Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Kungfuzed
I understand what it's like to have to explain the same thing over and over. I do have pre-concieved notions on what a religion should be. I appreciate you answering my question despite your frustration.
|
Dude, I
so appreciate this response.
A lot of people would have gotten defensive about themselves and then mad at me, and then restated their own conceptions more strongly, as if that would make a difference.
To be honest, when I first saw your question about whether UU is a religion, my first impulse was to respond snidely, because I really am sick of the question. But then I had to remind myself that
from your point of view, you are asking this question for the first time, and with honest curiosity. And that it would be patently unfair of me to generalize you to all of the other people who have asked that question. If I did that, I would not be relating you as a person but rather responding to a generalization. Does that make sense? So...
because of my faith, I had to rethink how I was going to respond to you.
UU is a way of life, not just a set of concepts. For me, my belief in the value of each person directly affects how I interact with people. (When another driver cuts me off in traffic, I try to repeat the mantra "inherent worth and dignity" intead of flipping the person off.
) It's not just abstract ideas about cosmology and metaphysics. We seek to live out our principles, which is why social justice has always been such a big part of UU.
I hope that makes our "religiousness" a little clearer. I know it's confusing. I was confused too when I first joined.