This morning two different people asked me a question. I hesitated to answer because I did not know how to respond. It was not a complicated question. But it was a label. I shy away from identifying myself as a member of any sort of a group, even if it is one I am proud to be a part of.
Two people asked me the same question this morning. “Are you a Unitarian Universalist?” Before I could answer the question I had to think about what that really meant.
I have been attending a Unitarian Universalist service regularly for several months. I also go to the grocery store often, have a Pinterest board filled with recipes and I cook dinner seven nights a week. But I don’t really think I am a Foodie. So, I do not think the regularity with which I attend church necessarily makes me a UU.
On Friday night we were in the car. It was a Girl Party: me, Emily, Lucy and the twins from the down the street. We were going to church for Make your own Pizza & a Movie Night. As we approached the turn Em said to her friends “That’s our church there. It isn’t like other churches. It’s not a church-church. You don’t have to believe anything to go there. You just think what you want. You just pretty much have to be nice.”
So, the short answer to the question “Are you a UU?” – I think so. I try to be. I want to be.
Excitement on the side 
Pingback: “You went all Universalist” (or did I?) « A Robin Hood's Musing
If I was ever going to go to a church, it would be one like this – you just pretty much have to be nice. That pretty much sums it up. :)
Not a bad Life Philosophy
I love it when the wisdom of kids helps us clarify things in our own lives.
It happens more often than I slow down to realize.
I don’t even know what to say. I’m just so in love with this post. I am, as you know, a UU. Yes I am. Love it. And so happy to be raising my kids in the amazing community that is being UU. And I am freeging AMPED that you are feeling the UU love. xoxoxo
AMPED. :)
I don’t know much about UU. Thanks for blogging.
Thank you for reading! It is amazing how many people don’t know about UU.
Thanks for educating me!
I love being UU! I was raised in the organization and my parents even met at UU summer camp. I love explaining it to people because many dont even know that something like this exists! Great post. :)
Thank you!! I love to meet people that were raised UU – you don’t find them often enough!
I worked at a UU church for a year, and had similar feelings. I wasn’t ready to proclaim myself any denomination (even a non-denominational one!), but that church community was the most compassionate and open-minded I’ve ever known. If I ever decide to commit to a faith group, I think UU is where I’ll head.
Yep, bunch of good people! :)
I love her description. If the main rule for most religions was that we just needed to be nice I think the world be significantly more awesome for it.
Agreed!
So true!! I joined UU because I want to believe what I believe innately (my beliefs are a combination of many religious systems) and be able to celebrate life and joy and all the things I liked about having a church, without the whole “you are required to believe x” aspect. If all religions just said that love and kindness were required, nothing more, the world would br so much better.
Agreed! It is all the parts of “church” I was looking for.
Love how your daughter explained your church, although I’m an atheist I would not mind visiting your church (:
You would not be the only one there. :)
Ellie was pretty skeptical when I dragged her to check out the UUs when we moved here, but she pretty quickly fell in love. When I first started sporadically going to services in high school, the thing that struck me most was that I didn’t have to “convert” anything to take part. I just stumbled on these people who already shared core values and left me free to believe what I believed. I didn’t have to become UU… I was one just by being me.
You have summed up my experience right there. Love this comment.
Lovely post. I can relate to your feelings around being quietly proud. It sounds like a comfortable and warm environment to express your beliefs no matter how or what they are :)
I’ve never actually heard of this movement but reading that page…well it sounds like a good faith to go by and if they support you and yours…then I’m happy for you for finding them :)
It is a pretty awesome group of people. We, my family, are lucky to have found them.
I like that idea of a church. ;D
Em has a way with words.
Perhaps it is the trait of an Emily? ;)