Celebrating our Theological Diversity

Notes from our first Diversity Forum,
held on June 6, 2010
 

1. Why do you care about the issue of theological diversity?

• Want to come to an understanding about our differences

• Someone brought up the quote about “we need not think alike to love alike”

• Several recovering Catholics addressed issues from their past experiences

• Some people not aware of any problems about this issue in the congregation

• Concern about us/them dichotomy

• One person shared that she doesn’t know what her theology is or what it will become – and she is interested in hearing other people’s beliefs to be able to create her own

• Tolerance of ambiguity – the not knowing about our own theology but living in the process of exploring the possibilities

• Concern that other people’s beliefs are not respected; we should attend to how we treat each other

• Enjoy each others different beliefs

• Interested in creating a place to be real

• Approach issues with love (instead of fear)

• Value the creativity that comes from a group

2. Is UUSIC a place where you feel safe to talk about your theology?

• Benjamin talked about the effect when a congregation has a general skepticism about being deeply religious; the opposite of that (open to being deeply religious) allows for a depth of spirituality

• Someone brought up that in small groups they had witnessed scorn for using the word “heart” (as in "opening the heart") because the person reacted to the literal idea that the heart is an organ and you can’t “open” it

• Concern about language and definition of terminology (and reactions to perceived meaning of words)

• Secular Humanist has been asked if being a secular humanist within a religious organization is an oxymoron

• Some just feel unsafe or unsure of standing up and speaking their truth – not because of the group but because of fear of conflict, fear of being wrong, wanting to be right, not being able to defend beliefs/practices, etc.

3. Have you ever experienced a time when dismissal or disrespect has been
    shown for your beliefs? How did you react? What did you do or say?

• Someone shared witnessing strong language and not having the words to speak up; need the language to be able to do that

• Tell the truth with love

• Develop the muscles to lovingly confront inappropriate words or behavior

• Someone doesn’t want to be around missionaries trying to recruit to their ways/beliefs (convert people)

• It’s important to be able to hear other people’s beliefs

• No one example, just have feelers out listening for when it might not be safe or wise to share spiritual practices and beliefs, not that it is entirely someone else’s fault if a someone doesn't feel safe to share; desire to be able to express oneself – who you really are; have their insides match their outsides, especially in this religious community

4. When have you experienced theological diversity within our UUSIC
    community as a source of energy and/or learning? What can we do to
    improve the odds of this happening more often?

• People expressed the sense of having common ground when coming to UUSIC – that it’s safe and people’s opinions are respected

• A new member shared that even though she wasn’t sure what it was about, there was a vibe here, possibly due to these issues, that might deter new members; she thought there was enough good here that she was willing to join in spite of some concerns about some things not being quite perfect

• Concern about UUs in general being disrespectful about other faiths – comparing to them, putting them down, sounding like we’re right and they’re wrong

• Concerns about complacency in our own religion and a tendency to define ourselves over or against other religions

• UUs have a long tradition of poking fun at ourselves; perhaps that isn’t perceived as humor but more as putting other religions down

• Some experience theological diversity and learn something new every time they walk in the door

• Like to hear about UU – not just compared to other religions or drawing from other religions

• Looking for a place to explore different beliefs

5. Anything else – address any of the questions asked previously, any other
   thoughts on this topic?

• Someone shared that she was here to listen because she didn’t know what the problem was

• People used the term dissent to describe the problem

• Witnessed different interpretation of terms when there was really common ground – a language problem

• Someone owned her tendency to react with cynicism or say things that might be hurtful when something triggers past experiences in other religion (Catholicism)

• Important to talk about treasuring diversity

• Filtering – the practices of listening for the similarities or just really listening to others rather than reacting

• Be concerned with how we are with each other – individual is responsible for own feelings, but group has some responsibility for making sure congregation members feel safe

Notes from our second Diversity Forum,
held on July 25, 2010