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From: raven@solaria.sol.net (Raven)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.wicca
Subject: Re: 3rd Degree
Date: 28 Dec 2003 02:06:08 -0800
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"t_naismith" <trans-singularity@paraphysics.net> wrote in message <news:bshdon$d13nj$1@ID-140581.news.uni-berlin.de>:

<snip.... addressing Bard about Raven:>

> I agree; especially upon noting his post about "Unitarian Universalism",
> which substantiates a hypothesis concerning his *agenda* in some other
> threads,

<snip>

> Given the opportunity, you'd no doubt wish to argue an insidious
> premise of "Unitarian Universalism" which inherently posits that
> 'all gods are _one_ god', thus devaluating not only non-monotheistic
> belief systems but, those monotheisms which hold to a _different_
> singular *god* than the UU?  If such an inherent premise exists, it
> appears to conceal its "one-wayism" by way of misdirection

Sorry for taking so long to answer this, but I had to finish laughing first.

Great warning! I suggest you read the newsgroup soc.religion.unitarian-univ
to see just how "insidious" and "one-wayish" the UU "agenda" really is.

And then tell me again exactly what you *think* it is.

(This link should work:  <news:soc.religion.unitarian-univ> )

Particularly, you might find it of interest that the UU denomination
is *creedless*, with no requirement of any creed imposed on any member,
a principle of individual religious freedom that dates back to the
Edict of Toleration by King John Sigismund of Transylvania. [*]

[*] Which led to the fearful woman's line in the musical comedy DRACULA BABY:
       "Oh, Fritz, let's leave Transylvania --
        there's nothing here but vampires and Unitarians!"

Subgroups within the UUA, including within my own church, include the
Humanists who believe in no god at all, Buddhists who may or may not
believe in any god (but tend not to worship any), Christians who tend to
be of the "heretical" kind that believe in one, and CUUPS -- the Covenant
of Unitarian Universalist Pagans -- who may believe in two or more.

Perhaps it averages out to one, or it may be 1.1 or 0.9, I dunno.

<http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/uufaq.html> UU FAQ
<http://www.americanhumanist.org/hsfamily/huumanist.html> "HUUmanists"
<http://www.americanhumanist.org/hsfamily/essayshuu.html> About Humanism
<http://www.uua.org/uubf> UU Buddhist Fellowship
<http://www.cuups.org> Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
<http://www.uua.org/ga/ga99/505gibbons.html>  "Can this marriage [of paganism
<http://www.uua.org/ga/ga99/505price.html>     and humanism] be saved?")

<http://www.cuups.org/content/aboutcuups/whatiscuups.html>:

 The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) is an organization
 dedicated to networking Pagan-identified Unitarian Universalists (UUs),
 educating people about Paganism, promoting interfaith dialogue, developing
 Pagan liturgies and theologies, and supporting Pagan-identified UU religious
 professionals. [...]

 The Sixth Source of Unitarian Universalism is "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." For some UUs
 this means a Pagan spirituality. For other UUs it means a Humanist, Native
 American, or other nature honoring spirituality.

 UUs are dedicated to the right of conscience, the personal search for
 spiritual truth and freedom from dogmatism. UUs are also dedicated to
 "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."
 Many UUs understand Paganism within this context while not accepting
 Paganism as their personal spiritual truth. [...]

<http://www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html>  UU Principles & Purposes:

 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. 

 The Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association 

 The Unitarian Universalist Association shall devote its resources to and
 exercise its corporate powers for religious, educational and humanitarian
 purposes. The primary purpose of the Association is to serve the needs of
 its member congregations, organize new congregations, extend and strengthen
 Unitarian Universalist institutions and implement its principles. 

 The Association declares and affirms its special responsibility, and that
 of its member societies and organizations, to promote the full participation
 of persons in all of its and their activities and in the full range of human
 endeavor without regard to race, color, sex, disability, affectional or
 sexual orientation, age, or national origin and without requiring adherence
 to any particular interpretation of religion or to any particular religious
 belief or creed. 

 Nothing herein shall be deemed to infringe upon the individual freedom of
 belief which is inherent in the Universalist and Unitarian heritages or to
 conflict with any statement of purpose, covenant, or bond of union used by
 any society unless such is used as a creedal test.

<end>