Unitarian Universalism (UU) is inclusive & cool! L2MYPI

^L3WU4I:Revision 3255 -2010.07.25pst0847 (~66% complete 2nd draft):
Unitarian Universalism (UU) is inclusive & cool! L2MYPI
—the kind of sales-intro UU badly needs

^L3WUML:

Contents —Read for a quick full-picture of what's here

1. L2N032:  What the heck is "UU"?
1. L2MI91:  In short=
1. L3WUWT:   Are you unsatisfied with organized religion? So are we!
2. L3WVFS:  I think this synopsis would be a great seller for UU!
3. L3WWC2:  Pros & Cons of this synopsis (from best to worst points roughly):
1. L3WVNN:  I carefully wrote it to cater to the person who might come to UU but hasn't because of common reasons
2. L3WVN4:  it summarizes all the points presented in this document plus others I've seen being involved in UU for 10 years.
3. L3WWFF:  It's still a bit long and not something for a business card or even a 1 page-ad; for instance taglines are also needed.
4. L3WWFT:  It doesn't (yet) mention famous UUs.
4. L3WVKG:  The remainder of the section needs to be better organized to be an analogous expansion of this synopsis.
2. KW4ANG:  Are you sick of organized religions?
3. L2LXXU:  UU IS INCLUSIVE & COOL!  Unitarian Universalism is:
4. L2LY0N:  Consequently, UU's NOT like any other organized religion in that all the bad stuff has been removed:
5. L3WYWB:  But UU's still got the community, spirit, music, singing, participation, and even ritual you'd expect out of any established religion —just with none that divisive, war-starting dogma!
6. L3WYYA:  UU has over 1000 congregations world-wide!
7. L3WYZ8:  What do do:
2. L3X0PM:  Problems with UU (from most to least serious):
1. L3XRO4:  UU's likely #1 core problem: not telling people enough what to do & to believe
2. L3WZDX:  UU's #1 obvious problem: an abysmal job of advertising & marketing itself, why you probably haven't heard of it until now
1. L3WZFC:  As would be expected, this has serious negative consequences including:
2. L3X2I6:  Why, & what's happened?
3. L3X47A: The facts: Only 1 in 8000 religious people is UU (and most of those other religious people are saying theirs is right) so you guess going to happen...!  Yes, UU is reportedly effectively dying, so in SERIOUS jepordy if it doesn't get the word out
4. L3X5X7:  My recommendation: UU needs the same active & aggressive marketing no different than an entrepreneurial start-up in a well-established market
3. L3WZH3:  In most cases, UU has effectively no young adults (except with children & typically married)
4. L3WZJR:  UU is often ~95% white (almost no racial diversity) though seemingly slowly improving
5. L4G5JA:  (like seemingly many other popular religions) Not enforcing & judge-following the principles & values it endorses
6. L3X1C0:  not giving completer moral answers (as even if problematic, some guide is typically a lot better than none)
3. L2OXVG:  UU's official principles & sources.
1. L2P9IR:  UU is (and always was) officially formed heavily around a short list of principles and sources.
2. L2P9HJ:  From my 10 years experience in UU, the UU Principles & Sources...
3. L2OXVQ:  L2OXVQ= The present version quoted from http://ua.org/visitors/6798.shtml:
4. L2OXWG:  History (of the Principles & Sources)
4. L2OARU:  Core history of UU answering how & ideally why UU came about (plus the connection with Unitarianism & Universalism):

1. ^L2N032:  What the heck is "UU"?

1. ^L2MI91:  In short=

1. 
   

L3WUWT:   Are you unsatisfied with organized religion? So are we! With pioneering roots dating back to the 1500s, since it's human formation in 1961, Unitarian Universalism (UU) is just an organization of healthy values, spirituality, & community. And it's world-wide (and world-thinking: "One planet, one people") with over 1000 local groups! In fact, UU is essentially an organized religion replacement where –apparently unique to UU– in UU, UU has intentionally & actually removed all the bad stuff of organized religion: Unlike religions, UU deliberately NEVER tells you what you must believe nor even makes over-statements nor really-debatable-statements nor disregards science; most notably UU deliberately NEVER claims "We have "the" answer" nor says if-there's-life-after-death nor how-many-gods-exist nor anything about supernatural —let's you decide these things yourself. Instead UU focuses on universal values & morality & feelings of the here-and-now, and has recommend principles which evolve by-design and are voted on, and more-than-anything encourages you to responsibly pick-and-choose (be eclectic with) your beliefs (indeed, "create your own theology"), and celebrates the responsible free-thinker: in fact UU is maximally open-minded & accepting while still being responsible. And it builds communities. So... It's a place where the loving & responsible Agnostic, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Atheist, Wiccan, Hindu, Scientist, Environmentalist, Humanist, and persons from most all other religions & mindsets, can all be at home, as we say "Everyone has a part of the answer!"  And have all the wonderful ceremony, values, community, music & ritual of organized religion, but with none of the dogma! Indeed, if you took all the major world religions, and instead of fighting & killing over often just theoretical differences, you instead asked what they all agree on and how can we make them get along together, you'd get UU. "We're the COEXIST Bumpersticker!" Indeed rather than than claim we have "the" answer, we get out and help! We're "Deeds not Creeds" and indeed UUs are regularly pioneer leaders in social & environmental action, plus spotting & defending the rights of the repressed a bit like the ACLU (for instance, UUs fought for black rights alongside Martin Luther King, and apparently supported full LGBTI rights (and had openly-LGBTI leaders) decades ahead of every "other" religion). Rooted in Europe, and pioneered in America, UU is most like America itself (and the US Constitutioned and US Military Chaplains working with "all faiths"); unlike religion, UU & America proudly admit to being human-created & imperfect, and both UU & America instead support & encourage freedom of belief (indeed they pioneered it), and uniquely unite people with all different origins & faiths, and both admit they are flawed, question themselves, responsibly provide for self-flaws & needing-updates —they are both unique after 1000s of years, both the next generation of better government & religion! So just as America is a melting pot (or salad bowl) and the American flag shows uniting the 13 colonies and 50 states, so UU is like the COEXIST bumper-sticker combining all the major religions plus sexes & even science; instead of dividing & excluding, both unite & include all walks of people & beliefs. UU says "Everyone has a part of the answer!" In fact, just as the US Declaration of Independence [famously began>initially proclaimed>>the line you quote doesn't appear until the 2nd paragraph, so it doesn't "begin" the Declaration]"all [persons] are created equal", so UU's 1st Principle is "The inherent worth and dignity of every person". And though we do an abysmal job of advertising so are still lacking in age & racial diversity (please help!), thanks to say Google Search eventually people find us and generally exclaim “Where have you been all my life?!” —that is, if they aren't the millions already burnt on on the "R" word ("religion") due the bad stuff of "other" religious organizations, indeed as recently portrayed in Bill Mahr's film Religulous (2008) (so if that's you, first check UU!). And with over 1000 congregations world-wide, UU likely has a group within a few miles of you. Plus we have UU Young Adults online. So, join us!




2. ^L3WVFS:  I think this synopsis would be a great seller for UU!

3. ^L3WWC2:  Pros & Cons of this synopsis (from best to worst points roughly):

1. ^L3WVNN:  I carefully wrote it to cater to the person who might come to UU but hasn't because of common reasons

1. ^L3WX6O:  because of common reasons: because some combo of:
   
1. ^L3WX7J:  most especially, the person has been damaged by the overstatements & arrogance of typical organized religion,
   
2. ^L3WX7U:  secondarily, the person has never been told about UU or at least not in any way that made sense,
1. ^L3WXWM:  While you might telling the person about UU would be our first job, here I make this secondary because it seems the number of people today disappointed with organized religion is so big it's several times larger than all the people who really know of UU: so you don't dare talk about anything like religion unless you first address their often enormous disappointment with it
   
3. ^L3WXBH:  possibly the person fears liberal or anything lacking god(s)/spirits commanding to insure good (mis-thinking it couldn't work)
   
2. ^L3WY3K:  my idea: begins with "Are you unsatisfied with organized religion? So are we!"
1. ^L3WY7F:  Why "just" this target audience?
1. ^L3WYDN:  Because the people unsatisfied with organized religion are
   
1. ^L3WYA2:   generally religiously interested (if they were looking for something but found unsatisfaction)
   
2. ^L3WYBG:  (most important of all) a HUGE group I estimate: not just a few people but several times more people than all UUs and all those knowing of UUs, indeed probably representing about 1/2 of all people in the world today, so a huge pool which UUs-are uniquely positioned to sell to (if they realize how), potentially not only growing UU 10% or 50%, but potentially 10x or even 100 or 200x larger —now THAT's potential
2.  ^L3WYN5:  Because the people who ARE satisfied with organized religion you're NOT going to win-over (at least not easily now) do don't waste your time & theirs; indeed the only way they would probably switch is if they saw UU grow to their sizes, or else quickly growing to their size, which is way off into the future.
   
3. ^L3WW0H:  my ideas: by design, it does NOT call UU a "religion"
1. ^L5YZNS:  -since
1. ^L5YZOL:  #1, UU does NOT fit common notions of religion, at least organized religion, of telling people what to do & believe (and in a way that piss people, at least about 1/3rd of people off, and so it also avoids "The R word").
   
2. ^L5YZT2:  #2, UU does NOT fit typical formal definitions of religion (conflicts underlined and commented), as:
1. ^L5YZZD:  Wikipedia's definition:
   

   from L. religionem (nom. religio) "respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods,"^[1] "obligation, the bond between man and the gods"^[2] is the belief in and worship of a god or gods[—UU makes no statements about the supernatural], or more in general a set of beliefs explaining the existence of and giving meaning to the universe [—UU does not explain nor claim-to-give-meaning-for "the universe", nor does it even explain "life", though, as every religion tries to do, UU does help give meaning to life - as, the parts of religion which are unquestionably-good or -true, much-if-not-all of that UU keeps], usually involving devotional and ritual observances[—UU offers this, but never requires it], and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs[-UU doesn't offer anything directing conduct, but does offer values & principles suggesting conduct, though doesn't even require these.].^[3]
   

2. ^L5Z0EX:  Merriam-Webster's definition (all possibly applicable portions): 

   1 ... b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural[—UU makes no statements about the supernatural] (2) ...
   2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices[—UU would fit this ONLY if you removed word "religious" here, as UU doesn't match this definition of "religion"]
   3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness[—UU is instead about eclecticism and finding your own set of beliefs which best suit you]
   4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith[—UU would fit this ONLY if you removed word "ardor" here, as, by "ardor"'s definition, that too extreme: while UUs are usually quite happy about their beliefs, ardor is not that typical among UU (unfortunately) and definitely not required.]
   

3. ^L5Z1ZA:  #3, while it's occurred to me to fight to extend the formal definitions of "religion" to properly include UU, that would be decades if not centuries before the widespread & strongly held notions about religion (that most everyone has) would also enlarge to include UU, so then it's MUCH easier (indeed possibly the only realistic route is) to position UU as something else, as (from below) "an organized religion replacement")
   
2. ^L5Z25T:  -instead it uses the following termonology:
1. ^L3WWNN:  (my idea) it calls UU "an organized religion replacement"
1. ^L3WWO8:  (partially my idea) it calls UU "just an organization of healthy values, spirituality, & community"
2. ^L3WWRQ:  The important wording of "an organization" (rather than "a religion") was the suggestion was from a sharp man on the street (I can't remember who) I was talking up UU to in ~2009 since he'd never heard of it but was curious. The rest of the wording here is my idea.
3. ^L5Z290:  The suggestion of "spirituality" instead of "religion" I first heard from Tapestry (UU Mission Viejo) minister REV Tom Owen-Towle (around 2009.11, we privately had a quick conversation of effectively this:

   I said to him “I'm trying to promote UUYA-US-CA-OC and UU, but UU is hard to sell to new people because they trip out over “The R Word”: “Religion” - they've got all these bad ideas about it” he replied to me “Call UU “spiritually”, people are much more receptive to that.” to which I said “You're right, that makes sense!”) 
   

2. ^L3X12W:  (my idea) at least initially instead of "congregation" say "local group" to avoid the religious overtone.
   
3. ^L3WWOL:  (my idea) it only refers to UU as a "religion" when the word in in quotes (""religion"") to make it clear it's not quite a religion by this reasoning (above).
   
4. ^L3WW8W:  my idea: it avoids calling UU "liberal" as that word has a negative meaning to many people, including probably many/most people who call themselves "conservative"; instead,
1. ^L3WXMS:  (my idea) it calls UU "maximally open-minded & accepting while still being responsible"
   

2. ^L3WVN4:  it summarizes all the points presented in this document plus others I've seen being involved in UU for 10 years.

3. ^L3WWFF:  It's still a bit long and not something for a business card or even a 1 page-ad; for instance taglines are also needed.

4. ^L3WWFT:  It doesn't (yet) mention famous UUs.

4. ^L3WVKG:  The remainder of the section needs to be better organized to be an analogous expansion of this synopsis.

2. ^KW4ANG:  Are you sick of organized religions? 

1. ^L3WUQB:  Specifically are you tired of the typical religious groups which:
1. ^L2OZSV:  tell you what to think, and
2. ^L2OZV6:  tell you must believe in certain things & even miracles —even devote your life to them—  even though:
   the moral connection for them is not obvious (How does canes-turning-into-snakes make me a good person?) and
   the scientific proof for them is often weak or even none, yet still
   
3. ^L2OZVE:  way-over-promise: claim to not only have AN answer "THE BEST" answer, in fact "THE" answer and "ALL" the answers, for them and everyone); and then
   
4. ^L2OZWT:  act as if doing this to you and others is "loving"?
   ^L2OZXP:  “Hey, I love pizza. What, you don't love pizza, too? Do you not see the light? I know you may have been living in another continent just fine for centuries, but if you don't love pizza, something must be wrong with you! Have you not read our holly recipe book which is wholly & eternally flawless in every word as the pages were dictated by God Himself?  As you you must just not know better about pizza!  Or, but you have read it, and you have even had pizza?  Well, sad to say, then, you must just not have a good heart - let me pray for you. For, as our book dictates, if you want to be saved, you really need to love pizza!”
2. ^L2OZY1:  Lead to endless huge & deadly wars in the their name (in the name of organized religion): Across the world are deadly big wars in the name of such organized religion, especially in the name of the big 3 (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism)  — even today, people killing each other daily over such religion: Shites & Sunnies, Jews & Muslims, Irish Catholics & Iris Protestants — blowing each other up over their religion. It's still a world of religious division, where now every major war has religious underpinnings.
   And people killing each other over it when it (religion) CLAIMS to be teaching & making people to be loving & harmonious.
3. ^L3WURJ:  —Well if you're fed up with all this, then join the club! -as join the UU club!



3. ^L2LXXU:  UU IS INCLUSIVE & COOL!  Unitarian Universalism is:

1. ^L2LXZ2: an organization of healthy morality, & spirituality, & community, a belief in humanity and in community and in nature,
   with the the community, song, ceremony, & ritual of organized religion,
   but with all dogma removed, including never telling you you what you must think nor telling you that it is the best.
   
2. ^L2LXZQ:  “organized religion but with all the bad stuff removed”
   —organized religion but after removing all the disgusting stuff which religion has done and deservedly gave religion a bad name.
   



4. ^L2LY0N:  Consequently, UU's NOT like any other organized religion in that all the bad stuff has been removed:

1. ^L2LYQ8:  While many/most religions preach & push that their way is the right way for you & everyone,
   UU will instead encourage- & celebrate you for responsibly finding your own way — indeed that's the top UU principle.
   
2. ^L2LYSF:  While many/most religions say you are wrong & have you feel guilty for not doing everything they dictate,
   UU will instead encourage you to responsibly pick & choose and be eclectic, indeed celebrate you for doing so —again that's the top UU principle.
   
3. ^L2LZBK:  We're the  “COEXIST” Bumper-sticker * (with the symbols of (the major religions plus peace male & female plus even "e" for science (E=mc^2)) all combined to spell the world "COEXIST" saying they should coexist peacefully together... and with UU they can!)
   
4. ^L2LY1S:  While many/most religions effectively divide people and lessen others by preaching & demanding endlessly of how their religion is different and (arrogantly?) "best" & "only",
   UU instead "unites" religions & people, by
1. ^L2LYJD:  L2LYJD= instead finding & focusing on commonality, on "universals", and on basic social principles which most everyone agrees on. 
1. ^L2LZG8: We hear plenty (too much about) how all the different religions of the world are different, but
   If instead you asked what all the major religions of the world agreed on, you'd get UU.
   
2. ^L2LYAU:  studying & appreciating each religion and every person
3. ^L2LYBO:  Talking about and celebrating the major holidays of all major religions
4. ^L2LYDA:  Touring the places of worship & inviting leaders to speak from virtually all other religions
5. ^L2LYLK:  Typically featuring (indeed seeming the best home for) couples & families where one person is of one religion and another person is of a different religion.  For instance, a where a Jew marries a Catholic, or a Muslim marries a Baptist, etc.
6. ^L2LZOQ:  The most liberal & open-minded & accepting faith while still being responsible.
5. ^L2LY29:  While seemingly every other religion teaches that their religion is best (and typically "only") for everybody,
   UU does NOT say that it is best for everybody (probably UU is only best for you if you're smart enough to realize that it would be ;-)
   moreover UU kids are taught ALL the major world religions (not just UU) and NOT told they should pick UU,
6. ^L2LZI6:  While many/most religions all each claim only they have "the" answer,
   UU instead says “Everyone has a part of the answer.”
   
7. ^L2LZKU:  While many.most religions are exclusive, UU is inclusive.
   
8. ^L2LZTM:  While many/most religions claim to be eternally perfect (or at least eternally perfect holy texts) created/dictated by God,
   UU admits it's imperfect and human-created and proud of it!
9. ^L2M093:  While many/most religions tell practitioners not to question their teachings (or get quite upset if you do),
   UU effectively tells you that if you don't question things (including even UU) then you're NOT being UU!
10. ^L2P0DC:  By it's culture, UU doesn't overstate.  Including:
1. ^L2P0J3:  UU NEVER tells you what you must believe: 
1. ^L2P0RB:  including it has no "creed" (only suggested principles, which also voted on & revised)
   
2. ^L2P0K0:  UU never claims debatable things about the supernatural or which which we don't have good scientific and/or historic evidence, including:
   
1. L2OZRX: UU does NOT state if God exists nor how many gods there are.  Consequently a Baptist, Agnostic, Atheist, and Wiccan can all be together happily in the same congregation.
2. ^L2OZSG:  UU does NOT state if Jesus is the savior, or god(s) (if existing) should be called God or Allah.  Consequently a Jew and a Catholic and a Muslim can also all be together happily in the same congregation. 
   
11. ^L2OZRC:  L2OZRC= Instead UU is based on 7 universal principles which themselves are only suggestions, and which are NOT considered a perfect & flawless holly document of all time (!) but rather, like our US Constitution, a working document which is is democratically incrementally revised as needed (in UU's case, every 15 years).
1. ^L2P9DC:  And it's #1 principle is to responsibly find your own path.
1. So be electric: responsibly pull together the best of all you find in life
2. And instead being made to feel guilty about it because it doesn't exactly match some "holly" book, be celebrated for it, and make it yours!
3. You can even create your own responsible theology, and many do!
4. As with UU, dogma's out the door!
   Instead UU respects the individual, respects a person's ability to think for him or herself. And respects science. And respects the democratic process.
12. Pioneered in America, UU is much like America itself (and the US Military Chaplaincy): it supports (and enjoys) full religious diversity and celebrates religions' coexistence. And much like the US Government & Constitution (and science), it questions and revises itself; and it runs as a democracy.
    And U



5. ^L3WYWB:  But UU's still got the community, spirit, music, singing, participation, and even ritual you'd expect out of any established religion —just with none that divisive, war-starting dogma!

6. ^L3WYYA:  UU has over 1000 congregations world-wide!

1. ^L3X1ZX:  here's a map
   
2. ^L3X20N:  In United States, UU likely has a group within a few miles of you.
   
3. ^L3X234:  So if don't already know UU, it's probably because of UU's #1 problem: UU does an abysmal job of advertising itself.
   

7. ^L3WYZ8:  What do do:

1. ^L3WYZW:  Don't take my word for it. As I would advise for any religion you hear of, for a neutral perspective by design, see Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalism especially Beliefs.
2. ^L3WZ0I:  And see http://UUA.Org/welcome for more intro, a great video, plus to find your local congregation!
3. ^L3WZ12:  And get the word out!

2. ^L3X0PM:  Problems with UU (from most to least serious):

1. ^L3XRO4:  UU's likely #1 core problem: not telling people enough what to do & to believe

1. ^L4F4S2:  Yes, this what UU celebrates as its leading virtue I'm increasingly suspecting to be it's core problem area, and not too ironically, for to be creedless also the results in (quite litterally) being ruleless. And why, as is human nature to go to from one extreme to the opposite, it appears UU may have gone overboard in not telling people what to do & believe. 

2. ^L3XRRA:  UU does NOT (yet) generally seem to see this is a problem area of UU, however...
3. ^L3XSOP:  Why is this "possibly frequently"? Well it occurs to me,
   
1. ^L3XS36:  UU uniquely changed this aspect of religion (creedless) in order to create UU, indeed it's what most distinquishes UU, and in doing so (and being the very first to do it) they could have easily gone too far.
2. ^L3XRXP:  It's plausable UU could go overboard here and not itself believe it, as doing that is typical human behavior (going from one extreme to the opposite) and generally the person who does it DOESN't realize it.
3. ^L3X6AH:  The story fits. The founders of UU (and still today many/most members of UU) were rightfully fed up with organized religions telling them and others what & how to believe & do, so...
1. ^L3X6C1:  they came up with the forth (and really distinguishing) principle "Free & responsible search for meaning" and adopted the value & culture not to tell others what to believe — this was excellent.
2. ^L3X6EF:  but, being pissed off —as is typical of humans going from one extreme to the other— they also unfortunately went overboard on these things (at least it appears in UU's abysmal job of advertising) and started commonly thinking things like:
1. ^L3X6O5:  "Never tell people what to nor nor push things we can see are right for them" —oops, life isn't this easy
2. and similar
4. ^L3XRSZ:  If true it then well explains all UU's other problem areas (listed next, so then why I list this first), as doing the reverse of not telling people what do would then well explain why
1. ^L3XSJ0:  "we do an abysmal job of advertising so are still lacking in age & racial diversity" and
2. ^L3XSJC:  not giving completer moral answers (as even if problematic, some guide is typically a lot better than none)
4. ^L3XT1W:  to be continued
   

2. ^L3WZDX:  UU's #1 obvious problem: an abysmal job of advertising & marketing itself, why you probably haven't heard of it until now

1. ^L3WZFC:  As would be expected, this has serious negative consequences including:

1. ^L3WZFW:  Not helping the possibly 1/2 the world unsatisfied with organized religion (including in many cases hating the huge hardship and killing that organized religion has caused)
2. ^L3X0T8:  The other serious problems with UU mentioned next: in most cases effectively no young adults and often no racial diversity.
3. ^L3X8SL:  Now only 1 in 8000 religious persons subscribe to UU and it's reportedly worsening and UU may not survive.
   



2. ^L3X2I6:  Why, & what's happened?

1. ^L3X68F:  My guess is :
1. 
   
1. ^L3X6HU:  "Indeed, we don't really need to do advertising and marketing, that's not our values"  (in other words, turning one's back to simple good advertising and marketing) —yeah, tell that to most every business still alive (most of the time, it don't work that way!)
   
2. ^L3X6IM:  "Since we're good, all we need to do is let people find us"
1. ^L3X6L9:  as, quite literally, via happening to Google for for the right keywords, a typical way people find UU today,
2. ^L3X6LX:  and then (when they've finally found us) often explaining (frustratingly) as I did, "Why didn't somebody tell me sooner!"  —hint, hint!
2. ^L3X6YL:  in other words, as is typical of human behavior, it appears UUs just just went from from one extreme to the opposite extreme: too much advertising & pushing to too little advertising & pushing
1. ^L3X452:  However,  in the real world where seemingly all other major religious ARE still advertising and advertising strong (indeed that's one of their fundamental principles: that each thinks it's the best), and while this over-pushing rightfully turns off and even wrongs many people, it is still winning not just "a landslide" but literally over 99% ("wipe-out"): in fact not are typical organized religions tactics still having "some" success but 8000x more people are in these religions instead of UU! —yes, the stats are staggering, and reportedly getting worse.  Indeed if it weren't for things as the US government protecting & establishing freedom of religion, UU has already been so wiped out (1 vs. 8000!) it likely would already be long dead.

3. ^L3X47A: The facts: Only 1 in 8000 religious people is UU (and most of those other religious people are saying theirs is right) so you guess going to happen...!  Yes, UU is reportedly effectively dying, so in SERIOUS jepordy if it doesn't get the word out

1. ^L3X4A0:  2007 Tapestry UU Minister John Millspaugh cited in one of his Sunday sermons that (not surprisingly) UU is dying/diminishing in terms of the % of the people into UU; and if you look at the data, he's putting it mildly:
   
2. ^L3X4B5:  (when not otherwise cited, all stats here are from from Largest_religions_or_belief_systems_by_number_of_adherents as of now 2010.06.12:)
1. ^L3X57J:  Currently there are 630K UUs on our planet of 6.7 billion humans (in 2008) so the ratio of people UU is 1 in 10,000 ((6.3*10^5)/(6.7*10^9)) —staggering low; verses say the leading world religion Christianity ith 2.2billion at roughly 1 person in 3.
2. ^L3X590:  considering that about 5 billion people are religious, this means about 75% (=5/6.7) of people are religious.  So in marketing terms (of the 5 billion religious people), UU represents about 00.01% of the religious market (=6.3/5/10000=1) - shockingly low.  A probably even better way of looking at this is in the order of 8000x more people (5B/630K) are in religions other than UU.
1. ^L3X83V:  With only 1 in 8000 religious people being UU (and most of those other 8000 religious people saying theirs is right), UU would almost certainly already be long dead if it weren't for the US government & similar protecting & establishing freedom of religion.  But is that alive & living with only .01% of religious people being believers, and still no serious work to advertise?  No, that's "brain-dead" and seemingly only being kept alive via governmental "life-support"!
   
3. In fact the next most similar religion to UU, Bahá'í Faith, has 10x the followers; with a market share of not even 1%, not even .1%, but just .01%, it is surprising that UU is even listed at all among major world religions, and I wouldn't count on this staying this way much longer.  I would say UU is in serious trouble, and at very best is unrepresented in ways which are nothing short of alarming.  Even characters such as George W. Bush could & did rack up 1000x the votes of UU, so there should be no question that UU is doing something seriously wrong. 
   

4. ^L3X5X7:  My recommendation: UU needs the same active & aggressive marketing no different than an entrepreneurial start-up in a well-established market

1. ^L3X9CS:  A sizable percent of the budget (as 40% or more) should go to advertising
   
2. ^L3X5PT:  Just as in business, I'm never saying to force people to believe, but doing the opposite and saying "just let people find us on their own" is suicide else virtual suicide (unless you consider .01% being alive)
3. ^L3X915:  Fixes I've thought of include:
1. ^L3X946:  An impressive UU business card where every UU person has several and gives them out wherever possible.
1. ^L3X94H:  in 2005 or so, my mother designed a basic but quite handsome bi-fold business card (including the UU Principles) for her Spirit of Life Church in Odessa, Florida.  This was an admirable start.
2. ^L3XCFE:  in 2010 Spring, I designed a business card for UUYA! of OC (latest one in Files).  While this was primarily to sell that group, it also included 2-line intro to UU: quote[1000+ UU groups worldwide! We're the"COEXIST" bumpersticker: \ "Everyone has a part of the answer." Join us!]
3. ^L3XCNU:  Since about 2007, I've planned to make a web page for generating a general UU business card which any UUer could customize (adding his/her name & congregation); this card would probably be either double-sided or bi-fold and would include a strong selling points for UU, such as snippets from my In-short synopsis.
   
4. ^L3XCUS:  Clearly much more work is needed to complete this.
2. ^L3XCVI:  Getting young adult events happening by first gathering young adults online: been doing that since 2009.10.  As lack of young adults is a key UU weakness and something which personally affects me.
   
3. ^L3XDKE:  Writing up a really good synopsis & introduction to UU, which I've done: this document you're reading L2MYPI(Unitarian Universalism (UU) is inclusive & cool!)
   
4. ^L3XCZO:  More promotion methods are needed.
4. ^L3XD3D:  Some other fixes I've seen include:
1. ^L3XD3W:  Some good YouTube videos on "Unitarian Universalism" - there are at least 4 of these.
   

3. ^L3WZH3:  In most cases, UU has effectively no young adults (except with children & typically married)

1. ^L3WZNT:  Why?
1. ^L3WZO7:  Older folks will go no problem because it makes sense and they have time (and possibly because they were raised that way as kids)
2. ^L3WZP5:  Parents of children will often go because they want the good religious training of their kids.
3. ^L3WZS3:  Children will go because their parents tell them, and
   
4. ^L3WZRD:  Married couples will sometimes go if the want to be religious but have different religious backgrounds
   BUT
   
5. ^L3WZTR:  Young adults won't come because
1. ^L3WZXV:  they don't have to (no parents to force them now)
2. ^L3X02H:  they are extra busy (often college/school PLUS part-time jobs PLUS dating) and easily with little routine to manage that business
   
3. ^L3WZYB:  most importantly they don't see any other young adults there already (because of UU's abysmal advertising, and 2nd not catering to their interests) and with young adults trying to now establish a life on their own all about networking (Not "What's happening?" but "Whose going?" and not "What you know but who you know?") creating a catch-22.
6. ^L3X2GD:  Most other places of worship don't seem to have this serious shortage of young-adults so I must place the problem foremost with UU's abysmal advertising.
2. ^L4G6E4:  Scope of the problem: very bad.  From about 2001 to 2007 I did an extensive survey of over 24 places of worship (both UU & non-UU) in mostly Orange & Los Angeles Counties, most Sundays visiting a different service to compare and found:
   
1. ^L4G6ON:  Is the problem wide-spread in UU?  Yes.  83% (10/12) of the UU congregations I saw had no substansial single young adults; most had 0. 
   
2. ^L3W53S:  Do the average non-UU congregation have this problem so bad? No.  Pretty much every non-UU church (at least this semi-random sampling I did) has a noticeable young adult presence, And some as Young Nak Celebration Church have a whole service dedicated to just young adults.  So as far as young adults present, UU seems to score last of typical places-of-worship.
   
   
3. ^L3X07O:  In 2009 October I started my idea to fix this: KRL2TU(UUYA!(Unitarian Universalist YOUNG ADULTS! Intl.)) seems to first to offer a solution to this young-adult catch-22 by being first-apparently to instead first gather local UU & UU-curious young adults online (via email lists and social networking; and in this place (online) which young adults especially) so the UU & UU-curious young adults can then be invited at once to physical events so to achieve that critical mass needed; but UUYA! International only started in 2009.10 so is only just starting to blossom.
   

4. ^L3WZJR:  UU is often ~95% white (almost no racial diversity) though seemingly slowly improving

1. ^L3X16U:  Why this problem?
1. ^L3X19K:  NOT at all from UU prejudice (UU's values are the entire opposite: UUs marched with Martin Luther King) 
2. ^L3X1A0:  Probably not from most attendees' preferences.
3. ^L3XR00:  Similar to UU's young adult shortage,
   
1. ^L3X1AH:  Probably a catch-22 problem: other races come, don't see other races there, so unless they're the type who is okay being first-on-the-dance-floor, take off.
2. ^L3XQTP:  Has been better solved by most other religious organizations I've seen so my guess is this is mostly from UU's abysmal advertising, and, 2nd, not catering to other races special interest
2. ^L3XRCQ: Very embarassing to UU IMHO
   
1. ^L3XRGQ:  despite UU's words, suggests (even more so than UU's young adult shortage) that UU really doesn't integrate other faiths & people, else really doesn't bother to
2. ^L3XRI1:  Has been better solved by most other religious organizations I've seen
3. ^L4GAV5:  Scope of the problem: terrible.  From about 2001 to 2007 I did an extensive survey of over 24 places of worship (both UU & non-UU) in mostly Orange & Los Angeles Counties, most Sundays visiting a different service to compare and found:
1. ^L4GB4E:  100% of the 12 UU congregations I visited were at least 85% white, most were over 95% white.
2. ^L3W5GE:  Compared to other places of worship, UU seems to score towards the bottom as far as racial diversity, though there were some congregations as SaRang Community Church which were worse, although a few were also pioneering here as Mosaic with full racial diversity with "approximately 60 nationalities in attendance".
4. ^L3XRKG:  On fixing:
   
1. ^L3XR4E:  Will probably slowly improve over time (as the world becomes more racially integrated)
2. ^L3XR5Q:  Will probably notably improve by solving UU's young adult shortage (as younger generations in America seem notably more racially integrated), thus seems secondary to this problem
   
3. ^L3XR7C:  Still deserves active direct work to fix, as by addressing the problem sources.

5. ^L4G5JA:  (like seemingly many other popular religions) Not enforcing & judge-following the principles & values it endorses

1. ^L4G5QC:  This is a serious problem: for more details, see the criteria will effectively enforce and judge-following-of their principles & guidelines to the best of their ability, especially if a fellow member or attendee is violated or violating including:
   
1. ^L4G5NC:  While it seems many popular religions are weak here, UU may be particularly weak here due again to

   UU's likely #1 core problem: not telling people enough what to do & to believe

6. ^L3X1C0:  not giving completer moral answers (as even if problematic, some guide is typically a lot better than none)

1. ^L3XSB6:  This is possibly from UU going overboard not wanting to presume anything: 
1. ^L3X1GE:  "Instead of a word processor, I'll give you a programming language because I wouldn't ever want to presume I'd know how you'd like your word processor." 
2. ^L3X1I0:  to be  continued



3. ^L2OXVG:  UU's official principles & sources.

1. ^L2P9IR:  UU is (and always was) officially formed heavily around a short list of principles and sources.

2. ^L2P9HJ:  From my 10 years experience in UU, the UU Principles & Sources...

1. ^L3XPJM:  are accurate in describing important aspects of UU
   
2. ^L2P9SL:  are a bit intellectual & hard-to-digest at first (though worlds easier than trying to interpret the Bible or the Koran)
   
3. ^L3XPKB:  overall do NOT give a very good synopsis & intro of UU as whole but just cover one important area and mostly too much detail in that area for a good UU intro;
   
1. ^L3XQFD:  see instead the other text in this document (especially in short, L2LYJD, & L2OZRC) which include coverage of essential principles.
   
4. ^L3XQ7B:  are still missing 
1. ^L3XQ13:  key overall (axiomatic) apparent values & culture of UU (such as "removing all the bad from organized religion including never over-state" and "uniting religions & beliefs") from which at least some of the principles would then be implied
2. ^L3XQ6L:  any statement about "love" (which seemingly most every religion sees as good & important if not essential) —an omission my mother points out

3. ^L2OXVQ:  L2OXVQ= The present version quoted from http://ua.org/visitors/6798.shtml:

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

• [Since 1960?:] The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• [Since 1960?:] Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• [Since 1960?:] Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• [Since 1960?:] A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• [Since 1960?:] The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
• [Since 1960?:] The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• [Since 1985  :] Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Unitarian Universalism (UU) draws from many sources:

• [Since 1960?:] Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
• [Since 1960?:] Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
• [Since 1960?:] Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
• [Since 1960?:] Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
• [Since 1960?:] Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
• [Since 1995 :] Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

These principles and sources of faith are the backbone of our religious community.

Last updated on Tuesday, March 30, 2010.

4. ^L2OXWG:  History (of the Principles & Sources)

1. ^L2OYH4:  Says Wikipedia, “The first version of the principles was adopted in 1960” and (if I'm reading right) was apparently identical to the present version (very impressive!) except as noted next:
2. ^L2OYS2:  2 additions “to explicitly include members with Neopagan, Native American, and pantheist spiritualities.^[18]”:
   
1. ^L2OYSV:  added “the last principle, adopted in 1985 and generally known as the Seventh Principle, "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part"”
   
2. ^L2OYHX:  added “a sixth source (adopted in 1995), "Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature" were added”

4. ^L2OARU:  Core history of UU answering how & ideally why UU came about (plus the connection with Unitarianism & Universalism):

1. ^L2OASJ: In Christianity starting back as early 1500s, two thinking & questioning (and so often outcast) sects of Christianity, Unitarianism and then Universalist Church of America, each independently really started questioning if the mainstream Christian teachings were consistent —and, determining they weren't, started fixing the teachings of Christianity and even encouraging people to do limited “free & responsible search for truth & meaning” (!) (the primary principle of UU, BTW), resulting in both Christian sects being outcast and even some burning-on-the-stake.
   If you want the details,
   
1. L2OPP1:  The 2 thinking & questioning Christian sects were specifically:
1. ^L2OMSJ:  Unitarianism .
   
1. ^L2ON03:  Starting especially in the 1500s Europe, Unitarians seemingly started saying “If Jesus and the Holy Spirit/Ghost were divine, then with God as well that would make 3 gods, but the Bible has always said there's just 1 God, so 3 must be wrong, specifically this trinity concept contradicts what the Bible says (that there must be one God) though Jesus can be God's chosen son he cannot be divine and the Holy Spirit/Ghost must really just be part of God.  So it's not trinity, it's "unity". In fact, we're Unitarians for ONE God, not 3!”.
2. ^L2ON1J:  Well this got reaction from popular Christianity (as burning-at-the-stake) with popular Christianity saying “How dare you suggest our popular trinity concept contradicts the Bible!”.
3. ^L2ON1T:  Well, despite even such brutal murders of pioneering Unitarians, the backlash effectively backfired and
   instead quickly got the Unitarians saying “In fact, not only will I say that but
   we will also set up churches and
   further pioneer 6 more modern beliefs [all in use today] including:”
1. ^L2OMT6:  2 new and now very popular beliefs now shared by not just UU but seemingly most people of the world (counting non-Christians) including now many leading Christian sects:
1. ^L2OMTG:  The belief that the Bible could have flaws: “the belief that, though the authors of the Bible were inspired by God, they were humans and therefore subject to human error.” and
   
2. ^L2OMTP:  “that reason, rational thought, science, and philosophy coexist with faith in God.”
   —which is a notion of UU today, indeed in increasingly reversed in dependence to be:
   “religion & philosophy need to insure they are consistent with reason, rational thought, and science”
   
2. ^L2OMU1:  2 new beliefs which have seemingly evolved to create modern UU of today:
1. ^L2OMU9:  “that humans have the ability to exercise free will in a responsible, constructive and ethical manner with the assistance of religion.”
   —seemingly re-manifested in modern UU as its top principle: “a free & responsible search for truth & meaning”
2. ^L2OMUJ:  “the conviction that no religion can claim an absolute monopoly on the Holy Spirit or theological truth.”
   —which I would guess evolved into UU's idea & practice of appreciating & incorporating all religions
   
3. ^L2OMUQ:  2  new beliefs which were seemingly also coming very close to Universalist_Church of America, the sect Unitarians would eventually merge with, specifically close to the Universalist ideas of a universal loving so universally saving God:
   
1. ^L2OMV0:  “the rejection of traditional doctrines that they believe malign God's character or veil the true nature and mission of Jesus Christ, such as the doctrines of predestination, eternal damnation, and the vicarious sacrifice or satisfaction theory of the Atonement.” and
   
2. ^L2OMV6:  “the belief that human nature in its present condition is neither inherently corrupt nor depraved (see Original Sin), but capable of both good and evil, as God intended.”
   —which is close to and probably evolved into the UU principle of “The inherent worth and dignity of every person”
2. ^L2OMVF:  Universalist Church of America (often shortened to "Universalist" in UU talk, though be aware there are other meanings of "Universalism" (and so of "Universalist") though many of the other meanings are also very UU).
   
1. ^L2ON8Z:  Around 1741 in America, Christian Universalists, specifically the Universalist Church of America, started effectively saying “Given God is all-knowing & loving, why would a loving God create some people knowing they would eventually be eternally damn to hell?  That would be inconsistent.  And God being loving is more important, so God couldn't be doing that: a “God of love would not create a person knowing that that person would be destined for eternal damnation. Thus, [Universalist Church of America] concluded that all people must be destined for salvation.”*  If there is a “universally loving God”* then salvation must be universal.  And they presumably named themselves Universalists for a universally saving God —since forget not that God is universally loving!”.
2. ^L2ON9B:  Well this new talk seemingly didn't create as much backlash from popular Christianity as Unitarianism did, perhaps since it wasn't so iconoclastic (icon-destroying) —other than destroying hell but "How bad could destroying hell be?"  (However the trinity was was something one idolized above all else, so destroy that as Unitarianism seemed to, well that was a big No-No!".  But whatever the reason, it seemed the Unitarians made the bigger impact (and seemingly were a bit more (correctly) self-righteous), as also conveyed in the famous saying comparing them: “The Universalists believe that God is too good to damn them, and the Unitarians believe they are too good to be damned!”*
   
3. ^L2ONFK:  But still for some "leaders" (as fire & brimstone preachers and others that wanted to instill "the Fear of God" into people), (the Universalist's) destroying hell & purgatory (else saying you'd never go there or you'd eventually get out) was obviously counter to their fear-tactics from which they got their power, which then brought them status (clergy who just enjoyed damning people with their religious power) plus money (from clergy then selling atonement & salvation). So as would be expected, Universalist Church of America was still fairly outcast.  (Indeed, conservative religion "needed" to outcast Universalist Church of America — else (by it's very teachings) they then wouldn't be able to continue religiously outcast anyone else!)
   
2. ^L2OP1A:  Still a number of smart people, including some famous, saw the importance of not living a by blind-faith life and joined one of these thinking sects of Christianity, Unitarian or Universalist. 
3. ^L2OPX0:  But still, presumably since both thinking sects were obviously questioning popular Christianity, and even rewrote  & preached a new Christianity, neither sect was that popular.
2. ^L2OPCX:  So in 1961, these two thinking sects of Christianity (Unitarianism & Universalist Church of America), both being thinking (and even having some similar thinking) plus both being outcast for thinking, merged forming the Unitarian Universalist Association (of USA).  And that is how & where Unitarian Universalism (UU) was born!
1. @@under construction
    , . The http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unitarian_Universalism&oldid=362651082#Principles_and_purposesIncluded developing apparently 6 principles
   
3. ^L2OPEN:  Well then perhaps because each of these sects had to expand their own beliefs to appreciate & accept each other's ideas, they then just kept on expanding (indeed maximally expanding) to appreciate & incorporate & unify the beliefs of all major world religions (both being Christian sects, it's hard to believe they largely gave up their Christianity (including no longer stating that "Christ is the Savior" and even that "God exists") and instead open up to all religious practices, including Atheism & Polytheism, but they did). 
   
4. ^L2OS6O:  UU associations in Canada and in countries started forming, and so in 1985 was formed the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists - the top-level and gives a map of UU congregations/members across the world.
   
5. ^L2OR2H:  And as can be seen as we step back, not only did these two thinking sects of Christianity (Unitarianism & Universalist Church of America) pioneer liberal Protestantism plus numerous modern and post-modern religious beliefs, but they've even taken it beyond Protestantism, beyond Christianity, indeed to bring together all major religions plus scientific & environmental & global thinking, as we see in today's Unitarian Universalism.
   
5. 
   

 

---

^KVA16I:  Document Background & History

1. ^L2MYPI:  2010.05.18pst1506- I DestinyArchitect created & own this document (Writely doc L2MYPI).
   
1. ^KVA3T1:  Created from: copying as directed Writely doc KUJWXV “Revision 1039 -2010.05.18pst1459”
2. ^KVA3VQ:  Motive (at creation): I originally wrote this to answer “What the heck is "UU"?” in KRL2TU(UUYA!(Unitarian Universalist YOUNG ADULTS! Intl.)) however it applied to all UU so I made it its own document.
   
3. ^KVA3WV: Title (at creation): desiring name[Unitarian Universalism (UU) is inclusive & cool!]; renamed to title[L2MYPI(Unitarian Universalism (UU) is inclusive & cool!)].
4. ^KVA579:  Published-at URL: http://Blogger.LoveRules.Info/2010/05/l2mypi.html
5. ^L2MXTP:  This document copyright: see LoveRules.Info About's LoveRules.Info ownership & access rights for exact details.
   
2. ^L3W8CT:  this was several days work (and still needs more), but it seems pretty good.
3. ^L64C8S:renamed to title[Unitarian Universalism (UU) is inclusive & cool! L2MYPI].