Any Unitarian Universalists here?

[destrekor]

A Unitarian religion will be the only religion we as humans will be capable of holding onto in the future, if we expect to make anything of ourselves. Otherwise, hundreds of years from now we'll be living the exact same way, with fancier stuff. Ever expect to colonize and leave peacefully with other humans? We'll have to have a Unitarian religion, at least as the basis of the common ideals.

The reason I say that, is because we'll most definitely have to ditch our current religions. All they are good for is breeding hate among the weak minded. It's actually kind of comical, that in the end, religion will bring about all the opposites that the religion actually teaches.

But, can we really expect humanity to ever ditch religion and just... sit there, believe in whatever? I mean, having a fully atheist society would be great, but I also think that could cause some problems on its own. In general, humans need some kind of faith. Even the most hardcore of atheists tend to have some kind of faith, they just put that faith somewhere else. Or if not faith of some type, a few thoughts at least of something to keep the mind at peace. However, definitely rambling here as I'm trying to keep this short.

With Unitarian religions providing the framework for beliefs, but not harping that anyone believe specific and exact ideas, it sets up for a general concept. If we humans ever unite as the single race we truly are, we'll need a non-practicing, but general-framework religion. Something that maybe is printed in books, but there aren't churches, aren't any requirements, but lays out general guidelines on how to get by with fellow man, how to live successfully and how to believe in a Deity, or Deities, if one so chooses.
So it'd basically be more like a Philosophy Bible.

 

[IEC]

Unitarian/Unitarian Universalist != Deist

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
The closest we ever come to religious discussion is saying grace before Thanksgiving dinner

Sounds pretty religious to me

 

[BrokenVisage]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I don't have a problem with Unitarians but I'm a little confused as to why they bother. I mean, I love the idea of a church that's totally open to anyone's ideas - unlike most Christian sects, they actually encourage you to think critically and not accept things unquestionably. That's all good stuff. I guess it's a way of having the same sense of community that you get with any church, but without the dogma and discomfort associated with being forced into a specific set of beliefs or be considered an outcast/heathen/whatever.

In my opinion you answered your own "why bother?" question in your post. It's a religion without the BS belief system stapled onto it that most others have you follow regardless of what you may think. Instead of focusing on the unknown and trying to answer your questions about what's beyond our knowledge, it seems more like a guideline for living life by respecting other people and appreciating life in general, something my RS teacher stressed when discussing how we should look at the concept of religion. And while it does lack a considerable amount of predisposed faith that is an obligation in most sects, it allows for people to realign their thoughts on certain subjects as time goes by based on life experiences and thereby drawn their own conclusions.

Of course some people like following a religion where they tell you a God does exist and that even in hard times he loves you and accepts you and yadda yadda, but in my opinion (and I hope this doesn't offend anyone) that's just a tool of disillusionment that replaces weakness with faith in something/someone that can't ever help you in reality. For instance, I'm very grateful I've never had to deal with the death of someone I'm incredibly close to in my family, so I've never had to reach deep down for something to make myself think I'll see them again or assure myself that they're in a better place, makes me wonder what I'd start believing in if it did happen *knock on wood*. But yeah, the picking and choosing of certain beliefs is peculiar and the open-endedness of some of the more interesting questions is kind of a let down, but the principles it seems to exude are some of the most rational and grounded ideals I've ever heard. Again, I'm not a member and don't plan on joining, I just appreciate a religion that preaches goodness while detached from ridiculous dogma, illogical medieval justice and outdated ethical metaphors.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
The closest we ever come to religious discussion is saying grace before Thanksgiving dinner

Sounds pretty religious to me

It's not, we literally just say "grace" or "rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub" lol.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: darkxshade
The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

Jules?

Maximus!