Many UUs find that when they are asked to explain why they chose to become a UU, they can only do so by stating what they don’t like about other religions. So the typical answer might sound like this:

 

‘When I was a member of ABCXYZ faith, I was very uncomfortable because I didn’t believe in a lot of the doctrines and teachings that I was exposed to there, and I felt uncomfortable with their take on the ordination of women or homosexuality. So I left that faith. One day I heard about Unitarian Universalism. I went to a service and I felt at home there because everyone was so laid back and nobody was forcing me to believe anything. So that’s why I’m a UU.”

 

A tradition in our church has been the annual “Why I’m a UU” sermon usually presented the first Sunday after Labor Day.  The panel presentation offers members, new and old, a chance to reflect on why they chose to join our church—focusing on the positives rather than the negatives.

Events—Why I’m a UU
Text Box: You may be a Unitarian Universalist if … you think socks are too formal for a summer service. your idea of fish on Friday is dinner at a sushi bar. you know at least 5 ways to say “Happy Holidays” and your “Christmas” tree decorations include the symbols of at least 7 religions. your idea of a guy’s night out is attending a N.O.W. rally. unleavened bread is part of your Easter Brunch or you serve ham at your Passover Seder. you make sure you take your day planner to church and leave the Bible at home. on Halloween you feel compelled to explain the pagan roots of the holiday with special emphasis on why the pointy black hats and facial warts on the tiny witch at your door is politically incorrect before you give the kids their all-natural granola bars. you can’t sing a hymn until you’ve read the words, and you think that it’s a huge concession to hum when you get to the ones you don’t like. You may be a Unitarian Universalist if the Sunday sermons quote NPR commentators more often than scripture. You may be a Unitarian Universalist if "Whatever." and “Different strokes for different folks” are the sort of faith statements that you find most compelling.