Comments on: Atheists, Spirituality, and Unitarian Universalism http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2008/atheists-spirituality-and-unitarian-universalism Religion and spirituality from a Unitarian Universalist perspective Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:47:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Shelby http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2008/atheists-spirituality-and-unitarian-universalism#comment-9598 Shelby Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:16:25 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2008/atheists-spirituality-and-unitarian-universalism#comment-9598 Hi Terri, Thank you for sharing these theological and personal reflections. I too have seen that atheist and theist UU's find much common ground, out of a shared sense of searching for the sacred. Hi Bill, Thanks for commenting. I have to disagree with your interpretation of the decline in church affiliation. Rather than signifying a lack of interest in spiritual matters, I think it just shows a decline in the social importance of denominational membership. An overwhelming number of Americans profess to believe in God, and I think atheism is still viewed unfavorably by the general public. Also, I think the comments by UU's in this post indicate that atheism is NOT merely the assertion of what a person doesn't believe in. The UU non-theists who have responded here assert that they are quite interested in spiritual growth. Hi Terri,

Thank you for sharing these theological and personal reflections. I too have seen that atheist and theist UU’s find much common ground, out of a shared sense of searching for the sacred.

Hi Bill,

Thanks for commenting. I have to disagree with your interpretation of the decline in church affiliation. Rather than signifying a lack of interest in spiritual matters, I think it just shows a decline in the social importance of denominational membership. An overwhelming number of Americans profess to believe in God, and I think atheism is still viewed unfavorably by the general public.

Also, I think the comments by UU’s in this post indicate that atheism is NOT merely the assertion of what a person doesn’t believe in. The UU non-theists who have responded here assert that they are quite interested in spiritual growth.

]]> By: Bill Baar http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2008/atheists-spirituality-and-unitarian-universalism#comment-9507 Bill Baar Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:47:09 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2008/atheists-spirituality-and-unitarian-universalism#comment-9507 Atheism's become quaint I'm afraid. One of the consequences of the unchurched as the fastest growing population is the whole question of belief becomes moot. No one much cares what you don't believe in... Atheism’s become quaint I’m afraid. One of the consequences of the unchurched as the fastest growing population is the whole question of belief becomes moot.

No one much cares what you don’t believe in…

]]> By: Terri http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2008/atheists-spirituality-and-unitarian-universalism#comment-9494 Terri Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:29:05 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2008/atheists-spirituality-and-unitarian-universalism#comment-9494 The whole atheism vs. theism thing is really strange to me...when I first joined a UU small group we did a spectrum exercise to find out where we stood in regards to the question "Is there a god?" and I asked if I could jump out the window! When asked if I believe in God, I usually say, "Which one?" OR "You're asking the wrong question!" I have also thought of "God" as a verb, as something we do through our actions. As I've gotten to know individual UU's theology better, I have found that the differences between those who call themselves atheists and those who call themselves theists are actually smaller than first supposed. Many believe in a sense of "sacredness". They just call it different things. (Here is a sermon I heard a couple years ago by Rev. Kaaren Anderson on this called The God Beyond: An Atheist's Affirmation of Transcendence: http://www.rochesterunitarian.org/2005-06/20051002.html) Personally, I don't use the word god, but rather the word "Life" to express what I believe in. If asked, I would define myself as a Pantheist (God IS all life) or nontheist (the question of god is not the core of my faith). But spirituality?? That is about fullness and openness to Life in my eyes, and is something that is open to people regardless of where we stand on the God spectrum. Thanks for the posts on this topic! Some great links here... The whole atheism vs. theism thing is really strange to me…when I first joined a UU small group we did a spectrum exercise to find out where we stood in regards to the question “Is there a god?” and I asked if I could jump out the window! When asked if I believe in God, I usually say, “Which one?” OR “You’re asking the wrong question!” I have also thought of “God” as a verb, as something we do through our actions.

As I’ve gotten to know individual UU’s theology better, I have found that the differences between those who call themselves atheists and those who call themselves theists are actually smaller than first supposed. Many believe in a sense of “sacredness”. They just call it different things. (Here is a sermon I heard a couple years ago by Rev. Kaaren Anderson on this called The God Beyond: An Atheist’s Affirmation of Transcendence: http://www.rochesterunitarian.org/2005-06/20051002.html)

Personally, I don’t use the word god, but rather the word “Life” to express what I believe in. If asked, I would define myself as a Pantheist (God IS all life) or nontheist (the question of god is not the core of my faith). But spirituality?? That is about fullness and openness to Life in my eyes, and is something that is open to people regardless of where we stand on the God spectrum.

Thanks for the posts on this topic! Some great links here…

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