Faith of an Agnostic Activist in Loving Community #uu #agnostic #atheist #skeptic
I am so high on life today. As a UU studying spirituality, I call it a "spiritual" or "sacred" feeling. Maybe someone would just say "joy", "uplifting" or "elated". Communicating with each other is that for me - developing relationships & learning to do that better. That's one reason I'm so high on life right now. (Feel free to share with me what you call it.)
Just to be clear, as a "mystic agnostic" Unitarian Universalist (UU), I get a lot of this feeling from my church. I have a wonderful, loving family and some dear friends outside of the UU community, but it doesn't completely fulfill me the way UUism does & I'd like to explain why. Also, some of my UU community is online (see my last post), though I've been in other online communities (questioning, atheist/agnostic, racial justice), but I don't feel the love there - it doesn't make a meaningful connection for me.
In UUism, there is a culture (we discuss this online & in-personal conversations that sometimes it can shut people out, so we need to work at trying to be more open), but it is a diverse culture of loving, caring people who truly listen to each other (or try to, because they're willing to learn & improve). I know some people have had bad experiences with UUs or a UU and relate that to the religion, but I have never felt that way, because I know no one person speaks for our faith. I sometimes get strength from the larger community, not all whom I agree with, who can help me deal with problems within my own congregation - remind me that they're human being with flaws and we can work toward change. Some people I've known for years and thought couldn't change have shown me evidence that they truly can. It may be slow and not always in the direction I'd like to see, but when we love someone (or want to be in a constructive relationship), we usually have to compromise.
So today I am elated, because I had that very informative conversation with UU leaders ( see previous post) that was also done in a special loving tone that I'd like to learn to do better myself. UUs can be models of better relationship for me.
Then today I went to a worship service where the national organization of musicians offered their talents during their annual conference, open free to the public. There's very little "God" language in most UU services and I've learned to translate that language into "wonders of the universe" or "that which is deeply meaningful" or "Nature" depending on their usage (I can see how just "God" might be easier though it's also not very specific unless you're understanding their context). The music was great and inspiring. I also met new people who sat next to me on either side and others after the service. And then I was able to connect with UUs I know & haven't seen in a long time.
Afterward, I went to my own church to go to a class on "Spirit of Practice". Most people in this group do not feel comfortable with god language, though we have discussed it, some definitely do feel it's about "God", but we don't feel we need to use that wording to be "spiritual" - individuals can express it in whatever way works for them. We are learning together about different spiritual practices and what works for each of us. We have to develop a close relationship to do this as we sometimes share very personally which can be hard if we don't have trust that it will be confidential and we feel comfortable with the person/people we're talking to. It's a weekly class and today's lesson was about "spiritual partnering". Just like having a biking or exercise partner can be useful, so can a spiritual partner whom you can discuss things very deeply and personal and practice active listening.
I had a great drive home with wonderful music and am with loved ones and connecting with others online. It's not the same online, but I have had some wonderful, deeply meaningful connections this way. If you have some thoughts to share with me here, please do. I think LiveJournal allows OpenID, but it's OK to post anonymously, too, and you can leave your first name if you want.
One more thing, I found in my Junk Box a communication from a fundamentalist who didn't use the words "God" or "Jesus" or "Hell" this time. His message sounds almost UU & he even talked about a Unitarian in his message (Charles Dickens). I don't seek "heaven" as he conceives it, but I think we can create it here on earth and help make it possible for people in the future and I can connect with the core of what he's saying, even if I don't interpret it the same way. Here is his sharing:
Meditation for troubled times
"Except ye become as little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom of
heaven." In this saying it is urged that all who seek heaven on earth
or in the hereafter should become like little children. In seeking
things of the spirit and in our faith, we should try to become
childlike. Even as we grow older, the years of seeking can give us the
attitude of the trusting child. Not only for its simple trust should
we have the childlike spirit, but also for its joy in life, its ready
laughter, its lack of criticism, and its desire to share. In Charles
Dicken's story, A Christmas Carol, even old Scrooge changed when he
got the child-spirit.
I pray that I may become like a child in faith and hope.
I pray that I may, like a child, be friendly and trusting.
--From Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Just to be clear, as a "mystic agnostic" Unitarian Universalist (UU), I get a lot of this feeling from my church. I have a wonderful, loving family and some dear friends outside of the UU community, but it doesn't completely fulfill me the way UUism does & I'd like to explain why. Also, some of my UU community is online (see my last post), though I've been in other online communities (questioning, atheist/agnostic, racial justice), but I don't feel the love there - it doesn't make a meaningful connection for me.
In UUism, there is a culture (we discuss this online & in-personal conversations that sometimes it can shut people out, so we need to work at trying to be more open), but it is a diverse culture of loving, caring people who truly listen to each other (or try to, because they're willing to learn & improve). I know some people have had bad experiences with UUs or a UU and relate that to the religion, but I have never felt that way, because I know no one person speaks for our faith. I sometimes get strength from the larger community, not all whom I agree with, who can help me deal with problems within my own congregation - remind me that they're human being with flaws and we can work toward change. Some people I've known for years and thought couldn't change have shown me evidence that they truly can. It may be slow and not always in the direction I'd like to see, but when we love someone (or want to be in a constructive relationship), we usually have to compromise.
So today I am elated, because I had that very informative conversation with UU leaders ( see previous post) that was also done in a special loving tone that I'd like to learn to do better myself. UUs can be models of better relationship for me.
Then today I went to a worship service where the national organization of musicians offered their talents during their annual conference, open free to the public. There's very little "God" language in most UU services and I've learned to translate that language into "wonders of the universe" or "that which is deeply meaningful" or "Nature" depending on their usage (I can see how just "God" might be easier though it's also not very specific unless you're understanding their context). The music was great and inspiring. I also met new people who sat next to me on either side and others after the service. And then I was able to connect with UUs I know & haven't seen in a long time.
Afterward, I went to my own church to go to a class on "Spirit of Practice". Most people in this group do not feel comfortable with god language, though we have discussed it, some definitely do feel it's about "God", but we don't feel we need to use that wording to be "spiritual" - individuals can express it in whatever way works for them. We are learning together about different spiritual practices and what works for each of us. We have to develop a close relationship to do this as we sometimes share very personally which can be hard if we don't have trust that it will be confidential and we feel comfortable with the person/people we're talking to. It's a weekly class and today's lesson was about "spiritual partnering". Just like having a biking or exercise partner can be useful, so can a spiritual partner whom you can discuss things very deeply and personal and practice active listening.
I had a great drive home with wonderful music and am with loved ones and connecting with others online. It's not the same online, but I have had some wonderful, deeply meaningful connections this way. If you have some thoughts to share with me here, please do. I think LiveJournal allows OpenID, but it's OK to post anonymously, too, and you can leave your first name if you want.
One more thing, I found in my Junk Box a communication from a fundamentalist who didn't use the words "God" or "Jesus" or "Hell" this time. His message sounds almost UU & he even talked about a Unitarian in his message (Charles Dickens). I don't seek "heaven" as he conceives it, but I think we can create it here on earth and help make it possible for people in the future and I can connect with the core of what he's saying, even if I don't interpret it the same way. Here is his sharing:
Meditation for troubled times
"Except ye become as little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom of
heaven." In this saying it is urged that all who seek heaven on earth
or in the hereafter should become like little children. In seeking
things of the spirit and in our faith, we should try to become
childlike. Even as we grow older, the years of seeking can give us the
attitude of the trusting child. Not only for its simple trust should
we have the childlike spirit, but also for its joy in life, its ready
laughter, its lack of criticism, and its desire to share. In Charles
Dicken's story, A Christmas Carol, even old Scrooge changed when he
got the child-spirit.
I pray that I may become like a child in faith and hope.
I pray that I may, like a child, be friendly and trusting.
--From Twenty-Four Hours a Day