Friday, November 7, 2008

Voices of Faith - Unitarian Universalists



The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie, Oil City Branch holds worship service at The Latonia on Sundays at 11:00 AM. (No service in Oil City the first Sunday of each month as those who are able attend services at the parent Church in Erie.)

To learn more about the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie - established in the late 1800's - visit www.uuerie.org.

Visit the Oil City Branch News of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie HERE

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

* The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
* Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
* Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
* A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
* The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
* The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
* Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

6 comments:

Robin Edgar said...

I look forward to the end of anti-Catholic bigotry, broader anti-Christian bigotry, and even broader anti-religious bigotry that currently pervades and degrades the U*U World.

But I am not holding my breath. . .

Likewise, I don't hold out much hope for a timely end to the kind of anti-Republican bigotry that Lexington KY U*U minister Rev. Cynthia P. Cain and rather too many other "like-minded" small-minded Unitarian*Universalist U*Us seem to have few qualms about expressing.

For the record racist bigotry (or more subtle forms of racism) still exists within and is tolerated by some of the "religious professionals" and other leaders of the 97% white U*U World. It too needs to be dealt with. . .

The Seven Principles and other purported ideals of Unitarian*Universalism look great on paper, but all too often they are not worth the paper that they are written on or the breathe that they are spoken with.

Robin Edgar said...

One other thing that needs to be mentioned as well is that the aforementioned anti-Catholic bigotry, anti-Christian bigotry, and other forms of anti-religious bigotry that most regrettably continues to pervade and degrade the U*U "religious community" thank to the fact that U*U ministers and top level UUA administrators, including UUA President Bill Sinkford, have repeatedly failed or even obstinately refused to responsibly address these forms of bigotry has a seriously detrimental impact on the ability of Christian oriented, or otherwise theistic, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people to genuinely enjoy open and equal participation in Unitarian*Universalist community life. I know of too many GLBT people who have been made to feel far from genuinely welcome in so-called "Welcoming Congregations" as a result their Christian or otherwise theistic religious convictions.

Robin Edgar said...

Come to think of it Log Cabin Republicans are not likely to feel all that welcome in many U*U "Welcoming Congregations" are they?

Anonymous said...

Wow! Even UU's aren't liberal enough for some people. Your blog helps us understand your concerns.
http://emersonavenger.blogspot.com/

Robin Edgar said...

Indeed it does. . .

Unfortunately a significant minority of U*Us engage in the kind of behaviour I have spoken out about here and other intolerant and/or abusive behaviour. Quite regrettably, in my experience and years of observation of the U*U religious community most of the rest of the U*Us do little or nothing to hold the bigots and abusers accountable for their intolerance. So it continues unabated. . .

Robin Edgar said...

For the record. I do not consider U*Us whom engage in such behaviour, or condone it. . . to be true liberals. Likewise I do not consider the anti-religious bigots in the atheist "Humanist" faction of U*Uism to be true Humanists. In my view true Humanists would never express hostility and contempt towards people simply because of they believe in God.