JohNeo

I was disappointed to find a spiritual bent to the UU service here in Dallas. Not that I want to go someplace on Sunday morning and have someone try to tell me why there's no god, but I found it odd that the First Unitarian Church of Dallas seems to talk a great deal about "the Divine." It made me realize it was more a place for deists or spiritual/not religious.

However, I did go to the North Texas Church of Freethought, and there was no mistaking that they were atheists there.

I guess that just as Christianity put its brand name on other ancient religions, and it effectively took over the Greek and Roman religions, and mutated Judaism, it will probably try to ride piggyback with humanism when it becomes necessary.

JohNeo

salyed

Well, it's not really odd given that for the majority of the history of Unitarianism and Universalism, they were specifically theistic in orientation. If you like religious humanist expressions, then the Church of Freethought (if you are in Texas) or Ethical Culture would be a good match. Others have been trying out naturalistic or scientific pantheism which is atheism with earth-centered "religious" trappings and verbiage.

I think that in about 10 years or so, the humanist contingent in the UUA will really start to age away and you will see a major decline particularly as theistic UU's start to replace the older humanist UU's on the boards of the churches, congregations and fellowships. Then you will see an exodus (and I've already seen it happen at three different UU churches or fellowships). If you get a chance to look over recent issues of UU World in the last few years, you will see what I mean.

But, yes, the UUA is increasingly becoming more of a place for the deists, the spiritual not religious crowd, and alternative/nonmainstream belief systems (Wicca, Buddhism, New Age, "liberal" Christianity, etc.).

David

truthie

So, since religious/supernatural spiritualism is being preferred over secular humanism and other atheistic philosophies, then does that mean that people inherently need this kind of spirituality?
For some reason it is winning over, so what is the cause?
These are the times I wish there was a psychologist in this forum.

T.

salyed

I think that it is "winning" the younger generations due to the anti-scientific, anti-rational and anti-empirical philosophy of post-modernism which is so prevalent now. Postmodernism assumes that the scientific method is a "Western" invention (actually, all peoples use the scientific method - examination of cause and effect - the West just formally codified it); therefore, in the opinion of a postmodernist to insist upon scientific verifiability and logical consistency is a "Western bias". They feel that intuition, mysticism, et al. are equally valid avenues to truth.

This is especially prevalent among the social sciences and has permeated popular thought as well. This idea really is popular among those who base "truth" upon faith claims, rather than facts.

David

truthie

That is sad.

Which social sciences in specific?
I doubt that psychology is one of them.

T.

truthie

By the way, do you know any links that about Postmodernism?

T.

salyed

I know it is prevalent in cultural anthropology and sociology. It is also gaining adherents in clinical psychology. I would suspect that its impact is greatly reduced in experimental psychology, archaeology, and physical anthropology. I also suspect that its influence is absolutely nil in the hard sciences.

David

truthie

Thanks!

T.