darin
24th August 2005, 04:34 PM
Hi, Everyone,
I resigned from the Church in April of this year--just got my letter about a month or so ago. It's been GREAT to be free from the LDS Church... and, I thought I'd share my newly-found Church with you all. It's called "Unitarian Universalism," and it goes REALLY well with the Post-Mormon philosophy. Here's some info, as well as further links. I highly recommend you checking into it, if you are looking for something spiritual, but not dogmatic, after leaving the LDS Faith:
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to 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.
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
--Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
--Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
--Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
--Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
--Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
--Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.
http://www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html
Then this:
What do Unitarian Universalists believe...?
1. We believe in the freedom of religious expression. All individuals should be encouraged to develop their own personal theology, and to present openly their religious opinions without fear of censure or reprisal.
2. We believe in the toleration of religious ideas. All religions, in every age and culture, possess not only an intrinsic merit, but also a potential value for those who have learned the art of listening.
3. We believe in the authority of reason and conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, or a document, or an official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual.
4. We believe in the never-ending search for Truth. If the mind and heart are truly free and open, the revelations which appear to the human spirit are infinitely numerous, eternally fruitful, and wondrously exciting.
5. We believe in the unity of experience. There is no fundamental conflict between faith and knowledge, religion and the world, the sacred and the secular, since they all have their source in the same reality.
6. We believe in the worth and dignity of each human being. All people on earth have an equal claim to life, liberty and justice-and no idea, ideal or philosophy is superior to a single human life.
7. We believe in the ethical application of religion. Good works are the natural products of a good faith, the evidence of an inner grace that finds completion in social and community involvement.
8. We believe in the motive force of love. The governing principle in human relationships is the principle of love, which always seeks the welfare of others and never seeks to hurt or destroy.
9. We believe in the necessity of the democratic process. Records are open to scrutiny, elections are open to members, and ideas are open to criticism-so that people might govern themselves.
10. We believe in the importance of a religious community. The validation of experience requires the confirmation of peers, who provide a critical platform along with a network of mutual support.
http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/newcomerfaq.html
Anyway, I've gone several Sundays in a row, and, for the first time in a LONG time, I LOVE going to Church, and truly look forward to Sundays as my favorite day of the week.
(To give you an idea of the diversity of the services: my first sunday, the opening hymn was "Feelin' Groovy," accompanied by a barefoot guitar-player! The next week, it was Chopin by a duet consisting of a grand piano and flute... Other songs we sung were Christian hymns, hebrew chants, African Spirituals, and UU Hymns. The readings ranged from poetry, to Old Testament Readings, to Buddhist teachings, to the Bible. Really uplifting, wonderful services, taking 'truth' from wherever it is found, and incredibly geunine, loving people...)
I resigned from the Church in April of this year--just got my letter about a month or so ago. It's been GREAT to be free from the LDS Church... and, I thought I'd share my newly-found Church with you all. It's called "Unitarian Universalism," and it goes REALLY well with the Post-Mormon philosophy. Here's some info, as well as further links. I highly recommend you checking into it, if you are looking for something spiritual, but not dogmatic, after leaving the LDS Faith:
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to 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.
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
--Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
--Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
--Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
--Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
--Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
--Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.
http://www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html
Then this:
What do Unitarian Universalists believe...?
1. We believe in the freedom of religious expression. All individuals should be encouraged to develop their own personal theology, and to present openly their religious opinions without fear of censure or reprisal.
2. We believe in the toleration of religious ideas. All religions, in every age and culture, possess not only an intrinsic merit, but also a potential value for those who have learned the art of listening.
3. We believe in the authority of reason and conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, or a document, or an official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual.
4. We believe in the never-ending search for Truth. If the mind and heart are truly free and open, the revelations which appear to the human spirit are infinitely numerous, eternally fruitful, and wondrously exciting.
5. We believe in the unity of experience. There is no fundamental conflict between faith and knowledge, religion and the world, the sacred and the secular, since they all have their source in the same reality.
6. We believe in the worth and dignity of each human being. All people on earth have an equal claim to life, liberty and justice-and no idea, ideal or philosophy is superior to a single human life.
7. We believe in the ethical application of religion. Good works are the natural products of a good faith, the evidence of an inner grace that finds completion in social and community involvement.
8. We believe in the motive force of love. The governing principle in human relationships is the principle of love, which always seeks the welfare of others and never seeks to hurt or destroy.
9. We believe in the necessity of the democratic process. Records are open to scrutiny, elections are open to members, and ideas are open to criticism-so that people might govern themselves.
10. We believe in the importance of a religious community. The validation of experience requires the confirmation of peers, who provide a critical platform along with a network of mutual support.
http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/newcomerfaq.html
Anyway, I've gone several Sundays in a row, and, for the first time in a LONG time, I LOVE going to Church, and truly look forward to Sundays as my favorite day of the week.
(To give you an idea of the diversity of the services: my first sunday, the opening hymn was "Feelin' Groovy," accompanied by a barefoot guitar-player! The next week, it was Chopin by a duet consisting of a grand piano and flute... Other songs we sung were Christian hymns, hebrew chants, African Spirituals, and UU Hymns. The readings ranged from poetry, to Old Testament Readings, to Buddhist teachings, to the Bible. Really uplifting, wonderful services, taking 'truth' from wherever it is found, and incredibly geunine, loving people...)