Fixing UUism: Focus on the Freedom

Julie Baumler

I think a lot of the problems of UUism would go away or decrease if all of
us were more focused on a "free and responsible search for truth and
meaning" as a positive value. We spend too much time picking apart the
services, theology, political issues, those of us who are or aren't
sufficiently politically correct, ... Congregations and members need to
explore for ourselves, how a person and a congregation that suports a free
and responsible search for truth and meaning acts, thinks, speaks, reacts,
etc. I believe that some of the current curriculum materials address this
issue, but not in a specific manner. I think to impliment some sort of
"reflective congregation" and "reflective member" program and award
(similar to Welcoming Congregations) to specifically address this and put
out a challenge in the World to members to answer the question themselves,
much like Sinkford (IIRC) did with the elevator speech idea.

Even those who disagree with this principle (and I'm sure there are some),
could be encouraged to flesh this out as a basis for their disagreement.

IE We shouldn't look for a free and responsible truth and meaning because
it allows things that are bad or false to be proclaimed unchallenged.
Someone who believes in a free and responsible search for truth and
meaning would ask a speaker during coffee hour to clarify how they came to
some idea they presented in the service - was the search free and honest?
- rather than telling everyone right then and there that they were wrong.
Disagreement with wrongful ideas and values should happen immediately so
no one is misled.