| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Martin" |
| Date: |
24 Apr 2006 01:26:46 PM |
| Object: |
Unitarians (On Topic for once) |
Hi Guys
I've noticed that I have a unitarian 'church'(is that the right word?)
just 5 minutes walk from me.
I was wondering what to expect if I went along one Sunday. They seem to
have some very interesting guest visitors that I wouldn't mind going
along to listen to, but I am reluctant to go based on my past
experiances of attending church services (catholic until puberty - not
that puberty made any difference, except I was no longer made to attend).
I'm not sure what Unitarians stand for except they seem to be quite
welcoming to everyone - certanly the American ones are, even saying they
accept atheists. That kind of threw me a bit what kind of church accepts
atheists?
So, what to expect? This is a small town called Horsham in the UK if it
makes any difference.
Cheers
.
|
|
| User: "jcon" |
|
| Title: Re: Unitarians (On Topic for once) |
24 Apr 2006 04:06:15 PM |
|
|
Martin wrote:
Hi Guys
I've noticed that I have a unitarian 'church'(is that the right word?)
just 5 minutes walk from me.
I was wondering what to expect if I went along one Sunday. They seem to
have some very interesting guest visitors that I wouldn't mind going
along to listen to, but I am reluctant to go based on my past
experiances of attending church services (catholic until puberty - not
that puberty made any difference, except I was no longer made to attend).
I'm not sure what Unitarians stand for except they seem to be quite
welcoming to everyone - certanly the American ones are, even saying they
accept atheists. That kind of threw me a bit what kind of church accepts
atheists?
So, what to expect? This is a small town called Horsham in the UK if it
makes any difference.
For the record, I am an atheist who has been attending Unitarian
Churches
for about a decade. One caveat: my comments all concern American
Unitarianism. There may be a big difference in other countries.
Unitarians have a long history, which began about 500 years ago
in Transylvania of all places. The name derives from their rejection
of the Trinity, but except for that, they were definitely Christian for
most of their history.
They were always a "liberal" religion, much like Congregationalists.
At
some point in the 20th century, they realized they were too open-minded
to insist they were really "Christians", and no longer consider
thesmelves
a Christian religion at all.
Unitarians are characterized by a conviction that the details of one's
spiritual beliefs are a personal matter, but that there are reasons for
people to get together to discuss social issues and ethical matters.
The only "dogma" are the so-called "seven principles"
http://www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html
which don't contain any sort of supernatural mandate.
Generally, Unitarians are fairly well educated and well informed and
tend *strongly* toward social libaralism. In this country, Republican
Unitarians are rare, though not unheard of. There is no Unitarian Pope,
so the "flavor" of Unitarian Churches varies greatly. For example,
they are not all called "churches". Some are called "Societies",
"Contregations", etc.
Because Unitarians consider the first three "principles" to
extend to homosexuals, you will usually find a relatively
large number of gays and lesbians in Unitarian churches.
The membership can be an interesting mix. One significant group
I would call "secular humanists", many of which are atheists. At
the church I attend, I strongly suspect the minister himself is
an atheist. The other significant group I would call "New Agey
Neo Pagans". The exact mixture of these two groups can
really affect the atmosphere at a particular Unitarian Church.
Most members come from a Christian background,
so Unitarians tend to celebrate Christian holidays, but actual
Christians are rare in the congregations, and some Unitarian
Churches have been accused of being anti-Christian.
The "sermons" are really more like lectures about ethical
or social topics. They may draw on spiritual texts, but are seldom
based on any one source, and I've never heard a sermon based
entirely on the Bible. There are often guest speakers.
To give an example, *I* once gave a "sermon"
in a Unitarian Church on why Intelligent Design wasn't
science, and it was very well received.
Hope this helps.
-jc
Factoid: Unitarians make up 0.3% of the US population, but there
have been four Unitarian presidents!
Cheers
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "Michael Gray" |
|
| Title: Re: Unitarians (On Topic for once) |
24 Apr 2006 10:31:41 PM |
|
|
On Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:26:46 +0100, Martin <usenet1@etiqa.co.uk>
wrote:
- Refer: <444d1858$0$8348$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk>
Hi Guys
I've noticed that I have a unitarian 'church'(is that the right word?)
just 5 minutes walk from me.
I was wondering what to expect if I went along one Sunday. They seem to
have some very interesting guest visitors that I wouldn't mind going
along to listen to, but I am reluctant to go based on my past
experiances of attending church services (catholic until puberty - not
that puberty made any difference, except I was no longer made to attend).
I'm not sure what Unitarians stand for except they seem to be quite
welcoming to everyone - certanly the American ones are, even saying they
accept atheists. That kind of threw me a bit what kind of church accepts
atheists?
So, what to expect? This is a small town called Horsham in the UK if it
makes any difference.
Cheers
Why don't you ask the priest concerned?
This is a serious question, by the way.
In my brief travels in England, I found that I was welcomed by every
church official, despite my declaration of profound atheism.
Most of them dropped what they were doing, and took me on a tour of
the establishment, fascinating me for hours with a description of it's
history, and such.
I'm sure this welcome was only partly to with my being an overseas
tourist, but much more that I showed an intelligent interest in
history.
I even got to see in some ancient locked crypts!
Don't ask us, ask the chap in charge. ;)
--
Michael Gray.
Founding Member and Doorman,
Earthquack's 666 Club.
EAC Trainee Inquisitor.
.
|
|
|
| User: "stoney" |
|
| Title: Re: Unitarians (On Topic for once) |
28 Apr 2006 04:23:52 PM |
|
|
On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 13:01:41 +0930, Michael Gray
<fleetg@newsguy.spam.com> wrote in alt.atheism
On Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:26:46 +0100, Martin <usenet1@etiqa.co.uk>
wrote:
- Refer: <444d1858$0$8348$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk>
Hi Guys
I've noticed that I have a unitarian 'church'(is that the right word?)
just 5 minutes walk from me.
I was wondering what to expect if I went along one Sunday. They seem to
have some very interesting guest visitors that I wouldn't mind going
along to listen to, but I am reluctant to go based on my past
experiances of attending church services (catholic until puberty - not
that puberty made any difference, except I was no longer made to attend).
I'm not sure what Unitarians stand for except they seem to be quite
welcoming to everyone - certanly the American ones are, even saying they
accept atheists. That kind of threw me a bit what kind of church accepts
atheists?
So, what to expect? This is a small town called Horsham in the UK if it
makes any difference.
Cheers
Why don't you ask the priest concerned?
This is a serious question, by the way.
In my brief travels in England, I found that I was welcomed by every
church official, despite my declaration of profound atheism.
Most of them dropped what they were doing, and took me on a tour of
the establishment, fascinating me for hours with a description of it's
history, and such.
I'm sure this welcome was only partly to with my being an overseas
tourist, but much more that I showed an intelligent interest in
history.
I even got to see in some ancient locked crypts!
Ah yes, cryptology.......
Don't ask us, ask the chap in charge. ;)
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
.
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "Kate " |
|
| Title: Re: Unitarians (On Topic for once) |
24 Apr 2006 10:24:10 PM |
|
|
On Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:26:46 +0100, Martin <usenet1@etiqa.co.uk>
wrote:
Hi Guys
I've noticed that I have a unitarian 'church'(is that the right word?)
just 5 minutes walk from me.
I was wondering what to expect if I went along one Sunday. They seem to
have some very interesting guest visitors that I wouldn't mind going
along to listen to, but I am reluctant to go based on my past
experiances of attending church services (catholic until puberty - not
that puberty made any difference, except I was no longer made to attend).
I'm not sure what Unitarians stand for except they seem to be quite
welcoming to everyone - certanly the American ones are, even saying they
accept atheists. That kind of threw me a bit what kind of church accepts
atheists?
So, what to expect? This is a small town called Horsham in the UK if it
makes any difference.
Cheers
I grew up in a Unitarian family.
Basically it's religous liberalism that says 'whatever you believe -
that's OK'. They accept any religion to join, and they are extremely
loose, so different congregations will be different, depending on the
who is in them.
There are a lot of deists and humanists in them. Humanists are
essentially atheists. You find them filled with college professors
and scientists and they tend to be liberal activist. My mother was a
deist, my father a humanist atheist. My father frequently spoke at
different unitarian churches around the country on the scientific
basis of life, which is something he was very interested in. He was
an organic chemistry professor and author.
If you are looking for some social interaction with intellegent
liberal accepting people, a unitarian church is a very good place to
go.
Kate
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "Adam H" |
|
| Title: Re: Unitarians (On Topic for once) |
24 Apr 2006 02:12:13 PM |
|
|
On Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:26:46 +0100, Martin <usenet1@etiqa.co.uk>
wrote:
Hi Guys
I've noticed that I have a unitarian 'church'(is that the right word?)
just 5 minutes walk from me.
I was wondering what to expect if I went along one Sunday. They seem to
have some very interesting guest visitors that I wouldn't mind going
along to listen to, but I am reluctant to go based on my past
experiances of attending church services (catholic until puberty - not
that puberty made any difference, except I was no longer made to attend).
I'm not sure what Unitarians stand for except they seem to be quite
welcoming to everyone - certanly the American ones are, even saying they
accept atheists. That kind of threw me a bit what kind of church accepts
atheists?
So, what to expect? This is a small town called Horsham in the UK if it
makes any difference.
Cheers
Looks like they have an entry at
http://www.unitarian.org.uk/ldpa/horsham/
Go to http://www.unitarian.org.uk/ for what UK Unitarians go for. From
what I know of Unitarians, they're pretty neutral about your religious
beliefs.
---
I contend we are both atheists - I just believe in
one fewer god than you do.
When you understand why you reject all other gods,
you will understand why I reject yours as well.
- Stephen F. Roberts
.
|
|
|
| User: "Martin" |
|
| Title: Re: Unitarians (On Topic for once) |
24 Apr 2006 02:33:27 PM |
|
|
Adam H wrote:
On Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:26:46 +0100, Martin <usenet1@etiqa.co.uk>
wrote:
Hi Guys
I've noticed that I have a unitarian 'church'(is that the right word?)
just 5 minutes walk from me.
I was wondering what to expect if I went along one Sunday. They seem to
have some very interesting guest visitors that I wouldn't mind going
along to listen to, but I am reluctant to go based on my past
experiances of attending church services (catholic until puberty - not
that puberty made any difference, except I was no longer made to attend).
I'm not sure what Unitarians stand for except they seem to be quite
welcoming to everyone - certanly the American ones are, even saying they
accept atheists. That kind of threw me a bit what kind of church accepts
atheists?
So, what to expect? This is a small town called Horsham in the UK if it
makes any difference.
Cheers
Looks like they have an entry at
http://www.unitarian.org.uk/ldpa/horsham/
Go to http://www.unitarian.org.uk/ for what UK Unitarians go for. From
what I know of Unitarians, they're pretty neutral about your religious
beliefs.
Thanks I did that already. I'm not sure what I am after to be honest.
The website don't actually say how their "services" work, what happens,
what is expected of the congregation. It's this part that is stressing
me out a bit at the thought of going to a church service. Are we
preached at? Are we expected to shake hands/kiss each other, what
happens lol?
I was kind of hoping someone who has attended a unitarian service/event
might chip in and kind of give some pointers.
---
I contend we are both atheists - I just believe in
one fewer god than you do.
quite! I tried that on a couple of born-agains, it went flatter than a
pancake
When you understand why you reject all other gods,
you will understand why I reject yours as well.
- Stephen F. Roberts
.
|
|
|
| User: "stoney" |
|
| Title: Re: Unitarians (On Topic for once) |
28 Apr 2006 04:10:44 PM |
|
|
On Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:33:27 +0100, Martin <usenet1@etiqa.co.uk> wrote
in alt.atheism
Adam H wrote:
On Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:26:46 +0100, Martin <usenet1@etiqa.co.uk>
wrote:
[]
I contend we are both atheists - I just believe in
one fewer god than you do.
quite! I tried that on a couple of born-agains, it went flatter than a
pancake
Of course. Did you expect different from those who's EEG's are flat?
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
