It is official

After an extended period during which I darkened the doorstep of few churches, today I and my boys joined the 1st Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City. It was a long hard search before I found Unitarian Universalism and sought out and visited the local fellowship. Since that first visit, we have been attending regularly for the last 2 months. Although I've always considered myself a very spiritual person, I'd truly developed a great disdain for organized religion. It has been a long trip back. However, it seems I've finally found some kind, kindred spirits that share some common beliefs. It feels like coming home when we arrive. We are actually going to fellowship on Sunday and Wednesday. We're involved in our community and are actively working to make this world a better place.

It is very refreshing to sit in a church service without hearing hellfire and brimstone sermons, or constantly feeling judged. It is doubly refreshing to feel uplifted without being talked down to. It is wonderful to join together with so many others who:

• Believe actions mean more than beliefs-deeds more than creeds
• Understand that reason is a partner in faith
• Don't fear doubt
• Don't expect everyone to share the same beliefs
• Don't expect you to turn off your brain in order to be religious
• Believe that each person is both free and responsible to articulate their faith in ways that make sense to them
• Believe that the world is made new each day and our task is to constantly explore creation
• Believe that THIS LIFE MATTERS MORE THAN THE NEXT
• Believe that this life is a gift
• Prefer seeking truth to receiving it
• Believe that religion should never be coerced, nor faith compelled
• Believe that a diversity of ideologies is the most sure path to ultimate truth
• Understand that scientific and religious truths need not be contradictory
• Believe human beings are most whole when they are in community
• Acknowledge the truth and falsehood in all religions-including our own
• Find divinity present in the human spirit
• Find God to be too infinite for any single understanding or interpretation
• See all human beings possessing an innate capacity to do both good and evil
• Believe the purpose of religion is to help people live more meaningful lives
• Believe the source of authority rests in the gathered community-not in the pulpit

"When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. And that is my religion."
— Christopher Reeve.

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Enough religion. First post on new blog and all...Here is a fun article regarding the most serious Unitarian Jihad.


Also, my results from the brief Belief-O-Matic survey:

1. Neo-Pagan (100%) 2. Unitarian Universalism (100%) 3. Mahayana Buddhism (93%) 4. New Age (91%) 5. Liberal Quakers (90%) 6. Theravada Buddhism (85%) 7. Jainism (75%) 8. Hinduism (75%) 9. Reform Judaism (72%) 10. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (69%) 11. Scientology (66%) 12. New Thought (65%) 13. Bahá'í Faith (65%) 14. Taoism (63%) 15. Secular Humanism (61%) 16. Sikhism (60%) 17. Orthodox Quaker (52%) 18. Orthodox Judaism (50%) 19. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (49%) 20. Islam (44%) 21. Nontheist (40%) 22. Seventh Day Adventist (27%) 23. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (24%) 24. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (23%) 25. Eastern Orthodox (16%) 26. Roman Catholic (16%) 27. Jehovah's Witness (13%)