkled in to keep the atheist haters at bay. If anything is creepy, it's the need to describe it as "religious dogma" and the need to play "church" on Sundays in order to live it out.

dogma very dogmatic, that is how it's meant.

"simply don't want to be called atheists and still like to play church on Sundays, is a little creepy."

We have a lot of discussions about calling out church a fellowship. As to calling it "playing church", I'm sure many of us who find that statement offensive.

Go back reread what I said. Nothing about "religious dogma", I said our dogma, which I'm sure all UUs would smile about that. We have no atheist haters, we just don't appeal to anti-theist, or religion haters.

Here's what you said just above in post 9:

'we just don't appeal to anti-theist, or religion haters."

In fact, they're so inoffensive, it's almost an affectation. I just wish they'd own to what they actually are. They have "dogma" but it's not very dogmaish (I'm hoping that's a new word). They have a god, sorta, but it's mainly a concept they had to rename "god". They're not sure they really want to call what they do on Sundays "church", but they get offended when you imply they're just "playing church".

I found one near where I am currently living and might check it out.

I like their welcoming attitude.