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believe that we will, at least initially, need to appropriate and adopt as needed, some things from Christianity and other sources such as UU-ism.
We could profit from taking the best from these sources and adapting it to our needs. This has several advantages. First, the rituals and music will seem familiar to those of a Christian background--or whatever background we draw from--and they will be more comfortable with these things than something new and strange. Perhaps we should deliberately pull from some other traditions as well to give them a point of contact with the new church. But however the enterprise starts, I believe that eventually it must either establish a unique identity to differentiate it from Christianity, join forces with Christianity, or divide into various factions.
I believe we have much to learn from the worlds' religions and religious institutions. They have evolved psychologically satisfying symbols, rituals, and music over centuries and millenniums. I don't believe we should stoop to mere imitation, but we should profit from both the mistakes and hard won lessons of all these sources, and select and adapt the best of them to fit our needs. Isaac Newton said that he stood on the shoulders of giants. I do not doubt we will be standing on the shoulders of spiritual giants as well.
Acknowledgment: Thanks to Rev. Heather Collins of UU Congregation of Gwinnett for her suggestions while I was preparing this article. Except as noted, quotations are from The Urantia Book.
1. Notes: While "church" is a uniquely Christian term, I use Urantia church in this article in the sense of a religious organization composed of people from the Urantia community, just as "church" can refer to the body of Christians.
2. A Statement of Principles: We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
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