That’s a shame because traditional Unitarian and Universalist thought is actually quite radical - and continues to be an alternative to the bigger religions.

One of our problems is that for around 100 years or so, during our Quiet Period, we decided that we were so misunderstood that we did not accept new converts, period.

Our numbers, which had never been great, shrank and shrank and now we are even smaller in number than UUs, although thanks to Madison Avenue and historical precedent, we have name recognition. Everyone knows the name “Quaker”, though they are hard pressed to think of one they know of in the greater world or someone they actually know or have encountered in their own lives.

The challenges we face are very similar to the ones you face. The unwillingness to evangelize (except for Conservative and Evangelical Quakers) is one of the reasons why our numbers stay so small, we do not hold onto what we have, and we remain buried and unseen.

I think the most important think we can emphasize is WHY church/meeting/congregation and WHY is it important? As we have shifted away from a sense of communal sharing into individual desires we have increasingly fractured into smaller and smaller boxes. This is postmodern excess and a sort of cancerous growth of unrestrained ego that will be difficult to reverse.

I don’t pretend to know all the answers, though I am willing to take a guess as to how we collectively might come up with a good solution. Finding a sense of common purpose is a good start, then finding a way to walk that tenuous tightrope between “be one of us” and “be yourself”.

I definitely agree! Sometimes, I get a “teensy beansy” bit tired of those who don’t think we’re a religion. A few years ago, the Freedom from Religion Foundation sent a mailing to every member of my UU congregation. The organization promotes Church/state separation, but made a poor choice in naming themselves, in my opinion. Some of us were insulted when we received that mailing.

That said, hey, if the congregations are really serving the spiritual needs of their members, then rock on. They don’t have to match everyone’s whim, let alone mine. In fact, too much of that concern can sometimes a UU congregation’s problem. It isn’t and shouldn’t be just about numbers. An awesome ministry that can truly be a blessing to 40-50 people is way better than a popular 400-500 member congregation that fails to address the spiritual needs of most of its members.

(Scoots quickly back to the lurkers’ corner…)

Relating to the idea of shopping for religion, I had used the example of comparing UUism to Burger King, but analogies side, here is where I was going:

In Have-it-your-way-ism, this might sound like speaking in many ways of One Truth beyond any one sacred tradition but which can also unite them all.

So, if we put these elements together, it would go something like this: Addressing the urgent questions of life and creating a sacred space in which to open ourselves in common liturgy and private reflection to the transcendent by drawing on insights from various sacred traditions pointing to (the) ineffable Ultimate Reality.

It’s not complete - the description could be fleshed out a little more, but it certain is a good start for outlining the parameters in which our individual tastes can operate. In other words, these are like the bun and the cup. We may quibble about what goes in each, but they are the basic necessities. The liturgy or order of service in and of themselves are simply the wrapper.

So looking at things such as the current and upcoming themes for services in most area UU congregations, the large majority of what I see is about social justice, social justice, learning about other cultures in general, social justice, what it means to be a UU, what it should mean to be a UU, what it could mean to be a UU, social justice, and important figures in UU/social justice history. Maybe it’s just timing. I don’t know. Maybe there is more to it than what it looks like. I can’t say for sure. But the impression I am generally left with, and not just from a survey of current service topics, is that the stuff I am looking for is there mostly for show, perhaps given lip-service, and certainly played up on the UUA website and promotional materials.

I also have wondered how much the UUA could benefit from examining and incorporating statements from interreligious dialogs such as the following set of principles from the Snowmass Conference:

1. The world religions bear witness to the experience of the Ultimate Reality to which they give various names: Brahman, the Absolute, God, Allah, (the) Great Spirit, the Transcendent.

2. The Ultimate Reality surpasses any name or concept that can be given to It.

3. The Ultimate Reality is the source (ground of being) of all existence.

4. Faith is opening, surrendering, and responding to the Ultimate Reality. This relationship precedes every belief system.

5. The potential for human wholeness — or in other frames of reference, liberation, self-transcendence, enlightenment, salvation, transforming union, moksha, nirvana, fana — is present in every human person.

6. The Ultimate Reality may be experienced not only through religious practices but also through nature, art, human relationships and service to others.

7. The differences among belief systems should be presented as facts that distinguish them, not as points of superiority.

8. In the light of the globalization of life and culture now in process, the personal and social ethical principles proposed by the world religions in the past need to be re-thought and re-expressed.

OK, well, thanks for providing a chance to toss in my thoughts as a lurker and a person who maintains an interest in (the fate of) UUism.

[Thanks for taking the time, Tiny. I cracked up - but in a wry way - at your description of typical UU services. I’m afraid you’re all too correct there. I’ve enjoyed reading your comment and hope others have too. - PB]

I’m a sociologist of religion (well, grad student in this area). I’m very familiar with the Pew findings and I’m actually writing a paper on the growing percentage of Americans with no religious preference (people who say “none” when asked what they are). This group is at about 16% of the population, and yes, many of them were raised with a religion.

I think you’re analysis of why there are so many more people that identify as UU than belong to a congregation is right on! What you said is basically confirmed by sociological research. Thanks for sharing that.

Why?

Because running a grocery store in East Texas is what HIS father did.

I do live in the same town where I grew up, though I have a completely different job than what either of my parents did. Most people I know don’t live where they grew up and don’t do what their parents did. They’ve foudn locations and jobs that are good fits for them and their values.

I’m surprised Ms. Goodman thinks religion would be any different.

CC