If you don't know me by now...you will never ever ever know me...
Ahem.
OK 99.99% of you know me already, but some basic details:
I live in metro Atlanta, GA, but am from the Midwest originally. I am a non-Christian, theistic Unitarian. My blog is a good representation of my beliefs, as are the Religious Principles of the AUC. I am politically independent, and find most political party ideology and politicians distasteful. But I will be nice to them anyway
My name is Logan, I'm 21 years old (just turned 21 on May 4th) and I'm a senior at Roberts Wesleyan College (a private Christian school) in Rochester, NY (my hometown). I'm majoring in Business Management, graduating this coming Christmas. After that I plan on working in human resources for awhile, getting a graduate degree from the University of Rochester (not sure in what but I have tuition benefits as an employee-currently I work in the radiology divison) and then eventually getting my law degree.
I'm not married, single and no pets-at least at the moment!
I have a passion for politics, law and government. I'm an independent with a generally centrist-libertarian attitude, at least towards the federal government. A former Democrat, I'm still tilted in that direction. My political views are generally separated from my religious beliefs, though my faith inspires me. I do aspire to have a career at some point in politics.
I consider myself "Unitarian Universalist" in the original meaning of both terms-i.e. faith in One God known by many names and ultimate reunion with God. I consider myself a liberal Christian but I oppose liberal forms of Christianity that are either feel-good, wishful thinking spiritualism or an edited version of the faith to accomodate a liberal political agenda. I currently attend Spiritus Christi, a schismatic, liberal Catholic church in Rochester.
Hello everybody,
My name is Sasha Bill, from out in the San Francisco Bay area (Morgan Hill, CA to be precise, about 15 miles south of San Jose.
Age: nearing 60, male; working for Santa Clara County (soon to retire); single parent for 20 years (my son and daughter are now grown); my cat is still at home; I do a lot of bicycle riding around this area and beyond, alone or in group/club rides.
In college, shortly after the last Ice Age, I was running to the right politically at the same time I was running to the left religiously.(It made sense to me, though it gave nearly everybody else fits.) I still fit into this same general ball park today, being politically, a moderately conservative Republican and something of a religious liberal.
Good evening to you all,
I have been visiting your web site off and on for several weeks now. I have been an adherent of traditional Unitarian Christian thought and teachings most of my life, despite the fact I was raised a Baptist (of the southern persuasion) and was later converted, albeit lovingly, by marriage into the Methodist church. Over thirty years ago, before the day of the personal computer, I came across Channing’s famous Baltimore Sermon in a library. As I read it, I thought: “This is my thinking, these are my beliefs, but why are these truths not preached in churches today?” Then, I began to investigate what had become known as Unitarian/Universalism, since I thought I had found what I had been searching for, only to discover that Channing’s common sense preaching, while given lip service for its historic value, had been largely supplanted by secular humanist ideology with an ever-growing bias against God-centered religion in general and Christianity in particular. I cannot tell you how dismayed and disheartened I was at learning this. Truly, my thought at the time was, “My God, what have they done?”
More recently, during a random Googling session, I discovered the American Unitarian Conference website. I should have known that the mainstream U/U churches do not speak for all Unitarians, anymore than the orthodox christian hierarchy speaks for me. I should have known that the thoughts and ideals that rang true for me in my youth have been preserved so that they can be re-presented to present and future generations, and for this, you, the members of the AUC, are to be commended.
But, I remain, as someone on your forum so aptly phrased it, a Unitarian with a small ‘u’. This is not because I inwardly yearn to join a Unitarian congregation but am afraid to do so. No, I am quite content as a Methodist, despite the fact I disagree with virtually every essential doctrine of orthodox Christianity, (granted, the Methodists are much less vocal about such things than are the Baptists). Does this make me a living contradiction? Perhaps. But I am not alone. I think many so-called ‘mainstream’ Protestants feel and think as I do, even some Catholics, and yes, even some Baptists. But they, as I do, go to church for the sake of family and community and because it is there, surrounded by that same family and community, they can commune, not only with God, but with their fellow human beings. They can then walk through those huge oaken doors, which cost far too much by the way, and feel spiritually recharged, as I do, feeling both the love OF God and man and the love FOR God and man. Mind you, I have experienced these same feelings while walking the animal trails of the deep woods, or watching a smile blossom, as a rose, on the face of an infant; his little face still bright and shining with the Light of Heaven. I don’t need those big oaken doors or that huge antique pipe organ to feel God’s presence. I need only to stop whatever I am doing, be still, and go inside. But I have learned there really is something about this thing called fellowship. I have learned too that fellowship can be had in many different ways, even on an Internet forum.
I thank God for all people of faith, Christian and non-Christian alike; people who know in their hearts, if not in their minds, that we are all God’s children and that we are all searching, each in our own way, for “The Way, The Truth, and The Life”, which is nothing less than God’s Kingdom within, which is nothing less than God. I am a finite creature living in a finite world. As much as I desire to, I cannot fully comprehend the infinite and eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, perfectly good God in whom I trust. I can, however, comprehend the simple teachings and the not so simple example of the man Jesus of Nazareth. He is, in a very real sense, my savior, for he, by living his life and dying his death, revealed God to me. He sacrificed the only thing that was truly his own to give, returning love for Love, giving it back to the Father, to whom he gave all the glory. I am speaking of his own free will, “…not my will, but yours be done”. Those who would make him God, a claim that would have been abhorrent to Jesus, either overlook the simple fact he had a will of his own, or they claim he possessed two wills, one human and one divine, a notion which, in the words of Channing, places “an enormous tax on human credulity”. Furthermore, Jesus taught by example that religion is not just a way of believing, for that is mere theology. True religion is a way of living; a way of life. Jesus lived his religion.
Yes, I am a Unitarian with a small ‘u’. But the religion I aspire to and earnestly try to make my way of life, stumbling as I do along the way, is truly catholic with a small ‘c’. -Ed
I have been sitting in the shadows secretively enjoying the forum for a few months. I found the AUC site over a year ago on a Google search.
I am nearly 54 years old living in extreme SE GA. Married for 35 years, the wife and I have 2 sons with five grandchildren. My day job is teaching middle school, my night job is teaching college, my third job is pastoring a very conservative Wesleyan church. The congregation is group of loving, caring elderly people, who are very conservative in their theology.
My dilemma, dogma and doctrine have never been one of my major concerns. During his ministry, Jesus constantly battled the dogma and doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Jesus taught, I believe, that the spiritual needs of the people outweigh the dogmatic restraints created by human religion. Did not Jesus heal on the Sabbath? Did not Jesus say that the harlots and the publicans would enter the kingdom before the chief priest and the elders (Matthew 21:31)? I am more concerned with the lives of people not if they have their eschatology in line with Darby. In my theology, “saving” the drug addict from drugs, the depressed from despair, or the downtrodden from oppression in this world has as much validity as trying to save someone’s soul from hell.
My brain reaches out to identify with AUC! But my heart constrains me to love, inspire and pastor these dear people at this time.
Maybe one day God will liberate me from this paradox. Pray for me.
I first attended a Unitarian church (humanist) in 1956. I was in the Unitarian Church of All Souls in NYC in the 1970s. I cherish the traditions of Unitarianism and Universalism (as in universal salvation). I now live in Minneapolis, and consider this area (unfortunately) a UU humanist stronghold. I was active in New Thought churches for more than 20 years. I've moved away from the church culture and now prefer spiritual groups to churches, shying away from the ecclesiastical forms of religion.
I was born in 1938. I retired from paid employment in 1998. I'm divorced, with one adult son.
I am excited to announce that I've officially sent in my membership application and dues to the AUC! I have also sent them into the
Christian Universalist Association (CUA). This is in keeping with my belief in the original Unitarian and Universalist ideals-One God and the Unity of
all people.
I'm looking forward to being a supporter of the AUC in more ways than one. God Bless,
Logan
Hello all,
My name is Ken. I am a new congregational member. I lead a small congregation in Chester County PA. (Unity Restoration Fellowship) We are old-fashioned Christian Unitarian.
I became interested in AUC when our congregation decided to do some national outreach (via web) and realized that AUC already does a great deal of what we initially set out to do. We were very pleased (less work for us) but at the same time, must re-evaluate our cause. We figured it best to join-in, rather than duplicate the wonderful efforts of AUC.
Regardless, we are happy to be members and hope to be strong supporters.
I have three children, own an Irish Dance academy and an antique shop. I also teach at a community college.
Ken
Fantastic! It is very nice to hear of your congregation. I look forward to communicating with you and the rest of your fellowship as the occasion arises.
KT, I never knew you left!