Yesterday I went to a Unitarian Universalist church.

I used to attend there regularly, for about 2 years. I wanted to hear the person who was speaking (I had seen that on the Internet).

I felt so uncomfortable there. It seemed so un-welcoming. I found myself thinking, How in the WORLD did I go there as long as I did?

I’m not the only person who has this impression of the church. One of my co-workers said the same thing, and so did another friend. I remember when a departing minister left the church, SHE said the same thing, from the pulpit.

I realize I could now be viewing it through the filter of the reverse halo effect.

I know other churches besides Unitarian Universalist churches can be un-welcoming. I wonder if this one, being in the middle of a very conservative area, is sort of…on guard, maybe? Thinking that people who don’t think like they do are trying to infiltrate them? :tinfoilhat: (Or have I just been reading too much?)

PM me if you want to.

a welcome wagon than others. And specific doctrine really isn't the issue here, it's that collection of personalities that is hard to deal with. Ideally, you want to find both, a place where the people are welcoming and that has doctrine you can agree with ... mostly.

edit: Do you know what the story is on that place? Why the "regulars" are so insular. I do find it a bit odd in a UU congregation. :crazy: Unless, like you say, it's the odd conservative UU congregation. :shrug:

But with any kind of group, sometimes they get kinda clique-ish and insular. And it's not always intentional. But when you have a group of people where everyone knows each other, outsiders will often find it hard to fit in and be welcome. Half the time they can't even join a conversation because they don't know the details of the last few years that led up to the conversation.

At least in my experience.

A friend and fellow atheist from my college days had begun attending a UU church and invited me to come with him. He and I came from opposite directions, religion wise. He was raised without religion, never attending church as a child (no small feat, growing up in Alabama), whereas I was raised in a fundamentalist Southern Baptist church.

My impression was that the members of this particular UU congregation, which is located in a college town, were vetting me for intellectual fitness. They seemed intent on intimidating any newcomer until they were convinced that their presence wouldn't significantly impact the aggregate IQ of the congregation.

My curiosity with UU was satisfied after one visit. What does an athiest need a church for, anyway?

Maybe you changed or maybe they did. Or both.