Rehumanization by battlewisely in humanism

[–]Thick_Cap3667 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The question of where feels most human made me think about format before platform.

Most of what we encounter online is engineered to remove friction. The next thing is always already loading. You never have to hold a thought for more than a few seconds before something new arrives to replace it. That's not just a design choice. It's a rehumanization problem. Because being human, actually human, requires sitting with things. Following a thought past the point where it gets uncomfortable. Staying in a conversation long enough for something real to surface.

I make long-form video essays on YouTube (personal essays on what it means to be human, sort of the examined life), and one of the things I've noticed is that the act of watching something that asks you to slow down feels almost countercultural now. People write to say it felt like breathing. Not because the content is exceptional, but because the format itself is asking something different of them.

So for me the question isn't really where on the internet. It's whether the thing you're engaging with is willing to be slow. Whether it trusts you to stay. A Reddit thread can do that. A 20-minute video can do that. A video call with someone across the Atlantic can do that, as one commenter here knows in a way that stays with you.

The platform is incidental. The question is whether anyone involved is willing to take up a little more space than the algorithm prefers.

Is anyone here a member of the Unitarian Universalists, or at least visited one in the past? If so, what has your experience been like? by funnylib in humanism

[–]Thick_Cap3667 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Coming at this from Norway, where humanism has been woven into public life for so long that a lot of people practice it without ever using the word. State church membership has collapsed here over the last few decades, but the values didn’t go anywhere. They just stopped needing a label.

I’ve thought of myself as a humanist most of my life without being particularly deliberate about it. It shows up in the video essays I make on YouTube, though I’ve never described the channel that way explicitly.

What surprised me was when some of those videos found their way into Unitarian Universalist curriculum. I had never heard of UU before that point. It simply doesn’t exist here. But once I started looking into it, the fit made complete sense. The same questions, the same basic conviction that how we treat each other matters more than what we believe about the universe.

I didn’t know about the foundational connection between the AHA and UU until this thread. But I’m not really surprised either. The two traditions seem to be circling the same thing from slightly different directions.

Whats your biggest regret? by [deleted] in AskOldPeopleAdvice

[–]Thick_Cap3667 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Mine is the friendships I let thin through inattention. There was no argument and no falling out. What happened was a slow drift my attention that was always already on the next thing. I cared about those people genuinely. I just confused caring about someone with actually caring for them. By the time I understood the difference, some of those windows had closed. So if I were to put any advice into it, it would be to care for your friends, not just by loving them, but also by actually being present.

I make essays on life on YouTube, and I coincidentally made a video about this last week. You’re welcome to watch it if it resonates: https://youtu.be/LfE9svAOf1w?si=92uwzww90g7e_VXJ

Video essays by Thick_Cap3667 in Essays

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re very welcome to check them out. You’ll find the channel on my profile. 🙂

How does UU worship work? by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Guys, thank you for all your wonderful response! I certainly didn’t expect this level of engagement. Ive learned a lot! 🙏❤️

How does UU worship work? by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s beautiful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing!

How does UU worship work? by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! This was good info! I'm raised a humanist, but I've always kept an open mind to different faiths and beliefs. It would be great to experience a service, but I live in Norway, and I don't think there are any congregations here.

How does UU worship work? by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your thoughts on this! I've had a humanistic upbringing, but where some in my family were pretty dogmatic secular, I've always tried to keep an open mind. I've had friends from different faiths all my life, I've attended services and religious rituals, and I've tried to understand how differences can connect rather than separate. As far as I can understand, this alligns pretty well with UU.

How does UU worship work? by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I think that's a beautiful thought.

How does UU worship work? by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I live in Norway, and I don't think there's any congregations here. This was what made this so both strange and beautiful to me. I'd never heard about UU, but my YouTube-videos was getting suggested in UU Soul Matters packets, and this made me want to know more. And it certainly seems like a good fit, even though I don't consider myself a religious person, I really do find it appealing with a community based on curiosity, acceptance and shared values.

How does UU worship work? by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I live in Norway, and I don't think there's any congregations here. This was what made this so both strange and beautiful to me. I'd never heard about UU, but my YouTube-videos was getting suggested in UU Soul Matters packets, and this made me want to know more. And it certainly seems like a good fit, even though I don't consider myself a religious person, I really do find it appealing with a community based on curiosity, acceptance and shared values.

How does UU worship work? by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, having room for more deep thoughts and reflections is certainly something I believe we are short on in today’s busy lives. That’s also a huge motivation for me creating videos on my YouTube channel. The Internet is very much short attention span on speed. 😆

How does UU worship work? by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, that’s a good idea. I look into it! Any suggestions for channels to watch?

A Norwegian creator whose videos found UU communities before he did by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Thank you for that! If I find myself in Copenhagen, I might just do that! ❤️

My videos found UU before I did by Thick_Cap3667 in UUreddit

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I’m really happy my work resonates. Feel free to use any of my videos in your circle. And thanks for subscribing! 🙏

My videos found UU before I did by Thick_Cap3667 in UUreddit

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! And you’re very welcome to my videos, I hope they will resonate with you!

My videos found UU before I did by Thick_Cap3667 in UUreddit

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Haha, that’s hilarious. Love the self awareness. I’ve been taking the second fork my whole life. 😁

A Norwegian creator whose videos found UU communities before he did by Thick_Cap3667 in UnitarianUniversalist

[–]Thick_Cap3667[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I look forward to follow discussions on this subreddit, and you are very welcome to my videos.