AnnieG

Hi SouthernWonder Welcome! I hope you find a church you feel comfortable with, and enjoy hanging out here too. I know it can be lonely in the midst of others with different mindsets. Annie

Hi Dude Nice to meet a fellow UUist who also misses the Christian focus at church. I'm happy to keep attending, as the people are welcoming and pretty open-minded, and the services challenging and encouraging. But it's also nice to hang out at here, where there's more god-talk going on:) Annie

Hi Cinna Glad you could join us. You said It's very difficult for me to share my faith with others because I'm painfully aware of the fact that most of them don't care to be preached to and it will in fact draw them away from Christianity rather than toward it. I also get very emotional when I talk about my faith and tend to tear up if someone doesn't feel the same way. I know what you mean about the difficulty in sharing our faith when we predict a strongly negative response. And I also share your habit of getting teary. While it could be comforting to have more control over which emotions I choose to share with others, perhaps the tears are simply a sign that I have something important to communicate?? Hope to hear more from you. Annie

Hello MsPragmatic, Let me wish you a belated welcome:) Your comments reminded me of a previous thread, "Am I a Christian... or even a Progressive Christian?", found in the Debate and Dialogue section. I think you might enjoy it. I know what you mean about the loneliness of having beliefs that are very different from those who are close to you. It's taken me many years to speak out about what I do and don't believe to family members who think PC is dangerously wrong. Hope you find a supportive community here. Annie

Welcome GeanieBeanie! I'm so glad you've found this forum, and hope you stay around:) I think this is a great place to develop "new found faith and friendship with others". I also live with anxiety, and find it easier to 'speak up' electronically than face to face. Annie

Lothar's son, I like the way the humble glow worms have such an important role in your story. Annie

I read an interesting book about the tendency of modern parents to cling tight to 'the worry ball,' preventing kids from taking responsibility for their interactions with others or learning from risk-taking and failure/ disappointment: Drop the Worry Ball: How to Parent in the Age of Entitlement [Paperback] Alex Russell (Author), Tim Falconer (Author) Seems too that there's a fine line between fostering kids' self-esteem and raising kids who believe they're entitled to everything they want. This idea of 'entitled' kids is helping me prepare to deal with a Christmas that won't include an x-box, a kids' motorbike or a German Shepherd.... Annie

Welcome from another Jane Austen fan:) While not knowing the situation as well as you do, from what you say I feel it would be a shame if you left the youth group in charge of the traditionalist leaders. Perhaps there is a chance for you to gently offer another perspective to the young people in the group, as well as the other leaders. Hope to hear more from you Annie

I am comfortable with identifying myself as a Unitarian Universalist. I don't feel this requires me to share the theology and world view of its founders (can these two be separated?) In very loose terms I understand the key ideas of the seeds of UU to be that God is One and All will be Saved). It makes a lot more sense to me to affirm the contemporary principles of UU, which don't mention these ideas. These principles, which include Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part ,and The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all stretch the earliest meanings of Unitarian and Universalism a great deal, but in my opinion an underlying continuity still exists. For me identifying with a religious group involves coming to terms with its history. Overall I find it easier to accept the history of the UU than that of 'Christian' denominations I have attended (Anglican and Presbyterian). Likewise the behaviour of some of its members. For example, a PC oriented Anglican church wished to host a same-sex wedding (recently legalised in New Zealand); this was forbidden by the hierachy; the UU church was willing and able to perform the service.

Welcome Elique It sounds like you've had some interesting experiences. I hope to hear more about your reading. Annie

I'm also grateful this thread was started. I've been having a rather difficult day, and it's good to be brought back to what's important: it's a wonderful blessing to be alive. Annie

Here's a link to an 'organised' PC group in California that goes beyond talk through various programs in areas such as sentencing, and changing attitudes to LGBTs: http://pcu-la.org/PCU/Progressive_Christians_Uniting.html

One of my motivations for giving a new church a go is that I wanted to participate in a supportive community, as a family. Happily I've found a church which celebrates diversity. It also helps as an inroads into discussions with my kids (aged 10 and 7) about god/ different beliefs etc. A few weeks ago the minister asked the kids what the best church in the nation would be like. My youngest said "it gives out chocolate". A kind member of the congregation had in fact brought chocolates for morning tea. His other suggestion brought laughter: 'No piano!". The pianist took it gracefully.

Welcome Amy Conservatives may often have the loudest voice of those claiming to be Christian, but fortunately there are other voices too, as evidenced by this board.

David and Bill, Thanks for your responses. Bill, this church 'feels like home' to me. Thinking it through, though, becoming formally aligned with a 'home' that my partner, while willing to come along, has no interest in becoming a member of, makes me feel uneasy.

Prompted by an invitation from the membership secretary, I have been thinking about joining a church (unitarian universalist) ,which I have been attending (not entirely regularly) since January. I have no problem with the requirement - to be in agreement with the UU assoc principles [ http://www.uua.org/beliefs/principles/index.shtml ] I'm interested to hear other people's experiences - what made you join or decide against joining a church? For church members, what difference does 'being a member', make to you? Annie

Welcome zcarol I'm so glad you came across Bishop Spong's videos and I like the way you describe the effect of his thinking on you. Hope you'll keep posting here:) Annie

Rhino, Your comparison of fictional killing v raping for entertainment has made me wonder why killing, on screen and in games, has become so widespread. I guess there's a long history of people playing war /war-like games; the realistic images added by computer or movie images perhaps make them more obvious and disturbing. But then adding elements of fantasy, eg zombies, distances the participants from thinking about what real violence involves. I would say spiritual development has to involve acknowledgement and understanding of the 'carnal, darker side,' and those impulses that if acted on, would threaten our status as 'decent citizens.' I haven't really thought about whether 'sin' is a relevant word since giving up a belief in fundamentalism. I think 'destructive impulses' is a less judgmental term, and one that suggests their ultimate origin is biological survival rather than 'evil'. This doesn't mean I support violence; I just want to understand its causes.

PART2 (There’s more to morality than harm and fairness) contd (ch 6-8) Ch 6: Taste Buds of the Righteous Mind – care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation I heard a sound-bite from a psychologist the other day, saying something like ‘this generation has the biggest problem so far with disciplining our kids. So for the next few days I became a bossier Mum. Then I remembered how I was impressed with the work of Alfie Kohn, who slams ‘Supernanny’ for being a disrespectful powerhead and advocates respectful communication and negotiation with kids. In Haidt’s terms, the ‘radio psychologist’ may argue that firm parenting is protective (the care/ harm module); whereas Kohn may argue that exerting authority without giving reasons and options is harmful as it fosters passivity. Being moved both to care and to prevent harm, I think I understand now why I vacillate between the two viewpoints.

People being the diverse bunch we are, our definitions of 'niceness' also differ. Has anyone else experienced a situation where someone's actions seem super-nice and at the same time somewhat burdensome? I'm thinking of cases where a visitor showered me with gifts and where a neighbor's 'morning tea' was so elaborate I felt I could never reciprocate.

Paul I think it's understandable the discussion ground to a halt after George left. I admit that I found the week by week approach a little too intensive and not always in line with my reading speed, so I just thought I may post from time to time if something interesting strikes me. If you'd like to take up the book again that's great; if other commitments feel too heavy I understand that too. I personally have something of a deadline to my reading now I've borrowed a library copy..... Jonny Good on you for reaching the finish line:)

Is anyone still part way through the Righteous Mind? And/ or do you have comments about the rest of the book? I found I haven't sat down to read my downloaded copy of the book (I don't have an e-reader as yet), and a reserve copy from the local library has finally arrived -- reading buddies welcomed:)

The issue of how to behave towards pedophiles was raised in a sermon yesterday, and reminded me of this thread. As far as memory serves me, the minister said *pedophiles too have the right to a spiritual home *certain pedophiles who he had talked to remarked that the church they attended was the only place in the community where they felt that they were being treated as human *the line between good and evil runs through each of us.

Paul introduces an interesting metaphor of spirit as software; perhaps an unsurprising one given the spread of computing in our lives. And computing jargon borrows from religious vocab too, bringing icons and avatars into global use. Stopman, I really like your optimistic vision of the future.

Welcome Amy I admire your enthusiasm and look forward to knowing you better. I've also wandered away -in my case into scorning religiosity- and am now heading back in the general direction I came from (I grew up going to church), although I have what I think are more comfortable shoes on now:) Annie