This was an invitation I sent to people to attend my teaching at a Unitarian church (on the evolution of morality). Someone said they liked it, so I thought I'd post it to keep.
Reasons I'd like for you to go:
1) There is no replacement for church. Only at a church can you find a group of people that are there for no other reason than they want to be (as opposed to economic gain), who can love you for a life time (long term relationships!), who are diverse in age and socio-economic background (inter-generational!), who are committed to personal growth (the deepest ethical teachings are always religious - religion and ethics are inseparable!) and reaching outward to the community (helping the poor, the environment, underprivileged youth, etc.) and who love you just for you!!! It's a family!
2) Kids/families need a church. It doesn't take a village to raise a child. Villages don't exist in America anymore. It takes a church to raise a child. (see above) Don't have kids? Other people's kids still need you.
3) Only UU provides that kind of a sanctuary (think of the meaning of that word) for people that like to ask questions (like me)--agnostics, atheists, liberal, progressive thinkers. If you come I can introduce you to atheists, agnostics, followers of Christ, Pagans, Humanists, Jews, you name it! They're there! Why are they there? Because it is a community of people that haven't gathered together because of a shared dogma, creed or mythology, but instead because of shared values. While there are no set doctrines there are set values and I'm of the opinion that's a hell of a lot more important than your opinion on several thousand year old mythological teachings. Check out what the church stands for here with the Seven Principles: http://www.uua.org/visitors/6798.shtml
4. Just try it. You may feel you have the above described type of community already. Kudos. Great. My church is -not- the end all, be all of the world. We don't have a monopoly on truth, nor morality, nor authentic community. But, I would still like for you to try it and know that it can be an option for you in the future (or for other people). I certainly don't think you're going to hell if you don't, but I'd sure like for you to try what I think is the best unknown gem in town - Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee.
One reason I'm not inviting you:
1) To convert you. Identity is a really important thing for us humans and you don't have to change what religion you think of yourself as. Keep your religion, but still come. :)
I was gonna write a blog about UU!
ReplyDeleteI came across this video and thought i'd share :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15R3EFI3BJU
true dat! I've most def seen that vid. Enjoyed it, but I'd still like to see more of a video presence of theirs online. Or, maybe I just mean more stuff that looks like it's been shot in the last decade...
ReplyDelete