A know-nothing religion? Founder says it can work

As the cornucopia of religion debates has raged on within these forums, I have gradually lost the drive to post, and have become more and more cynical about the ability of mature human beings to discuss such matters, at all.

Then, I came across an article about an interesting new movement, yesterday: Universism. It has an air of agnosticism to it, but I think it's approach is quite refreshing, especially in that it mostly exists in cyberspace.

First, I wonder if anyone else has experienced or participated in this movement? And second, I wonder if the warlords on either side of the religion debate might be able to unite under such a philosophical banner? Please discuss.

From the Universist Movement Web site:

The problem with this mythology (and pretty much all the other ones that truly class as "religions" is that we have factual answers to the questions they raise in the future (or we already have the answers). Rather than work toward real answers (and real questions), mythologies just keep people stuck in the now or the past. Simple history can show you this. History should also tell you why adopting any religion should be weighed with extreme caution.

This sounds like Unitarianism. I'm not sure I see the point of it. If it's just for fellowship there are plenty of socially involved things people can do that are more productive and more beneficial than getting together just for the sake of... er, navel gazing I guess (but, but... we gaze in mystical wonderment!). I'll never really understand the point of being a joiner just for the sake of being a member of a group. In my personal opinion, spiritual enlightenment should free people from this kind of thing, not send them off in search of a new banner to practice ritual behavior under. It's just silly. I'd like to know how their movement "improves the world we live in." Are they teaching people the scientific method? Are they performing charitable works? Or are they just involved in the typical self-congratulatory herding rituals?

Wow. Forget I asked.

I dunno, why don't you visit their Web site and/or attend a meet-up and find out?

That mission statement sorta explains how I feel about the world around me, or at least half of it.

So now I guess I'm an unofficial Deist Universalist.



LF

Sorry, Paolo Nothing against anyone who finds something meaninful in these kinds of things. I just personally find them a bit silly. But you already knew that.

It's not just mature human beings who lack this ability, the people in the forums here can't do it either.

It sounds like an attempt to give agnosticism a religious form. But the last statement is absurd. "It's not what you believe, but how you believe it?" That's giving form precedence over content. It's probably pretty appealing though, judging from the content and form of so many posts in the religion threads. I, for one, believe content is more important than form. What you believe is more important than how you believe it. What you say is more important than how you say it. What you do is more important than how you do it. The "how" is important, but the "what" is much more important.

Are you a GWB supporter?

I don't necessarily disagree, Michael. However, what I find appealing is that this "religion" provides a forum for all thinking people to come together in search of the harmony which eludes them in more traditional philosophical or religious venues and/or expressions. I am not about to forego my Christian beliefs; rather, I am seeking a forum where I can interact with people from all points on the socio-poltical horizon who are genuinely seeking deep understanding and peace among our human brethren.

Also, I just re-read the "intro" page on the Universist Web site. I think it is worth the five-minute read:

http://universist.org/universismintroduction.htm

Some excerpts:
“Judge of a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” – Voltaire

Universists choose to unite via these questions rather than divide ourselves with our varied answers. We avoid faith, shared revelation, and dogma as efforts silence our questions by homogenizing religious thought.
...
Universism addresses religious truth, not scientific truth. Religious truths include the ultimate nature of existence, the meaning of life, and the nature of the metaphysical. There is an objective reality and science is the tool to decipher it. That reality also applies to the nature of the human animal. As Edward O. Wilson wrote in Consilience, "The human condition is the most important frontier of the natural sciences." Whereas faith-based religions make claims on physical reality, Universism hands this area off to science.

Science works in the physical universe, and is respected and celebrated. But in terms of the metaphysical, science does not apply. Personal reason, intuition, experiences and perceived environment come into play and are valid sources for supplying one's religious views, far superior to the authority of revealed sources such as holy texts and myths.

Universists are passionate and optimistic about the search, yet we embrace uncertainty and appreciate its contribution to the human experience. Uncertainty serves as a motivating force for good that promotes respect among fellow seekers.
*Emphasis mine