Yeah, the social creed is separate from the (lack of) religious creed, and sometimes it really sucks. In our church, and probably most other UU churches, the assumption that everyone has liberal politics is a huge and problematic part of the social creed. I've seen class assumptions discussed as a huge part of the social creed at some UU churches, to an extent that is unimaginable to me, but I'm sure First Unitarian has blinders in that regard as well.
I may be wrong about this - I hope not - but I think that much of the social creed operates on the level of assumptions and not on the level of actual rejection. I hope that when people are called on the assumptions they make, or when you express a differing opinion, they are willing to listen and think. I understand, though, that no one wants to have to battle all the time, and that when enough of those assumptions/incidents pile up you can wind up feeling too alienated to want to bother with arguing.
The Christian thing, yeah. I certainly noticed it when I identified as a Christian at our church. It seems to be somewhat cyclical, in that there have been times when there has been a much more organized and vocal Christian presence - I used to belong to a Christian covenant group, for example. And John Manwell provided a good Christian perspective.
I understand that a lot of UUs come in damaged by prior experiences in Christian churches, and that they have definite sore spots where Christianity is concerned. But I'd like to think that we have a responsibility to work to get past that, and see American Christianity for the complex and diverse and mulitlayered thing that it is.
The thing that I struggle with the most about being a UU is the idea that the First Principle ("affirming and promoting the worth and dignity of every person") applies to everyone, no kidding, no matter how alien I find their perspective, no matter what they've done, no matter what they believe. I work hard at the First Principle, and often fall short. It's difficult stuff.
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I may be wrong about this - I hope not - but I think that much of the social creed operates on the level of assumptions and not on the level of actual rejection. I hope that when people are called on the assumptions they make, or when you express a differing opinion, they are willing to listen and think. I understand, though, that no one wants to have to battle all the time, and that when enough of those assumptions/incidents pile up you can wind up feeling too alienated to want to bother with arguing.
The Christian thing, yeah. I certainly noticed it when I identified as a Christian at our church. It seems to be somewhat cyclical, in that there have been times when there has been a much more organized and vocal Christian presence - I used to belong to a Christian covenant group, for example. And John Manwell provided a good Christian perspective.
I understand that a lot of UUs come in damaged by prior experiences in Christian churches, and that they have definite sore spots where Christianity is concerned. But I'd like to think that we have a responsibility to work to get past that, and see American Christianity for the complex and diverse and mulitlayered thing that it is.
The thing that I struggle with the most about being a UU is the idea that the First Principle ("affirming and promoting the worth and dignity of every person") applies to everyone, no kidding, no matter how alien I find their perspective, no matter what they've done, no matter what they believe. I work hard at the First Principle, and often fall short. It's difficult stuff.