Musings

In a world with so much hatred and violence, We need to proclaim the inherent worth and dignity of every person. In a world with so much brutality and fear, We need to seek justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. In a world with so many persons abused and neglected, We need to accept one another and encourage one another to grow. In a world with so much dogmatism and falsehood, We need a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. In a world with so much tyranny and oppression, We need to affirm the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process. In a world with so much inequality and strife, We need to strive toward the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all. In a world with so much environmental degradation, We need to advocate respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. In a world with so much uncertainty and despair, We need hearts that hope and hands that serve.

- Original by Scott Alexander, discussed widely on the UU blogsphere (and if someone could provide me a link, anywhere, to one of those discussions that would totally rock); modified by me after discussion in my livejournal (locked, unfortunately).

Several people responded to my original post suggesting that such statements should not necessarily focus on religion, and they're right. I've taken out all the references I could find to religion in the above statement, and it works just as well without them.

I find it interesting that I did not think anything of the exclusionary use of "religion" in the original statement because it was my religion (which I know to be welcome to pretty much all regardless of atheism, agnosticism, Heisenbergism, henotheism, polytheism, or other-theism, though there's always some debate within the community where any or all of those groups feel kind of on the outside looking in). Had this been a statement of sorts from another religious tradition, I would like to think that I would have been more aware, though I'm not entirely certain I would have. And that's a sobering thought; I think that religion, like anything having to do with people, has its positive and negative facets, but I also think that it's entirely possible to be a moral, happy, (mentally and physically) healthy human being without needing religion to fall back on. And I'm expressing that poorly on a number of fronts, please feel free to correct me as needed. I know what I mean, but I'm finding myself limited in ways to say it that won't offend someone.

I miss being a part of a religious community, because I miss having the once a week company of other people and the words of the minister to ponder over whether or not I agreed with what zie had to say. I think in some ways, when I go to church, I go for the reason Rev. Tittle says atheists go to church: to "...come together to make meaning of our lives and this troubled world, by making both better." I miss it, and I wish my local UU Fellowship and I were a better fit. I periodically think about spending Sunday morning worshiping with the Quakers, but although it is satisfying in its own right, it isn't exactly the same thing.

But I don't need religion or a faith community to tell me what's right or to encourage me to try and "...make both better." Nor does anyone else. I think, with a very few exceptions, that deep down we know what's right and what's just; I also think that it's easier to be part of a group all tending the same way than to go it alone. For some people, that reinforcement comes from other members of their faith community; for others it may be a strong internal push; others may find it in their work in non-faith based communities. I don't have to belong to a church - any church - to volunteer to help others, to speak out against injustice. Despite what some folks will tell you, no one does.

But, for some people, it's easier to act as part of a group. And that's okay, too.