Unitarians, Religious Scientists and the Like check in!

[Maat]

I, a Religious Scientist, went to a Unitarian-Universalist service today. I loved it. To be quite frank, there are a lot of similarities between the faiths. In Religious Science, we emphasize creative visualization and meditation a bit more - in our "prayer." And we categorize heaven/hell as consciousnesses we create for ourselves here on Earth. I liked how much the congregants participated in the service .... and I liked the social activist nature of the church. Both churches are very warm and accepting. And both reach out to the LGBT communities. Both recognize 'all paths to the Great Spirit.' Neither tells their congregants what to think or with whom to associate, and both are big tents. I like both faiths. Maybe I'm a Unitarian-Religious-Scientist or something.

(BTW, please don't confuse Religious Scientists with Christian Scientists - and neither one of these faiths has anything to do with Scientology. I respect all paths.)

I hope I phrased things correctly, and I hope I didn't offend.

My pastor is a female, and one other Religious Scientist on this Board has a gay pastor. The inclusiveness is what I love about liberal churches.

Now, let's become a part of some kind of progressive interfaith alliance ... and take faith back!

And I welcome hearing about all of the faiths!

Thanks.

[Roxy66]

1. What exactly is a Unitarian church?

and what is LGBT. I have been looking for a church to take my kids to. I am very spiritual, but not very religious, and I really dont want guilt pressed upon my kids, which many churches like to do. I just would like a place I can take them to learn a sense of community, ect.

[Maat]

2. Go to ...

http://www.uua.org /

and for another inclusive church, in which you get to decide what your values are ... (as with Unitarian-Universalist):

go to ..

http://www.religiousscience.org /

Neither church service has anything objectionable in it, that I could see. Just a lot of accepting warmth and fellowship.

[kestrel91316]

3. LBGT=lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender

[mom cat]

4. Unitarian Univeraslists is a merger of two old New England based

groups that embrace freedom of thought. GLBT refers to Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transexual. They are not into guilt, except for a dose of liberal guilt. They attract many who are moving on from more conservative religions. Most of the people are similiar to many DU'ers. Give them a try, I think you will enjoy it.

[giasangria]

5. uu lesbian

Hi I go to a UU church and would recommend it to anyone. Our little alabama town even has a gay support group that the church lets meet there twice a month.

[newyawker99]

6. Hi giasangria!!

Welcome to DU!!

[eShirl]

7. I was raised in a Quaker family in New England

I've always had the impression of there being much in common between the general philosophies of Unitarian-Universalists and Society of Friends, though I've never been to a U-U service. I can remember the time when I was a child, during the Silent Meeting portion of one of our services, one of the older members reading Ralph Waldo Emerson's address to the Divinity School, and the profound impression it made upon me at the time. http://www.aboutemerson.com/divaddr.htm (He *was* a Universalist and/or Unitarian, wasn't he? )

[Maat]

8. And Holmes took a lot from Ralph Waldo Emerson ...

when he established the Church of Religious Science (we believe that principles of science are compatible with spiritual concepts such as the Great Spirit who works in mysterious and miraculous ways).

Emerson is considered to be a Master Teacher in our church.

[Maat]

9. Welcome Quaker Friends!

n/t