David E. Bumbaugh: The Marketing of Liberal Religion

From an essay last year over at the Journal of Liberal Religion. I appreciate Davids review of UUism since 61 and the different paths traveled by Unitarians and Universalists. Please consider his questions here. I plan to return to this. It's important and he's framed the analysis the way it should be framed: in a straightforward narrative of how we've gotten to this moment.

If we are to respond to the needs of the world from a liberal religious basis, it is critical that we be able to address and answer three central questions:

* What do we believe?
* Whom do we serve?
* To whom or what are we responsible?

Several years ago, I was asked to deliver a lecture on the title "Beyond the Seven Principles: The Core of Our Faith." In that lecture, I suggested that the question of what do we believe cannot be answered adequately until we struggle with the question, "Whom do we serve?" I am increasingly convinced, now, however, that given the makeup of our movement--a movement comprised of people who value education, a movement that reflects a tradition of accommodation to science and embraces concern for creating a tolerant, moral society, a movement that is socially located with access to the levers of power, a movement that is forever tempted to accommodation with the secular culture--it is important that we not delay grappling with the question of what it is we believe, what it is that provides a foundation for, indeed, makes possible a vital religious vision.