Unitarian Universalist Humanists Fall Into Nasty Habits Like Sneering At UU Theists And Making “Jokes” That Are Little Short Of Hate Speech. . .
But don't take *my* word for it UUs, take the word of disaffected Conservative Pagan UU Joel Monka for it, as posted in a comment that he submitted to the 'Unitarian Universalist Humanism' post of Roger Schriner's Theists & Atheists: Communication & Common Ground blog. Oh wait, you had better take my word for it after all, since Joel Monka's "less than honest" comment disingenuously pretends that such "nasty habits" only happen when congregations are a "completely homogeneous group" rather than UU "Welcoming Congregations" that are ostensibly "inclusive" of theists, atheists, and agnostics.
Here is what Joel Monka said on Saturday February 16, 2013 -
I think there is much value in congregations including theists, atheists, and agnostics. A completely homogeneous group too easily falls into nasty habits, sneering at those not there to hear it, making “jokes” that are little short of hate speech, not quite realizing how far down that path they’ve gone in the absence of anyone present to call them on it. This leads to being unconscious of just how offensive one’s speech patterns and thoughts have become so that when finally talking to someone in the other camp, you’re unaware of why they feel insulted.
And here is the comment that I have (so far) been unsuccessful in posting in response to Joel Monka's misleading words -
Too funny!
Joel Monka knows perfectly well that there are many "Humanist" dominated UU "churches" that harbor intolerant and abusive Atheists who fall into nasty habits such as sneering at those UU Theists who actually ARE there to hear it, making “jokes” that are little short of hate speech, and not quite realizing (or indeed caring. . .) just how far down that path of intolerance and abuse they’ve gone, even when someone does call them on it. . . I have first hand "direct experience" of such antireligious intolerance and bigotry practiced by intolerant and abusive UU "Humanists", including but by no means limited to a self-described "Cosmic Humanist" UU minister who could also be reasonably described as a "fundamentalist Atheist" UU. Over the span of almost twenty years, I have seen plenty of evidence of similar behavior by UU "Humanists" in all of the North American regions of the UU World as well as in Europe. In fact, if I remember correctly and I am pretty sure that I do. . . Joel Monka himself recently quit his own UU "church" precisely because its Christian oriented UU minister was run out of the "church" by the dominant "Humanist" faction. Am I wrong Joel?
But yes, like Joel do I think there is much value in UU congregations including theists, atheists, and agnostics, however they must deal firmly and forthrightly with problems arising from intolerant and abusive UUs failing or refusing to honor and uphold the claimed principles and purposes of UUism, especially when the minister is part of that problem. As Joel knows from his own bitter experience that caused him to leave his UU "church", it does not always work that way. . . If it is not possible for UU Humanists and Theists to get along together in mutual respect and cooperation then perhaps it is best that congregations do arrange to attend different congregations or different services in the same UU "church".
Here is what Joel Monka said on Saturday February 16, 2013 -
I think there is much value in congregations including theists, atheists, and agnostics. A completely homogeneous group too easily falls into nasty habits, sneering at those not there to hear it, making “jokes” that are little short of hate speech, not quite realizing how far down that path they’ve gone in the absence of anyone present to call them on it. This leads to being unconscious of just how offensive one’s speech patterns and thoughts have become so that when finally talking to someone in the other camp, you’re unaware of why they feel insulted.
And here is the comment that I have (so far) been unsuccessful in posting in response to Joel Monka's misleading words -
Too funny!
Joel Monka knows perfectly well that there are many "Humanist" dominated UU "churches" that harbor intolerant and abusive Atheists who fall into nasty habits such as sneering at those UU Theists who actually ARE there to hear it, making “jokes” that are little short of hate speech, and not quite realizing (or indeed caring. . .) just how far down that path of intolerance and abuse they’ve gone, even when someone does call them on it. . . I have first hand "direct experience" of such antireligious intolerance and bigotry practiced by intolerant and abusive UU "Humanists", including but by no means limited to a self-described "Cosmic Humanist" UU minister who could also be reasonably described as a "fundamentalist Atheist" UU. Over the span of almost twenty years, I have seen plenty of evidence of similar behavior by UU "Humanists" in all of the North American regions of the UU World as well as in Europe. In fact, if I remember correctly and I am pretty sure that I do. . . Joel Monka himself recently quit his own UU "church" precisely because its Christian oriented UU minister was run out of the "church" by the dominant "Humanist" faction. Am I wrong Joel?
But yes, like Joel do I think there is much value in UU congregations including theists, atheists, and agnostics, however they must deal firmly and forthrightly with problems arising from intolerant and abusive UUs failing or refusing to honor and uphold the claimed principles and purposes of UUism, especially when the minister is part of that problem. As Joel knows from his own bitter experience that caused him to leave his UU "church", it does not always work that way. . . If it is not possible for UU Humanists and Theists to get along together in mutual respect and cooperation then perhaps it is best that congregations do arrange to attend different congregations or different services in the same UU "church".
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