“We want to bring our children up in a community where they can feel comfortable to express themselves and explore, a community that values critical thinking and self actualization. And here in our local UU church, we have found that community.” – Libby Ann of Love, Joy, Feminism
Quote comes from this post, Why I Take My Kids to the UU Church, in which Libby Ann explains what makes a Unitarian Universalist church so special and different from the hellfire and brimstone church she was raised in (which I can relate to since Hubby and I both grew up in one as well). Her post illustrates a good portion of why I want my kids involved in a UU church and why I’m likely to say I’m UU if asked by a random stranger what my religious beliefs are. I love the 7 UU Principles and find it an admirable collection of moral guidelines. I love the sense of community, particularly since our family is lacking in that area. I love a lot about UU and our local church, but It’s 30 minutes away and that drive eats up a lot of gas and precious time spent with Hubby on his day off (he doesn’t attend because “church” gives him anxiety).
Also, while I’m fairly liberal, I’m not quite as liberal as most other UU’s I know. I have a feeling I wouldn’t agree with certain aspects of the Our Whole Lives (OWL) sex-Ed program, and I’m not entirely comfortable with some social justice issues that are heavily promoted at my local church. I’ve also struggled with how pro-abortion the Unitarian Universalist Association is. I apply the first principle (the inherent worth and dignity of every person) to the unborn, but it seems most other UU’s do not. 😕 I realize the point of UU is to see what we can accomplish together when we set aside our differences, but a consistent life ethic is hard for me to put aside, especially if I hear abortion preached as a women’s health issue. If you’re unfamiliar with the consistent life ethic, here is Wikipedia’s basic definition:
“The consistent life ethic, or the consistent ethic of life is an ideology that opposes abortion, capital punishment, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Adherents are opposed, at the very least, to unjust war, while some adherents also profess pacifism, or opposition to all war.”
I’ll write another post later about why I’m pro-life, but for now I’ll recommend these sites (they sum up my position pretty well):
Feminists for Nonviolent Choices
In regards to UU and my family, I’m still undecided what role it will play in our lives going forward. It’s hard to live without the joy of sharing a hymnal and lifting your voice together with others in joy or sorrow. It’s hard to I’ve without support and love from a compassionate community.
Unexpectedly Magical 
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