Elevator speech

[spectrm]

I actually haven't attended service - I've been feeling a bit spiritually disconnected...hence the joining of a community forum.

I haven't practiced my 'elevator speech' much...no elevator speech has every convinced me of a religion, and I usually find the occasions where the 'elevator speech' is necessary to be cases where we'd be found guilty of proselytizing. But occasionally, I've had to give a brief run-down. So, my speech and a brief anecdote.

"It's a group of people who were dissatisfied with the exclusionary practices of some other faiths and so formed a congregation for self and communal betterment for all those who want to contribute instead of only those with a creed." - which usually gets the response of 'a religion without a creed?'...yes...I mostly know catholics.

But a brief anecdote:
My father-in-law was surprised at me (his atheist son-in-law) attending a church (and even at that, I usually refer to it not as 'going to church' but 'attending congregation'). When he asked:

HIM: "Why would you go to church if you don't believe in god? Isn't the point of church to observe and praise a higher power?"
ME: "Well, I do observe and praise a 'higher power'." - yes, I made the 'bunny-ears'
HIM: "Then how are you atheist and believe in a divine authority?"
ME: "I'm not. I don't believe there's an authority or jurisdiction. I believe god is greater, but not superior".
HIM: "Isn't that the same thing?"
ME: "Well...only if you believe that your car is superior to your car's engine."
HIM: "Isn't it?"
ME: "Well...a car wouldn't be much of anything without an engine, would it?"
HIM: "So now the engine is superior to the car? Are you saying you're superior to god?"

Does this seem like a complete *WHOOSH* - right over his head?

It apparently got him thinking, anyways. He picked up a few Walt Whitman books that day at Borders.

[Trey of Diamonds]

Originally Posted by spectrm

Does this seem like a complete *WHOOSH* - right over his head?

Yeah, happens a lot.

Welcome to the forum!

[Tinkerbell]

I know this thread is a few months old but I'm bringing it back to life because I think reading these is helpful in finding ways to describe what UU is to my friends and family (I gave up on coworkers years ago LOL). Right now I just tell people that it's a place where all beliefs are accepted and everyone comes together in fellowship of the human spirit. I guess that's right but I'm so new to all of this... and I've read SO much... I have to do it in one sentence or I'll lose myself in it. LOL!

[J Bryson]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

it's a place where all beliefs are accepted and everyone comes together in fellowship of the human spirit

I love that so much.