Disillusioning Yet Another Unitarian*Universalist Dork. . .
Jeff Liebmann attends Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and serves as Student Minister at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. He has a blog called uujeff's muse kennel and pizzatorium. He just posted a "rant" titled Illusions in America Today #1. So I just disillusioned him about U*Uism in America today. . .
:The positive meaning of disillusionment is that we can be freed of our illusions.
True enough. . . Allow me to free you from some of your own illusions about U*Uism.
While U*U rhetoric today may still reflect the ideals of the founders, U*U society today has strayed far from their vision.
U*Us may use the same labels, but U*U actions belie a hypocrisy of commitment, priority, and ideology.
:I will address the illusion of primary personal importance. In 21st century America, religion is an illusion from which we should be freed.
Which is precisely why you want to become a minister in an alleged "religion" of course. . .
:What can a person in seminary studying to become a minister possibly mean by saying that religion in America is an illusion?
Good question. . .
:As an atheist, I see my nation violating universal codes of moral behavior, often in the name of the Christian God, to further its own agenda.
But you obviously don`t see your "religion" violating universal codes of moral behavior, often in the name of political correctness, to further its own agenda. . .
What part of 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour' are U*Us not understanding? When was the last minister U*Us ordained who was meek, merciful, pure of heart, and a peacemaker? What would Jesus think of 21st century Unitarian*Universalism?
As a theist, I see many ministers and lay people in your "religion" continuing to embrace willful ignorance about certain subjects, and attacking theism and intelligent design. I see your UUA government spending millions on a misleading national advertising campaign while thousands at "church" lack decent ministry and well-maintained Unitarian theology. Where is the righteous indignation *at* your "churches"?
As an excommunicated Unitarian Universalist, I see your "church" misusing and abusing state criminal law to abrogate the rights of a peaceful public protestor. As a complainant, I see one church leader after another accused of clergy misconduct and learn that the "church" itself not only knew of the behavior but willfully acted to condone it. I see one religious leader after another modeling shocking personal behaviors while railing on their blogs against those in U*U society who are marginalized already.
So when, as an aspiring minister, will you be preaching against the psychoses of fear and hate that is infecting your "religion"? Just what is keeping you and other U*Us from critically assessing the activities of U*U religious leaders? Perhaps you should be examining this illusion. If you want your church to truly love all people and to commit action to genuine justice and equality, then you should be examining this illusion.
So does this mean that U*U "organized religion" is worthless? No. But, I do believe that U*Us need to examine the role that religion plays in our lives and ask whether or not U*U churches are, or can ever meet those needs. In a disillusioned U*U World, what form of U*U "church" should U*Us aspire to create? Personally, I believe that Unitarian*Universalism needs to provide answers. As a "church" that does force intolerance and bigotry on members, and that devalues the search for truth and meaning, I believe Unitarian*Universalism must address many of the illusions of U*U religion while getting around to providing loving community, acknowledgement of U*U injustices, abuses and hypocrisy. Some Unitarian*Universalist "Welcoming Congregations" are anything but welcoming to theists. The world has seen many prophets over the centuries, many of whom have delivered a similar disillusioning message. Unitarian*Universalists quite regularly dishonor them and their messages.
:The positive meaning of disillusionment is that we can be freed of our illusions.
True enough. . . Allow me to free you from some of your own illusions about U*Uism.
While U*U rhetoric today may still reflect the ideals of the founders, U*U society today has strayed far from their vision.
U*Us may use the same labels, but U*U actions belie a hypocrisy of commitment, priority, and ideology.
:I will address the illusion of primary personal importance. In 21st century America, religion is an illusion from which we should be freed.
Which is precisely why you want to become a minister in an alleged "religion" of course. . .
:What can a person in seminary studying to become a minister possibly mean by saying that religion in America is an illusion?
Good question. . .
:As an atheist, I see my nation violating universal codes of moral behavior, often in the name of the Christian God, to further its own agenda.
But you obviously don`t see your "religion" violating universal codes of moral behavior, often in the name of political correctness, to further its own agenda. . .
What part of 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour' are U*Us not understanding? When was the last minister U*Us ordained who was meek, merciful, pure of heart, and a peacemaker? What would Jesus think of 21st century Unitarian*Universalism?
As a theist, I see many ministers and lay people in your "religion" continuing to embrace willful ignorance about certain subjects, and attacking theism and intelligent design. I see your UUA government spending millions on a misleading national advertising campaign while thousands at "church" lack decent ministry and well-maintained Unitarian theology. Where is the righteous indignation *at* your "churches"?
As an excommunicated Unitarian Universalist, I see your "church" misusing and abusing state criminal law to abrogate the rights of a peaceful public protestor. As a complainant, I see one church leader after another accused of clergy misconduct and learn that the "church" itself not only knew of the behavior but willfully acted to condone it. I see one religious leader after another modeling shocking personal behaviors while railing on their blogs against those in U*U society who are marginalized already.
So when, as an aspiring minister, will you be preaching against the psychoses of fear and hate that is infecting your "religion"? Just what is keeping you and other U*Us from critically assessing the activities of U*U religious leaders? Perhaps you should be examining this illusion. If you want your church to truly love all people and to commit action to genuine justice and equality, then you should be examining this illusion.
So does this mean that U*U "organized religion" is worthless? No. But, I do believe that U*Us need to examine the role that religion plays in our lives and ask whether or not U*U churches are, or can ever meet those needs. In a disillusioned U*U World, what form of U*U "church" should U*Us aspire to create? Personally, I believe that Unitarian*Universalism needs to provide answers. As a "church" that does force intolerance and bigotry on members, and that devalues the search for truth and meaning, I believe Unitarian*Universalism must address many of the illusions of U*U religion while getting around to providing loving community, acknowledgement of U*U injustices, abuses and hypocrisy. Some Unitarian*Universalist "Welcoming Congregations" are anything but welcoming to theists. The world has seen many prophets over the centuries, many of whom have delivered a similar disillusioning message. Unitarian*Universalists quite regularly dishonor them and their messages.
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