Unitarian Universilism 1st draft 8/3/2003, appended Sept. '08
Attending the Uniterian Church
Some pre-dispositions . .
At a surface level, I like the thought of "my" perceived idea of what the Uniterian Universalists uphold. I.e. Acceptance and tolerance, and in general, I’m somewhat tired of the repetitive worship style / program in Christian churches. Thus I thought I would check out this progressive church movement. Certainly from an apologetic position I have some underlying questions.
I think that the Unitarians or Universalists, lets call them 2Us believe in inclusivism, (inclusive of all other religious groups). Hmm… I really wonder what that means in reality or practice? Does that mean Satanic groups? Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and say that it includes all groups who hold some kind of reverence for God. So the question beckons … “does that mean, secular humanists are excluded?” I suspect not. Though I believe it welcomes so-called Christians, I wonder how it can do that and maintain its belief system. Indeed does not the 2U church decry belief systems and certainly sacred writings. Hmmm . . . Since most Christian theology suggests exclusivism, i.e. that Christ is the only way and all others are lost, and by default heading toward damnation, how could the 2U inclusive belief system accept and co-exist with the exclusivism of Christians and their theology? For example: The 2U's don't believe there's a hell. So then I ask who the 2U's are? They are not the Christians they include, unless they are Christians who don't believe there's a hell. But then what would "these" Christians be. Seems paradoxical to suggest 2U's doctrine, but denounce doctrines held by their members.
Attending the Uniterian Church
Some pre-dispositions . .
At a surface level, I like the thought of "my" perceived idea of what the Uniterian Universalists uphold. I.e. Acceptance and tolerance, and in general, I’m somewhat tired of the repetitive worship style / program in Christian churches. Thus I thought I would check out this progressive church movement. Certainly from an apologetic position I have some underlying questions.
I think that the Unitarians or Universalists, lets call them 2Us believe in inclusivism, (inclusive of all other religious groups). Hmm… I really wonder what that means in reality or practice? Does that mean Satanic groups? Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and say that it includes all groups who hold some kind of reverence for God. So the question beckons … “does that mean, secular humanists are excluded?” I suspect not. Though I believe it welcomes so-called Christians, I wonder how it can do that and maintain its belief system. Indeed does not the 2U church decry belief systems and certainly sacred writings. Hmmm . . . Since most Christian theology suggests exclusivism, i.e. that Christ is the only way and all others are lost, and by default heading toward damnation, how could the 2U inclusive belief system accept and co-exist with the exclusivism of Christians and their theology? For example: The 2U's don't believe there's a hell. So then I ask who the 2U's are? They are not the Christians they include, unless they are Christians who don't believe there's a hell. But then what would "these" Christians be. Seems paradoxical to suggest 2U's doctrine, but denounce doctrines held by their members.
Today’s message at a local 2U church will be on bringing 2U beliefs and values into the community. This ought to be good!
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Fast forward: (After the service)
......
. . . so from the 2U's church gathering I attended, I think the salient point from the minister was the declaration of what 2U's believe. Indeed one of their tenets is, the pursuit of truth. Hmmm . . . "Really?" Are they holding regular meetings with members of other faiths, which are included in their body, to discuss varying faith beliefs? Are they coming to some conclusions? I think that's nice rhetoric, but what is that in reality? Pervasive in the 2U's church is open homo-sexuality. If the tenets of the 2U's is mutual respect / love of all people, and some of it's "included" members were of faiths that disagreed with homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle, just what would that "mutual respect / love" look like.
Then's there's the "worship" part of the service. Worship what? Since the members come from different faiths, and again a 2U tenet refers to God as a label of some higher force, being, or concept. What can all its members "sing" about? For example, if I had a friend with red hair, and told another friend about him, who knew him, that I thought his red hair was cool and he said, well I like him too, but his hair isn't red, it's auburn; but we both thought this mutual friend's hair was cool. What would we know and "mutually" appreciate about our common friend? Thus it is with the 2U's. Everyone singing praises about a being, force or concept, that they can't agree on. So the hymnal's have to have watered down, least common denominator lyrics, so that no one is offended, or at the very least that everyone can "tolerate"!
I submit, that the 2U's church is a confused body with confused conflictual doctrines. Of course they don't espouse doctrines. So what do you do at a 2U gathering, beside sharing donuts and coffee and suggest how the world could be better, with out a true base-line?
Some references
CRI (Christian Research Institute) Paper / STATEMENT DG035
NEOTHEISM: The Dangers of Making God in Our Image by Norman L. Geisler
Some references
CRI (Christian Research Institute) Paper / STATEMENT DG035
NEOTHEISM: The Dangers of Making God in Our Image by Norman L. Geisler
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