Celebrating our Theological Diversity

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

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

• Feel relatively safe, mostly talk to people we agree with. It would be better and possibly more dangerous (risky?) but good for us to talk to people we don’t agree with.

• Build Your Own Theology series was very helpful. Encouraged to hang out with someone you don’t necessarily agree with, you might learn a lot.

• We don’t really talk about our own theology at coffee hour. Why would we have to talk about that? I don’t think like everyone else but I’m here b/c I feel I belong here.

• Shared about an experience of asking a question at a UUSIC event and having someone burst out laughing at the question.

• Value the opportunity to explore what I’m thinking. I do this better with others than I do alone in my journal. I like to dig deep in the moment and search for the truth. I don’t try to stay with what I believed in the past, open to moving forward in the search regarding my beliefs. Want to feel comfortable in the search and exploration.

• Love the idea of body, mind and spirit. I’ve received help from UUs and in learning opportunities at UUSIC. The spirit part is more personal. I want my thoughts heard and valued. I don’t like the jokes. Want to support people who have been hurt in past experiences, like that our congregation is open to GLBT folks.

• Diversity of philosophy and/or religious beliefs might be better terminology.

2. If you have experienced theological diversity here as a source of energy or learning,
what made that possible? How did you react? What were you feeling?

• I experience this within myself. I have a roving theology that changes as the occasion dictates for a more enriching experience – example: be open to a different faith listening to Bach who composed for Christian faith. Feel open to different beliefs and possibilities.

• Remembered a past service where two UU members had a dialogue about very different viewpoints (Sufi and Rational/Secular Humanist). They had a warm and civil discussion. They shared about difficulties connecting between different beliefs. But they were willing to try. UUSIC is a place where this can and should happen.

• Someone new to the congregation, looking for a church that was open to all beliefs. Someone who was not a member recommended that she come to UUSIC. She was impressed that a congregation would embrace a Buddhist Sangha and a Secular Humanist group. She feels that we can talk about everything.

3. If you experienced or witnessed dismissal or disrespect, how did you react? What were you feeling? What did you say or do? What did you intend to accomplish? Did it happen? How could you tell?

• He is a theological explorer. Remembered that we used to invite people from other faiths into our pulpit. He cringes when he hears people who are dogmatic about their beliefs. There are lots of beautiful beliefs that we can respect without a winning/losing attitude about them. There is a fragility around faith – words can hurt and wound people.

• There is a cumulative effect of hurtful words that are critical about theological beliefs. Can’t remember the exact details, but the comments add up over time.

• Seen other people put down with little comments – usually in the hallway or in passing rather than in Sunday services. They are comments said in a negative way. Has heard viewpoints referred to as “nonsense.” This shuts down the conversation. But this person would like to be able to speak up. Initial reaction is anger (internally) but glad that someone else spoke up.

• American’s favorite sport appears to be making other people wrong. This happens all over but seems strong on college campuses. There are hot arguments when the stakes are actually pretty small.

• Witnessed public disrespect, felt uncomfortable and powerless. I didn’t speak to the other person in private but I talked to someone else (gossiped and complained). Want communication that bridges the differences. This discussion raises my consciousness and reminds me that I need to act correctly and speak directly to the person I have a problem with.

• I may have said something that bothered someone else but I am not aware of it. I’m not sure how I would react if someone told me that I did something hurtful. I would want someone to call me out on my behavior. Some joking may be misunderstood. If you stick your elbows way out, someone is going to bump into them. There is an ongoing awareness of giving and receiving.

• I’m not aware of this being an in-house issue based on my personal contacts, newsletter, web site, annual reports, general information disseminated by email. But I think UUSIC could do more to promote positive perceptions of the world and humanity among the general public – to counter some negativistic diversity in the US (Rush Limbaugh, Tea Party, 1,700+ Hate Groups, etc.). During WWII I participated in a nation full of positive energy. Now I feel the above groups are giving diversity a bad name.

4. What can we do to improve the odds that our theological diversity will promote energy and learning rather than misunderstanding and separation?

• Explore differences in language/definitions. Be aware of how words work. Ask how words work for others – may be different for me.

• Create a culture of talking about what we believe. Ask about spiritual journeys in coffee hour. It’s disturbing that I feel like I can’t talk about certain things.

• Difficulty creating a larger connection if people don’t come anymore if they disagree with other members. How do we reach the people who disengaged from the conversation because they’re not here anymore? I like to connect with many religions and beliefs. There is an opportunity in our search for a new minister.

• I can’t always stay for coffee hour or participate in committee meetings, so I need for this work and discussion to happen during Sunday services. We come together to have different perspectives and beliefs represented. It would be great to invite speakers representing different faiths.

• We need more diversity represented in Sunday services – more than we have now.

• UUSIC could establish a pro-active Public Outreach Committee, Minister and DRE could submit articles to area newspapers, encourage Consultation of Religious Communities to encourage local newspapers to have a Philosophy/Religion section of the paper similar to the Sports section. All UUSIC members could increase our affiliation with groups oriented to modifying the negative behavior of individuals and groups, Spread the word about our 7 Principles, Increase frequency of contact with legislators and other government officials

5. Went around the room with a 5-word-or-less response to the forum.

• I didn’t write these down but they were mainly positive.

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