Who Are We, Really?
The Sunday service on February 15th asked questions for the congregation to answer during the service. The photographs (thank you, Brandon!) show how folks in the sanctuary answered the first five questions. Our fellow congregants at The Admiral answered on paper copies; people attending online could respond in the chat. Using numbers 1-5, with 1 for the left side of the spectrum and 5 on the right, here’s what The Admiral and the online attenders said:
Are you uncomfortable or comfortable with your childhood religious experience? (uncomfortable = 1, comfortable = 5)
Eight 5’s, two 4.5’s, five 4’s, one 3-4, four 3’s, four 2’s, three 1’s.
Comments:
“5 until adolescence, then 1”
“5 during childhood, 1 in 20’s, 2 in 30’s, 3 in 40’s”
“Loved driving to Krispee Cream with gram after Episcopal service”
Are you uncomfortable or comfortable with God language? (uncomfortable = 1, comfortable = 5)
Four 5’s, one 4.5, five 4’s, two 3.5’s, six 3’s, two 2.5’s, three 2’s, one 1.5, two 1’s
Comments:
“Neutral with God language as long as other options are presented.”
“I interpret my own meaning, not what other people might mean”
“I ‘translate’”
How central is church in your life? (not much = 1, a lot = 5)
Two 5’s, one 4.5, six 4’s, seven 3’s, one 2.5, seven 2’s, two 1’s
Comments:
“Depends – location matters”
“Not very central at the moment. Been non-religious for a long long time, but trying to get back to a sense of community.”
How often are you frustrated with UUism? (never = 1, often = 5)
Two 5’s, one 4.5, two 4’s, two 3’s, one 2-3, one 2.5, six 2’s, two 1.5’s, eight 1’s
Comments:
“I don’t feel like I have enough information to answer this question”
“But that doesn’t deter me from participation, I see my role as helping UUism to grow”
Are you a dog person or a cat person?
Nine cat, eight dog, three neutral, one both, one neither, two plants, one fish
Comments:
“Woof all the way”
“DOGS DOGS DOGS”
“Cats make sense to me in ways dogs don’t.”
“DOGS DUH”
“I love and tend both equally! I pick dog partners and the cats have picked me!”
The sixth question was “What question would you ask?” Here are all the questions that people posted, from all three locations:
How do you make sense of the world?
Does the form of worship (Sunday Service in current form) deserve a monopoly?
What is your relationship with prayer/meditation?
Are you comfortable with having multiple or even constricting views of God?
Whether you had a past negative religious experience or not, what was your journey to UU like?
Do you believe in god?
Is it okay to practice Hindu spirituality, pray to multiple goddesses and attend Unitarian Church?
Would it be possible to bring the divine feminine to the service more? Goddess Blessed Be
Why does “God” have to be singular? What about gods?
Do you have to believe God exists to come to UU?
How important is your faith to decision making?
What do you envision for 2U’s future?
Do you follow rules?
How often should I give back?
Could we stop using the word “risen”? It reminds me of my RC upbringing and Jesus
How can we improve racial justice at UU churches?
Why structure 2U’s services on a Christian/Protestant model?
Do you think UU is culturally and ethnically diverse enough?
What brought you to UU initially and does this still hold true for you?
What is the most influential BOOK you’ve read?
What moment or internal question brought you here to 2U to find the answer?
How much is enough?
How much do you feel you are doing in the world? enough ----> not enough
How best to shelter and share our community. Singing, joys + concerns – Social Justice / Green Sanctuary / Climate
Are you conservative with money?
How often do you give to the weekly offering?
Laurel or Yanny?
How in the world do you figure out if you have done any good w/ your life?
Is spirituality or community more important?
Am I a bad UU if I don’t attend regularly?
For lack of better term, how can we improve racially and cultural diversity? Every UU church I have attended is primarily white centric. How can we include the Hispanic/non-white communities?
Should church be about: yourself & your experience ----> the community & other experiences
Does God really still love me even though I’m trans? ~ Recovering Pentecostal
How does your faith experience contribute to your current joy?
Why does the UUA seem unable to create a real plan to grow membership?
Do you believe in god All / None / Some
Which was your first relative to immigrate to the US? When? From where?
What makes you uncomfortable about UU?
When you come to the end of your life or loved ones what thoughts can comfort you?
How are love and hope related?
What is the primary reason you’re here?
How safe do you feel in this community?
Do you have enough space in your life to do the right thing?
Is prayer different from meditation? Is prayer affirmation?
What keeps you coming back to 2U?
How comfortable are you with ambivalence?
Who is your favorite Beatle?
How can I do more for 2U within the constraints of my life?
How important is it to you to be friendly with MAGA people in your life?
Do you identify as “religious”? Why/why not?
What makes you feel closest to “god”
Is candle lighting central to the service and to belief?
CTA: Trains vs. Buses
Are you currently comfortable with being a UU?
What experience or series of experiences first led you to come to a UU service?
If you could add any quality to UUism, what would it be?
How do you promote 2U?
Do you feel more comfortable in small groups or large groups?
We (USA) have been heading downstream since 1968. When do we head upstream? UU is pulling oars the hardest!
What do you “get” out of coming to service?
What do you most need from UUism?
Does any part of the service make you feel anxious or uncertain? What is your favorite part of the service?
Wow! What excellent answers! What excellent questions! A great big round of applause for all of us!!!
