tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5449677811690616608.post4820726118328926313..comments2023-12-15T21:49:46.651+01:00Comments on Pluralist Speaks: Neither End Works: Institutional PessimismPluralist (Adrian Worsfold)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01922153724523820866noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5449677811690616608.post-14957504181051403902012-08-07T14:18:56.896+02:002012-08-07T14:18:56.896+02:00IN the United States the Unitarian Univesalists ha...IN the United States the Unitarian Univesalists have enjoyed consistent small growth.<br /><br />Historically including in Birmingham (starting in Liverpool) the Unitarians from a middle class perspective took a view that working class people did not go to church because they were embarrassed about what they could wear, so the Unitarian Mission Van was invented that took religion to the working class. It was, of course, a mis-analysis of why the WC did not go to church, but elements of the WC did go to church leisure and education facilities that were broad and extensive in the Victorian era. In the US the same necessity of social outreach exists that died in Britain and Europe with the growth of the welfare state. Religion has since specialised including with these subjective charismatics, even though they do a few outreach tasks. Many Unitarians do their own charitable activities along with their church membership.Pluralist (Adrian Worsfold)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01922153724523820866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5449677811690616608.post-53631933047736027002012-08-07T10:59:17.364+02:002012-08-07T10:59:17.364+02:00I think the history of Western Civilization is one...I think the history of Western Civilization is one in which organised religion has waxed and waned. We are likely going through a transition phase rather than outright decline. You may not like what you see but there are churches in the UK and other Western countries that are growing at phenomenal rates. Some of these are new non-denominational churches and many are within the Church of England. <br />Look beyond our shores and culture to Africa and Asia and organised religion is still strong. In China, Christianity is fast growing with potentially up to 140million adherents, to varying degrees as the Chinese tend to moderately mix their religions. Islam is also growing due to higher birth rates but also due to revivalist movements within it. Buddhism is also arguably the fastest growing religion in terms of conversions in Western societies.<br />The religions that are declining are the ultra-individualistic and modernistic ones, those religions that have given up completely on collective belief and tradition. And by that we are talking mainly certain Christian denominations including Unitarian-Universalists and certain sub-denominations such as the ultra-liberal wing of the Church of England. <br />It would be very easy to deride the growing churches as selling a false truth, and to imply your church does not. But lives are being changed for the better by these churches. It would be wrong to say that many of these churches aren't bearing fruit. It is interesting I have never seen a Unitarian soup kitchen or other street-level charity project in Birmingham...Jamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5449677811690616608.post-38933563139997127592012-08-06T23:59:00.977+02:002012-08-06T23:59:00.977+02:00Perhaps you can look up about Unitarianism and ans...Perhaps you can look up about Unitarianism and answer the question yourself. You are rather personally aggressive to warrant a reply.Pluralist (Adrian Worsfold)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01922153724523820866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5449677811690616608.post-35681321066065373502012-08-06T23:44:43.219+02:002012-08-06T23:44:43.219+02:00.....this leads to presentation of what?
but the ........this leads to presentation of what?<br /><br />but the original question really was this: for someone so dismissive & almost robotic in their view of religion, or really, of Christianity - why are YOU a Unitarian?<br /><br />are they the only ones stupid enough to give you air?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5449677811690616608.post-70045861780222877982012-08-06T23:39:18.886+02:002012-08-06T23:39:18.886+02:00Because it might work if it reformed its presentat...Because it might work if it reformed its presentation, like it does at regional gatherings. The flexibility they have should spread out.Pluralist (Adrian Worsfold)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01922153724523820866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5449677811690616608.post-88499243532216829322012-08-06T22:47:08.396+02:002012-08-06T22:47:08.396+02:00so why are you a Unitarian then?so why are you a Unitarian then?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com