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Does anyone or has anyone here attend a Unitarian church? I’m considering going to my local one. I know that they accept atheists and agnostics. I guess my real question is would I have to hear a lot of stuff about the Bible as if it were true or a moral authority? Or is it basically Humanism?

filcek78 5 June 12
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8

I would definitely attend one, if one were near me, just for the community and socializing.

6

It's pretty much entirely up to the minister. I'm actually a Universal Unitarian minister (just so that I can conduct weddings). They (we?) really do take all kinds.

I also mentioned elsewhere that about 10 years ago (perhaps less), there were news stories about how atheism was growing in the US (sadly, we may be seeing a backlash), but a lot of atheists were still attending church for the social aspects.

Ozman Level 7 June 12, 2018
6

You will fit right in. Mostly Atheists and Agnostics who also consider themselves Humanists at my church in Long Beach, Calif. Very little Bible talk, except as an intellectual reference. Heavy on social justice.

Really that’s interesting. I’m not averse to a little bible talk, find it quite invigorating to go through finding its many errors and problems in thinking.

I grew up in Long Beach and been to that UU Church many times through the years. One of my best friends is in the choir. It's a very nice place.

5

I've been pondering this as well. I'm new to my area & don't really know anyone here.

4

I attend UU services. Sometimes the Rev gets into Biblical stuff but they mostly don't. References to prayer, sacredness, or other routinely religious ideas are redefined to meet more secular attitudes. They are a good resource for community organizations and resistance information but are largely aging congregations. Go. You don't have to become a member, I'm not, and give or don't give. I give to the coffee fund at Fellowship, the part I enjoy most, and try to attend even if I miss service. Sometimes I do that because the subject is too religious for me. If you don't like it then don't go back. If nothing else it's a great place for conversation and social interaction.

4

I never heard Bible stuff at the one I attended, back in Ga! Great place! Made great friends there! You can have no religion at all, there!

3

I have been to only one service at a Unitarian church so I can only report on that. There was no Bible, not even a mention of it and yes, basically humanistic. There were a couple of non-religious type of hymns (can't remember the names) and there was a very good speaker. Nothing 'churchy' about it, nice people and coffee and tea were served in another room after the service. I have been a concert organist for more years than I can remember and was thinking of taking up that position in that church in Melbourne, Australia. It didn't come to pass, transport would have been a problem.

2

I grew up in a Unitarian church in Tulsa OK, I knew Unitarian a minister that was Christian and I knew one that was an Atheist. My atheism was never a problem, church has no creed and all are welcome I have been to many UU churches and all were accepting of all faiths ( and lack thereof). The Tulsa church broadcasts the Sunday sermon on line if you want to check it out.All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa OK

[allsoulschurch.org]

Carlton Pearson, the subject of the movie "Come Sunday" is a minister there now

[netflix.com]

2

Consider checking out the Free Thinker or Humanist groups on "Meetup" in your area. You'll find they are a more science oriented, rational, and less structured organization. When traveling I enjoy visiting local Free Thinkers and making new friends around the country. As Richard Dawkins says we're a little like herding cats. I take that to mean we're respectfully open minded to new or opposing views.

The only one near me uses Wiccan rituals in some guy’s house that won’t call me back

Also from their Facebook page it seems like the group really enjoys weirding everyone out, gets super into halloween, and it may have just been set up so the main guy can meet women. (I seriously don’t know why a humanist group would get into Wiccan rituals)

@filcek78 Neither of these sound like Humanists or Free Thinkers. I'm surprised that anyone wants to be part of it. Definitely a miss labeled group. Be well.

2

I went to one once. It was weird for me. Good people, but I have never been into the group thing.

I too, don’t do groups well!

1

I've been to a few services in the past, and actually found them beautiful. Sure, there's references to Christ and the bible, but there's references to a plethora of humanist teachings. They are as likely to reference Nietchie and Sartre as Pope Francis and St Paul. Very intellectual, very humanist. Great organization for the most part.

1

An atheist friend was a member, he said the preacher was also an atheist, so I don't think you have much to worry about.

1

A good friend became a member of the local church several years ago and I learned a lot about it from him. Most of the members were, or are, agnostic, atheist, or humanists. i attended a few functions with him and enjoyed all the members that I met, and I must admit i was very impressed with them in every respect.

1

If you go stick around for the snacks and discussion. That is often the best part.

On edit. They also have many resources at uua.org You can probably find the group you plan to attend and lists of services topics and events throughout the week there.

1

I was a member of a Unitarian Church for a few years. Yes, there were atheists who were members (even our minister leaned toward atheism), along with Christians, Jews, and others. Many were just seekers, with no specific belief about religion.

No belief is required to be a Unitarian, however in the church I attended there was an overwhelming majority of humanists and very left-leaning political types. In fact, almost every “service” was about some left-wing political cause. Politics merely bores me, but when there is a lot of hateful negative rhetoric about Republicans, about Southerners, about soldiers, then I become defensive. (It was the Vietnam War era)

Not my cup of tea.

Yeah that’s what I started to see with some of my research. I don’t need a political group.

1

I have never gone, but have considered it for the community. Unfortunately, I live in an area that is rural enough and Bible-y enough that there is not Unitarian church for miles. I, too, am curious about what a Unitarian "sermon" would entail.

Deb57 Level 8 June 13, 2018
1

If it is a Unitarian Universalist Association congregation, it really varies! The 1 near me is humanitistic/secular. The one any immediate next town is Christian like.

1

I’ve been tempted to go to the one in my area as well. But I’m not a morning person.....especially on the weekend!

1

I attend and joined the UU church in my area for the socialization. I am in TN, a red bible belt state. I've attended the services, the religious education classes, and potluck dinners. The services are secular and we have different speakers from the community on the reverend's off days.
I enjoy that the services are often focused on social justice and basically being a good human. The RE classes were not for me, as an introvert. because they did ask everyone participate and tell a little about themselves to get to know each other better. The potlucks are too social as well.
One thing I have found and like is the social justice beliefs within the congregation lean more to a liberal system of beliefs. A conservate NRA member may not feel comfortable with this, but, as far as the church I attend, I can say the congregation would make anyone feel welcome.

ljp1 Level 3 June 13, 2018
1

Also they may be too far to the left for me. For instance I see that they’re involved in pushing for gun regulation and I’m an NRA member and think we already have too many gun laws.

1

Thanks for all the advice. I think I’ll check it out. I was worried more about the Bible stuff but now think maybe it will be too new age and filled with woo for me but like I said I’ll check it out. Thanks again for your perspectives.

1

It probably varies from church to church, but some of it is a little too hippy-dippy for me.

0

Sorry man, not trying to yank your chain, ok? I am seriously confused with your question.... If you are an atheist then I really wonder why would you consider to go back to any type of organized group? Here is the tough question and please do not take this the wrong way... Is it because you still have guilty feeling for leaving religion?? You don't have to answer if you don't feel like. I am just curious

Being an atheist doesn’t mean I don’t want to belong to a group. I do want to be part of a group with others that think like me. It only means I don’t believe in gods, magic, superstition etc.

  • copied and pasted from another answer

First we are social creatures that enjoy being in a group with likeminded individuals. I don’t however know of any “social clubs” in my town. There is a Unitarian Church about 2 miles from my house. I’m not specifically looking to join a church exactly. I do however like the idea of a church-like group that’s goal is to encourage each other to be moral upstanding citizens. I can also agree with most of what Christians believe a moral person is except I’m ok with people being gay as long as they are consenting adults. What I would really like is to find a humanist group although I have irreconcilable differences with the American Humanist Association and the only humanist group in my town is at some guy’s home and he apparently gets into Wiccan rituals for some reason plus won’t return my phone calls. I think because I’m a guy. I have tried getting involved in the Red Cross but can’t continue due to work and due to the last time I flew down to help with a hurricane I had a letter in the mail saying that my dogs were barking and that I could get a $500 fine and 3 months in jail if it continues. I have tried volunteering with habitat for humanities but they won’t call me back. I may coincider volunteering with the humane society (local animal shelter). Politically there isn’t a group I belong to so anything involving politics is off the table. There are a few people i hang around with sometimes from the dog park but I’d like more. I have also signed up to go on a retreat with the Center For Inquiry although I also have irreconcilable differences with them too and anything involving them is a 2 hour drive. So for all the above reasons I’m concidering a Unitarian Church.

@IamNobody I don't think that Atheist and Antisocial or Anarchist are interchangeable.

@filcek78 I don't have much experience, but I have been involved with a retirement community run by a Unitarian Church and while I didn't broadcast my atheism, everyone seemed very welcoming and happy just to be social. There were folks with all sorts of beliefs and no one seemed to push theirs on anyone else. .
I hope you find what you're looking for.
🙂

@scurry I didn't say antisocial..... Quite contraire. I wouldn't like to spend my time following a schedule from an organization when I can be social with anyone at bars, Starbucks, parks, concerts, movies, stores, etc at my own pace. That's just me..... Anyhow, that's my nature, when I don't know then I ask. Should be no harm in that, right?

@IamNobody No harm. Perhaps I mistook the comment. Just seemed you phrase "why would you consider to go back to any type of organized group?" seemed a little... antisocialish.
But words can be misleading.
No harm mean from me either.

@scurry no worries, it's all good

0

What is the point of listening to rhetoric you don't believe in. You don't need permission to be an atheist. I smell a rat.

That’s why I was asking here if the Unitarians are really secular or whether they believe in the Bible.

0

I had a sociology teacher that was an athiest that would go there occasionally. Haven't talked to her in years tho. I have no experience with it. Do you want to go to a church once a week to compare clothes, or are you looking for interaction with others? That's my question.

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