Paul Wilczynski's Observations

Do UUs do generic religious practices?

PeaceBang notes that lots of people - even Unitarian Universalists! - wonder what we UUs do, or are supposed to do, in church.

...I am so sick of people asking Unitarian Universalists if they participate in basic, generic religious practices, but of course it isn't their fault for asking.

We've well earned our reputation as this exotic hot house flower, bizarr-o humanist cult you need to approach with the trepidation of a jackrabbit among a pack of wolves when inquiring about religious practices: "Excuse me, sirs and ma'ams, would it be okay if I prayed for the dead here in your building? Or are we only allowed to 'think good thoughts?'" ...

... How many times have I attended an interfaith clergy gathering and been instantly insulted and marginalized because all the other religious leaders were indoctrinated by some previous UU to believe that we don't pray, we will not read that Bible passage, we are pre-offended by any ideas you might have, and we expect to be capitulated to in our every terminally unique need or whim or we will stamp our teeny, tiny wounded feet and slam out the door? I've taken to arriving early to all such gatherings so I can do damage control before the meeting starts. ...

We're brought this on ourselves, of course. We often take the word "different" as praise. For those non-UUs who are not naturally seekers, we don't make it easy to understand what a UU is.

posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 7:20 AM