AboutJon Bond Expertise Will answer all questions regarding Unitarian Universalist (UU)church; including ancient history (Universalists go back to at least 250 A.D.) and medieval history (Unitarians look to 1553 A.D. as their beginning) up to merger of the two movements in 1961 and continuing up to present. Am familiar with Christian church organizations and relationship of UUs to traditional churches.
Experience Currently member of Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, Colorado. Past vice-president of Board of Trustees and currently on Membership Committee. Have taught UU history for over 20 years. Have attended Unitarian Universalist General Assemblies (annual meetings held in June) for past 15 years.
Organizations Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, Colorado
Expert: Jon Bond Date: 6/15/2005 Subject: "two questions"
Question Hello Jon,
I just finished reading your response to a gentleman regarding two questions he posed about the UU belief systems. "How do you know right from wrong?" and what is your view of Christianity? I would like to examine the 136 contradictions you referenced one by one. Do you have a compiled list?
Question: It seems a UU viewpoint of morality is relative. How do you reconcile a culture or belief system that does not go with the majority of what people view is "right or wrong"? What is the foundation UU's understanding of justice, equity and compassion. If there are peoples who do not share your personal view of justice, equity and compassion, do you simply alienate yourself from them? How do you harmonize with them? It seems to me that being relative in these definitions is vague and ultimately provides no comfort to those who suffer. Sure you can put band-aids on peoples “boo-boos” and feel good that you did that, but it is my opinion that if one is have true relief from human suffering there has to be a a healing on a spiritual level, a supernatural intervention. I'll stop here and look forward to your response. Thank you for you time a consideration.
“Rather than "right" and "wrong" we seek to act as a moral force in the world, believing that ethical living is the supreme witness of religion.”
Definition moral - relating to issues of right and wrong and to how individuals should behave
- MSWord look up
Morality is a system of principles and judgments based on cultural, religious, and philosophical concepts and beliefs, by which humans determine whether given actions are right or wrong
- wikipedia
“We acknowledge that our relationships with one another, with other peoples, races and nations, should be governed by justice, equity and compassion.”
Ethical behavior is that which is "good" or "right.
- wikipedia
Justice is a concept involving the fair, moral, and impartial treatment of all persons, especially in law
- wikipedia
Compassion - Acts of kindness which seek primarily to confer benefit rather than relieve existing suffering are better classified as acts of altruism, although, in this sense, compassion itself can be seen as a subset of altruism, it being defined as the type of behavior which seeks to benefit others by reducing their suffering.
Altruism is either a practice or habit (in the view of many, a virtue) as well as an ethical doctrine.
- wikipedia
sincerely,
Loren Wilson
Answer Greetings Loren Wilson -
This is a follow up to my previous response of "It's going to take too much time to answer your question" or some such excuse. I was in a rush yesterday when your question was received. Let me now try to answer your questions.
You have quoted my answer as to morality. When you ask whether or not a UU "does not go with the majority of what people view is "right or wrong," I believe that in that my original answer I was trying to make the distinction that we do not try to say something is "right" or "wrong." Specifically, we do not advocate saying that you must do something "right" to make it into heaven and, conversely, you won't go to hell if you make the "wrong" choices. I have to stand by my previous answer - "we seek to act as a moral force in the world, believing that ethical living is the supreme witness of religion.” Let me quote from The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide wherein William F. Schulz, past President of the UUA and current head of Amnesty International, who says "No matter what our theological beliefs, I think Unitarian Uiversalists would be hard pressed not to agree in some sense with the Koran that "one hour of justice is worth seventy years of prayer." We believe religion must have an impact on the world. It cannot be all chanting and incense or even coffee and conversation, or it risks becomeing too far removed from experience. Our entire tradition (the UUA), from Francis David, the Transylvanian Unitarian, who was martyred in 1579, to the comtemporary social ethicist, James Luther Adams, and, on the Universalist side, from Origen to the late Clarence Skinner, educator, pacifist and social reformer, asserts that it is not enough merely to be in the world;it is necessary to judge the world in religious and ethical terms."
Quite honestly, I don't know any UUs who would believe in "a supernatural intervention" although I must say that some of our members (those that call themselves Christians) might ask for intercessionary assistance for "a supernatural intervention" but I don't know of any documented assistance in that area. I do believe, however, that when any line of a cause and effect can be traced, it will always reveal that this is the only way prayer can be answered, to wit: by some wider and deeper inter-responsiveness of people to one another which could be interpreted as God's (i.e. "a supernatural intervention") response.
I do have a complete list of the 136 biblical contradictions, but they exist in a small folder that was purchased from a biblical scholar. These contradictions are not in a "computer ready" format that I could transmit to you. You can, however, write to Crusade Publications, Box 200, Redmond, Washington, 98052 and request the same folder.
Loren, I sincerely appreciate your questions and I admire your attempt to clarify my answer(s). I believe it is people such as you that will help make the world a better place.
