tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.comments2023-09-22T15:44:10.411-04:00CUUMBAYAJoel Monkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631333436948102576noreply@blogger.comBlogger2272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-72826692495509205172022-10-25T21:30:44.959-04:002022-10-25T21:30:44.959-04:00😂😂Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-58850122515072756362019-05-18T03:33:35.116-04:002019-05-18T03:33:35.116-04:00Dear UUers and non UU and those unsure quite what ...Dear UUers and non UU and those unsure quite what to do I want to say that I came to faith in Jesus Christ many years ago having never read the Bible. Yes that's right. God really does work in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. I won't go into the long story of it but suffice to say that with just a snippet here and there I came to know salvation through Jesus Christ and since that time have attended churches that believe the Bible. Seriously, there is new life and the forgiveness of sins. You don't believe me? Taste and see that the Lord is good:) Try reading Mark in the NT. Go slowly. Use a Bible that has links back to the OT and look each one up. No need for speed. Consider, reflect, ponder and ask God to reveal Himself to you as you read:) With kind and warm Christian love, Peter.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928481170375030814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-40702316059296628622019-01-09T23:02:29.704-05:002019-01-09T23:02:29.704-05:00You made an article that is interesting. You made an article that is interesting. clipping path servicehttps://www.clippingpathquick.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-41393328146388594492018-03-06T04:02:53.085-05:002018-03-06T04:02:53.085-05:00Ryan N. Having left an abusive church before consi...Ryan N. Having left an abusive church before considering UU I am very concerned about your statement that seems too familiar. Please look at Steven Hassan's BITE model.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04414900848365152216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-53726991268002884742014-04-12T05:12:50.301-04:002014-04-12T05:12:50.301-04:00If everyone in the church focuses on themselves, w...If everyone in the church focuses on themselves, we'll never accomplish anything as a movement. We already have this problem with social justice -- everyone has their own pet cause and won't join together to actually get something done.<br /><br />Anyhow, I can't see how a group of people leaving a church after what happens at one meeting could be considered good behavior. How deep could that covenant have run if that's all it takes?Ryan N.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-39557775371106486612013-09-05T09:33:03.957-04:002013-09-05T09:33:03.957-04:00Wow. I just got a couple of weird messages from th...Wow. I just got a couple of weird messages from this guy and thought "what the what?" It is now 2013 and he is still doing this... Going on 20 years now? Wow.<br /><br />I wish you peace Robin, but I think previous posters are correct that there are mental health issues in play.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-10736450443491196312013-06-22T08:17:42.246-04:002013-06-22T08:17:42.246-04:00Thanks for sharing that.Thanks for sharing that.UUpdaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11760554842376249263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-11222914830947571262013-03-29T09:07:42.864-04:002013-03-29T09:07:42.864-04:00i scored a 14? and am male. :pi scored a 14? and am male. :pAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-79380712813375249882013-03-15T13:10:56.648-04:002013-03-15T13:10:56.648-04:00I'm always thinking about this. Maybe it's...I'm always thinking about this. Maybe it's time for a blogging sabbatical.Will Shetterlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08539053268352597627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-1218619887277916792013-02-09T19:54:07.270-05:002013-02-09T19:54:07.270-05:00Hey, Joel :) "Signmom" and I (and our w...Hey, Joel :) "Signmom" and I (and our whole family) just moved back down south and have started attending a UU church in the hopes of having community. I've always enjoyed reading your thoughts and opinions and hope you continue, though I appreciate your frustration. May many blessings rain upon you and yours, Wise One.jesshttp://aerolin.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-66945056163749056072013-02-09T09:55:02.845-05:002013-02-09T09:55:02.845-05:00Hi,
Just happened to re-discover your blog and a...Hi, <br /><br />Just happened to re-discover your blog and am glad to see that you intend to resume. <br /><br />I'm unchurched at the moment, too. I loved my UU church where I used to live, but the one here is very large and showed no interest in having me as a member. In fact, the minister called me up and talked me out of adding my name to the rolls, so I stopped going. <br /><br />Sorry about your bad experience with the 2 churches. I hope you'll write about your thoughts in this blog. <br /><br />Start small. Sounds like you're trying to eat a mountain. <br /><br />TK Kenyon TK Kenyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756031460622964015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-87963776187435652392013-02-07T14:53:09.580-05:002013-02-07T14:53:09.580-05:00I would be very interested in talking to her about...I would be very interested in talking to her about prison ministry, to compare notes and experiences.Joel Monkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10631333436948102576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-9167345020252509822013-02-07T13:17:29.935-05:002013-02-07T13:17:29.935-05:00Yep, I'm back myself! But "back" is ...Yep, I'm back myself! But "back" is different this time: more about who I'm following and thinking about and less about what I have to say. But how much I wanted to hear from you last Sunday, when our guest minister reported from her prison ministry that Odinists are often White Supremecists using religious cover to meet and explore ideas she -- their chaplain -- finds distasteful. She says it's all about listening to and affirming everyone without making judgmental statements when at all possible. Pure pastoring, in other words. hardest form of Universalism there is.Elz Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-70359766968593067742013-01-06T23:23:26.285-05:002013-01-06T23:23:26.285-05:00I have been a member of my UU congregation since 1...I have been a member of my UU congregation since 1993 and have been scapegoated and bullied out of this particular congregation a few times.I have not found a "Free and Open search for Truth" here, but very sadly a history of avoiding conflict of all kinds and maintaining the "status Quo" at all costs. This story is much deeper and richer however, I now ask myself if this denomination is systematically experiencing this kind of dysfunction and how has this happened? Since I had intended to go into the UU Ministry and still have faith that not all churches are like this one, I would welcome some input from any ministers and other UUs who have congregations that are truly spiritual communities, collaborative and Truth Seeking...not sick with lying, jealousy and control issues, and a 35 year history of covering over the situation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-11360155074144678742013-01-03T16:17:59.895-05:002013-01-03T16:17:59.895-05:00I tend to shy away from invitations to speak for U...I tend to shy away from invitations to speak for UUs as a whole. It may not be possible. If it is possible, I suck at it. <br /><br />But the UU sensibility that I perceive is all about refining belief through reason. <br /><br />I'm not going to say that I do that all the time, though I do try. <br /><br />CCChalicechickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07781469958573869914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-49758008742484829672013-01-02T14:22:33.503-05:002013-01-02T14:22:33.503-05:00Joel, I gave up on U^U churches a while ago for pr...Joel, I gave up on U^U churches a while ago for probably similar reasons. There are other "Unitarian" groups to consider that are not UU, though admittedly they are still small and scattered. You might want to consider Unitarian Emerging Christian Church or Unitarian Ministries if you have any Unitarian Christian leanings. I gave up on organized religion when I left the local UU church. Nothing out there was a compromise I was willing to consider. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-83175248961366717402013-01-01T12:02:03.432-05:002013-01-01T12:02:03.432-05:00Hi Joel,
A link to your Blog was posted on AUC pag...Hi Joel,<br />A link to your Blog was posted on AUC page and I found it typical and interesting. I am Unitarian Christian and have found the “church attitude” you describe in various places. Might I invite you, if you like, to take a look at a new site; http://www.ucec.us/ this is the Unitarian Christian Emerging Church, a “grass roots” organization for the promotion and development of the Unitarian Christian community. I’m sure, if you are interested, they would welcome your contact. May God Bless. Rev. Shannon Rogers, UCEC/UCMI/UMI <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-25341448188709008502012-12-25T07:45:54.524-05:002012-12-25T07:45:54.524-05:00I feel your pain. I am a Libertarian UU member,and...I feel your pain. I am a Libertarian UU member,and I am not the most popular person at the church. Why does liberal theology mean I am suppose to accept and be a Liberal Democrat? Every discussion group meeting gets highjacked into the same Blame Bush Republicans, even 4 years later! We can never just discuss spirituality, its awful. Also, do UU's hate! They surely do in SA, they hate Christians! I always tell them, be careful what you hate, because that is what you will become. I do feel your pain, I just learned to select what I attend carefully, and if politics are brought up, I stand up and remind them that, that is not the subject at hand.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12591889115639533089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-32062085455637862562012-12-25T07:40:35.104-05:002012-12-25T07:40:35.104-05:00I am a Libertarian UU Member, and believe me, I fe...I am a Libertarian UU Member, and believe me, I feel your pain. Why does liberal theology means I have to be a Democrat Liberal? Every time we try to have a discussion on a Spiritual matter, the discussion is highjack to still Blame Bush Republicans? Do UU people hate, surely, they do! You can here their hatred against Christians in discussions. I am always reminded of be careful what you hate, because that is what you will become.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12591889115639533089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-14755776332124891842012-06-04T17:33:28.904-04:002012-06-04T17:33:28.904-04:00hi Joel,
the most amazing experience of being UU ...hi Joel, <br />the most amazing experience of being UU for me has been being one of those 40 people finding themselves unexpectedly out in the lobby, and now 3.5 years later finding myself a stalwart of a THRIVING UU emerging congregation made up largely, but no longer entirely, of those same stunned and heart-broken lobby folks. It does take a special situation to have endured, mainly to have a core of hugely open-hearted UU's with a deep commitment to congregational worship. But have them, we do, and so a new Fellowship is on the map. <br />In a long career of social justice organizing, this is THE single most successful project I have been part or. <br />Wishing you a similarly rewarding outcome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-48082290062765570282012-06-01T16:27:39.881-04:002012-06-01T16:27:39.881-04:00There are UU Churches that get things right. I wor...There are UU Churches that get things right. I worry that they are the minority, but I know that complaints are always louder and more numerous than accolades. That being said, I have had bad experiences myself, and I have been trying to build discussion about this kind of mis-covenant for a while.<br /><br />Please understand that the 7 Principles are bigger than any congregation. They are too big to fit in any one building, unless they are brought there in the hearts of the people who gather. If the members do not hold the 7 Principles as personal sign-posts and congregational covenant, then the church will not live up to them as a body, either.<br /><br />There are churches where it is done. They tend to be small, but this may not be essential. Sadly, our tiny religion does not offer multiple congregations in most geographical areas, and many are forced to take or leave the 1 or 2 with in driving distance. <br /><br />Maybe we'd see more growth if we worried less about numbers and membership, and more about being honest and holding each other accountable.Thomas Earthmanhttp://materialsojourn.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-83037263151880057082012-06-01T08:10:56.995-04:002012-06-01T08:10:56.995-04:00I'm not going anywhere. I'm still UU in th...I'm not going anywhere. I'm still UU in the way that Reagan was still a Democrat. "I still believe in the party of FDR & JFK," he used to say. "I never left it- the Democrats left me." I still believe in our principles and values- I just can't see a congregation that does around here, or believe the UUA as a religion does.Joel Monkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10631333436948102576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-19054771808632095202012-05-30T11:39:13.463-04:002012-05-30T11:39:13.463-04:00Joel, I am not a UU but I have followed your blog ...Joel, I am not a UU but I have followed your blog for several years. I too live in the Indy area and I will miss reading your posts very much.Christynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-71331287647242768892012-05-30T11:13:31.977-04:002012-05-30T11:13:31.977-04:00Peace to you!Peace to you!Christine S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06692309060238822834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-36146382846171676672012-05-30T10:14:51.233-04:002012-05-30T10:14:51.233-04:00Joel,
I'm sorry to hear this. You've alw...Joel,<br /><br />I'm sorry to hear this. You've always been a voice of sanity and keen insight amongst the UU blogs.<br /><br />I struggle to understand how/why it is that UU is wilting as a movement. Stories like the two (which you hint at here) are likely much of the explanation. But I struggle to understand.<br /><br />I'll light a candle for you.Red Sphynxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11100740275894284607noreply@blogger.com