Paul Wilczynski's Observations

The issue of theological change

Matthew Gatheringwater, a third year seminary student at Meadville Lombard Theological School, writes about the issue of theological change. One paragraph from the middle:

All religions must cope, to one degree or another, with theological change. Even the most stable historical faith communities cannot entirely isolate themselves from a changing world. Unitarian Universalists, I contend, experience unusually rapid and localized theological change. A number of factors contribute to this. Without creedal tests, it is hard to challenge the beliefs of anyone who wants to identify as a UU. Tradition holds little authority for us and, with the majority of UUs coming from other religious traditions, our sense of history is sketchy and distorted. New members "identify" with a community that reflects who they already are; there is not an expectation of conversion or transformation. We attract religious liberals, but we don't teach people how the practice the method of religious liberalism. We used to say we were on a quest for truth; now, we often relativize the statement by saying we search for "our truths." We rarely in congregations or as an association endeavor to explore how we know what we know is true, or just what constitutes the "responsible search for truth" we enshrine in our Principles. As a result, our faith is less like a beacon or an anchor than a kite blown here and there by demographic shifts and religious fads.

Definitely worth a full read.

posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 5:44 PM