tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post111213711485606835..comments2023-10-24T05:49:04.269-04:00Comments on The Chaliceblog: CC's beefs with UUs focussing too much on politicsChalicechickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07781469958573869914noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-1127093147145503892005-09-18T21:25:00.000-04:002005-09-18T21:25:00.000-04:00I run into this all the time at my church. Everyo...I run into this all the time at my church. Everyone seems to be excessively political, even in the Joys and Concerns. We have started putting a thing in parenthesis in the order of service next to Joys and Concerns that says (Not to be Used for Political Discussions). Let's just say the note in the order of service hasn't really cut it down much at all. I am somewhat at odds political-wise with probably 95% of my congregation, being a libertarian and not a liberal democrat. Hell, they tried to do a viewing of the Motorcycle Diaries in our spiritual movie covenant group. I stood up against that, which had some sway and got them to not view it, but still, its a bit crazy with just one side being expressed and not any others.<BR/><BR/>I think we can still do things that aren't overly polticial and still be able to help people. We could grow a lot more in size and influence if we would quit using Bush or any other non-leftist as a butt of all jokes and criticism. If I was a Bush supporter or a Republican, I think I would have never came back to the church.<BR/><BR/>Maybe we should make something like the Friends Committee on National Legislation to vent out our politicial action stuff and leave the churches to actually deal with helping people grow more on their spiritual path.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-1112478047304538262005-04-02T16:40:00.000-05:002005-04-02T16:40:00.000-05:00If people can't be attracted to and involved with ...If people can't be attracted to and involved with UUism without political action, I don't want them here. <BR/><BR/>Sorry. <BR/><BR/>Our good members are the ones who are here because of their faith. The people who come because of politics and care about religion will just leave if they don't fit in theologically. <BR/><BR/>My concern is the ones who come who DON'T care about religion and are solely here for the politics. Seems to me such people will become a voting bloc and amass in greater and greater numbers.<BR/><BR/>The AUC is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. <BR/><BR/>CCChalicechickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07781469958573869914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-1112209483438240762005-03-30T14:04:00.000-05:002005-03-30T14:04:00.000-05:00I am not sure that I agree with you about social j...I am not sure that I agree with you about social justice issues being a liability for the UUA. If half the people i n your church indentify that as the soul of the church, then it seems to be something that attracts people to UUism and keeps them involved. (I will agree that if this is the only thing that keeps people in a church, then it is sort of sad.)<BR/>The AUC agress with you about about politics being a disatvantage rather tahn an asset for the UUA but I haven't seen a groundswell of people joining the AUC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-1112205859876307972005-03-30T13:04:00.000-05:002005-03-30T13:04:00.000-05:00I agree with what you say. As a congregational Pr...I agree with what you say. As a congregational President I am searching for something we can be known for and it's not politics.Ikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11045995393334776734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-1112140015945950902005-03-29T18:46:00.000-05:002005-03-29T18:46:00.000-05:00I'm not sure that I disagree with you much here, a...I'm not sure that I disagree with you much here, although I am somewhat dismayed by your earlier post today.<BR/><BR/>As someone more on the far left side of the spectrum, I find a lot of what passes for UU political activism irritating. I am against the idolatry of electoral politics, and am willing to question the legitimacy of government institutions when necessary.<BR/><BR/>I am unfortunately intimately familiar with the legal definitions of restricted political activities. (I was the Graduate Student Association president when a lawsuit over what groups could be funded by student activity fees was decided: Smith vs. Regents of the University of California. Also as a union officer I am very familiar with Hudson vs. Chicago Teachers Union and Beck vs. Communication Workers of America) Because of our smallness, I am less worried about FEC problems.<BR/><BR/>I agree with focusing on principles rather than specific legislation. In general, I think we should make the moral arguments for our maximalist positions and let the politicians compromise for us. That is their job.<BR/><BR/>I quite like your closing paragraph. I am personally attached to the notion of "forming the structure of the new society within the shell of the old."jfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01273271100173874903noreply@blogger.com