Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up I wish to thank On Her Own for her wonderful interview of last week. Thank you so much for sharing your faith journey with us!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Barry Bell. Barry is a Unitarian and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Barry Bell's Introduction:
My early past was baptised Church of Scotland, brought up as an only son in a non-church-going extended family which included my mother (divorced). I attended Sunday School/Life Boys/Boy's Brigade with Congregational church until I left all religion behind around age 15. I have always credited the combination of Bob Dylan's ""With God on our Side" and the films "Little Big Man" and "Soldier Blue" for seeing the non-sense of Christianity.
I underwent a spiritual awakening in 2005 following yet another divorce, and have been a member of a Unitarian community but with involvments elsewhere since 2006. I see Unitarianism as a view of the reltionship between humanity, spirituality, knowledge, and religion rather than as either a Christian denomination or a separate religion. For me human spirituality comes first and is a reality, religions come second and involve meta-narratives which remain speculations.
Please bear in mind below that where I may appear to "define" what it is to be a Unitarian that it is my personal understanding.
1)What religion do you practice?
Unitarian, though I see it as something other than a religion (see Introduction).
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I discovered Unitarianism on-line after awakening (see Introduction). It accepted me, I did not have to"convert". My spiritual practice was virtually non-existent before awakening (see Introduction), and is now personal to me.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Observance is essentially a matter of sharing the objective of trying to be a good person - Unitarianism is without creed or dogma (although originating from within Christianity which is intensely creedal). It is wonderfully open.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
This question is largely irrelevant, as all Unitarians are free to follow their own spiritual path. Rather than being united in a shared and well-defined set of beliefs, we are united in free search for, and valuing of, what we may each find to be of worth and meaning in life.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept) .
We are allowed our own belief, although very few Unitarians believe in any sort of external heaven or hell.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
A physical and external heaven/paradise is for me a man-made concept, a response to our understandable insecurities as a fully self-aware life-form and to our need for justice in a clearly unjust world. Sadly, I must live with it's non-existence.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It allows me to try to get closer to my spirituality, and so become a better person, without imprisoning my spirituality in a box.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
You will find holy days af all sorts being celebrated within Unitarian worship
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Absolutely - I believe that every human is a spiritual being, and that their following of a different spiritual path to mine is unimportant and should not be allowed to become a barrier.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, and I have done so. And for the reasons stated in answer to question 9)
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I'll let the burkah go for now, if I may. On Shariah law I am very clear however. I have no problem with any group, religious or otherwise, applying law agreed by the group. It MUST however be subservient to the law of the land. Clear division between Church and State is essential.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes they are, and I am wholeheartedly in agreement with this
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No it does not, and again I am wholeheartedly in agreement with this.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
It is not so much my Unitarianism (remember, I do not see it as a religion!) which affects my daily life as my personal spiritual practice, which Unitarianism allows. My position on abortion, gay marriage, etc remains my own, but is much in line with the position taken by the Unitarian movement generally.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
Absolutely fine.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
How can they go to somewhere which doesn't exist?
17) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Did you mean "because of my religion?" - if so, the answer is No.
18) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.
19) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
The Unitarian community I belong to gives me a safe space to explore my spirituality. My personal spiritual practice does provide me with increasing peace of mind.
20) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I do not think it at all likely, but I find it one of the more appealing religious speculations.
Showing posts with label Unitarians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Unitarians. Show all posts
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Modern Girl
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank Larry Tanner for his very interesting interview of last week. Thanks so much for sharing with us all Larry!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Modern Girl. Modern Girl is a Unitarian Universalist and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Modern Girl's Introduction:
Modern Girl has a complicated religious path. She was raised by an observant Catholic mother and a non-observant and secular Anglican Dad. Both parents allowed her to explore different religious options, which led her to Neo-Paganism, New Age, Buddhism, Catholicism, Judaism, Agnosticism, Unitarian Universalism, Humanism and more. At the age of 24, she started to blog about her religious experiences and different stances on religion. Now she blogs about many secular, political, and trivial matters as well, but 3 years later, she still loves the religious blogosphere.
Blog: http:sundialsaga.blogspot.com
Twitter name M0DERNGIRL (all caps, with a zero as the second character)
1) What religion do you practice?
Currently, I’m a lapsed Unitarian Universalist. In the past year, I have worked as a worship associate for my Unitarian congregation and have been heavily involved in the young adult programming, but since January 2011, I’ve been taking a break (attending maybe once a month. I attended yesterday but felt nothing during the service – my current minister is terrible which is why I’m lapsed). Also in the past year, I have observed many of the Jewish holidays with my fiancé and future in-laws, and I have observed Christmas with my parents. Despite all the religious affiliations, the best description I have for myself is “Agnostic Humanist” which to me, means somewhere between a secular humanist and a religious humanist.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
The long answer to this is the content of 9 very long blog entries. Here’s the short version. Mom was an observant Catholic – but liberal minded. Dad was raised Anglican but disliked organized religion. I went to Catholic church and Catechism until I was 8, then we stopped going (they changed priests, we didn’t like the new guy). My parents gave me free range to explore, I started to get into Neo-Paganism and New Age stuff (astrology, tarot cards, oujia boards, past lives, ESP, animal sages, Native mythology, Celtic mythology, etc.) That was fun until I was about 20 and taking a Comparative Religious Studies minor in university. Then I developed a taste for Buddhism. I tried to get back into Catholicism when my Mom and Grandmother were sick, and a few years before that I gave Evangelical Protestantism a very short try (when my Pennecostal friend asked me to). By the time I was 21 or 22, I discovered that I believed in a higher power, but not Jesus, and not the Bible. According to Karen Armstrong’s “History of God” I was a Freelance Monotheist. I disliked the label Agnostic at the time because I believed (and still do) that there is something greater in the universe that we don’t understand. When I was 23 I met my Jewish fiancé, and was totally infatuated with Judaism for a year or so, then discovered it was too patriarchical and still too literal (though more metaphorical than Christianity). Almost exactly 2 years ago (and a year into my blogging about religion) I discovered Unitarian Universalism – the idea that what we believe doesn’t matter as much as what we do while we’re here. I love UU, the principles really speak to me, and it's a great “inbetwen” the liberal Christianity of my parents and the liberal Judaism of my fiancé. It’s not perfect, and after being involved with the UU congregation for 2 years, I’m a bit disenchanted with organized religion in general, but I know that UU is the best fit for me out of all the options. And nowadays, I’m comfortable knowing that it’s not so much how I label myself, as what I do. I love and feel connected to the Pantheism theories of Spinoza and Einstein, although I’m getting closer to Atheism all the time, I do believe in something bigger than us is out there.
So, I guess I officially converted from Catholicism to UU. The process was simple. I filled out a membership form and a few months later was asked to stand up during the Sunday service so the minister could announce me as one of the new membership. I wore a flower lapel pin and received a free book.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Unitarian Universalism is really too small for divisions yet. But we do have some people who are more spiritual and some who are more secular. And we have congregations like that to. In the more Humanist and secular congregations, there is a greater emphasis on social justice and politics. In the more spiritual congregations, there is a greater emphasis on interfaith committees, and finding meaning in the world without believing in God or an afterlife – necessarily. Despite not believing in an afterlife or a deity who cares, I’m spiritual. My congregation has recently gone very secular. Sermons used to be about forgiveness, growing, connecting to a greater sense of purpose. Now they are dry stories about politics and current affair with no spiritual guidance. There are also some UU congregations with a greater Christian emphasis, and some with a more pluralistic or interfaith emphasis. I like the interfaith stance better.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
Sorry I think I just answer those above.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
In UU, we don’t have a clear idea. It’s not emphasized and the purpose of the faith is to pay attention to this life, not what comes after it. Among UU’s, perspective do vary quite a bit. For me personally, I no longer believe in an afterlife. I did once. Heaven, Hell, all that. Purgatory I was unaware of until I was 20, and never really bought into it. Once I even believed in reincarnation. Now, I believe in science and that when we are dead, we cease to exist. Our consciousness ceases to be, and we decay. I think that the matter which composes our body never really ceases to be, but that is recycled into other things, and that the organic particles that make us up will be absorbed into the environment and will reappear as other forms of life and organic material. For this reason, I’d like to be buried without being embalmed so that I can naturally and non-toxically decay and return to the earth. I’d also like a tree planted near my grave so that my cells and atoms and particles can be recycled and turned into atoms and particles that make up a tree.
I believe Heaven and Hell are more of a state of mind. I believe in a type of karma, more like a Chaos theory of natural cause and effect. The more negative hormones that are released by your body, the more negative hormones go up in the people you are around, etc. If you do negative things, you have a negative impact on your environment and things can come back to bite you in the ass. So, Hell is basically when you are in a funk, and you keep doing things to screw it up and let the funk continue. Heaven is when you’re self-actualized, things are going well (but not too well) and you are routinely exchanging positive energy and interactions and motivations with your surroundings.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
No. With Heaven being a state of mind that only exists, during this lifetime, then I’m aware that not everyone reaches that. Innocent people suffer, and those people unfortunately don’t always find the bliss that others do. I do believe every life has a purpose and an equal opportunity to impact the world. I believe we are born innocent and good and are motivated more so by good forces than by bad forces.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
UU is a good fit for me because it promotes pluralism, a focus on social justice and compassion, and freedom and liberty. It’s a very progressive faith which fits for equality and equity for women, people of color, glbt communities, and more. It promotes pacifism and helping others before helping the economy. It allows me to feel like I’m part of a larger system of progressively minded people, and gives me resources to find writings written by enlightened individuals. It helps push my understanding of the nature of the universe and the purpose of life and existence.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year. I celebrate this by eating apples and honey to symbolize a sweet new year and to get things started off on the right foot. This happens in September around the first of the school year.
Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement. My fiancé does the traditional fast with his parents. I take the day to dedicate myself to a higher calling – such as a charity, etc. I purposely pick the most non-glamorous job (in 2010 I dragged tables through a dewy wet field at 7am) and I don’t brag or act for recognition for it (unless this counts). I concentrate on making myself a better person.
Thanksgiving – Second Monday of October. I try to get together with others for a good meal, and think about all that we have to be fortunate for.
My Birthday – November 3rd. It’s “Me Day” the most sacred day in this egocentric Western society. I spend the day spoiling myself. Most of the time, a birthday cake is included.
Hanukah – December. I have a Hanukiah (like a menorah, but with 9 candles not 7) and I light the candles with a Humanist blessing I wrote. I usually get together with my fiancé and eat latkes and chocolate on one of the days.
Christmas Eve – December 24th. My parents make a large turkey dinner, Granpa drinks whiskey, Santa drives past our house on a Fire Engine, and we each open one gift.
Christmas Day – December 25th. We wake up early, and sit under the tree, opening gift after gift. Then we eat massive amounts of yummy things all day, cheese and cracker spreads, crock pots full of hot dips, peanuts, chocolates, caramel corn, peppermints, open faced sandwiches on expensive breads, turkey leftovers, cheese balls, peanutbutter balls, and much more. We don’t do anything Christian really, it’s much more of a secular Yuletide thing.
“Holidays” December 26-31. Take it easy at my parents house and continue eating and being a glutton. Dad usually has a shut down at work, so everyone is home and spending time together the entire time.
Maple Syrup Day – February 6th. A day during the winter festival season in which I go and look at ice sculptures and frozen lakes, etc. Buy hot chocolate next to the ice rink, eat pancakes and maple syrup in the morning, and spend the day thinking about Canadian winters. It’s also close to Omelc, Imbolc, Candlemass, St. Briget’s Day, etc.
Passover – Jewish celebration of the escape from Egypt. I observe this by attending seders with my fiance’s family. We sit around a table for a long time, eat loads of food, and sing songs in Hebrew. I found the afikomen both times in the last 2 years.
Good Friday – I don’t eat meat on Good Friday out of Catholic superstition traditions.
Easter – I don’t really observed Easter anymore aside from not eating meat on Good Friday. Once in a while I’ll eat a chocolate bunny, or a cream egg, but that’s it.
Mother’s Day – Second Sunday of May. Call up my Mom and give her something nice.
Father’s Day – Third Sunday of June. Call up my Dad and give him something nice.
Canada Day – July 1st – wear red, sometimes dye my hair red, and go to Parliament Hill or an outdoor concert. Eat street meat (hotdogs) listen to bands, wear glow bracelets, watch fireworks. Have sunburn the next day.
August Family BBQ – get together with the extended family. It’s like the opposite of Christmas, at least weather wise. Having sprinklers going, eat taco salad, enjoy the bask of summer one last time before school starts and the whole cycle goes over again.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Absolutely! I only have 8 UU friends and we’re a pretty small group. Plus, UU really promotes an interfaith feel and encourages interfaith dialogue, we’re the faith that all the other faiths can get along with!
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
As you can see above, there’s really no UU holidays. Not really. My holidays are a mash up between Jewish and Christian holidays and Canadian secular holidays. So, I have no problem joining in on others’ holidays. I plan to raise my kids Jewish, but they will still celebrate Christian with their maternal grandparents. I’ll try to teach them that it’s not “their” holiday but that they can help their grandparents to celebrate it.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I’m all for freedom, but allowing the burka is not promoting freedom. Even if some women wear it out of their own choice, other women wear it because they are peer pressued, or financially pressured or pressured due to family shame and pride. I also think that it causes social isolation while out in public, which is a form of self abuse. I would like to see the burka banned. As far as Shariah Law goes, I live in Canada, which is a secular nation state. I believe the secular laws of Canada should have more authority over the Canadian people than the laws of a religious group.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes, in UU women have equal rights and transgendered people have equal rights. I think it’s great and the way it should be. Just because your genitals are different, it doesn’t mean you lack skills to lead a congregation, think spiritually, or have good ideas.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Nope. I hate segregation. I’ve gone through it when I attend Orthodox Jewish events, and I absolutely hate it. Even in people’s homes, when men daven and the women are separated, it drives me around the bend. I don’t have very much in common with women, I’m one of the guys and I like staying with my fiancé, so that’s irritating. Even at my family BBQ’s (which are sacred to me) it tends to get very gender segregated, but it’s not rigid. I can sit with the men outside as they grill meat and talk politics, and current affairs. Once in a while, an aunt will make fun of me for not being with the women as they prep salads inside and talk about kids, illnesses and domestic affairs, but at least I can go against the trend.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
This is tricky. My religion doesn’t dictate how I feel about abortion, gays, etc. But my perspective on that almost perfectly matches that of UU. But it didn’t influence me, UU is the place where progressively minded people go. UU is sort of a secular faith, so I don’t think it’s my “faith” that I think about everyday, but I think about my left-wing progressive stance on the world almost everyday, which happens to match my faith. When I need to make a decision, I don’t turn to my faith for answers. I turn to my humanist insight and my secular understanding of equality and right and wrong. If the humanist and secular understanding of right and wrong is my faith, then I guess you could say I do that. But I don’t follow what a minister says or what is preached on the pulpit. The minister said once we should try to avoid meat on Mondays, and he pissed me off by doing that, because I don’t think a faith should lay our concrete laws like that.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would be perfectly fine with it. I plan to raise my kids Jewish which is my fiance’s faith. If they don’t want to marry a Jew, I’ll be ok with it. My fiancé might have a hard time with it, even though he’s going to marry outside his faith.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I don’t believe in Hell per say (see previous answers on Heaven and Hell). I think people of all faiths can suffer or flourish, and it’s a state of mind. It’s up to what they do, not what religious ideology they feel they follow.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I’m not sure I follow. UU have historically claimed many figures, like we say Thomas Jefferson and Susan B. Anthony and John Adams were UU’s, but they were actually Christian Unitarians. And some people who were plainly against organized religion have been cited as having UU-like sentiments, but we don’t have the right to state that. Today, there are not many famous UU people.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
My work colleague told another work colleague that she was sick of all “this Jewish stuff” in my work group. My boss is Jewish, I have one Jewish colleague, and I’m engaged to a Jew. My boss and colleague are extremely secular, don’t keep kosher and only observe the holidays in a secular way. Jewish stuff has only come up around the Jewish holidays and it’s always spoken of in a secular, inclusive way. Yet, this anti-Semitic colleague in my work group said she’d like to become a Nazi to stop it. I wrote her an email explaining I could report her to the Human Rights and Equity board, she panicked, said she realized it was wrong. Later told me she still thinks she was in the right for saying those things because she’s a person of color.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No. It’s hard explaining to secular people and people wary of Christanity that I go to church but I’m not Christian and it’s not evangelical and my church friends are not Jesus freaks. So sometimes I restrain from mentioning my beliefs.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Depends on how good the minister is.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Nope. Please see above for the comments on the afterlife.
I wish to thank Larry Tanner for his very interesting interview of last week. Thanks so much for sharing with us all Larry!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Modern Girl. Modern Girl is a Unitarian Universalist and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Modern Girl's Introduction:
Modern Girl has a complicated religious path. She was raised by an observant Catholic mother and a non-observant and secular Anglican Dad. Both parents allowed her to explore different religious options, which led her to Neo-Paganism, New Age, Buddhism, Catholicism, Judaism, Agnosticism, Unitarian Universalism, Humanism and more. At the age of 24, she started to blog about her religious experiences and different stances on religion. Now she blogs about many secular, political, and trivial matters as well, but 3 years later, she still loves the religious blogosphere.
Blog: http:sundialsaga.blogspot.com
Twitter name M0DERNGIRL (all caps, with a zero as the second character)
1) What religion do you practice?
Currently, I’m a lapsed Unitarian Universalist. In the past year, I have worked as a worship associate for my Unitarian congregation and have been heavily involved in the young adult programming, but since January 2011, I’ve been taking a break (attending maybe once a month. I attended yesterday but felt nothing during the service – my current minister is terrible which is why I’m lapsed). Also in the past year, I have observed many of the Jewish holidays with my fiancé and future in-laws, and I have observed Christmas with my parents. Despite all the religious affiliations, the best description I have for myself is “Agnostic Humanist” which to me, means somewhere between a secular humanist and a religious humanist.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
The long answer to this is the content of 9 very long blog entries. Here’s the short version. Mom was an observant Catholic – but liberal minded. Dad was raised Anglican but disliked organized religion. I went to Catholic church and Catechism until I was 8, then we stopped going (they changed priests, we didn’t like the new guy). My parents gave me free range to explore, I started to get into Neo-Paganism and New Age stuff (astrology, tarot cards, oujia boards, past lives, ESP, animal sages, Native mythology, Celtic mythology, etc.) That was fun until I was about 20 and taking a Comparative Religious Studies minor in university. Then I developed a taste for Buddhism. I tried to get back into Catholicism when my Mom and Grandmother were sick, and a few years before that I gave Evangelical Protestantism a very short try (when my Pennecostal friend asked me to). By the time I was 21 or 22, I discovered that I believed in a higher power, but not Jesus, and not the Bible. According to Karen Armstrong’s “History of God” I was a Freelance Monotheist. I disliked the label Agnostic at the time because I believed (and still do) that there is something greater in the universe that we don’t understand. When I was 23 I met my Jewish fiancé, and was totally infatuated with Judaism for a year or so, then discovered it was too patriarchical and still too literal (though more metaphorical than Christianity). Almost exactly 2 years ago (and a year into my blogging about religion) I discovered Unitarian Universalism – the idea that what we believe doesn’t matter as much as what we do while we’re here. I love UU, the principles really speak to me, and it's a great “inbetwen” the liberal Christianity of my parents and the liberal Judaism of my fiancé. It’s not perfect, and after being involved with the UU congregation for 2 years, I’m a bit disenchanted with organized religion in general, but I know that UU is the best fit for me out of all the options. And nowadays, I’m comfortable knowing that it’s not so much how I label myself, as what I do. I love and feel connected to the Pantheism theories of Spinoza and Einstein, although I’m getting closer to Atheism all the time, I do believe in something bigger than us is out there.
So, I guess I officially converted from Catholicism to UU. The process was simple. I filled out a membership form and a few months later was asked to stand up during the Sunday service so the minister could announce me as one of the new membership. I wore a flower lapel pin and received a free book.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Unitarian Universalism is really too small for divisions yet. But we do have some people who are more spiritual and some who are more secular. And we have congregations like that to. In the more Humanist and secular congregations, there is a greater emphasis on social justice and politics. In the more spiritual congregations, there is a greater emphasis on interfaith committees, and finding meaning in the world without believing in God or an afterlife – necessarily. Despite not believing in an afterlife or a deity who cares, I’m spiritual. My congregation has recently gone very secular. Sermons used to be about forgiveness, growing, connecting to a greater sense of purpose. Now they are dry stories about politics and current affair with no spiritual guidance. There are also some UU congregations with a greater Christian emphasis, and some with a more pluralistic or interfaith emphasis. I like the interfaith stance better.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
Sorry I think I just answer those above.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
In UU, we don’t have a clear idea. It’s not emphasized and the purpose of the faith is to pay attention to this life, not what comes after it. Among UU’s, perspective do vary quite a bit. For me personally, I no longer believe in an afterlife. I did once. Heaven, Hell, all that. Purgatory I was unaware of until I was 20, and never really bought into it. Once I even believed in reincarnation. Now, I believe in science and that when we are dead, we cease to exist. Our consciousness ceases to be, and we decay. I think that the matter which composes our body never really ceases to be, but that is recycled into other things, and that the organic particles that make us up will be absorbed into the environment and will reappear as other forms of life and organic material. For this reason, I’d like to be buried without being embalmed so that I can naturally and non-toxically decay and return to the earth. I’d also like a tree planted near my grave so that my cells and atoms and particles can be recycled and turned into atoms and particles that make up a tree.
I believe Heaven and Hell are more of a state of mind. I believe in a type of karma, more like a Chaos theory of natural cause and effect. The more negative hormones that are released by your body, the more negative hormones go up in the people you are around, etc. If you do negative things, you have a negative impact on your environment and things can come back to bite you in the ass. So, Hell is basically when you are in a funk, and you keep doing things to screw it up and let the funk continue. Heaven is when you’re self-actualized, things are going well (but not too well) and you are routinely exchanging positive energy and interactions and motivations with your surroundings.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
No. With Heaven being a state of mind that only exists, during this lifetime, then I’m aware that not everyone reaches that. Innocent people suffer, and those people unfortunately don’t always find the bliss that others do. I do believe every life has a purpose and an equal opportunity to impact the world. I believe we are born innocent and good and are motivated more so by good forces than by bad forces.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
UU is a good fit for me because it promotes pluralism, a focus on social justice and compassion, and freedom and liberty. It’s a very progressive faith which fits for equality and equity for women, people of color, glbt communities, and more. It promotes pacifism and helping others before helping the economy. It allows me to feel like I’m part of a larger system of progressively minded people, and gives me resources to find writings written by enlightened individuals. It helps push my understanding of the nature of the universe and the purpose of life and existence.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year. I celebrate this by eating apples and honey to symbolize a sweet new year and to get things started off on the right foot. This happens in September around the first of the school year.
Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement. My fiancé does the traditional fast with his parents. I take the day to dedicate myself to a higher calling – such as a charity, etc. I purposely pick the most non-glamorous job (in 2010 I dragged tables through a dewy wet field at 7am) and I don’t brag or act for recognition for it (unless this counts). I concentrate on making myself a better person.
Thanksgiving – Second Monday of October. I try to get together with others for a good meal, and think about all that we have to be fortunate for.
My Birthday – November 3rd. It’s “Me Day” the most sacred day in this egocentric Western society. I spend the day spoiling myself. Most of the time, a birthday cake is included.
Hanukah – December. I have a Hanukiah (like a menorah, but with 9 candles not 7) and I light the candles with a Humanist blessing I wrote. I usually get together with my fiancé and eat latkes and chocolate on one of the days.
Christmas Eve – December 24th. My parents make a large turkey dinner, Granpa drinks whiskey, Santa drives past our house on a Fire Engine, and we each open one gift.
Christmas Day – December 25th. We wake up early, and sit under the tree, opening gift after gift. Then we eat massive amounts of yummy things all day, cheese and cracker spreads, crock pots full of hot dips, peanuts, chocolates, caramel corn, peppermints, open faced sandwiches on expensive breads, turkey leftovers, cheese balls, peanutbutter balls, and much more. We don’t do anything Christian really, it’s much more of a secular Yuletide thing.
“Holidays” December 26-31. Take it easy at my parents house and continue eating and being a glutton. Dad usually has a shut down at work, so everyone is home and spending time together the entire time.
Maple Syrup Day – February 6th. A day during the winter festival season in which I go and look at ice sculptures and frozen lakes, etc. Buy hot chocolate next to the ice rink, eat pancakes and maple syrup in the morning, and spend the day thinking about Canadian winters. It’s also close to Omelc, Imbolc, Candlemass, St. Briget’s Day, etc.
Passover – Jewish celebration of the escape from Egypt. I observe this by attending seders with my fiance’s family. We sit around a table for a long time, eat loads of food, and sing songs in Hebrew. I found the afikomen both times in the last 2 years.
Good Friday – I don’t eat meat on Good Friday out of Catholic superstition traditions.
Easter – I don’t really observed Easter anymore aside from not eating meat on Good Friday. Once in a while I’ll eat a chocolate bunny, or a cream egg, but that’s it.
Mother’s Day – Second Sunday of May. Call up my Mom and give her something nice.
Father’s Day – Third Sunday of June. Call up my Dad and give him something nice.
Canada Day – July 1st – wear red, sometimes dye my hair red, and go to Parliament Hill or an outdoor concert. Eat street meat (hotdogs) listen to bands, wear glow bracelets, watch fireworks. Have sunburn the next day.
August Family BBQ – get together with the extended family. It’s like the opposite of Christmas, at least weather wise. Having sprinklers going, eat taco salad, enjoy the bask of summer one last time before school starts and the whole cycle goes over again.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Absolutely! I only have 8 UU friends and we’re a pretty small group. Plus, UU really promotes an interfaith feel and encourages interfaith dialogue, we’re the faith that all the other faiths can get along with!
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
As you can see above, there’s really no UU holidays. Not really. My holidays are a mash up between Jewish and Christian holidays and Canadian secular holidays. So, I have no problem joining in on others’ holidays. I plan to raise my kids Jewish, but they will still celebrate Christian with their maternal grandparents. I’ll try to teach them that it’s not “their” holiday but that they can help their grandparents to celebrate it.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I’m all for freedom, but allowing the burka is not promoting freedom. Even if some women wear it out of their own choice, other women wear it because they are peer pressued, or financially pressured or pressured due to family shame and pride. I also think that it causes social isolation while out in public, which is a form of self abuse. I would like to see the burka banned. As far as Shariah Law goes, I live in Canada, which is a secular nation state. I believe the secular laws of Canada should have more authority over the Canadian people than the laws of a religious group.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes, in UU women have equal rights and transgendered people have equal rights. I think it’s great and the way it should be. Just because your genitals are different, it doesn’t mean you lack skills to lead a congregation, think spiritually, or have good ideas.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Nope. I hate segregation. I’ve gone through it when I attend Orthodox Jewish events, and I absolutely hate it. Even in people’s homes, when men daven and the women are separated, it drives me around the bend. I don’t have very much in common with women, I’m one of the guys and I like staying with my fiancé, so that’s irritating. Even at my family BBQ’s (which are sacred to me) it tends to get very gender segregated, but it’s not rigid. I can sit with the men outside as they grill meat and talk politics, and current affairs. Once in a while, an aunt will make fun of me for not being with the women as they prep salads inside and talk about kids, illnesses and domestic affairs, but at least I can go against the trend.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
This is tricky. My religion doesn’t dictate how I feel about abortion, gays, etc. But my perspective on that almost perfectly matches that of UU. But it didn’t influence me, UU is the place where progressively minded people go. UU is sort of a secular faith, so I don’t think it’s my “faith” that I think about everyday, but I think about my left-wing progressive stance on the world almost everyday, which happens to match my faith. When I need to make a decision, I don’t turn to my faith for answers. I turn to my humanist insight and my secular understanding of equality and right and wrong. If the humanist and secular understanding of right and wrong is my faith, then I guess you could say I do that. But I don’t follow what a minister says or what is preached on the pulpit. The minister said once we should try to avoid meat on Mondays, and he pissed me off by doing that, because I don’t think a faith should lay our concrete laws like that.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would be perfectly fine with it. I plan to raise my kids Jewish which is my fiance’s faith. If they don’t want to marry a Jew, I’ll be ok with it. My fiancé might have a hard time with it, even though he’s going to marry outside his faith.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I don’t believe in Hell per say (see previous answers on Heaven and Hell). I think people of all faiths can suffer or flourish, and it’s a state of mind. It’s up to what they do, not what religious ideology they feel they follow.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I’m not sure I follow. UU have historically claimed many figures, like we say Thomas Jefferson and Susan B. Anthony and John Adams were UU’s, but they were actually Christian Unitarians. And some people who were plainly against organized religion have been cited as having UU-like sentiments, but we don’t have the right to state that. Today, there are not many famous UU people.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
My work colleague told another work colleague that she was sick of all “this Jewish stuff” in my work group. My boss is Jewish, I have one Jewish colleague, and I’m engaged to a Jew. My boss and colleague are extremely secular, don’t keep kosher and only observe the holidays in a secular way. Jewish stuff has only come up around the Jewish holidays and it’s always spoken of in a secular, inclusive way. Yet, this anti-Semitic colleague in my work group said she’d like to become a Nazi to stop it. I wrote her an email explaining I could report her to the Human Rights and Equity board, she panicked, said she realized it was wrong. Later told me she still thinks she was in the right for saying those things because she’s a person of color.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No. It’s hard explaining to secular people and people wary of Christanity that I go to church but I’m not Christian and it’s not evangelical and my church friends are not Jesus freaks. So sometimes I restrain from mentioning my beliefs.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Depends on how good the minister is.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Nope. Please see above for the comments on the afterlife.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Adrian Worsfold
Hello and Happy Saturday!
Thank you so much to Louise Rogers for her wonderful interview last week.
Thanks so much for sharing your faith journey with us Louise!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Adrian Worsfold. Adrian is a Unitarian and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Adrian Worsfold's Introduction:
I was confirmed an Anglican in 1984 during my early years doing a PhD in Sociology and Social Anthropology and have slipped in and out of Unitarianism since and have had contact with Bahai's, Methodists and Buddhists. I considered Anglican ministry for a time and Unitarian ministry, but neither happened. At present I attend a Unitarian church and help with its music and take some services. Among some Anglican punk bloggers (liberal inclined people who say controversial things at some disadvantage to themselves) I am a terror blogger, helping to point out the implications of what they are saying. Unitarians have often been a pain in the backside of people who are in the 'orthodox' communities but cross their fingers behind their backs, like I did but with my arms out.
http://www.pluralist.co.uk
http://pluralistspeaks.blogspot.com
1) What religion do you practice?
Unitarian
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I am a deconvert. People are deconverted to Unitarianism. I was a liberal Anglican for a time, and I remain sympathetic to Western Buddhism.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
There are Liberal Christians, Religious Humanists, Easterns and Neo-Pagans; there is a span from rationalism to romanticism, and from denominationalism to ecumenical/ interfaith.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I am a religious humanist with a small portion of liberal Christianity and Western Buddhism and the tiniest touch of the Pagan.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
We rot, but some might believe in spiritual existence. I don't. When you are dead it's as if you were never alive. However, consciousness is a mystery, how the me of me becomes experienced me.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
No one does: it doesn't exist.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Because it is a means of reflection and contemplation, the question about where next (either forced on you or with some freedom of action). It is where I encounter that everything is transient.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I find Christmas a chore. Easter is a lot of well worn arguments but it is a symbol of saying yes to life. I will refer to 'It's spring again' but it seems a bit obvious. Let's live while we have life.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes, I got on with Buddhists and Bahai's, and of course Anglicans.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I'm happy to join in with anyone's other celebration. It's all about reflection on the passing calendar.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
It is repression. Some people need repression for a sense of liberty, but humans should grow up. People should wear, or not wear, what they want; it's for people who might respond to behave themselves.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Unitarians were the first to have full professional religious ministers - the first in 1904. There is no discrimination based on sexuality.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
There are plenty of seats for individuals to be separated from other individuals.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
The religion changes according to our views. When new people come into the congregation, the church changes. I dislike abortion but would have it legal as now, and I favour gay marriage and heterosexual civil partnership (added to present arrangements)
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
No children but in general they do. I don't know what physical distortions might come about if Unitarians limited themselves to the Unitarian gene pool.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
They could well be going to hell if they are of my faith. I don't believe in heaven or hell. It's nonsense.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
No Unitarian ever agrees with another Unitarian. We don't represent the denomination. All Unitarianism amounts to is a tradition of evolved religion that settled upon the individual as the seat of authority.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
People hate me in the blogsphere. I am a terror blogger among Anglican punk bloggers.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No. It tends to affirm the human being. It doesn't stop us misbehaving to one another.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Should it?
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. The only possibility is another meness of me in a conscious being, but I still think it is biologically dependent and it is likely as not to be on planet zog as on earth. Our universe and our reflectivity as beings of a short time stretch on a 10 billion year planet is fascinating enough. The purpose of religion is to come to terms with the fact that this existence ends and that's it, goodbye.
Thank you so much to Louise Rogers for her wonderful interview last week.
Thanks so much for sharing your faith journey with us Louise!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Adrian Worsfold. Adrian is a Unitarian and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Adrian Worsfold's Introduction:
I was confirmed an Anglican in 1984 during my early years doing a PhD in Sociology and Social Anthropology and have slipped in and out of Unitarianism since and have had contact with Bahai's, Methodists and Buddhists. I considered Anglican ministry for a time and Unitarian ministry, but neither happened. At present I attend a Unitarian church and help with its music and take some services. Among some Anglican punk bloggers (liberal inclined people who say controversial things at some disadvantage to themselves) I am a terror blogger, helping to point out the implications of what they are saying. Unitarians have often been a pain in the backside of people who are in the 'orthodox' communities but cross their fingers behind their backs, like I did but with my arms out.
http://www.pluralist.co.uk
http://pluralistspeaks.blogspot.com
1) What religion do you practice?
Unitarian
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I am a deconvert. People are deconverted to Unitarianism. I was a liberal Anglican for a time, and I remain sympathetic to Western Buddhism.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
There are Liberal Christians, Religious Humanists, Easterns and Neo-Pagans; there is a span from rationalism to romanticism, and from denominationalism to ecumenical/ interfaith.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I am a religious humanist with a small portion of liberal Christianity and Western Buddhism and the tiniest touch of the Pagan.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
We rot, but some might believe in spiritual existence. I don't. When you are dead it's as if you were never alive. However, consciousness is a mystery, how the me of me becomes experienced me.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
No one does: it doesn't exist.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Because it is a means of reflection and contemplation, the question about where next (either forced on you or with some freedom of action). It is where I encounter that everything is transient.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I find Christmas a chore. Easter is a lot of well worn arguments but it is a symbol of saying yes to life. I will refer to 'It's spring again' but it seems a bit obvious. Let's live while we have life.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes, I got on with Buddhists and Bahai's, and of course Anglicans.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I'm happy to join in with anyone's other celebration. It's all about reflection on the passing calendar.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
It is repression. Some people need repression for a sense of liberty, but humans should grow up. People should wear, or not wear, what they want; it's for people who might respond to behave themselves.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Unitarians were the first to have full professional religious ministers - the first in 1904. There is no discrimination based on sexuality.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
There are plenty of seats for individuals to be separated from other individuals.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
The religion changes according to our views. When new people come into the congregation, the church changes. I dislike abortion but would have it legal as now, and I favour gay marriage and heterosexual civil partnership (added to present arrangements)
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
No children but in general they do. I don't know what physical distortions might come about if Unitarians limited themselves to the Unitarian gene pool.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
They could well be going to hell if they are of my faith. I don't believe in heaven or hell. It's nonsense.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
No Unitarian ever agrees with another Unitarian. We don't represent the denomination. All Unitarianism amounts to is a tradition of evolved religion that settled upon the individual as the seat of authority.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
People hate me in the blogsphere. I am a terror blogger among Anglican punk bloggers.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No. It tends to affirm the human being. It doesn't stop us misbehaving to one another.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Should it?
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. The only possibility is another meness of me in a conscious being, but I still think it is biologically dependent and it is likely as not to be on planet zog as on earth. Our universe and our reflectivity as beings of a short time stretch on a 10 billion year planet is fascinating enough. The purpose of religion is to come to terms with the fact that this existence ends and that's it, goodbye.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Louise Rogers
Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up, I wish to thank Dalyn Montgomery for his very interesting interview last week. Thank you so much for sharing with us Dalyn!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Louise Rogers. Louise is a Unitarian and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Louise Rogers's Introduction:
I am a Unitarian and am a member of Staffordshire’s Unitarian community which meets at the Newcastle-under-Lyme Meeting House. Born and raised in London, I am a middle-aged woman with an 18-year old daughter living in rural North Staffordshire. I work mainly for charities on organisational development and mentoring staff to achieve organisational change. I write two blogs – one on governance for Unitarian communities and one of developing spiritual community. I lead the occasional service and do a lot on communications, internal and external. I am a board member of the National Unitarian Fellowship. I like to write, listen to music, watch films and eat.
dev-spiritual-community.blogspot.com
unitariancommunications.blogspot.com
1) What religion do you practice?
Unitarianism although the title of the national organisation is the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
Convert although that’s not a term we would use. I grew up in an atheist family. I was always interested in religion – I guess at times I would have described myself as an atheist and at times an agnostic. I have been a Unitarian for 12 years now. It is an open faith – you walk through the door and attend a few services and you either stay or you don’t. If you stay then at some point you realise that you have morphed into a Unitarian without really noticing it
3) Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox, conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
There are differences in belief but not in terms of strict observance because we do not have a creed or any rules to follow. Some Unitarians would describe themselves as for example Free Christians, some as humanist, some as Earth Spirit/Pagan Unitarians. Not all Unitarians believe in God.
4) Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I know what I am not – I would not describe myself as a free Christian or an Earth Spirit/Pagan Unitarian. I like the word Unitarian, plain and simple. I will take ideas from a variety of places including the Bible and Pagan thought and from other religions, poetry, writing, arts etc. However I am very involved and spend a lot of time doing things for my local community and a bit for the national one. So I am heavily involved and highly committed.
5) What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
We each have our personal ideas, there is not one which we all subscribe to. I suspect that whilst some may believe in heaven, few will believe in hell.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Not sure that I believe in heaven but I certainly don’t believe that believers are saved and the rest of us aren’t. Don’t really understand the concept of salvation.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I am a pragmatist and like to think of myself as a free-thinker. I believe in social justice and equality of opportunity. I believe that our own consciences are the prime deciders on spiritual and faith matters. I believe in an evolving and emerging spiritual life as we grow and change. I believe that our goal is to be the best ‘me’ that we can be. I believe that to be spiritual in community can be a wonderful experience. I believe that we each only see a small fraction of whatever is the divine and we need to listen to others to expand our own understanding. I believe that there are many ways to live a good life. So that all makes me fit well with Unitarianism.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
We don’t have them exclusively for Unitarianism. We tend to celebrate Christian festivals but some also celebrate Pagan festivals and those of other faiths. Most of our celebrations involve some worship (in the sense of recognising the worth and value of all life), some celebration and singing, lighting our chalice, community time together and food – we do seem to celebrate everything by sharing food together. We also like to mark personal milestones together.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course! Of other faiths and of none. Often you don’t know what faith another person has. Fear comes from ignorance – it is difficult to fear that which you are familiar with. It is only through dialogue and deep respect for each other that we can build a strong and cohesive society.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes. We have done some inter-faith work. I have been to Pagan Festivals and Christian services.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I find the burka hard to get my head round. Our sexuality is part of who we are – and beauty is a joy to behold. I am not sure how hiding yourself behind a veil is empowering. It just seems to be hiding. But if that’s how some women choose to dress then I don’t think it is for me to say otherwise. It is a debate that I am still having in my head.
There are two issues I think about Shariah Law. The first is whether it should supersede the law of any country which I don’t think is appropriate. The second thing that is levelled at it is that it is anti-women. I think from discussions with people who know more than me on these things that there are some excellent parts and I guess a lot is down to interpretation and who is doing the judging.
We should keep these debates going. Perhaps we could learn a thing or two.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes, our first woman minister in the UK was in 1904. Women have always been active. In 1672 two local women had their houses registered for worship when Presbyterians (the forerunners of many Unitarian congregations) were not allowed to meet in a worship space.
We also have openly gay ministers – men and women. We believe that the things that you have to have to become a Unitarian minister are the qualities that make a good minister – we are in all things pragmatic – and thankfully so. We also support a range of equality issues.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No – although our organist would say that we always make him wash up!
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
It helps me to be a little bolder – to try to be on the side of right rather than convenience because I think about what others have given up for my religious freedom. As a national faith community we support gay marriage.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
The issue is not about her religion or that of her intended spouse but about what that religion adds or detracts from their lives. I would be very unhappy if she entered the world of religious fundamentalism – whatever the religion. For me religion should not be fixed but expansive, growing as you grow. Also religion should foster love not hate.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
If I believed in hell and judgement then I would think that we would be judged by our deeds and not what we professed to believe. It is relatively easy to believe but so much more difficult to do the right thing and be compassionate at all times. If there is a God and that God is vengeful then I don’t really want to associate myself with that God. If there is a God and that God is loving then I would ask, ‘Does hell exist?’
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
No Unitarian in UK would claim to speak for all Unitarians – we are much too diverse a bunch. What I would agree with is the right to say what they thought, as long as it was said with kindness and with the best of intentions. We must never close down public debate and as a faith community must be open and transparent.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No. But not everyone likes the Unitarian faith. Some say it’s too easy and we make it up as we go along. Not sure why being too easy is a bad thing and if we base things on our own consciences, well it will seem like we are making it up. I think that you can only believe what you believe – you can’t make yourself believe things. So I think that there is an inherent honesty in Unitarianism. Not everyone thinks that.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Never! The religious experience is not just about spirituality but is also about membership of a community. Religious people are people in spiritual community. Being a part of a strong faith community adds value to my life every day.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Not always but then I wouldn’t want it to. Sometimes we need to be challenged and taken out of our comfort zones. But ultimately it completes me – when I was not connected to any faith community I felt OK but felt that something was missing. Now I feel complete.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Don’t know and don’t much care. There are so many things that are unknowable and I am happy to keep them that way. There are too many knowable things that I haven’t a clue about so will work on those first.
First up, I wish to thank Dalyn Montgomery for his very interesting interview last week. Thank you so much for sharing with us Dalyn!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Louise Rogers. Louise is a Unitarian and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Louise Rogers's Introduction:
I am a Unitarian and am a member of Staffordshire’s Unitarian community which meets at the Newcastle-under-Lyme Meeting House. Born and raised in London, I am a middle-aged woman with an 18-year old daughter living in rural North Staffordshire. I work mainly for charities on organisational development and mentoring staff to achieve organisational change. I write two blogs – one on governance for Unitarian communities and one of developing spiritual community. I lead the occasional service and do a lot on communications, internal and external. I am a board member of the National Unitarian Fellowship. I like to write, listen to music, watch films and eat.
dev-spiritual-community.blogspot.com
unitariancommunications.blogspot.com
1) What religion do you practice?
Unitarianism although the title of the national organisation is the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
Convert although that’s not a term we would use. I grew up in an atheist family. I was always interested in religion – I guess at times I would have described myself as an atheist and at times an agnostic. I have been a Unitarian for 12 years now. It is an open faith – you walk through the door and attend a few services and you either stay or you don’t. If you stay then at some point you realise that you have morphed into a Unitarian without really noticing it
3) Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox, conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
There are differences in belief but not in terms of strict observance because we do not have a creed or any rules to follow. Some Unitarians would describe themselves as for example Free Christians, some as humanist, some as Earth Spirit/Pagan Unitarians. Not all Unitarians believe in God.
4) Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I know what I am not – I would not describe myself as a free Christian or an Earth Spirit/Pagan Unitarian. I like the word Unitarian, plain and simple. I will take ideas from a variety of places including the Bible and Pagan thought and from other religions, poetry, writing, arts etc. However I am very involved and spend a lot of time doing things for my local community and a bit for the national one. So I am heavily involved and highly committed.
5) What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
We each have our personal ideas, there is not one which we all subscribe to. I suspect that whilst some may believe in heaven, few will believe in hell.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Not sure that I believe in heaven but I certainly don’t believe that believers are saved and the rest of us aren’t. Don’t really understand the concept of salvation.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I am a pragmatist and like to think of myself as a free-thinker. I believe in social justice and equality of opportunity. I believe that our own consciences are the prime deciders on spiritual and faith matters. I believe in an evolving and emerging spiritual life as we grow and change. I believe that our goal is to be the best ‘me’ that we can be. I believe that to be spiritual in community can be a wonderful experience. I believe that we each only see a small fraction of whatever is the divine and we need to listen to others to expand our own understanding. I believe that there are many ways to live a good life. So that all makes me fit well with Unitarianism.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
We don’t have them exclusively for Unitarianism. We tend to celebrate Christian festivals but some also celebrate Pagan festivals and those of other faiths. Most of our celebrations involve some worship (in the sense of recognising the worth and value of all life), some celebration and singing, lighting our chalice, community time together and food – we do seem to celebrate everything by sharing food together. We also like to mark personal milestones together.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course! Of other faiths and of none. Often you don’t know what faith another person has. Fear comes from ignorance – it is difficult to fear that which you are familiar with. It is only through dialogue and deep respect for each other that we can build a strong and cohesive society.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes. We have done some inter-faith work. I have been to Pagan Festivals and Christian services.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I find the burka hard to get my head round. Our sexuality is part of who we are – and beauty is a joy to behold. I am not sure how hiding yourself behind a veil is empowering. It just seems to be hiding. But if that’s how some women choose to dress then I don’t think it is for me to say otherwise. It is a debate that I am still having in my head.
There are two issues I think about Shariah Law. The first is whether it should supersede the law of any country which I don’t think is appropriate. The second thing that is levelled at it is that it is anti-women. I think from discussions with people who know more than me on these things that there are some excellent parts and I guess a lot is down to interpretation and who is doing the judging.
We should keep these debates going. Perhaps we could learn a thing or two.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes, our first woman minister in the UK was in 1904. Women have always been active. In 1672 two local women had their houses registered for worship when Presbyterians (the forerunners of many Unitarian congregations) were not allowed to meet in a worship space.
We also have openly gay ministers – men and women. We believe that the things that you have to have to become a Unitarian minister are the qualities that make a good minister – we are in all things pragmatic – and thankfully so. We also support a range of equality issues.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No – although our organist would say that we always make him wash up!
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
It helps me to be a little bolder – to try to be on the side of right rather than convenience because I think about what others have given up for my religious freedom. As a national faith community we support gay marriage.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
The issue is not about her religion or that of her intended spouse but about what that religion adds or detracts from their lives. I would be very unhappy if she entered the world of religious fundamentalism – whatever the religion. For me religion should not be fixed but expansive, growing as you grow. Also religion should foster love not hate.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
If I believed in hell and judgement then I would think that we would be judged by our deeds and not what we professed to believe. It is relatively easy to believe but so much more difficult to do the right thing and be compassionate at all times. If there is a God and that God is vengeful then I don’t really want to associate myself with that God. If there is a God and that God is loving then I would ask, ‘Does hell exist?’
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
No Unitarian in UK would claim to speak for all Unitarians – we are much too diverse a bunch. What I would agree with is the right to say what they thought, as long as it was said with kindness and with the best of intentions. We must never close down public debate and as a faith community must be open and transparent.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No. But not everyone likes the Unitarian faith. Some say it’s too easy and we make it up as we go along. Not sure why being too easy is a bad thing and if we base things on our own consciences, well it will seem like we are making it up. I think that you can only believe what you believe – you can’t make yourself believe things. So I think that there is an inherent honesty in Unitarianism. Not everyone thinks that.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Never! The religious experience is not just about spirituality but is also about membership of a community. Religious people are people in spiritual community. Being a part of a strong faith community adds value to my life every day.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Not always but then I wouldn’t want it to. Sometimes we need to be challenged and taken out of our comfort zones. But ultimately it completes me – when I was not connected to any faith community I felt OK but felt that something was missing. Now I feel complete.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Don’t know and don’t much care. There are so many things that are unknowable and I am happy to keep them that way. There are too many knowable things that I haven’t a clue about so will work on those first.
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