First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

One doesn't develop a personal theology so much as excavate it, finding out what you already know or feel to be true, examining why, tweaking it, excavating some more. Here are some questions to get you started:

what's your first response if someone asks if you believe in god?

why?

how do you define "god"?

what is the most moving, inspiring, powerful thing in the world to you? Can you even describe it? Do you have a word for it? Do any of the world's religons? If you don't believe in god but feel that you believe in something, research Tao, Chi, and brahaman for ideas about how to articulate it.

activity: attend a Building Your Own Theology Religious Exploration class.

activity: go back to your belief-o-matic results and research. Take a look at the theologies of your top five religions. Are any of them a fit? A partial fit?

activity: find three congregants in your congregation with three different theologies. Ask them about their beliefs in depth. Ask how they came to their beliefs and what sustains them.

activity: interview your minister about zir theological development.

activity: visit another faith's house of worship with a member or clergyperson of that faith. Ask about the iconography and the theology there. Think about their worship services: how do they support that theology? How do the services in your congregation support your theology?

activity: take a class at a local university in the religion department. Sit in or audit, but do all the reading and take any field trips offered.

activity: find a book or museum exhibit of religious work. Consider how the work supports the theology of the artist or institution for which the work was created.

resource: Building Your Own Theology. This is a curriculum from the UUA; if it isn't being taught in your area, it's worth reading through.

resource: Philocrites' book list

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: Theology: personal	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
One doesn't develop a personal theology so much as excavate it, finding out what you already know or feel to be true, examining why, tweaking it, excavating some more. Here are some questions to get you started: what's your first response if someone asks if you believe in god? why? how do you define "god"? what is the most moving, inspiring, powerful thing in the world to you? Can you even describe it? Do you have a word for it? Do any of the world's religons? If you don't believe in god but feel that you believe in something, research Tao, Chi, and brahaman for ideas about how to articulate it. *activity:* attend a Building Your Own Theology Religious Exploration class. activity: go back to your belief-o-matic results and research. Take a look at the theologies of your top five religions. Are any of them a fit? A partial fit? activity: find three congregants in your congregation with three different theologies. Ask them about their beliefs in depth. Ask how they came to their beliefs and what sustains them. activity: interview your minister about zir theological development. activity: visit another faith's house of worship with a member or clergyperson of that faith. Ask about the iconography and the theology there. Think about their worship services: how do they support that theology? How do the services in your congregation support your theology? activity: take a class at a local university in the religion department. Sit in or audit, but do all the reading and take any field trips offered. activity: find a book or museum exhibit of religious work. Consider how the work supports the theology of the artist or institution for which the work was created. resource: Building Your Own Theology. This is a curriculum from the UUA; if it isn't being taught in your area, it's worth reading through. resource: Philocrites' book list lead me onward lead me backward take me home Confused by the alphabet soup? Try the glossary
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