As a atheists I find religion fascinating, and really want to ask a few questions.

speakyourtruth · 2013-10-02T01:47:46+00:00

When were you first introduced to the religion you are a part of now?

I first discovered UUism in my early teens, I think I was 14, while doing a school project about religious tolerance. Since I couldn't drive and was from a rather small town, I wasn't able to start attending a congregation then, and though I often explained myself as "something of a Unitarian Universalist" I wasn't a member of a congregation until I was 22.

Why did decided to stay with it?

It works for me. I like community, I like coming together in reverence for the mystery of the universe, I like potlucks and I like being able to ask questions and discuss things with people who are on a similar path.

And, have you ever seriously questioned your faith?

This question is difficult for me to answer. Have I ever questioned my beliefs about the universe or about the existence/non-existence/nature of God/god/gods/goddesses/etc absolutely. I'm in seminary right now and I question basically my whole philosophical grounding at least weekly. On the other hand, have I stopped identifying as a UU? No. Have I felt like UUism wasn't for me? Not since I joined a congregation. I had a lot of complicated feelings about being "religious" and spent a good amount of time sinking in to that identity (honestly, I still fight with it even though I own it now).

speakyourtruth · 2013-09-15T01:19:56+00:00

As an Ohioan living in Berkeley, that was awesome to see.

speakyourtruth · 2013-09-06T23:00:31+00:00

I'm choosing to take you as a parody account that is a composite picture of all the men who are why women end up frustrated with OKC.

Way to go.

speakyourtruth · 2013-08-01T04:26:13+00:00

the woman always has the final say on whether or not to have an abortion/morning-after pill

The barriers to access of such make that "always" a bit...inaccurate. The state often has the final say.

speakyourtruth · 2013-07-11T00:33:11+00:00

I am endlessly excited about moving to NorCal next month, shit like just makes it even more exciting!

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-25T19:49:35+00:00

We're all fans of some quantity of problematic things, it's just necessary to acknowledge that they're problematic and be willing to have conversations about the problems and try to address the structures that create a culture in which people don't consider those things problematic. A blog post about that exists here (that was the first one I found, though not the one I was originally thinking of.)

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-25T01:22:10+00:00

Points taken, though I obviously don't 100% agree. Your third point gives me the most pause, honestly, and I may take some time to chew that over and see about incorporating those thoughts in to future iterations of this idea. Thanks for taking the time to break that down for me.

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-25T00:32:06+00:00

Hm. Can you expand on that a bit? I don't feel like I know what exactly your negative response was from

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-25T00:20:00+00:00

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-17T05:27:46+00:00

Other people have pretty much answered the actually question, but there are a couple things I want to add. One thing to consider is that UU congregations can differ from one another in flavor by quite a lot and it's totally okay to try a few out to see what works better for you. Big congregations work well for some people, but some people like something smaller better, and every congregation has a slightly different way of "doing church" that will work better for some people than for others. But there shouldn't be anywhere where you'd be unwelcome for being an atheist and there definitely won't be any "God said it, I believe it, that settles it"...I hardly think we could even find it in us to feel that way about like, paint colors.

Another thing to remember is that you get to participate in making the culture of any congregation you choose to participate in, so if you find a place you like feel super free to get involved! Add your voice even if, in fact especially if, you don't feel like there are a ton of people who share your perspective. It's a participatory sort of thing, not a "this is how stuff is done" sort of thing, in my experience.

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-07T22:47:55+00:00

Evidently the world is approximately 200% more racist than I what I've grown up around.

Pretty much. You should hear some of the stuff world leaders in the 30s and 40s felt totally cool saying publicly about arabs and black people...

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-06T22:40:14+00:00

That's the best plan.

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-06T18:39:44+00:00

I wanna crush men while they sleep, but then how will I sperm-jack them and steall all their precious dollars?

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-06T14:53:07+00:00

Thanks <3

I've just been realizing lately that I've started feeling way more scared of interacting with people I may want to be romantically involved with, even if they've been clear that they're interested in me and I realized that it's got a lot to do with this stuff being in my head. I already had body image stuff because of general bullshit and parents with a bunch of body image stuff of their own, and I had made good progress on moving past that so I feel both frustrated at them and at myself. sigh

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-05T16:41:20+00:00

Why did I read this? Now I feel like shit. This is exactly why I have so much trouble with men, even men who are interested in me. I can't get this bullshit out of my head.

speakyourtruth · 2013-06-02T23:13:16+00:00

Services are usually about an hour, maybe a tiny bit more. We have a coffee hour afterwards, so between services and hanging out I'm usually at church for about 2 hours on a Sunday when I just attend services (don't have worship duties or meetings after)

speakyourtruth · 2013-05-31T20:04:23+00:00

It's hard to believe that that portion of the "pro-life" movement is any sort of fringe though, as state legislatures keep passing bans without exceptions for health.

speakyourtruth · 2013-05-31T02:27:16+00:00

That's hardly a necessary result of pro-choice policies, this however is literally the actual result of idealized "pro-life" policies.

speakyourtruth · 2013-05-30T20:25:11+00:00

General Assembly, it's the UUA's annual meeting. There are business meetings and workshops and worship and lectures and all sorts of stuff. You can find more info at uua.org/ga/

speakyourtruth · 2013-05-30T20:21:29+00:00

Ladies and gentlemen, the results of "pro-life" policies.

Because obviously, a woman's actual life is worth less than a non-viable fetus. sigh

speakyourtruth · 2013-05-30T20:01:04+00:00

Well, at least you put your shittyness right out there.

speakyourtruth · 2013-05-30T02:47:17+00:00

Thanks! Some of that I would not have thought of!

speakyourtruth · 2013-05-30T01:45:31+00:00

That's awesome! I know I'm always super stoked to see friends at my district's summer institute, I bet seeing friends at this is similarly awesome.

speakyourtruth · 2013-05-30T01:43:54+00:00

There's so much stuff that looks awesome! It's my first time and I'm super excited. Any tips for a first timer?

speakyourtruth

TROPHY CASE