Why I Left Unitarian Universalism (8 Reviews)
We have provided the biggest articles on “Why I left Unitarian Universalism.” A lot of folks have had to leave UU. What are their reasons? Why do they leave? Is Unitarian Universalism dying? Find out below.
Why I left Unitarian Universalism
It was Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen who submitted that “not everyone can be a Unitarian Universalist. Not everyone should be a Unitarian Universalist. Because the first criterion for getting into this church is: you’ve got to know how to sin. That’s very important to us, and not everyone knows how to do it. We don’t want people here who never do wicked things. We don’t want people here who are holier than thee or thou. Not people who have made it in the salvation department and are just waiting around to get picked up. Because people with too much heaven in them are hell to live with.”
For him, he feels UUism is caging and judges people a lot.
His second reason why he left Unitarian Universalist has to do with our intolerance of intolerance. You should not be a Unitarian Universalist if you support the Nazis or the KKK, or any other group that believes in oppressing people.
What did he mean by intolerance of intolerance?
See Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen’s explanation below.
Have you ever stopped to think about some of the creeds in the history of Christianity? Many of you, I’m sure, remember the Apostles Creed. I learned it so well I can recite it verbatim (but I have to do it fast or I trip up on the words).
“I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, his only son our lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
“I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.”
Now, did you catch anything in there about love or peace or kindness? You can argue that those things are implied in the Apostles Creed – but they’re certainly not given any explicit emphasis. That’s a creed made up on doctrines, with the ethics only vaguely implied. If the Unitarian Universalists have a creed, it’s an ethical creed, with the doctrines only vaguely implied, if at all. Read the principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association sometime and you’ll see what I mean. You’ll find words like: “justice, equity, and compassion in human relations”, “acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth”, “affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person”, and “the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.” You won’t find “conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,” and you won’t find “the only begotten of the father, that is, of the substance of the father… begotten, not made, being of one substance with the father.” Doctrinal precepts like that, well, we don’t care much one way or the other which of them you believe – as long as whatever you believe helps you live a humane life.
For example, if believing in God helps you be a better person – or at least doesn’t make you a worse person – then fine, believe in it. We encourage your belief. If being an atheist helps you take more responsibility for creating a better world – or at least doesn’t prevent you – then fine, don’t believe in God. We encourage your atheism. The only beliefs we don’t want you to have in this church are the ones that lead you to hurt people. And, other than the obvious ones I already mentioned, I can’t tell you what the bad beliefs are, because sometimes the same beliefs do different things for different people. Yeah, they do.
For example, a lot of folks believe that there’s a heaven and a hell after you die. For some people, that is positive, because they wouldn’t be good otherwise. I would rather have you trying to be good because you realize that’s a better way to live – rather than because you’re afraid of punishment or hoping for reward. But if you’re not going to be good without believing in heaven or hell, then it’s a positive belief in your case.
You might be interested to know that Unitarian Universalism used to belong to the National Council of Churches. They were eventually expelled for not believing strongly enough. In fact, the Orthodox Church stated, “If the Universalists are allowed in, we will not join.” As a result, the Orthodox were allowed in while the Universalists were asked to leave. Every denomination that has joined the National Council of Churches believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That is the only requirement.
Reasons people leave Unitarian Universalism
So many people are tired of being constantly asked to pass. They are tired of having to decide how much of themselves they will be able to bring into whatever UU church they walk into.
Some have issues about the impossibility of giving up listening to Jay-Z just because they join a UU church.
One of my favorite church songs is “Just As I Am.” If you want to know why most UU churches aren’t growing, it’s because they don’t take people just as they are and tell them that they have to give up some part of themselves in order to be accepted by us.
Why Unitarian Universalism is Dying
The movement known as “Unitarian Universalism” has been dying for 43 years and continues to die. The fact that it is dying slowly but steadily is the elephant in the room that few in the UUA want to face, let alone discuss.
In real terms, the UUA lost over 12,000 adult members between 1970 and 2000. However, while the UUA’s adult membership fell by more than 7% during that time period, the population of the United States increased by more than 37%. In other words, when compared to the US population, adult membership in the UUA has decreased by more than 44% since 1970.
Must Read: Why Stay Away from the Book of Enoch
Why I left Unitarian Universalism: Top Articles
1. My Church is Dying, and I’m OK with That
Source: https://praywithyourfeet.org/2019/12/17/my-church-is-dying-and-im-ok-with-that/
Author:
Published Date:
- 02/09/2022
Review:
- 4.86 (795 votes)
Summary:
Over the decades, Unitarianism left behind its Christian roots and became increasingly humanist and atheist, with a liberal sprinkling.
We’ve had congregational consultants and prior ministers advise us that our congregation exists in the uncomfortable territory between being a fellowship–which are small and lay-led–and a congregation–which has ministers, buildings, and religious…
2. I Refuse To Pass…or Why I Will Leave Unitarian Universalism
Author:
Published Date:
- 10/24/2021
Review:
4.99 (741 votes)
Summary:
I left the UUA in 2007 for several reasons, including Christophobia and the appalling ignorance of the Universalist and Unitarian faith.
One of my favorite church songs when I was growing up (and one I still sing sometimes), was “Just As I Am.” If you want to know why most UU churches aren’t growing, I’ll tell you. It’s because we don’t take people just as they are.
3. Why You Should Not Be A Unitarian Universalist
Source: https://urbigenous.net/library/why_not_unitarian.html
Author:
Published Date:
- 12/16/2021
Review:
- 4.97 (742 votes)
Summary:
The second criterion of reason for not being a Unitarian Universalist has to do with our intolerance of intolerance. You should not be a Unitarian Universalist
For example, if believing in God helps you be a better person – or at least doesn’t make you a worse person – then fine, believe in it. We encourage your belief. If being an atheist helps you take more responsibility for creating a better world, then be an atheist.
4. Why I Left Unitarian Universalism? [Comprehensive Answer]
Source: https://www.cgaa.org/articles/why-i-left-unitarian-universalism
Author:
Published Date:
- 12/29/2021
Review:
- 4.85 (641 votes)
Summary:
I left unitarianism because I no longer believed in the efficacy of its message. I dissidents from the congregational polity and instead believed in a more…
Unitarians uphold the following beliefs: 1. Unitarianism is a faith based on humans rather than gods or beings outside of human experience. 2. Jesus is one route to understanding and caring for the human soul and should not be regarded as the only way.
5. Unitarian Universalists would prefer their polyamory activists keep quiet
Author:
Published Date:
- 12/18/2021
Review:
- 5 (898 votes)
Summary:
The joke about Unitarians is that they’re where you go when you don’t know where to go. Theirs is the religion of last resort.
But as the issue of same-sex marriage heads to the Supreme Court, many committed Unitarians think the denomination should have a position, which is that polyamory activists should just sit down and be quiet…
6. Why I Left Unitarian Universalism? Here Is Only One Reason
Source: https://www.thisisguernsey.com/why-i-left-unitarian-universalism/
Author:
Published Date:
- 09/12/2022
Review:
- 4.93 (999 votes)
Summary:
Theoretically, Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists are quite different. Unitarians were a liberal Christian faith that denied the doctrine of the Trinity.
Though the root of UU is from liberal Christianity, specifically unitarianism and universalism, the belief in Bible is not required. The Bible is considered a profound, rich resource of stories and wisdom. Unitarian Universalists can read, study, and not do the Bible.
7. Unitarians as ‘The Church of NPR’
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2016/08/unitarians-as-the-church-of-npr/623309/
Author:
Published Date:
- 04/01/2022
Review: 4.82 (630 votes)
Summary:
I don’t recall the impetus, although I think I can infer it, in 1966, she left the Episcopal congregation for the Kalamazoo Unitarian. The move exposed me to the Turkish version of Islam. It was also the beginning of what I consider an appreciation for what William James termed “the variety of religious experiences.”
8. The Closed-minded, Intolerant religion – Christian Apologetics Project
Source: https://capro.info/unitarian-universalism-the-closed-minded-intolerant-religion/
Author:
Published Date:
- 04/01/2022
Review:
- 4.83 (726 votes)
Summary:
In 1961, the Unitarian Church joined forces with the Universalist Church becoming the … Some questions, therefore, were left out because of relevance
Although it touts itself as “open-minded and individualistic,” if not tolerant and restorative of primitive Christianity, upon closer examination, it is actually the polar opposite of each of those accolades.
We hope you have been able to see the reasons why so many people have left Unitarian Universalism.
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Thank you.
Recommended:
Why I Left the Episcopal Church
Why I Left the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (Research 2023)