Right around the time my boys starting asking questions about religion, I made a new friend Katie. Religion frequently comes up in the south and as I had coffee with Katie one evening, she talked about how she loved that her church was a mix of everyone - Christians, Jews, gays, buddhists, agnostics, atheists.
I believe the look on my face was WHAT WHAT WHAT???? And that is how I started to learn more about Unitarian Universalism (UU).
I love that America is one big melting pot of cultures and religions. I also love that America is a place where you are free to express your opinions and pursue your own religious beliefs without persecution. And that is why I think being a UU is one of the most American things I can do. Two of the seven principles of UU are:
* Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth
* A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
For the first time in my life, I understand why people go to church. Every week I walk out inspired to be a better person. We have found a community of like-minded people. We have learned how hard it is to TRULY accept everyone, even those who disagree with you.
Yesterday our family proudly stood on stage to light the chalice at the beginning of service at UUFR. It's a place I NEVER imagined I would be with my family but I am proud we have found a spiritual home. A place where the boys can openly search for their own religious truth, even if it differs from my and Jon's beliefs. A place where they learn about every religion. A place where they learn the inherent dignity and worth of every person.
I promise not to go all crazy posting religious posts, but you will see more and more of UUFR here. Fall/winter season is particularly busy with Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, winter solstice, and Kwanzaa celebrations. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love my crazy hippie church.
8 comments:
Funny that you posted this.
I was thinking yesterday about how I hope things fall into place before we get to that point with L.
Being in the south makes it so hard to find something like you guys have found.
I'm glad that your family has found their happy place :)
I have a lot of good memories from growing up in the UU church. I wish my parents hadn't stopped going! There was a pond behind the church and we used to spend Sunday School learning about ecology and talking about the environment. My older siblings got to go to different religious services and they talked about different religious beliefs. Pretty cool stuff. I'm glad you're getting so much out of the experience!
So cool! Matthew used to use a quote in his intro to Western religions course he taught regarding religion, "He who knows one, knows none"
I'm so glad that your family has found a place that not only that you as adults can connect but also a positive environment in which N and A are learning about spirituality and their own decisions about religion.
There is so much static in our daily lives and finding that quiet, still place that supports your core beliefs is immeasurable.
-great chalice-lighting outfits :)
We are currently hunting for our spiritual home as well and this gives me much food for thought (and googling!) Keep these posts coming!
You have probably heard people say , as have I, that they believe in God but not organized religion. I feel the opposite. Organized religion provides community. Human beings need community. When my youngest was about 5 she came home in tears. She said that the teacher at her day care center told her that people who didn’t have a church would go to hell and hell sounded very frightening. I told her that we did have a church and that we would begin going. So I started back to a UU church after a period of absence. It worked well for everyone on many levels. The thing that I missed most when a new job brought me here 10 years ago was the UU fellowship next door. Chalice lighting is one of the best rituals that UU provides because everyone has an opportunity to share worries as well as joys with the community. Thanks for reminding me with your entry. It has made me think that I should go back. It would be good for Baby Cakes.
I love that you posted this . We are looking for a church currently, and have found a UU church that we are going to check out this weekend. We've been to a friend's church the past 2 weeks, and liked it a lot, but I am very interested in UU in large part because of you and your experiences there, so thanks. Plus, who doesn't love crazy hippies?!
Love this and ditto on Claudia's notes (re: organized religion).
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