I'm a member of a nearby UU church, David. I should say, barely a member. I love the friends I've made there, but I rarely attend anymore. My mild feedback dissenting with the 8th principle a few years ago led to more than one cold shoulder. It seemed odd to me that the feedback, which was solicited, did not lead to curiosity or clarifying questions. Instead, it led to vigorous rebuttal. It felt like we were replicating the polarization of our country in our congregation, despite the fact that I agreed at least 80% with them. I guess 100% was required.
I'm not sure what changes will encourage the UUA leadership to recognize how self-righteousness has weakened the religion and worked against the recently jettisoned principles. I don't see them accepting that they are in the wrong path.
A self-righteous mindset discourages introspection because the self righteous person assumes they are already right. In organizations this leads to stagnation, as new perspectives or constructive criticism are actively resisted and/or dismissed.
Regarding your citation, above, about Unitarians being "as self-righteous as Mormons," from a former Unitarian Universalist; Fwiw, several years after leaving the UUA, I became a member of the LDS (Mormon) church, so I could say I'm a Mormon and former Unitarian Universalist. True I have encountered self-righteous people in the LDS church, (there are probably "bigots in every crowd" as they say), then I've also noticed that oftentimes someone calls them out on it. While I can't speak for anybody else, I can say that in the LDS Church, I found the affirmation of the beliefs, concepts, and teachings which I had earlier looked for in the UUA, but didn't find. Interestingly, tne UUA and the LDS church are the two that I know of which have been described as "creedless religions."
First, a question for Mr. Cycleback - Are you still active in your local UU congregation?
Second, I don't hold out much hope for change from the UUs. I would argue that self-righteousness is baked into the revised Article II (https://www.uua.org/files/2024-09/uua_bylaws_06232024.pdf) which emphasizes full-throated self-righteous social justice activism. In many instances, I've seen this self-righteousness cross into dismissive condescension of those on the opposite side of their social justice crusades.
I'm not very optimistic about the prospect of change. Given the 'fix-the-world' orientation of the revised Article II, what would UUs be without this social justice activism?
It's really a pity. UUism could have been an expansive place for spiritual exploration in an increasingly secular world. Instead, it's become an echo chamber for lefty politics. And, as a result, they've been slowly shrinking over the last 15 years (https://www.uua.org/data/demographics/uua-statistics).
I attend a UU congregation in Seattle, which, after a period of much strife and membership loss (Lost over 40 percent of its members in just four years), has done work on itself, including how to listen to the diverse viewpoints of congregants. Its new Right Relations Covenant specifically mentions viewpoint diversity and listening to viewpoint diversity as a principle of the congregation.
I also am not confident in the national church and its future. Many leaders and ministers don't believe in liberal religion anymore, and, as you say, it's become more of a political advocacy organization than a religion. Echo chambers are always bad news and are contrary to what is supposed to be a liberal and pluralistic church.
I'm a member of a nearby UU church, David. I should say, barely a member. I love the friends I've made there, but I rarely attend anymore. My mild feedback dissenting with the 8th principle a few years ago led to more than one cold shoulder. It seemed odd to me that the feedback, which was solicited, did not lead to curiosity or clarifying questions. Instead, it led to vigorous rebuttal. It felt like we were replicating the polarization of our country in our congregation, despite the fact that I agreed at least 80% with them. I guess 100% was required.
“The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is an 80 percent friend and not a 20 percent enemy”–Ronald Reagan
Nicely argued, David. I hope your essay is read outside your subscriber base.
Thanks. Readers can share it.
I'm not sure what changes will encourage the UUA leadership to recognize how self-righteousness has weakened the religion and worked against the recently jettisoned principles. I don't see them accepting that they are in the wrong path.
A self-righteous mindset discourages introspection because the self righteous person assumes they are already right. In organizations this leads to stagnation, as new perspectives or constructive criticism are actively resisted and/or dismissed.
Regarding your citation, above, about Unitarians being "as self-righteous as Mormons," from a former Unitarian Universalist; Fwiw, several years after leaving the UUA, I became a member of the LDS (Mormon) church, so I could say I'm a Mormon and former Unitarian Universalist. True I have encountered self-righteous people in the LDS church, (there are probably "bigots in every crowd" as they say), then I've also noticed that oftentimes someone calls them out on it. While I can't speak for anybody else, I can say that in the LDS Church, I found the affirmation of the beliefs, concepts, and teachings which I had earlier looked for in the UUA, but didn't find. Interestingly, tne UUA and the LDS church are the two that I know of which have been described as "creedless religions."
First, a question for Mr. Cycleback - Are you still active in your local UU congregation?
Second, I don't hold out much hope for change from the UUs. I would argue that self-righteousness is baked into the revised Article II (https://www.uua.org/files/2024-09/uua_bylaws_06232024.pdf) which emphasizes full-throated self-righteous social justice activism. In many instances, I've seen this self-righteousness cross into dismissive condescension of those on the opposite side of their social justice crusades.
I'm not very optimistic about the prospect of change. Given the 'fix-the-world' orientation of the revised Article II, what would UUs be without this social justice activism?
It's really a pity. UUism could have been an expansive place for spiritual exploration in an increasingly secular world. Instead, it's become an echo chamber for lefty politics. And, as a result, they've been slowly shrinking over the last 15 years (https://www.uua.org/data/demographics/uua-statistics).
I attend a UU congregation in Seattle, which, after a period of much strife and membership loss (Lost over 40 percent of its members in just four years), has done work on itself, including how to listen to the diverse viewpoints of congregants. Its new Right Relations Covenant specifically mentions viewpoint diversity and listening to viewpoint diversity as a principle of the congregation.
I also am not confident in the national church and its future. Many leaders and ministers don't believe in liberal religion anymore, and, as you say, it's become more of a political advocacy organization than a religion. Echo chambers are always bad news and are contrary to what is supposed to be a liberal and pluralistic church.