" A free and responsible search for truth and meaning"

[Mendalla]

This is the fourth of our seven UU principles and one that is very near and dear to my heart. In fact, it is a big part of why I am UU.

I am curious, though, what others think of it. What does a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning" mean or suggest to you?

 

[Jaebius]

This is the fourth of our seven UU principles and one that is very near and dear to my heart. In fact, it is a big part of why I am UU.

I am curious, though, what others think of it. What does a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning" mean or suggest to you?

"Free" would mean that one can and should be able to take-up beliefs - traditions - and spiritual disciplines from a variety of sources. It suggests to me that one should not enclose oneself within only one faith stream - but rather be willing to explore different ideas and visions. "Responsible" would mean that one should approach and engage in such a search for meaning with a mature attitude and serious desire to seek for truth. I appreciate how your principle pairs "free" and "responsible" together.

My own Baptist faith tradition values the responsible approach your UU principle shares - but we are not as free. Rather - we limit our search for truth within the Bible - and our perception of the Spirit of God moving in the world today.

 

[revjohn]

What does a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning" mean or suggest to you?

Free, suggests to me that there is nothing which is outside the bounds of the search. It does not limit truth or meaning to any particular document or perspective. Nor does it guarantee that the fruit sought will be found in any particular document or perspective.

Responsible, suggests to me, that wherever one determines to search one will search fairly and honestly. Questions asked of any particular document or perspective will be applied to all documents and perspectives in general. Again it does not guarantee that truth or meaning will be sought in the particular document or perspective it does go a little further towards saying that truth and meaning are not automatically devoid of existing in a particular document or perspective.

Although to be completely honest the terms "free" and "responsible" can be freighted terms. They become values applied to individuals and then the individual suffers should they not quite measure up.

 

[Waterfall]

Hmmm, free and responsible, interesting concept. I suppose I would think it means to be open minded to new interpretations and understandings to my spirituality and to be willing to explore the validity of embracing something new.

 

[Mendalla]

The roots are really in a rejection of prescriptive doctrine and creeds. That is, a rejection of religion as enforcing a belief system. We do not tell people what to believe and even encourage questioning and exploration of one's, and each other's, beliefs.

I like the idea that some are catching, though, of how it can also refer to us as individuals being open and not constraining our own searches.

The responsibility aspect is one that I often wonder about as a UU. I think a "free search" is fairly obvious. But what is a "responsible search"?

 

[GeoFee]

It has seemed to me, for some time, that the words free and responsible belong together. Where meaning of either is compromised and diminished the other is compromised and diminished. I am quite sure that both words require a disciplined practice of refinement. In and through the whole range of experience, I find opportunity to clarify my own freedom and responsibility. The end in view is mature freedom held in creative tension with mature responsibility.

In my mid-sixties, I am pleased to note indications of progress and eager to welcome any challenge by which the limits of my understanding may be brought into view, offering opportunity for review and revision.

George

 

[revjohn]

The roots are really in a rejection of prescriptive doctrine and creeds. That is, a rejection of religion as enforcing a belief system. We do not tell people what to believe and even encourage questioning and exploration of one's, and each other's, beliefs.

Well, the act of enshrining "Free" and "Responsible" in one of the UU principles the UU has created doctrine and made it prescriptive.

What is the test for the "freedom" or "responsibility" employed by any?

Questioning is encouraged but am I free to not question? Am I free to be satisfied with an answer and look no further?

I'm not sure what is meant by "responsible search" either. Are we free to interpret that any way we wish or is there something definitive about it?

 

[Mendalla]

Of course you are free not to question but if you speak your faith publicly in a UU community, you can expect to have to answer questions. Personally, I doubt that someone who was not interested in questioning and exploring their faith would remain UU for long. It is very central to our movement and there are too many other options for those who happily hold a fixed, unquestioned set of beliefs and they would be more comfortable in those environments. If the Sunday Assemblies take off here, even the atheists and humanists will have a place to go other than UU.

The principles as framed are not supposed to be prescriptive of one's belief, but of one's behaviour; they are expectations of how one is to live in community regardless of what one believes is the nature of existence. That's why they generally are not seen as being doctrine any more than the principles of a humanist association or similar group are seen as being doctrine. At least that's the theory.

However, you can read most of them as being prescriptive of belief as well since they do have underlying assumptions that one must accept to really follow them. The first (respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person) presumes every person has inherent worth and dignity. The seventh (respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part) makes a fairly clear belief statement about the universe and our place in it. I happen to agree with both of these (well, with some reservations on the first).

I have seen discussions along these lines in some UU circles but I'm not sure it happens enough. In fact, I'm now wondering how "Our UU Doctrine" would fly as a sermon.

 

[revjohn]

Of course you are free not to question but if you speak your faith publicly in a UU community, you can expect to have to answer questions.

1 Peter 3: 15 exhorts Christians "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"

I've always hoped that the answer went deeper than "The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it."

If only because that reflects an appreciation of the letter and little understanding of the spirit.

 

[GeoFee]

Might we say much depends on what we bring to the questioning? There is the posture of certainty, which presumes another in error and seeks to expose and root out that error. There is also the posture of humility, which presumes there may be more to any given matter than what has already been apprehended.

Now living in Steinbach MB, I am often confronted with questions related to United Church of Canada insights and commitments. The standard position of my examiners, for whom I am deeply grateful, is that the Bible clearly teaches the questioner's preferred interpretation. My response is ever and always that we should sit down together and examine what it is that the Bible clearly teaches. Where conversation follows, which it sometimes does, I have no interest in proving my position and disproving the position of the other. My hope consists in each of us having opportunity to reconsider priority and commitment.

My hope is that the renovated Café, will be an intersection where we each and all will have opportunity to examine and refine our perspectives in the hope of obtaining, each as all, a clearer perspective on the elusive whole truth and nothing but the truth.

In anticipation,

George

"True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us." - Socrates

 

[jimkenney12]

An example of the responsible part would be to be careful about misappropriating beliefs and traditions of others, such as often happens to First Nations rituals. I confess as someone who grew up Anglican that part of the attraction of the United Church for me was my assumption that this UU principle was part of the polity of the United Church.

 

[crazyheart]

Hi Jim, I would like you to comment on my thread in Religion. "Spiritual Advisor" .....re: First Nations

 

[Neo]

This is the fourth of our seven UU principles and one that is very near and dear to my heart. In fact, it is a big part of why I am UU.

I am curious, though, what others think of it. What does a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning" mean or suggest to you?

We are all "free" to search for the truth.
At least we should be. Those who are tied and chained to the old doctrines are there by their own volition.

It's the word "responsible" that I find interesting. The more truth we embrace the more responsible, I believe, we need to become. We cannot, for instance, begin to learn the great secrets of life without become personally responsible for our thoughts and our own actions. It's one of the first things that an initiate of the mysteries learns.

 

[shortysar]

I think "free" and "responsible" can be summed up in the concept of "discernment" - I think it is our right, and perhaps even our responsibility at times, to search, to question, to explore. But for that exploration to yield the best fruit, it comes with certain responsibilities - to be open to wherever the journey takes us, but to also use a critical eye to have a sense of where you're going; to realize that some directions are helpful and some lead to a wild goose chase, or worse, danger. Be open to all ideas, hear everyone out - but then choose wisely which ones you subscribe to.

 

[crazyheart]

welcome, shortysar. Good to meet you.

 

[Pinga]

I thought I had responded to this one, but, I am thinking that I started and stopped a few times. (Can't see it, so hoping I am not repeating myself)

I spent time in the Anglican church in my youth, and United Church of Canada in adulthood. My family was Christian. My references culturally and in the immediate family are all Christian.

There is significant material for me to study which discusses items in ways that I understand, that helps me explore faith from a Christian perspective.

I know that I only have so much time at my disposal, that study of faith is not my #1 priority.

How then to learn and practice faith with the responsibility that you speak about in the UU principles.
For me it meant sticking to the stories that I had learned and grew up with and looking at them through various lens. It is why this forum has been important to me.

I had a friend who left Christianity, and became a Buddhist monk. This person had degrees, religious training, etc, and decided Buddhism was her way. After a few years, she said a monk asked her, why she was there learning about Buddhism when her stories / life / roots were in Christianity. i am not expressing it well, but, basically that she could spend her lifetime learning buddhism, and not touch what she had learned already in her own faith...

She returned to Christianity and her own culture.

I get that for some it is important to be able to pull from multiple texts, or that for some, Christianity is just the wrong text, or that..for others, a defined faith with clear rules/meanings are where they start from.

For me, the United Church of Canada's unity of faith and exploration is important to me....and the max that I can handle in my exploration.

 

[Hermann]

This is the fourth of our seven UU principles and one that is very near and dear to my heart. In fact, it is a big part of why I am UU.

I am curious, though, what others think of it. What does a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning" mean or suggest to you?

"Free," to me, and in the above context, means freely created by me, in a spirit of free inquiry, unencumbered by any doctrines or preconceived interpretations. "Responsible" means that I, the originator of my thoughts and statements, am responsible and accountable for them.

 

[Northwind]

I really like this concept. Free to question and explore. Not to be held to proscribed "truths" which can stifle and shame. Responsibility to be part of a community of believers and perhaps non-believers as we walk through life.

Thanks for giving me something to ponder.

 

[GeoFee]

Hi Hermann,

I am pleased to find you here. Your free and responsible presence will bring much benefit to our common hope.

George

 

[Mendalla]

"Free," to me, and in the above context, means freely created by me, in a spirit of free inquiry, unencumbered by any doctrines or preconceived interpretations. "Responsible" means that I, the originator of my thoughts and statements, am responsible and accountable for them.

Yay! Hermann is here! Welcome aboard, my friend.

And this is largely what I said in a reflection I did in this morning's service.