I came across this rather interesting reference on CUUMBAYA, admittedly from quite some time ago, which I am posting below:
In the latest post in the "Peter Morales for UU President" blog, Morales Addresses “Humanist/Theist” Question, Peter addresses the following question: "Our denomination seems to be undergoing a philosophical shift. Twenty years ago in our congregation, the concept of a “Christian UU” seemed nonsensical. Now our congregation has a Christian UU minister and many of the secular humanists of previous generations, despite the acceptance of diversity that we say we believe in, are feeling bereft - bereft of a sanctuary from the world of deity (Christian or otherwise). The UU church was the one place in many UU’s lives where those who lived to a different drummer, theologically speaking, could live without the expectation that they subscribe to a divine being. Where they could go on a spiritual or religious journey without having to subscribe to the supernatural. How will you lead us as we struggle with this fundamental challenge?"
Truth is, I don't have a clue how that could be done, and I am coming across that challenge more and more often. Rightly or wrongly, I often feel judged by religious people for being spiritual and not set into one tradition, yet ostracised in equal measure by atheists. Several close friends of mine are atheist and certainly do not view themselves as militant in any sense and yet have an uncanny habit of dismissing or angrily debating precisely such issues. With one friend in particular, spirituality is simply not mentioned. I am saddened by this; it is such a huge and beautiful part of my life that I am almost ashamed that I cannot accept his rebukes with more strength. I cannot.
I now find myself in the UK - rather different from the Canadian tradition I have grown accustomed to. I am suddenly finding myself in precisely this divide between the North American UU and the "Christian U" across the pond. I am struggling, I admit. It is certainly not that I am unwelcome, or rejected by Unitarians here, but their worship is very Christian. The Lord's Prayer was read, hymns were decidedly Anglican in style and even the building itself was intensely Christian. The central organisation in the UK is even entitled 'Unitarian and Free Christian Churches'. Different indeed.
I miss my home congregation. I miss its people, its building, its community. The flame at its centre and the light it brought to my life. I miss my friends from beyond the community who accepted UUism as a valid choice, albeit one which didn't suit them. Here, I feel very alone. My university is of equally little consolation, even putting stop to any hint of a multi-faith group being established on the campus. The chaplains are intensely Catholic/Christian. Thus, any mention of my potential Theological study was swiftly followed by my apparent need to hold strict loyalty to the Anglican Church. Umm... no.
I had found a beautiful home, with wonderful, warm-hearted friends and even love - now I have left this all behind and am left with very little consolation.
I hope to find a home here. I hope to find a community that welcomes my out-of-the-box views, and perhaps lacking the Lord's Prayer on Sunday repeat. Thus, I shall keep trying, even within the Unitarian UK groups, to find a more inclusive home. I am not feeling bereft of a sanctuary from Deity distinctions, I rather wish a sanctuary didn't need to be there at all.
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