Confused (Deists, church, theist, agnostic, faith)

[Murder Mouse]

Greetings. The name is Aaron, and I have some confusion concerning this belief known as Universism that I thought perhaps you all could clear up for me. I myself am a professed Agnostic, and have been for quite some time. Then recently when skimming through some related texts I came across the word Universism. Curious as it what it was I did a google search, which brought me to universist.org. After browsing through I left even more confused about what this belief from than I was before. Call me ignorant, but after browsing through every possible text on the site it seemed to me that Universism is nothing more than Agnosticism with perhaps a "new-age vibe". Almost like a "Pantheist Agnostic" (though such a term is polar opposite, I'm just attempting to describe the feel it left me with). So in short, can someone please explain to me the difference between Agnosticism and Universism?

[Davidium]

Oh boy, am I not the guy to ask that question of.... but maybe perhaps I am.... and it is ok, because the people behind universist.org are already mad at me.... so it doesnt really matter if I am honest.

First and formost, there is absolutely, positively no connection between Unitarian Universalism and "Universism". The names are similar, and the individual behind Universism (Mr. Ford Vox) has made a few moves to try an copy Unitarian Universalism (such as calling his group "United Universists" so he could use the title "UU".

If you wish to learn about Unitarian Universalism, I would be happy to help you do that in another thread, or you can visit our national denominational website at www.uua.org .

Your question was about Universism, and so that is what I will discuss. I just wanted to make it absolutely clear that Universism and Universalism are entire different things.

A few years ago, I was a member of an organization known as "The Deus Project". It was a group of individuals, organized in part by Mr. Ford Vox and Rev. Keith Wright, who were working to foster a more rational view of God, and increase contacts between Deists. From that organization rose the "United Deist Church", and organization to bring Deists into real religious community.

At one point, however, Ford came to a disagreement with the Charter Board of the UDC, and as he was the webmaster, he decided to found a new organization that went way beyond Deism, and he tried to take the UDC along with him. That organization became www.universist.org .

Now, the UDC board first wanted to focus on Deism, and two did not want to be as negative about the worlds revealed religions as Ford was making Universist.org. As such, the two parted ways, and not on very good terms. In fact, all the UDC board members were banned from his site, all their posts erased, and Ford then proceeded to lie about them on the new board.

And all that is fine.... I later came to my own parting of ways with the UDC, but I did so on amaciable terms of respect, and still support their goals, just not for myself.

Now, I can only speak from the founding principles of Universism, becasue I have on purpose had no contact with the movement since its founding. But I was on the board of the organization from which is sprang. It is a "Free-thought" organization, but you called it right... if you believe in God you may not qualify as a "Free-thinker". Ford gave up his claim to Deism in favor of Universism. It is very negative to the revealed religions, specifically Christianity. It is very confrontational in nature.

And, in my opinion, it has alot to do with the ego of the founder, and less to do with anything else.

Now, Ford is a great organizer, but he does not deal with those who disagree with him well. He has censored posts in the past, and would not put it past him in the future.

In other words, I would not trust him any further than I could throw him.

Just my opinion... and I will admit I can only speak to what the movement was this time last year. I have had no contact with it since, and I wont.

I wish you luck in your explorations of Universism. IF you find I am wrong in my assessment, please let me know....

YoUUrs in Faith and Reason,

David Pyle
www.uugalveston.org