Unitarians

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bwilson4web

bwilson4web

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From: https://www.uuhystericalsociety.com/uu-jokes

UU missionaries go around knocking on people’s doors for no particular reason.​

A while back, someone who should have known better, disparaged my Unitarian faith. That is OK because we are not for everyone. But I thought it useful to share some history.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trini...ity,scriptural documents and prior traditions.

. . . the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, coeternal, consubstantial, divine persons
. . .
First Council of Nicaea (325)
. . .
The Confession of the First Council of Nicaea, the Nicene Creed, said little about the Holy Spirit.[89] At the First Council of Nicea (325) all attention was focused on the relationship between the Father and the Son, without making any similar statement about the Holy Spirit.
. . .
First Council of Constantinople (381)
. . .
Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, by saying that the Holy Spirit is worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son
. . .​

These early Christian governing bodies had a problem with various versions of Christianity being taught. So they decided to define God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit so anything else was heresy and thus punishable on Earth. They further decided which writings were true (canon) and which were false. This began nearly 2,000 years of religious wars that continue today.

My History

Mom and Dad attended "Disciples of Christ" a derivative of the Methodists. A mild if somewhat boring church (to me.) At age 14, my parents sent me to an Episcopalian junior high school for two years. We studied Latin, religion, and started each day with a 20 minute service. Five days a week I was a practicing Espicopalian and Disciples of Christ on Sunday.

It wasn't until College that I began sampling different denominations which came down to: (1) conservatives, hardest, most demanding but sexually more permissive, (2) normal denominations less invasive but not inspiring, and (3) visit to the Unitarians . . . where I found the Spirit of God in the music.

What Is It Like?

The Spirit in the music is still there and I have very seldom been bored by the sermons. Furthermore, my fellow congregants are on the high-side of the bell curve and not slaves to ROTE. So for me:
  • GOD is one
  • We experience GOD in the Spirit
  • Jesus teaches us how to worship GOD in our daily lives
The walk-in wounded, are those condemned by more conservative denominations and their families. Individuals who found they were dam'd by their intransigent, non-forgiving, stiff necked churches. They find relief but sometimes, bad habits from their former denominations emerge and they wander off. We treat them gently but continue in our Unitarian faith.

For business reasons (i.e., maintenance of property and salaries,) the Universalists and Unitarians formed a joint denomination:

What's the difference between a Unitarian and a Universalist?
Universalists think that God is too good to send them to hell.
Unitarians think that they are too good for God to send them to hell.​

I visited a Universalist church once and they are forgiving, trinitarians. But as a 'jack booted' Unitarian, I disagree and did not feel the Spirit. I know many live in their hell by their individual actions in this life . . . when we fail to follow the teachings of Jesus.

Not every Unitarian congregation is blessed but the GODliness ratio is high and I find the proof, the Spirit, in the music. Forgiving and clever congregants helps. Just Unitarian faith is not for everyone and if you are happy in your denomination, go with GOD.

Bob Wilson
 
Not sure I follow 100% your intent with this thread and the part about a EV charging station, but I'll go with the "spirit" of the thread. :D

My dad was a Presbyterian minister and I grew up with the church. Pretty open and liberal flavor of Christianity. Confirmation at 14 led by my own dad, I wasn't ready to "confirm" and still haven't to this day. I soon asked my dad based on my beliefs, if there was any congregation for me. He suggested Unitarians, Universalists, or Unitarian Universalists. I did some research and nothing yet turned me away.

I attended a few times Salina, Kansas in HS to Wellesley, Massachusetts in College to Southlake, Texas after graduation. I liked the congregations. What I started noticing with the Southlake congregation was an almost complete focus on politics and not true spirituality. Like many without organized religion they then make their politics their religion. Seems to be common these days places like China with Communism/Socialist like politics and even spawning here more in the states. People seem to be acting with more fervor and blind passion over political beliefs than even the most religious did over God.

I believe in the strong separation of church and state. Whenever my dad took on a new congregation, the first thing he did was walk into the sanctuary and put a Bible under the church flag so that it sat just a little higher than the American flag.
 
Each congregation is different and some have wandered down paths I can not follow. But I’ve always found the Spirit in the music. The sermons make you think and not snore. <GRINS>.

I also like how they welcome the ‘walking wounded’ from less forgiving sects and families. The ‘first aid’ of fellowship.

Bob Wilson

ps. I started this thread after an Internet stalker decided being confrontational was his calling in life. Dang shame waste of time. I had to turn up the squelch as he posted no technical content. Unlike the Monty Python skit, I don’t come here for an argument.

pps. Posting from the ‘Ok Corral Shooting Sports Resort’ where I hope to enjoy the Zen of shooting my reworked AR-15 (loved my Marine M-16.) A hog hunting weapon.
 
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Yeah it is an odd thing for a thread like this to appear in an EV forum. I also am a long time member of a UU congregation with a slight EV twist. I read somewhere that the early adopters of EVs influence others in the circles of contact like neighbours, co-workers, churches etc. I was the first member to arrive with an EV one Sunday. Others made the plunge after learning of my experiences. There are at least 10 members with EVs now. There are no pick up trucks in the parking lot.

As for my neighbourhood not so much. There is only one other EV. A somewhat older red Leaf which the owner loves. My street consists of a mix of semi-detached and small singles homes aimed at first time buyers. The upwardly mobile tend to move on so I've seen many good neighbours leave over the years. We stayed put and built up equity instead. The house was paid for before my wife passed 17 years ago. Not being house poor was how I was able to get into EVs. Also, being self employed I can claim depreciation on the vehicle as a business expense.

A few of my clients have purchased EVs after seeing me showing up in one. I always warn them that asking EV questions could result in their ears "getting talked off".

Back to UUs I have been involved with music all my life and am a major participant in the music program. I am given a pretty free reign in how I do things so when possible I have reworked some of the more modern hymns to have a "gospel" sound. Why should the Pentecostals have all the fun <<also grins>>
 
Paul K said:
Back to UUs I have been involved with music all my life and am a major participant in the music program. I am given a pretty free reign in how I do things so when possible I have reworked some of the more modern hymns to have a "gospel" sound. Why should the Pentecostals have all the fun <<also grins>>
Click to expand...
I found 'the spirit in the music' 50 years ago. If you ever plan to do a modern music program, I would drive over for:
  • "Forgiveness" (Don Henly) - a female soprano group singing at least one chorus in a higher key and perhaps a male group doing another chorus.
  • "The River Hymn" (The Band) - everyone led by the choir with a baritone singing "a long line and a head."
  • "Rivers of Babylon" (Boney M) - choir with leads, very challenging accent and instruments.
  • "Losing My Religion" (Don Henly) - enhanced with another lyric, a UUU "Finding My Religion" the congregation joins in at the end
As for thread drift, well it is about "forgiveness."

Bob Wilson
 
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