Actually both of your statements contain truth. I believe Unitarian Universalism is definitely a religion. It’s a wonderful alternative to doctrinally-based religions. I can’t imagine how we could claim what we have is not a religion or claim historical religious language has nothing of depth to say to us.

On the other hand, all of the various theological positions you name in your second proposition are represented by people in the congregation where I am minister. We understand we each have a partial view of truth and need each other to enrich our understanding of life as a whole. When we give away religion to the fundamentalists, and categories of faith to those who literalize belief, we deny ourselves important ways to deepen and be together in vital community.

As UUA President I will call us to give up the categories which separate us from each other and from depth and purpose... because when we use a language of the heart, historical and current, religious and secular, without category, we will be a free and open religion of strength.