A recent article by Mark Morrison-Reed in UU World, the Unitarian Universalist Association magazine, about the “black hole” in UU history, got me thinking about the connection between UU worship and race. According to Morriso-Reed, for all our proclaimed progressiveness, it seems we UUs have not really ever taken the lead in the fight against racism–internally or externally. I’ve been thinking about this history a lot lately, as my own UU congregation is discussing whether to display a “Black Lives Matter” sign on the church property. One part of Morrison-Reed’s article in particular jumped out at me: Continue reading “Is UU Atheism a Form of White Privilege?”
I am an atheist when the wind is north-northwest.
I am an atheist north by northwest.
But when the wind is southerly, I know a deity from a deist.
If you were to tell me your god is a person like you, I would tell you I am an atheist.
But if you tell me you believe in no god, I will testify the world is full of them.
If you were to tell me there is only one true god, I would tell you I contain multitudes.
But if you tell me your gods are many, I will tell you I have faith in an unseen unity.
If you were to tell me my gods are just in my head, I would point to the earth and say, “Praise!”
But if you tell me your gods are real, I will point to your head and say, “Behold!”
If you were to tell me your god is good, I would offer to sell you some more.
But if you tell me your gods are dark, I will remind you of the words of the oracle: “Know thyself.”
If you were to tell me you don’t know about the gods, I would call you wise.
But if you tell me you don’t care about the gods, I will not call you at all.