Unitarians and Other Faiths

If Unitarian-Universalists believe there is wisdom to be found in other faiths, then we should accept other faiths as legitimate in themselves. Where we find some wisdom, others may find a lifetime's worth.

If Unitarian-Universalists believe in the right to individual conscience, then we should respect the chosen faith of other individuals acting by their consciences.

In short, we should be, true to our name, accepting of the wide and diverse faiths found among humanity, and not hold ourselves to be superior to others. In the great family of all faiths, we should be the conveners, the ones who find common ground, the ones who seek to bring the family together over shared values and commitments.

Besides, it is the mark of a mature and settled faith to accept those of different faith without fear or discomfort.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Do you mean to say we should accept ANYTHING from another religion, no matter how hurtful or damaging?
Just because a religious tradition has some wisdom in it, does not mean all of its tenets are wise. May we not judge for ourselves which are wise and which foolish? Though we may make an incorrect judgment, whom shall we trust to make these judgments more than ourselves? If we are wise, we do not make our judgments in a vacuum, but are we not the final arbiters?
I propose that it is people we must respect, but not all ideas are worthy of respect. Some ideas are downright lousy.
December 29, 2007
Louis Merlin said…
kim,
Of course you are right, we cannot accept beliefs that we oppose and that are dangerous. Thanks for pointing out this correction. Actually, I think the question of where exactly we should take a stand, and where we should be open, is a tricky one.

What I mean to say is much simpler, which is just not to be arrogant and judgmental about beliefs that are different than our own. I think there is a tendency among UUs to see people of faith as ignorant bumpkins, and its one I deplore.

In short, don't look down upon someone because they believe Jesus is their personal savior. But feel free to disagree with (and in some cases actively resist) someone who tells you that women ought to obey their husbands.

Admittedly, again, the line between theological and political belief is not always so clear...
December 30, 2007
Robin Edgar said…
"I think there is a tendency among UUs to see people of faith as ignorant bumpkins, and its one I deplore."

I deplore that tendency as well, and it is really take it a bit too far when intolerant fundamentalist atheist "Humanist" U*U ministers can dogmatically preach from their wayward pulpit that God is "a non-existent being" and belief in God "seems primitive". Likewise it is deeply insulting when they label people's religious beliefs as being nothing but "silliness and fantasy" and publicly proclaim that most of the religious rituals of the world'd religions are "meaningless". . .
January 22, 2008
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