The original meaning of “woke” is to awaken after sleep, of course, but the word now has picked up other social connotations. The Oxford English Dictionary says, “woke had been extended figuratively to refer to being ‘aware’ or ‘well informed’ in a political or cultural sense.” Being woke is viewed positively by Unitarian Universalists. They … Continue reading UUs Are Woke (#122)
Unitarian Universalist religious education is wide-ranging. UU youth are introduced to many faith traditions, supported in formulating their own beliefs, and urged to respect what others believe. Actually, all UUs, young and old, are encouraged to look for wisdom beyond what’s immediately available. This approach is illustrated in a story about a group of adherents from … Continue reading What UUs Teach Their Children (#121)
Not all religious spaces welcome everyone, especially when it comes to non-binary gender and sexuality. In contrast, the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship has long done its best to invite people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer to join its congregation and to feel fully welcome in all of its activities. They want to … Continue reading UUs Have a Welcoming Community (#120)
People often ask what scripture serves as the Bible for Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (SUUF) congregants. There is none. (SUUF) members don’t rely on a single text or holy book for their answers to life’s deepest questions. They don’t believe that one group of people were informed, at one time and place in history by … Continue reading UUs’ Sources of Wisdom (#119)
Unitarian Universalists in many communities include an Animal Ministry. Its mission is not limited to caring for our endearing pets. They are inspired by the deeper UU principle of “respecting the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.” Animal-loving Unitarians see human beings as a key strand in the intricate web of … Continue reading UUs Care About Animals (#118)
Before attending a Sunday morning service, visitors generally wonder what the people there will be like. For example, what sort of folks will they find if they come to a gathering of the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (SUUF)? Unitarians can’t be easily summarized. But here are some commonalities. SUUF people generally have questioning minds and … Continue reading What UUs Have in Common (#117)
Because UUs respect a wide range of beliefs, some think they hold none themselves. Untrue. Here are some UU beliefs: Respect for religious traditions. All religions, in every age and culture, have potential value for those who learn about them. Freedom of religious expression. Individuals are encouraged to gather ideas and develop their own personal … Continue reading What UUs Believe (#116)
The number of Unitarian Universalists in the world is not impressive: about 200,000 in North America, 80,000 in Eastern Europe, 10,000 in Great Britain, and several thousand more scattered elsewhere in Europe, India, the Philippines, Nigeria, and other places. The Sedona UU Fellowship has just under 100 members. But, like Quakers and Zen Buddhists, UUs’ … Continue reading UUs’ Numbers and Significance (#115)
Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (SUUF) congregants value theologian Henry Wieman’s “Creative Interchange” concept. Here’s how it works: You and I interact; we learn something new from one another; we absorb that fresh awareness into our own being; and our experience of the world is enriched. Our enriched selves, in turn, expand others’ awareness. This ripple … Continue reading UUs Value Creative Interchange (#114)
“Who are Unitarian Universalists?” someone asked a friend who had recently attended a UU service. “Got me,” she replied, “the conversation I heard after the service was about that morning’s sermon, last night’s movie, this fall’s election, teachers’ recent modifications due to AI, and concerns about oceans in the next decade.” “Wow, that’s quite a … Continue reading Observations of UUs (#113)
