Diversity and connection in the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere

This post will be my last for “The Interdependent Web.” After this week, the column will be written by UU World staff, and then by a new writer. The transition will give “The Interdependent Web” a fresh voice, and me a chance to focus on other UUA projects related to new media and public relations. (I was hired by the UUA's public information office earlier this summer.)

Since its launch in February of 2008, “The Interdependent Web” has spotlighted relevant and high quality posts from across the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere. I’ve learned that the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere, i.e. the body of blogs written by Unitarian Universalists, is both highly diverse and deeply connected.

There are a number of factors contributing to the diversity of writing styles, audiences, subject matters, theologies, and opinions among Unitarian Universalist bloggers.

1. The Unitarian Universalist blogosphere is comprised primarily of blogs written by individuals recounting their personal thoughts or experiences. Prominent blogs written by spokespeople on behalf of Unitarian Universalist congregations or nonprofits are few and far between.
   
   
2. Unitarian Universalist bloggers come from different positions within our religious movement. Parish ministers, community ministers, congregational lay leaders, and Unitarian Universalist laypeople who are not involved in congregations are all blogging.
   
   
3. Unitarian Universalists' blogs focus on Unitarian Universalism to varying degrees, with some mentioning Unitarian Universalism infrequently, some addressing Unitarian Universalist frequently but not exclusively, and some focused primarily on Unitarian Universalism.
   
   Even within the niche of blogs that focus primarily on Unitarian Universalism, there are diverse approaches. There are Unitarian Universalist blogs dedicated to religious history, to prayer, and to selected readings by Unitarian Universalists. There are blogs that criticize Unitarian Universalism and the Unitarian Universalist Association, blogs that spread the good news about our religion, and blogs that do both!
   
   
4. There is no complete list of Unitarian Universalist blogs or bloggers. UUpdates.net, a feed aggregator, has the most comprehensive listing of blogs by Unitarian Universalists. But there are still many Unitarian Universalist blogs not listed there.
   

Yet despite the diversity of the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere, we Unitarian Universalist bloggers are in some ways deeply connected to one another. The term “Interdependent Web,” which references not only the World Wide Web but also the UUA’s Seventh Principle, is an apt description of the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere.

Each blog post about Unitarian Universalism may make only a tiny impact in raising awareness of Unitarian Universalism. But when taken altogether, posts from Unitarian Universalists about our movement make a significant contribution to the online portrait of Unitarian Universalism.

The individual authorship of Unitarian Universalist blogs is an advantage in reaching newcomers to Unitarian Universalism. Seekers want to hear from a real person about matters of the heart. A Unitarian Universalist individual speaking authentically and compassionately about his or her beliefs or congregation is sharing Unitarian Universalism in a powerful way.

The diversity of subject matters covered by Unitarian Universalist blogs is another strength. A blog about the connection between spirituality and food may appeal to budding chefs, while a blog dispensing sartorial advice for religious professionals may attract followers of fashion. Collectively, Unitarian Universalist blogs reach a broader spectrum of readers, because of each blog's unique voice and subject matter.

Just as important as how we Unitarian Universalist bloggers connect to newcomers is how we connect to another. We have blogged about personal trials and received comments of prayer and support; we have also celebrated good news in one another's lives.

The Unitarian Universalist blogosphere is not only a community where bloggers form personal relationships, but also one where we share ideas for strengthening our religious movement. This year, Unitarian Universalist bloggers have discussed the importance of congregational membership, the uses of the terms "religion" and "denomination" to describe Unitarian Universalism, changes in the UUA’s funding for youth ministry, and where we find comfort in our faith.

How will our individualism and our sense of community shape the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere in the future? Maybe we Unitarian Universalist bloggers will…

1. Develop new tools for finding and tracking Unitarian Universalist blogs, even as the number of Unitarian Universalist blogs continues to grow.
   
   
2. Form active networks for Unitarian Universalist bloggers on Facebook or other social networking sites.
   
   
3. Branch out into podcasting, video blogging, Twittering, and other new forms of communication.
   
   
4. Collaborate more closely on shared projects, such as the creation of online videos or the organizing of regional conferences on Unitarian Universalist blogging.
   
   
5. Help more Unitarian Universalist congregations and nonprofits learn to use blogging and other new media communication tools.
   

In whatever direction the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere evolves, I am hopeful it will remain a thriving community that is both diverse and interdependent.

Saddleback forum, best practices for UU bloggers, and more

Reactions to Rick Warren's presidential candidates forum

The "Civil Forum on the Presidency," in which the Rev. Rick Warren, minister of the Saddleback evangelical megachurch, interviewed presidential candidates Barrack Obama and John McCain, provoked discussion among Unitarian Universalist bloggers.

Jason Pitzl-Waters of "The Wild Hunt" writes, "Any illusion one might have had that the race for America's chief executive is a secular affair was thoroughly shattered" (August 17, 2008). The Rev. Gary Kowalski, the author of a book about the liberalism of America's founding fathers, strikes a similar tone at "revolutionary spirits":

I thought it was another example of America's growing problem with boundary issues. Specifically, our nation seems to be losing sight of the appropriate lines between news and entertainment, between entertainment and religion, and between religion and politics. (August 16, 2008)

Journalist Dan Kennedy at "Media Nation," however, disagrees with critics who see the forum as an unconstitutional "religious test":

If Congress were to pass a law stating that only believing Christians may run for president, or that practicing Muslims may not, then that would be unconstitutional under Article VI.

If, on the other hand, a voter decides he will not consider any candidate who isn't an evangelical, that's not only his right, but it's perfectly in accord with both the letter and the spirit of the Constitution. Likewise, Rick Warren is free to invite the candidates in for a talk; the candidates are free to accept or decline; and the media are free to cover it or not. . . .

The Constitution is supposed to be a check on the government, not on the people.

Other Unitarian Universalist bloggers who wrote about the forum include Laura at "Biddies in My Brain," ogre at "Sparks in the Dark," the Rev. Ricky Hoyt at "One More Step," the Rev. Debra Haffner at "Huffington Post," smijer at "Tete-a-Tete-Tete," and Chris Walton at "Philocrites."

Report on best practices for UU blogging released

The UUA's Unitarian Universalist Blogging Resources Project released a new report this week titled "Best Practices for Unitarian Universalist Blogging." The report, which I put together in my role as UUA public information specialist, highlights the suggestions and practices of nine bloggers who write prominent blogs promoting Unitarian Universalism.

Report contributors David Pyle of "Celestial Lands" and the Rev. Kit Ketcham of "Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show" highlighted the report on their blogs. At "Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," the Rev. Dan Harper, another of the contributors, invited readers to debate the merits of one of his own survey responses!

Bloggers who focus on and promote Unitarian Universalism were invited to post their own answers to the survey questions; Kelly KH of "Seeking Divinity," Jamie Goodwin of "Druuid," and Steven R of "A Southern 'Universalist Church' History" have already responded.

At "The Chaliceblog," Chalicechick responded to a related UUA resource, "Tips for Beginner Unitarian Universalist Bloggers," which encourages prospective bloggers to consider a series of questions about their future blog. Chalicechick answers the questions with regard to "The Chaliceblog," but argues, "Blogging is an art, not a science" (August 20, 2008). She also offers her own list of suggestions to those considering starting blogs about Unitarian Universalism.

Not to be missed

At "Adolescent Sexuality by Dr. Karen Rayne," Rayne advises parents not to let their own self-image be shaped by their children's decisions about relationships and sexuality. Jess at "Best of UU" lifts up the words of the late Rev. Sophia Lyons Fahs, a key figure in the history of Unitarian religious education, about the value of stories.

Chris Walton contributed to this week's roundup.

UUA's 'New York Times' ad, back to school, and shunned at coffee hour

Reactions to UUA advertisement

The Unitarian Universalist Association's full-page advertisement in the Sunday, August 3, New York Times, published in response to the shootings in a Knoxville UU church July 27, garnered mixed reviews from Unitarian Universalist bloggers.

Stephen Merino at "Reason and Reverence" encouraged readers to donate money to the ad campaign. He writes of the ad, "It's a wonderful message and a wonderful response to the tragedy" (August 8, 2008). Jess at "Jess's Journal" described it in the title of her post as "an ad I can get behind" (August 8, 2008).

The Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons of "Radicalhapa.com" was less enthusiastic. "I’m not sure how I feel about this Knoxville UU Ad Campaign," he wrote. "I wish this story would come out without having to advertise" (August 9, 2008).

And at "the yes church," the Rev. Chip Roush was concerned:

The message, "Our Doors and Our Hearts Will Remain Open" is a good one, but there is just a hint of exploitation here, to me . . .

In the aftermath of the shootings at the Amish school, a few years ago, the survivors responded "we forgive the shooter, and ask that others do, too." They did not continue, "and services are at 9:30 and 11, with religious education at 11, at the corner of First St. and James Avenue." (August 9, 2008)

Neglecting newcomers

The pseudonymous "misstreebc" at LiveJournal's "chalice_circle" described visiting a Unitarian Universalist congregation and getting ignored at coffee hour:

After service we were invited to stay for coffee, which was a friendly gesture, but then as we hung around, trying to get the gist of things (like, should we put a donation for food or coffee in the basket?), trying to make up our minds if we should even take anything since we didn't have any money, no one really spoke to us. Everyone seemed to be clustered in groups. It all felt very cliquish . . .

This exclusiveness strikes me as a paradox, given the inclusive nature of the faith. (August 10, 2008)

Preparing for autumn

While preparing her children to start the school year, uuMomma reflected:

As they get ready for school to resume next week, and most especially as my eldest starts high school, I'm thinking of all the advice I would like to lay down before my daughters, all the things I want them to know, all the things I want them to understand. And then I realize that it is not in the words I use that they will gain the knowledge and understanding that I had hoped to have at their age. It is in my actions.

It is in the way I treat them, their father, the friends and the faithful. It is in the way I speak about the people I work with, I volunteer with, I play with. It is in the way I am with those people, especially when my children aren't looking. (August 12, 2008)

The Rev. Phillip Lund at "Phil's Little Blog on the Prairie" describes a workshop led by the Mid-America District Staff Group representatives on "Ten Good Ideas about Getting Your Church Ready for Fall." The list begins with "Good Idea #1: View greeting as a ministry" (August 7, 2008).

And at "Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," the Rev. Kit Ketcham explains that this year she will be helping a congregation that is experimenting with an unusual approach to church staffing following the departure of their minister.

Trauma ministry

Having recently returned from Knoxville, Tennessee, the Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt at "Rev Rose" explained why she is drawn to trauma ministry:

[I]n the midst of the most dreadful situations imaginable, we have a window into what is most gracious, compassionate and blessed about being human. We get to see the Holy at work: not as it wipes away the terror of what has happened, but as it reveals some unexpected beauty that coexists with terror; not as it eliminates sorrow, but as it promises something else that can move us beyond sorrow. So long as there is the chance to glimpse that small part of the Holy as it moves, I will go. (August 13, 2008).

Not to be missed

David Pyle at "Celestial Lands" and Dubhlainn at "Druuid" write about the 2008 summer Olympics. The Rev. Debra Haffner of "Sexuality and Religion: What's the Connection?" and Jacqueline of "MoxieLife" offer contrasting opinions of Senator John Edwards's affair. And the Rev. Parisa Parsa at "pastor prayers" offers a prayer inspired by a girl at her son's camp.

'Famous' UUs, reactions to Knoxville, 'post-Christian' UUA, and more

Can you be a famous UU without mentioning your religion?

At "Rev. Cyn," the Rev. Cynthia Landrum wonders why the late Randy Pausch, who became famous for his inspirational "Last Lecture," didn't explicitly identify his religion as Unitarian Universalism in his lecture or book. "It's a sad commentary on our faith when you suspect someone is a UU because they specifically don't say so" (August 5, 2008). The UUA featured an interview with Pausch on its website shortly after his death on July 25.

Going to church after the Knoxville shooting

Chalicechick writes at "The Chaliceblog": "Today in church, we did something really great. We prayed for the guy who shot up the congregation in Tennessee" (August 3, 2008).

Massmarrier, of "Marry in Massachusetts," also went to church the week after the deadly shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville. But he thinks his UU minister overreacted to the shooting. The sermon he heard trafficked in "pseudo-empathy," he writes, with the minister making two dubious points:

• Each of us is at daily risk, as surely as if we lived in a war zone.
• If it happened in a Knoxville UU church, it would happen anytime in any UU church.

Well, no, damn it, no! . . . Equating the minor inconveniences and elevating the fears of the most privileged with the very real dangers to the most imperiled is not fair or reasonable or respectful. Projecting that a lone loony could appear at any moment out among the wealthy white suburbs intent on violence is more likely self-absorption. (August 4, 2008)

Myths of the UU past

UU history buff PolityWonk responded to Sara Robinson's post about Unitarian Universalism's progressive past (mentioned in last week's blog roundup), taking issue with Robinson's claim that "UUs, along with the Congregationalists and Quakers, have been at the beating heart of American liberalism since before the country was founded." PolityWonk responds:

What she is referring to are not Unitarian and Universalist values, but Enlightenment values. They have appeared most commonly in what was once known as "mainline religion," and are heavily tied up not with being utopianist, but with being middle class. (August 9, 2008)

She then discusses several unsavory moments in Unitarian history.

'Post-Christian' label provokes outcry

In the aftermath of the July 27 shooting in Knoxville, many news stories have looked at how UUs are responding to what police have characterized as a politically-motivated attack on "liberals." A Washington Post story on this topic got some UU bloggers' dander up—over UUA spokesperson Janet Hayes's characterization of the religion. The Post reported August 2:

The denomination considers itself "post-Christian," [Hayes] said. "We include the teaching of Jesus and we appreciate the wisdom of the Bible, but we don't limit our sources of inspiration to the Christian faith."

The Rev. Scott Wells, a UU minister and Universalist Christian, took issue at "Boy in the Bands": "'[P]ost-Christian' is a theological delimiter that singles out and minimizes Christians within Unitarian Universalism. It's not a term of pluralism but triumphalism, and has no place in the Unitarian Universalist Association's official communications" (August 3, 2008). More than 30 comments explore the nuances of the term and debate whether it accurately (or positively) describes the pluralism of modern Unitarian Universalism.

The Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons launched a second round of conversation at "Radical Hapa" when he endorsed "post-Christian." In the comments, he observed: "I don't seem to hear much in UU circles (ministers chat, seminary, in writings or elsewhere to the best of my knowledge) about us trying to reclaim or redefine christianity in progressive terms. Seems that is the role of the UCC and DOC, and that the UUA has moved out of that realm since the merger, or before" (August 4, 2008).

Patrick McLaughlin responded to the debate with humor: "Succinct, useful term desired, must communicate accurately, not exclude, offend or tend to deceive. No experience necessary. Apply to UUA.org. Competitive salary and benefits."

Matt, at the UK-based "Unknown Root," argued that Unitarian Universalism "is no longer an explicitly Christian community but a conglomeration of various religious (and political) liberals, often competing for space." In a subsequent post, he suggested jettisoning the historical names "Unitarian" and "Universalist" for something more overtly pluralistic: "A new association for the 'free religious' would have continuity with Unitarian-Universalist history but possibly break the negative cycle of debate that seems to take up a great deal of energy within UU communities" (August 5, 2008).

Redefining contraception; reconsidering the chastity movement

At "Beacon Broadside," sociologist Carole Joffe, author of Doctors of Conscience: The Struggle to Provide Abortion Before and After Roe V. Wade, condemned a draft regulation from the Bush administration that would redefine most forms of contraception as abortion. Laura at "Biddies In My Brain" responded, saying the proposed action by the Bush administration would affect her personally. (August 5, 2008)

Meanwhile, doctoral student Elizabeth, writing at "Elizabeth's Little Blog," suggests that feminist critics of the sexual purity movement oversimplify the motivations of supporters of abstinence-only sex ed, chastity pledges, and other attempts to keep teens from having sex.

I think there is something to be said for the path this gives girls/young women to reject sexualization/commercialization of bodies by saying, “I am keeping my body to myself until I am with the person who will love me my whole life.” This is not the way I would go and I would quibble with the way this is framed/how accurate this, but I think some girls/young women see it like this, and I think some young men also see it as a way not to sexualize/exploit women, and a way to honor their whole selves. . . . How can we honor these, at the least, good intentions, while at the same time making space for a different way of understanding/framing sexuality and bodies? (August 5, 2008)

Blogs respond to the Knoxville tragedy

Discussion of the tragic shootings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville spread throughout the Internet this week. Responses included condolences and prayers for the congregations impacted, analysis of the shooter's motivation, anger at the right-wing media for its perceived encouragement of anti-liberal violence, and pride in Unitarian Universalism's history of commitment to social justice.

Hundreds of messages offering condolences, well wishes, or prayers for Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church and Westside Unitarian Universalist Church were left at the Unitarian Universalist Association blog "Supporting Our Friends in Knoxville" and at the Facebook group "Thoughts&Prayers - KnoxvilleUU."

Updates on the Unitarian Universalist Association's response to the tragedy are being posted on UUA.org and uuworld.org; UU World editor Chris Walton has been tracking the news coverage of the Knoxville shootings and posting daily updates on the "Unitarian Universalists in the Media" blog. (Click here for Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4.) The UUA is also posting updates on Facebook at the "Unitarian Universalist Association" page.

At his blog, "The Wild Hunt," UU Pagan blogger Jason Pitzl-Waters published a short roundup of major blog posts related to the tragedy.

Accounts from TVUUC congregants

Several members of TVUUC wrote about their experiences. LiveJournal user bekitty attended the service and describes what happened. "I'm never going to be able to hear balloons popping or cars backfiring without ducking under a table. Ever again." Another LiveJournal user, writingjen, also attended the service with her family, including her father John Worth, who was injured in the shooting. She writes that her 8-year-old daughter observed, "All those times, when I was having a bad day and said it was the worst? Well, this was worser."

TVUUC congregant Elrod, writing at "The Moderate Voice," described UUA President Rev. William Sinkford's participation in the vigil at Second Presbyterian Church in Knoxville on Monday evening:

[Sinkford] asked those not affiliated with one of our neighboring congregations to raise their hands if they had come here just to support us. And nearly half the sanctuary raised their hands. It was so moving. We all started to applaud them. This community will not be intimidated. We will not be terrorized. (July 29, 2008)

Unitarian Universalists proud of social justice stands

As the hateful sentiments of the shooter were disclosed by the Knoxville Police Department, Unitarian Universalist bloggers vowed continued commitment to our progressive stands on social issues.

Sara Robinson at "Orcinus" celebrated Unitarian Universalism's history of liberal social stands:

When you sign up to become a UU, this is the legacy you take on, and from then on attempt to live up to. It's not God's job to make the world a better place. It's yours. This has never been work for the faint of heart, mind, or spirit -- and in this era of conservatism gone crazy, it still isn't. (July 28, 2008)

The Rev. Matt Tittle at "Keep the Faith" urged readers to "stand resolute with our arms and hearts open even wider."

We don't have the luxury to allow each other to be isolated. We don't have the right to isolate ourselves. We can't afford to go it alone. It would be a sin to forget, to ignore, to refuse to care. (July 30, 2008)

The anonymous author of "Herban Sprawl" chimes in, "Religious liberals have the uncanny ability to rise from the ashes and keep making history."

But Jeff at "Transient and Permanent" strikes a note of fear:

If you believe in love on a wide scale, your life is in danger. Maybe not extreme danger–most UUs thankfully will never face the horror the parishioners in Knoxville did–but a real, underlying level of never-quite-escapable danger nonetheless . . . If you are a Unitarian Universalist, your life is in danger every day. (July 29, 2008)

Role of the right-wing media

Some current and former Unitarian Universalists took the discussion a step further, arguing that the right-wing media is at least partially to blame for the shootings.

RJ Eskow, a "Huffington Post" writer with Unitarian Universalist roots, asks, "Who really killed those Unitarians?":

Was it the preachers who spread hatred and intolerance? The politicians who court and flatter them instead of condemning their hate speech? The media machine that attacks liberals, calls them "traitors" and suggests you speak to them "with a baseball bat"? The economic system that batters people like Jim Adkisson until they snap, then tells them their real enemies are gays and liberals and secular humanists?

If you ask me, it was all of the above. (July 28, 2008)

David G. Markham at "Chalicefire" writes, "It is time for Unitarian Universalists and for all people of good will to stand up to the hate mongers. It is time for us to express our moral outrage and what the corporate media is doing to the people of our nation." (July 30, 2008)

Laurie Patton at "Religion Dispatches" took a similar approach, reflecting on her childhood as a Unitarian Universalist and writing, "Sunday’s horrifying episode reminded me that as a liberal I was, and am, part of the culture wars . . ."

Prominent political and religious writers who are not connected to Unitarian Universalism also blamed the right wing media. Dave Neiwert at "Orcinus" wrote:

This was a violent attack on liberals. It was inspired by years of wingnuts talking about how much they hate liberals and wish they could do something about them. This man did. (July 28, 2008).

Joshua Holland at "AlterNet" described Adkisson's worldview as "a picture-perfect summary of the back-lash conservative message."

Digby at "Hullabaloo" concurs, "The conservative movement has created an ideology of hate, and while the vast majority of its adherents are not inspired to actual violence, just one murder is too many."

The Rev. Candace Chellew-Hodge at "Religion Dispatches" writes in her "Open Letter to Sean Hannity," "By using your words to create a world of 'us' and 'them' you only perpetuate violence and discord in our society." (July 29, 2008) 

David Waters of "On Faith," a blog of The Washington Post and Newsweek, observes that "there's a whole lotta ugly out there, coming at us from a never-ending parade of stupid." (July 29, 2008)

But Donald Douglas at "Real Clear Politics" defends conservatives:

[M]edia reports and blogging analyses have zoomed in on Adkisson's professed hatred of liberals while ignoring his economic dislocation and his statements signaling a larger social-psychological alienation. Yet, I'd argue it's unwise to generalize from this one case, to impugn the entire conservative establishment as "out to kill" left-wingers. (July 29, 2008)

Call for tolerant speech

Other prominent bloggers called for people across the political spectrum to consider the impact of their speech. A United Church of Christ minister, the Rev. Dan Schultz, called for a "politics without demonization" at "Street Prophets":

Let us condemn violence seeded in hate, and the violent, separatist rhetoric that fuels it. Above all, let us hold fast to the support of the gathered community, the love of neighbor, and the courage of ordinary people willing to lay down their lives for one another. (July 28, 2008)

And at "One Day Isle," the Unitarian Universalist blogger Eclectic Cleric scolded, "Enough with the finger wagging already."

Other interpretations

Some Unitarian Universalist bloggers offered alternative understandings of the tragedy.

Sean Honea at "Stone Soup Unitarian Universalism" considered the psychological state of the shooter:

I've heard it said on other blogs that some blame the Conservative shock jocks and others for steering Adkisson's rage towards "liberals." Oh, I'm sure that played a part, but only in identifying something for him to latch on to. Honestly, I believe that a man this sick without help would have eventually vent his pain and rage on a target regardless of ideology or religion. (July 29, 2008)

Dubhlainn at "Druuid" added:

UUs, at our best, are a people of radical love and radical welcome. What was done at TVUUC was an apparent act of radical evil. The shooter was not standing up for some idealized political stance (not that if he was that would make what was done better) he was seeking revenge. His life sucked and so he wanted someone to pay for it, with their lives. His was an act of radical separation. His life had reduced itself to "I" and "them" there was nothing else for him to cling to. (July 29, 2008)

At "Peacebang," the Rev. Victoria Weinstein called for gun control:

[I]n the aftermath of an event like Knoxville, love for me is not a feeling but a calling: a call to keep guns out of more hands by whatever legal means we can manage, and keep at it until the news of some hateful wack job shooting into any assemblage of civilians is truly shocking, unheard of, a crime so rare as to actually stop us in our tracks. (July 29, 2008)

Explaining Unitarian Universalism

At the religious journalism blog "GetReligion," Mollie Ziegler Hemingway urged the press to focus not only on the shooter, but also on Unitarian Universalism:

As this story continues to unfold, reporters must not only explain the shooter’s deranged motives but seek to explain how religious motivations guide the UU tradition. There is a rich history and legacy to explore. (July 28, 2008)

And as she saw Unitarian Universalism receiving increased media coverage this week, Lizard Eater of "The Journey" decided to add her voice to the comments sections of relevant online news stories:

I explained our religion. I refuted some of the claims made by those who don't know us. And I kept running into other UU's, doing the same thing. (July 30, 2008)

Illness and death, race and class, and more

Facing illness and death

The Rev. Forrest Church, guest author at "Beacon Broadside," reflects on the process of writing as he nears the end of his life:

Every writer and reader enters into a conversation, by no means one-sided and potentially very rich and dynamic. Readers' thoughts complete a writer's work. As I move, as leisurely as possible, to the terminus of my life, it gives me surpassing pleasure to be engaged one last time in a conversation about things that matter so deeply, to each of us individually and to our world. You are essential to this conversation, because you help shape and extend it through your own thoughts and acts. As is true for every writer, you, the reader, give meaning to my work. It is a shared endeavor, and, I hope, a shared joy. In this final chapter in my writing career, I'm happy to discover a new medium--the blog--which allows me to commune so directly with you. (July 22, 2008)

(See also Church's UU World essay, "Love and Death," Summer 2008.)

Shannon at "Unmitigated Bliss" describes how she and her husband have dealt with his father's death and his mother's Alzheimer's disease:

When my husband's father was dying, and we were forced to make difficult decisions concerning his care and ultimately his death, we were forced to come to terms with some very difficult aspects of death and dying. In the end, we turned to each other and made each other promises that we would move forward with no regret.

We developed a mantra together. When we felt the need to make a decision, or felt lost in general, we would look to each other and ask, "Does what we are doing come from a place of the greatest love and care? Are we acting in the best interest of everyone involved? If the answer is yes, then we can move forward knowing that we will not regret these choices, even if we are saddened by them." (July 23, 2008)

At "The Journey," Lizard Eater reflects on her agnosticism about the afterlife, and how her attitude towards discussing the afterlife with her children has been shaped by the illness of her daughter:

Between developmental stages, wanting to give her something good to hold on to . . . and wanting to give myself something . . . to hold onto, I would not go with vague answers.

We would talk about heaven. And seeing each other again. (July 22, 2008)

Race and income

After watching a discussion about race on "The View," Elizabeth at "Elizabeth's Little Blog" writes:

[P]eople need to be more aware that there are just some things that white people cannot grasp about what it means to be black . . . I understand the difficulty of being white and wanting to be a good white person and not racist . . . Yet, it is only when we understand that we benefit from being white whether we want to or not, and that white is not neutral, that we can begin to get at the heart of the structural racism that hurts so so many people. (July 18, 2008)

At "People So Bold!," the Rev. Clyde Grubbs writes about the economic concerns of young people, arguing that while African-American and Hispanic young adults have a higher level of concern about the economy, white young adults also share a desire to see government provide economic relief:

[T]he shift in attitudes is also significant among young whites and yearning toward a new social contract is also strong among white young adults.

This shift in attitudes toward the economy will have long time consequences relative to how politics is done in this country. Unitarian Universalists have for generations cherished the assumption that their natural constituency is the aspiring middle class. Individuals form their attitudes about the "American dream" and how they fit into the society based on experiences that they have when they are coming of age. If we continue to make assumptions about the spiritual journey that flows from the experience of privileged people of aspirations, will we be able to speak to a generation who searching for a new social contract? There seems to be a major shirt in attitudes and the rise of a generation that sees their future in working with other people for social change rather than individual achievement. (July 17, 2008)

Reflecting on his own journey from a low-income background to greater economic security, the Rev. James Ford at "Monkey Mind," argues that educational achievement can make a significant difference in the life prospects for low-income people:

I also believe from the bottom of my heart [that] I escaped something when I got a formal education.

Before collecting degrees I was well read and pretty articulate. I didn't need anything more to develop as a person.

And if I were today at sixty on the trajectory I was on without the degrees I earned in my early forties, I would never have had a vacation, I would be living in a rented apartment, I would have absolutely no prospect of any form of retirement. I might well not have insurance. Life would be even more precarious than it is, filled with more anxieties, and frankly, with a lot less grace to it . . . (July 21, 2008)

Not to be missed

Marilyn Hromatko of "Unitarian Universalists in the Military" opposes the American Civil Liberty Union's efforts to end the mealtime "moment of silence" at the U.S. Naval Academy. And at "reason and reverence," Stephen Merino argues that there is less variety among Unitarian Universalist congregations than Unitarian Universalists might expect.

The right words to describe Unitarian Universalism, and more

A denomination or a religion?

A debate evolved among the bloggers about how whether Unitarian Universalism should be characterized as a religion or as a denomination, and whether Unitarian Universalism should be described as a Christian or non-Christian entity.

It began with a response to Aaron Sawyer's video ad promoting Unitarian Universalism. The video displays the names of famous Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists throughout history, with the tagline "What do these people have in common? They're Unitarian Universalists. Are you?"

Joel Monka at "CUUMBAYA" offered this correction:

The Unitarian Universalist Association was created in 1961- only four people in that list lived beyond that date. The others may have been Unitarians, (although technically, some of them must have been Congregationalists, as the AUA wasn't formed until 1825), or they may have been Universalists, but they weren't Unitarian Universalists . . .

What is this tendency we have to claim any celebrity in all of history who doesn't have a formal declaration of belief in the Nicean Creed on record as one of ours? . . . Whatever it is, I wish we'd stop; there's plenty to be proud of in the UUA's short history, and we should be touting that- we don't need to borrow glory from predecessors who may or may not even agree with what we are today. (July 11, 2008)

At his "Discover UU" blog, Sawyer responded, emphasizing that Unitarian Universalism is a religion, not a denomination:

My reasoning that UUs should embrace our celebrity ancestry is that this lore brings validity, inspiration and identity to an obscure, nebulous, and dying religion . . . It's easier to attend "The church of Thomas Jefferson" than it is to go to "some hippie church some weirdos started in the woods." Am I right?

Also, I do object to using the term 'denomination' to describe UUism. Denomination of what? While Christians comprise a large portion of our membership, we've clearly outgrown our Christian ancestry and do not formally identify as a Christian organization in any modern UUA documentation I've seen. (July 11, 2008)

The Rev. Fred Hammond chimed in at "A Unitarian Universalist Minister in Mississippi," agreeing with Sawyer that Unitarian Universalism is not a denomination, and not a Christian entity:

If we see ourselves as a denomination that means that we are a denomination of a specific faith tradition such as Christianity. Yet, we no longer identify as a Christian faith. We may have people who honor their Christian heritage and identify as Christian but Unitarian Universalism is not a Christian faith. (July 13, 2008)

But over at "Boy in the Bands," the Rev. Scott Wells was not persuaded, and argued that describing Unitarian Universalism as a non-Christian faith excludes Christian Unitarian Universalists:

I know that most Unitarian Universalist aren't Christian and perhaps don't want to be. But if so many people are pining for the hundreds of thousands of "lost" Unitarian Universalists that the recent Pew study suggests live in the United States — of which we know almost nothing — then who's to say that there's not a significant corpus of silent and unknown Unitarian and Universalist Christians out there, perhaps even a majority? Or more to the point, I’m hacked off that it's acceptable to verbally minimize the import of Unitarian and Universalist Christians and not expect pushback . . . (July 14, 2008)

Jaume of "UU Without Borders" commented on Wells's post, taking the conversation in a new direction by arguing that Unitarian Universalism's disunity hinders its relevance:

Unitarian Universalists always say that they want to be relevant in "the world" . . . But, who can speak on behalf of American Unitarian Universalism in the international arena? The President? The Board? Congregation by congregation? Any individual? Unless American UUism makes a decision about whether they are a single body, or a conglomeration of congregations, associations, or religions, it will be hard to be relevant and to speak with a single, consistent voice. (July 15, 2008)

This comment led Bill Baar to suggest that perhaps unity is not essential to relevance:

We're relevant without speaking in a single or consistent voice. Why should UUA latch relevancy to unity, or need a single and consistent voice? And who would enforce that single voice consistent over time? Unitarianism has hardly been that and many Liberals would argue progress is all about the evolution (change) of that voice over time. Tomorrow's voice carries more wisdom than yesterday's and change is good. (July 15, 2008)

Dealing with rejection

Karen Rayne at "Adolescent Sexuality by Dr. Karen Rayne" responds to a father's worry about his son's romantic break-ups:

It's good for teenagers to learn how to handle re-grouping after a rejection. And it's also good for teenagers to learn how to make a considered rejection.

There are lots of times that we get rejected. It can be by a love-interest, by a college, by a publishing agent, by potential job, by a current job (getting fired or "reassigned"). And learning how to hold on to your self-compassion through such an event is critical. Adolescence is a pretty good time to learn - the stakes aren't as high as with a marriage or a career. It still hurts . . . But it also teaches re-grouping skills in a very effective, hands-on way. (July 14, 2008)

Second acts

Real Anonymous at "it's five o'clock somewhere" continues the conversation about ethical eating as the next Congregational Study/Action Issue (discussed in last week's "Interdependent Web"):

It never ceases to amaze me how UUs continue to find ways to make themselves irrelevant to more and more groups of people . . .

[I]f we're going to talk about ethical eating/food production, we need to remember that for a sizable portion of this country, food is being priced out of their reach. Especially fresh fruits and vegetables. And all these wonderful upper-class hippy ideas of co-ops and going local is just not possible for a number of people in this country. (July 13, 2008)

Not to be missed

Plaidshoes of "Everyday Unitarian" considers how congregations can reach out to victims of domestic violence. At "Surviving the Workday," Stephanie Anagnoson advises readers on giving praise in professional settings. And at "Love Through Action," Lizard Eater continues to spotlight readers' acts of kindness, which have been inspired by Lizard Eater's daughter's struggle with cancer.