Unitarian Universalism: Is UU a religion? (Jesus, ritual, tradition, Buddhism)

[lilithu]

A few of us at my UU church just started a UU theology seminar in order to try to articulate a systematic UU theology, if that is even possible. We started off with the question of "what is religion?" and "is UU a religion?" And in true UU fasion we are split on both matters.

About 50% of participants say the UU is not a religion but a religious movement. About 25% say that UU is a religion. And about 25% have no opinon on the matter.

What do you guys think? Is UU a religion? If so or if not, why or why not?

[robtex]

I will give you a parallell that is considered a religion. Hinduism. In Hindusim there are more gods than one can count and a phrase associated with the religion is "many paths one truth". UU is diverse in its beliefs but the commonality that holds it together, like Hinduism is the meathod of finding ones spirtuality. When people ask me about UU not having a doctrine or creed I tell them that UU is more about the journey than the discovery. What ties UU's together is the use of UUism as a common vessel to find our own spirtualities.

If dogma were a critera for religion than UU wouldn't make the cut but in the same breath the three big dogma's of today, Muslim, Christian and Judism would not exist as they are today had they not come from the non based dogma religons that preceeded. them.

To me UU is a religion that sees the search and or journey as its own reward instead placing most of the emphasis on answers pre-printed out in a text.

[Green Gaia]

I think it solely depends on your definition of what is a religion? I consider ALL people to have a religion, whether they have defined beliefs or not. So for me, Atheism would be a religion, but I know I'm in the minority on this. I can see the argument that UUism is not a religion. In fact, when people ask my religion, I generally only tell that I attend the UU church, I don't say Unitarian Universalism is my religion. I do however believe that the UU church should be considered a religion in the eyes of government, which has been challenged in at least one state in the past year.

I like the answer the "100 Questions" list gives:

Is Unitarian Universalism really a religion?

In dealing with beliefs and theology, it's important to note that Unitarian Universalism is a way of being religious rather than a religious doctrine. For us, religion is an ongoing search for meaning, purpose, value and spiritual depth in one's life. We believe that individuals are entitled to make their own search, and that not all persons (not even all UUs) are going to share the same beliefs.
Ours is a non-creedal, non-doctrinal religion which affirms the individual's freedom of belief. For this reason it is not possible to give a blanket answer to whether or not UUs believe in God, Jesus, the Bible or life after death. Although we do not all believe the same thing about these and other matters, we do believe that each person has the integrity and the ability to come to terms with their religious beliefs in a way that is right for that person.

http://www.uunashua.org/100q/c2.shtml#q24

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Maize

In dealing with beliefs and theology, it's important to note that Unitarian Universalism is a way of being religious rather than a religious doctrine.

I think that is a valuable distinction.

[Scuba Pete]

to try to articulate a systematic UU theology

As the Mother Superior once asked: "How do you hold a moon beam in your hand? "

As an ex-UU, I find the MOST attractive thing about UUs are their diversity. You don't have to even believe in a Universal Being in order to belong. Searching for your inner self and the meaning to life is the sole common denominator for the church I was a part of. Apart from "true Christianity", I find it to be the most honest of today's religions. I would have to say that being a UU is what enabled me to approach the Bible in the way that I did so that I could be converted to true Christianity.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by robtex

I will give you a parallell that is considered a religion. Hinduism. In Hindusim there are more gods than one can count and a phrase associated with the religion is "many paths one truth". UU is diverse in its beliefs but the commonality that holds it together, like Hinduism is the meathod of finding ones spirtuality. When people ask me about UU not having a doctrine or creed I tell them that UU is more about the journey than the discovery. What ties UU's together is the use of UUism as a common vessel to find our own spirtualities.

If dogma were a critera for religion than UU wouldn't make the cut but in the same breath the three big dogma's of today, Muslim, Christian and Judism would not exist as they are today had they not come from the non based dogma religons that preceeded. them.

To me UU is a religion that sees the search and or journey as its own reward instead placing most of the emphasis on answers pre-printed out in a text.

Hi Robtex, namaste.

I personally agree with you that UU is a religion for similar reasons that you give. I also find your comparison to Hinduism very interesting (and dear to my heart).

However, I am not sure that the analogy to Hinduism holds. I'm not sure that UU exists under the same circumstances as Hinduism. There are many ways to compare religions and one is in whether it readily takes new converts or relies more heavily on people being born into it. Not that conversion is impossible, but Hindus and Jews tend to be born into their religions, whereas Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims can easily join from the outside. I think it's significant that both Hinduism and Judaism - are better defined by orthopraxy than by orthodoxy. Being a Hindu or a Jew has more to do with common practice than common beliefs. In contrast, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism focus more on doctrine. One must believe certain things to qualify as a "member."

My feeling is that the inherited cultural traditions give Judaism and Hinduism the cohesion necessary to be religions despite the differences in beliefs. I am not sure that UU has that. Otoh, I'm not sure that we don't have it either. Perhaps our orthopraxy is our social justice work?? <shrug>

But you have certainly given me interesting food for thought, since my church members that most object to UU being a religion are the ones who come from Christian backgrounds, and probably are focusing on doctrine.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Maize

I think it solely depends on your definition of what is a religion? I consider ALL people to have a religion, whether they have defined beliefs or not. So for me, Atheism would be a religion, but I know I'm in the minority on this. I can see the argument that UUism is not a religion. In fact, when people ask my religion, I generally only tell that I attend the UU church, I don't say Unitarian Universalism is my religion. I do however believe that the UU church should be considered a religion in the eyes of government, which has been challenged in at least one state in the past year.

Hi Maize, namaste.

Yes, this is just an argument about definitions, as most arguments are.

I would not agree with you that everyone has a religion, because I would not want to define "religion" such that people who do not consider themselves to be religious are included in my definition.

But I would agree with you that Atheism CAN BE a religion, since for me religion does not require a belief in the supernatural. It does however, require some commitment to seeking personal truth/meaning. It also requires that the search be done in a community or tradition (by my definition).

My definitions:
Spirituality is our human response to the recognition of the existence of the transcendant. (Transcendant here meaning greater than 'self'; not meaning deity. I'm happy to use another word here if you have suggestions.) Spirituality is the driving force of religion, but does not, by itself, constitute religion.

Religion is the exploration/pursuit of spirituality done voluntarily within a community or tradition. As such, religion embodies a set of beliefs that are communicated to others, and generally also includes shared symbols and practices.

By my definition above, UU is a religion. But this is certainly open to criticism, as it has been in my discussions at church.

The real question is, what is it that UUs believe that makes us more than just a social movement? Our seven principles are completely secular. They're less "religious" than the Declaration of Independance, which not only refered to a Deity but declared that there are "self-evident truths." We don't even go that far. We say that we "affirm and uphold" our seven principles, which means that anyone who doesn't agree is free to do so. Don't get me wrong. I love the importance that we place on freedom of conscience. If anything is sacred to us, that is. But I do agree with those who find it a little ironic that we demand even less belief than a political document.

[hartlandcat]

I usually think of Unitarian-Universalism as a way of being religious without having to accept any particular dogma as true simply because some sort of authority says that it is. I'm not quite sure whether or not an organisation which allows someone to be religious in inherently a religion though.

[DonnaRowe]

Originally Posted by lilithu

My feeling is that the inherited cultural traditions give Judaism and Hinduism the cohesion necessary to be religions despite the differences in beliefs. I am not sure that UU has that. Otoh, I'm not sure that we don't have it either. Perhaps our orthopraxy is our social justice work?? <shrug>

Speaking as an outsider to your faith, it appears to me that the orthopraxy is the application of the ideals of the Enlightenment to the religious area. While on the surface, it appears different from Judaism and Hinduism in that approximately 90% of UUs are "converts" (if, indeed, one can convert to a creedless faith), as opposed to Jews and Hindus, who are born within theirs, that is really not the case, since we in the West are inheritors of the liberal tradition that stemmed from the Enlightenment.

This is only my unenlightened opinion, however. (The pun is intended. ) I could be way off base.