First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

Unitarian Universalism is nearly unique in that we draw freely on wisdom from all the world's religions, and indeed, from any other place we find it. Readings for sermons may be drawn from a For Better or For Worse cartoon as easily as they may be drawn from the Bible. We recognise that wisdom crosses religious divisions and act accordingly. Some members of our congregations identify strongly with other religious traditions as well, and we honour that; they often identify as Jewish-Unitarian or Unitarian Universalist pagan, for example. Some groups have been formed to foster fellowship among people of like beliefs, including UUJA, CUUPS, UUBF, and UUCF. These cross-pollinations can only happen when we are well-educated and open-minded about as many faith traditions as possible. We also integrate world religious wisdom into our own theologies, even if it is so mixed as to be totally unidentifiable as coming from one tradition or another. Again, this is only possible when we are educated. To this end, many congregations have a strong segment of their Religious Exploration programs devoted to education about other faiths. These learnings then becomes integrated as the students develop their own theological and religious beliefs. Use these links and activities to explore world religions in your own context.

world religions links and activities

Unitarianism in particular has a long history with humanism, starting at or just before the Humanist Manifesto was signed in 1933. "Humanism" can be used to mean "athiesm" but it can also have broader and more complex meanings in our faith. A number of humanists are an active and vital part of many of our congregations.

activity: research the UU Humanist organisation. Also research the Ethical Culture Society. Consider their relationship to our movement.

activity: think about what it must have been like to be a religious person who did not believe in God in 1950's North America. Interview someone if possible.

activity: visit beliefnet.com and take the belief-o-matic quiz. Print out your results and think them over for a week. Research your top five religious matches. Why do you think those came out at the top of your list? Do any of them surprise you? Why?

activity: visit at least three of the following, including at least one worship service and at least one Religious Exploration activity. If possible, discuss your experience with a member of that religious group afterwards. Ideally, research the group and the religion beforehand.

· mosque

· synagogue or shabbat dinner (Jewish)

· pentacostal church

· eastern orthodox church

· Catholic church

· “mainline” Protestant church (Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Anglican/Episcopalian, etc.)

· neo-pagan group not affiliated with your congregation

· Society of Friends (Quaker)

· Hindu temple or puja in another context

· aboriginal religious and spiritual traditions

· Shinto

· Taoist

· Buddhist

· African religious and spiritual traditions

activity: make an appointment with a UU minister or someone else knowledgeable about world religions in a UU context. Discuss the similarities and differences across religious lines. Consider one or more of the following topics:

· concepts of god

· beliefs about death and an afterlife

· beliefs about sin, grace, and human nature.

· understandings of sexuality and gender

· understandings of the roles of religious people in the world

activity: make a chart of world religions and their major beliefs. Add to it as you go.

activity: make a list of religious beliefs from other traditions that are also part of your belief system. Are there any faith traditions that have a particularly strong influence or consonance with you?

Sometimes, UUs will borrow rituals, symbols, or ceremonies from other traditions. Sometimes this is okay. Sometimes it is considered misappropriation. It’s not a clear line.

activity: think about how you might feel if someone borrowed a religious or cultural tradition that is precious to you. Consider what care or precautions you might want them to take.

activity: talk to two people from other faith traditions about how they would feel about others’ use of their rituals and symbols. Find out what you might do to be respectful if you did want to use something from their tradition. If you are concerned about saying the wrong thing, consider making these appointments with clergy of other faiths, rather than with laity.

lead me onward lead me backward take me home

Confused by the alphabet soup? Try the glossary

A Quirky Intro to Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism by Leela Sinha
Guided Tour: World Religions	If you like things in order . . . Introduction to the guided tour: . . . . .. lead me onward If your mind loves a search . . . Menu by Subject general information about Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism history polity general theology personal theology Religious Exploration political/social action involvement at First Unitarian, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA
Unitarian Universalism is nearly unique in that we draw freely on wisdom from all the world's religions, and indeed, from any other place we find it. Readings for sermons may be drawn from a For Better or For Worse cartoon as easily as they may be drawn from the Bible. We recognise that wisdom crosses religious divisions and act accordingly. Some members of our congregations identify strongly with other religious traditions as well, and we honour that; they often identify as Jewish-Unitarian or Unitarian Universalist pagan, for example. Some groups have been formed to foster fellowship among people of like beliefs, including UUJA, CUUPS, UUBF, and UUCF. These cross-pollinations can only happen when we are well-educated and open-minded about as many faith traditions as possible. We also integrate world religious wisdom into our own theologies, even if it is so mixed as to be totally unidentifiable as coming from one tradition or another. Again, this is only possible when we are educated. To this end, many congregations have a strong segment of their Religious Exploration programs devoted to education about other faiths. These learnings then becomes integrated as the students develop their own theological and religious beliefs. Use these links and activities to explore world religions in your own context. world religions links and activities Unitarianism in particular has a long history with humanism, starting at or just before the Humanist Manifesto was signed in 1933. "Humanism" can be used to mean "athiesm" but it can also have broader and more complex meanings in our faith. A number of humanists are an active and vital part of many of our congregations. activity: research the UU Humanist organisation. Also research the Ethical Culture Society. Consider their relationship to our movement. activity: think about what it must have been like to be a religious person who did not believe in God in 1950's North America. Interview someone if possible. activity: visit beliefnet.com and take the belief-o-matic quiz. Print out your results and think them over for a week. Research your top five religious matches. Why do you think those came out at the top of your list? Do any of them surprise you? Why? activity: visit at least three of the following, including at least one worship service and at least one Religious Exploration activity. If possible, discuss your experience with a member of that religious group afterwards. Ideally, research the group and the religion beforehand. · mosque · synagogue or shabbat dinner (Jewish) · pentacostal church · eastern orthodox church · Catholic church · “mainline” Protestant church (Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Anglican/Episcopalian, etc.) · neo-pagan group not affiliated with your congregation · Society of Friends (Quaker) · Hindu temple or puja in another context · aboriginal religious and spiritual traditions · Shinto · Taoist · Buddhist · African religious and spiritual traditions activity: make an appointment with a UU minister or someone else knowledgeable about world religions in a UU context. Discuss the similarities and differences across religious lines. Consider one or more of the following topics: · concepts of god · beliefs about death and an afterlife · beliefs about sin, grace, and human nature. · understandings of sexuality and gender · understandings of the roles of religious people in the world activity: make a chart of world religions and their major beliefs. Add to it as you go. activity: make a list of religious beliefs from other traditions that are also part of your belief system. Are there any faith traditions that have a particularly strong influence or consonance with you? Sometimes, UUs will borrow rituals, symbols, or ceremonies from other traditions. Sometimes this is okay. Sometimes it is considered misappropriation. It’s not a clear line. activity: think about how you might feel if someone borrowed a religious or cultural tradition that is precious to you. Consider what care or precautions you might want them to take. activity: talk to two people from other faith traditions about how they would feel about others’ use of their rituals and symbols. Find out what you might do to be respectful if you did want to use something from their tradition. If you are concerned about saying the wrong thing, consider making these appointments with clergy of other faiths, rather than with laity. lead me onward lead me backward take me home Confused by the alphabet soup? Try the glossary
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