- What function does the Bible play in the Unitarian Universalist setting? (other readings used, etc)-How do people relate with the Bible in this setting?
-What are people's views on Jesus and God? (i.e. Atheism and agnosticism are prevalent yet there still exists a sense of Christianity?
-Church has protestant roots, yet these ideals have somewhat changed. How?
I was surprised by how little a role the Bible played in the Unitarian Universalist service. Not only were there no Bibles in the pews, but no direct scriptures were quoted in the entire service. This could be attributed to the fact that this was a special Thanksgiving service, and the service was formatted differently than a traditional service. Despite this, when we talked with some members, they confirmed that the Bible indeed plays a very minimal role. One congregation member said that it was rarely used in service, and if it was, it was to be interpreted in a non-literal sense. She additionally stated that most of the scripture that was used was from the Old Testament, and that few New Testament texts were used, with the exception of the Gospel and John, which is used during the Christmas ceremony. The Bible’s limited function in the Unitarian Universalist church makes sense given the tenets of the Church. When we talked with Reverend James, he told us about how very few of the Church members view Jesus as a divine figure, but rather as an important prophet. Additionally, he said that he believed that less than 15% of the congregation would identify as Christian. As a result, it seemed that the Bible is viewed more as a historical text than as inerrant truth, and that people are both welcome and encouraged to question its contents.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Michelle about the congregation's view of the Bible as a historical text. Congregants mentioned that the Bible was one of many religious texts that the Unitarian Universalists used for inspiration. Additionally, they stressed, over and over again, that the Bible was never used as a literal source. The common feeling seemed to be that the Bible should be looked at in its historical context, and should never be used to persecute people or provide apparent evidence that some are more worthy than others. The Unitarian Universalists use the Bible in the same way that they use other historical/literary (e.g. Emily Dickinson) and religious texts (e.g. the Koran)--to inspire the congregation and to encourage an ethical, just, and compassionate lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI went to a Roman Catholic church service with my family over Thanksgiving break, and looked through the masses in the booklet to see from where the readings were taken. I had never really paid attention before, and, looking through, saw that readings were from the Bible in its entirety -- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, the epistles, the Old Testament. It was quite a wide array of readings, and I had assumed that the selection would be smaller, given the strict message that the Roman Catholic Church strives to convey. Attending the Unitarian Universalist service was a huge change of pace. After sitting through a complete service and speaking with multiple members of the congregation, I discovered that the Bible doesn't really come into play, and if it does, it is interpreted figuratively. Since the church is radically non-creedal and very few members identify as Christian, I suppose it makes sense that they so rarely reference or read from the Bible, but because I equated "church" with Christianity, I went into the service expecting Bible readings or some mention of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteAlicia -- since you and I come from a similar religious background, I'd like to hear what you think of the absence of the Bible from the Unitarian Universalist services. Were you surprised? Do you think it is a good/bad thing?
Lauren—At first it was a little jarring because I assumed that some sort of scripture would be used during the service, but I'm actually glad that I attended a service in which scripture was not used. It made me think more about how the Bible and church are connected in my mind and how the Bible comes into play during a service and if it actually enhances or expands the messages trying to be conveyed. It really made me think about what I think the Bible really is and if I want to actually hear the Bible being quoted in service.
ReplyDeleteI do not necessarily think reading or quoting the Bible is a good or bad thing; I think it depends on how it is used. I think using the Bible in a positive way to reinforce kindness or acceptance is great, but I think the Bible can, and has, been used to reinforce subordination, inequality, and injustices in our society. One of the reasons I wanted to take this class, even though I am not religious, is because the Bible is so engrained into American society that I believed it would be beneficial for me actually know what the Bible says. I think people's perception of the Bible as the “word of God” is tricky because it gives a lot of power to the people who are interpreting it for the masses, many of whom do not know the actual history of how the Bible came to be. This is pretty clear given Professor Denzey's lecture today on the “three false criteria for inclusion into Canon.” Misconceptions about the Bible and its meaning are passed down generation to generation and the church is the place that these misconceptions are handed down. So do I believe using the Bible is a good or bad thing? It all depends on what it is being used for.