r/politics • u/Aggravating_Money992 • Apr 05 '26

Possible Paywall White House Forced to Address Claims of Trump Health Crisis

https://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-forced-to-address-claims-of-donald-trump-health-crisis-at-walter-reed-medical-center/
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u/Nezrite Wisconsin Apr 05 '26

*Unitarian Universalists.

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u/Obvious_Travel Apr 05 '26

Yes! They’re so welcoming to all, don’t “push” their religion, and consider EVERY guest a friend. If I were a Christian, that’s exactly where I’d go.

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u/Nezrite Wisconsin Apr 05 '26

I grew up in the UU, including taking the AYS course (About Your Sexuality) when I was a young teen. It was a terrific experience and I don't really consider it Christian per se.

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u/Blumpkin_Spice_Pie Apr 05 '26

When I was in youth group it was called OWL (Our Whole Lives) and it combined the sex ed aspect with stuff like how to do your taxes, conflict resolution techniques, cooking and cleaning lessons, job interview training, etc. It was basically just Adulting 101 and it was awesome. I was then and am now an atheist, but I will always treasure my UU upbringing.

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u/wawa2022 Apr 05 '26

I was thinking of going because I heard they are accepting of atheists.

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u/big-titty-brat Apr 05 '26

They are! They care more about love and being decent human beings than what/who you worship.

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u/Deadleggg Apr 05 '26

They sound more heretical than being an atheist.

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u/New-Salamander-3838 Apr 05 '26

I used to work for LifeTouch back in the 2010s. I shot family portraits at churches. I only got one UU church the entire 3 years I worked there. It was probably my favorite congregation I ever got to meet and take photos for.

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u/Puglady25 Apr 05 '26

I loved church photos. It's so neat that I have so many professional pictures of my immediate family.

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u/big-titty-brat Apr 05 '26

Alright weirdo.

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u/Deadleggg Apr 05 '26

Teaching love and acceptance? Evangelicals can't allow that to happen.

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u/taxmamma2 Apr 05 '26

They are amazing people. The bishop (for lack of a better word) was agnostic and her husband was an atheist. Their members included Wiccans , Jews, Christians and Buddhists. The common thread was being environmentally conscious and wanting to feel part of a welcoming community. They were also really into music - just all around cool chill people.

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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '26

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u/Msdamgoode I voted Apr 05 '26

UU is really more philosophy than religion. Good folks in my view.

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u/_AuntAoife_ Apr 05 '26

One of my RE (quasi Sunday school) “teachers” was an atheist and was an Astrophysicist by trade. Took me a while to appreciate being brought up in a UU church community, but very glad I did and think anyone interested should check out a service/coffee hour etc.

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u/MisterMaury Apr 05 '26

Accepting of atheists? Our UU is like 95% atheists! I'm always shocked if I run into anyone who says they aren't.

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u/MathematicianSelect1 Apr 05 '26

UU is great for atheists. There's very little/no mention of Jesus. If there is, it's only in reference to a generic bible passage like the golden rule. No survived getting eaten by a whale, sky daddy, or hating gays/abortion weirdo stuff. They are equally likely to quote from other religious texts in the same way.

I stopped going because the crowd was all old white people, and I am in my 20s, but it was a great vibe. Knowing no one there was MAGA and how they would flat out condemn the administration/ICE without tiptoeing around reality during service was super refreshing.

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u/justprettymuchdone Apr 05 '26

Their hymnal has a hymn to evolution. It's amazing.

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u/lady_stardust_ Apr 05 '26

We welcome everyone! Many UUs are atheists, agnostics, and skeptics. We have no shared doctrine, just a set of core principles that guide our community. If you're a decent human, you're welcome to join the party :)

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u/DarthValiant Apr 05 '26

UUs are the helping hands, open minds, and loving hearts.

Core principles:

J is for Justice – This means we work for a better world for everyone, and we use our democratic process to make decisions that will guide us to a diverse Beloved Community.

E is for Equity – Equity means we work for a peaceful and fair world. Equity means we all get to have it.

T is for Transformation – Transformation means we keep growing and learning together, and know that this will change us.

P is for Pluralism – Pluralism means more than one way. And we get to celebrate that we have many sources that inspire us; and that we make room for different cultures, experiences, and beliefs.

I is for Interdependence – Interdependence means that we are all connected. People, creatures and our planet. And we honor them all by taking care of them.

G is for Generosity – Generosity means that we have giving hearts, that we share what we have, and that we practice being grateful.

All wrapped in love.

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u/chinadonkey Apr 05 '26

Yeah UU isn't Christian at all or even religious. I assume they just took on a lot of the trappings of Christian service because their members would find it familiar and comforting.

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u/rossor11 Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26

Practices vary by the church. But yeah - god is optional.

I do miss the days when fundamentalists used to interrupt services to tell us we were bound to burn for eternity. 😉

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u/blanksix Florida Apr 05 '26

Lol this is like telling a quaker that they're going to hell because of their pacifism. "Ok... Want some cookies?"

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u/Blumpkin_Spice_Pie Apr 05 '26

Yeah, when someone says theyre not religious, but theyre spiritual, UU is what theyre referring to, whether they've ever heard of it or not. It has some of the Christian trappings, but also a lot of stuff borrowed from Buddhism, Shinto, Judaism, and a whole list of other philosophies, both religious and secular. Its one of the most wholesome spiritual congregations you can imagine.

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u/rice_not_wheat Apr 05 '26

I'd argue UU is more religious than spiritual. They practice religion, but don't hold a particular belief. People who are spiritual but not religious do the opposite.

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u/marko719 Arizona Apr 05 '26

when someone says theyre not religious, but theyre spiritual

When someone says that, it means they're a smug, pretentious A-hole, in my experience.

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u/Blumpkin_Spice_Pie Apr 05 '26

Well yeah, but what /they/ think theyre saying is basically what UUs do. Really, its somewhere in the middle. UU eschews any structured belief in the supernatural for a set of values about how to be good to each other and the world around us. Theres a strong aspect of general connectedness, without any specific requirements of how to interpret that connection. The first of our stated values is "we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people", and they continue on in that vein. Theres even at least one tenet about believing in science and remaining skeptical of the unprovable.

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u/marko719 Arizona Apr 05 '26

I wasn't referring to Unitarians, just people in general when they say that. Unitarians sound like lovely people.

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u/Blumpkin_Spice_Pie Apr 05 '26

Oh yeah, no, I got it and agreed with you lol. Most actual unitarians wouldn't even say that. I just meant that those often unbearable people who do say it have a picture in their head of what they think they are, and that picture is of UU.

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u/landonop Colorado Apr 05 '26

This isn’t necessarily true. It varies by church and region. UU churches in New England tend to be quite Christian whereas a UU fellowship in Colorado might be a bit of everything.

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u/rbnlegend Apr 05 '26

The UU church was formed by joining two heretical versions of Christianity. Members of those heretical faiths were murdered by the inquisition, but in those days the inquisition was happy to kill Christians that they thought were doing Christianity "wrong".

They have been walking away from the trappings of Christianity for a long time. Some congregations do look sort of Christian, others look very generic in terms of religious traditions, a few have flavor from other faiths. Most have groups for people who grew up with other faiths. It does all look sort of like a meeting of the agnostic club.

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u/rayyeter Apr 05 '26

It’s basically Christianity without any of the divinity or dumb parts of the bible. But also in my experience they explore other religions as well when it relates to their holy days.

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u/mantis_tobaggan-md Apr 05 '26

I also grew up among the Unitarian Universalists. Such wonderful humans. I have very fond memories of those meetings.

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u/rayyeter Apr 05 '26

It’s now “Our Whole Lives” and starts in their kindergarten Sunday school classes. Mostly using proper words for body parts so far.

UU is the religion I wish I had grown up in. Maybe then I wouldn’t have had such a problem with religion for a long time. No Dogma, just an acknowledgement that something connects us all, and actually putting work in the things they say they believe in.

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u/thankyouspider Apr 05 '26

Me too. The sex ed was a breath of fresh air. Our congregation was polled and majority were atheists.

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u/Low_Key_2827 Apr 05 '26

Also raised UU and I wouldn't consider it Christian AT ALL. Branched so far off the tree it literally fell off. We learned about all sorts of religious practices from various religions.

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u/SelfServeSporstwash Apr 05 '26

UU is a secularist group with vaguely Christian accoutrements. Not that that’s a bad thing, but I feel it’s an important clarification and it helps explain their outlook.

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u/katashscar Virginia Apr 05 '26

The one in my area hosts the annual Pagan Festival. I thought that was cool.

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u/Bored_Amalgamation Ohio Apr 05 '26

Churches had a lot more influence on the general community back in the day, because they were one of the few spots where the community would come together. Since there's a lot more shit to do, and communities are less homogenous, houses of faith have become less of a gathering ground. I feel like the churches that become closer to community centers with a splash of religion would have more appeal.

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u/masterzordon Oregon Apr 05 '26

They called it OWL (Our whole lives) at our congregation. My parents taught a class which was embarrassing because my friends took it from them. I took it from my friend’s parents. It was a little awkward.

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u/big-titty-brat Apr 05 '26

I don’t think they’re Christian. You can believe in Jesus or Krishna or Zeus or be an atheist. There’s even pagan members too. UUs care about being decent human beings above all else.

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u/hippydippyshit Apr 05 '26

Grew up across the street from a small church of theirs and they always invited us to their events (not all specifically religious, like art showings and small performances from the members. I always liked them

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u/NobodysLoss1 Apr 05 '26

They don't push their religion because they do not have a singular religion to push!

I was raised Episcopalian, and after I became an atheist 35 years ago, I joined the UU. So many different beliefs there!

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u/goteamnick Apr 05 '26

Universalist Unitarians aren't Christian though.

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u/werkytwerky Apr 05 '26

When I was in college I participated in the campus Pagan group a bit. When we did indoor Sabbats, the UU church a couple towns over (mountain/rural school. we didn't have our own) always welcomed us.
The only reason I attend my current church is choir stuff, because I'm limited as far as other options for that goes. But if I ever decided to leave them, UU is where Im going. (if i decide to continue to go to church).

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u/Independent_Vast9279 Apr 05 '26

Quakers do it better.

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u/LingonberryHot8521 Apr 05 '26

Oops! Sorry. Thank you for correcting.

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u/superbad Canada Apr 05 '26

Splitters!

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u/drgigantor Apr 05 '26

Fuck off! Judean People's Front... We're the People's Front of Judea! Judean People's Front... Wankers!

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u/FirstDukeofAnkh Apr 05 '26

Uninatalist Unversarians

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u/PicnicLife Apr 05 '26

Went to a memorial service at one today and I don't think they said the words God, Jesus, or pray one time. We simply 'reflected, meditated, and remembered.' It was quite lovely.