Amy was a brilliant girl. She was consistently on the all-A honor roll and a star member of her high school National Honor Society. However, it seemed that whenever she got into a discussion about current events, politics, or intellectual issues, she was always taking extremely left-wing positions. She was also quite antagonistic toward students who were committed Christians, arguing that their beliefs were antiquated and intellectually indefensible. Her father was a professor at a local university and was well known for his liberal activism. It was, therefore, not surprising that her family was active in the local Unitarian-Universalist Association (UUA) church.
The above story is true (name changed). It illustrates the mindset of those in the modern UUA. In the last installment of this two part series, we looked at four barriers that hinder Christian witness to people in the Unitarian-Universalist Association (UUA). We showed how most UUAs are either atheists or agnostics and reject the historic Christian view of God and the Trinity.
We also explained that UUAs do not recognize the Bible’s authority. At best, they regard it as just one of a number of religious and philosophical texts that may contain some bits of wisdom. Nearly all reject any of its supernatural elements and consider much of it’s narrative as non-historical myths.
Furthermore, we analyzed the UUA’s perspective of the life and nature of Jesus Christ. Nearly all UUAs, even if they believe in a god, reject the deity of Jesus Christ and His uniqueness. Many don’t even regard Him as an actual historical figure. We also showed that UUAs reject any supernatural sources of truth and any kind of divine revelation. They generally adhere to a totally naturalistic worldview and assert that human reason and science are the only ways to find truth. In this second section, we will continue our discussion by exploring the other four obstacles.
5. Some Modern UUAs Are Pagans, Nature Worshipers, or Wiccans
Over the last couple of decades there has been something of a revival of pagan religions in America and western Europe. In Europe, in the centuries after the height of the Roman Empire, Christianity gradually replaced the paganism of the past. Many people are now actually turning back to the ancient beliefs of the pre-Christian era. Perhaps the most visible form of this neo-pagan renewal is Wicca. Wicca, witchcraft, or wizardry, is an expression of the animistic worldview, and is the practice of worshipping the forces and spirits of nature. Wiccans often honor a nature goddess and her consort, the horned-god. Occult spells are cast to control the powers of nature and to have influence over other people.
Many of those who believe and practice neo-paganism have found a home in the UUA. Since the UUA has no stated doctrinal tenets, pagans are welcomed along with atheists, agnostics, humanists, skeptics, or whatever. This influx of neo-pagan followers has caused some degree of unsettledness among UUAs because most are anti-supernatural. Wicca, and other forms of paganism, usually include supernatural rituals and spells. In any case, the new pagans are anti-Christian because of how ancient Christianity denounced it and eradicated the old occult belief systems.
Christians need to warn pagan UUAs and others of the dangers of the occult and paganism. We can show them that the Bible condemns all forms of those belief systems. Of course, in order to make that case, we have to show them that the Bible is true and authoritative. (See: http://www.marketfaith.org/non-christian-worldviews/the-gospel-according-to-harry-potter-wicca/ ; http://www.marketfaith.org/why-do-we-do-worldview-and-interfaith-evangelism-part-2-the-biblical-basis-old-testament/; and http://www.marketfaith.org/why-do-we-do-worldview-and-interfaith-evangelism-part-3-the-biblical-basis-new-testament)
6. Most UUAs Are Secular Humanists
In the first installment we mentioned that in 1933, a group of 34 anti-supernatural philosophers and scientists published The Humanist Manifesto. That document outlined a positive vision for the world of a society guided and ruled by reason and scientific evidence. As we indicated, more than half of the signees were Unitarian ministers. In 1973, Humanist Manifesto II was published which, according to its authors, was an updated version of the 1933 edition. However, in light of World War II, the Holocaust, the Cold War, etc., Humanist Manifesto II was less optimistic about humanity than the first. Nonetheless, the signees were just as committed to reason and science to save the world. In 2003 a third edition was released by the American Humanist Society titled Humanism and Its Aspirations – Humanist Manifesto III, a successor to the Humanist Manifesto of 1933. It outlined six principles for modern humanists:
- Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis.
- Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change.
- Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience.
- Life’s fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals.
- Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships.
- Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness.
It is fair to say that most UUAs in the 21st century adhere to those basic humanist concepts. The only difference is that they sort of dress them up in religious garb with ordained ministers and local congregations.
In any case, Christians must effectively respond to Secular Humanism by demonstrating its logical inconsistencies and fallacies. The Bible and science do not conflict, it is only the naturalistic worldview that most humanists presuppose that we reject. (See: http://www.marketfaith.org/non-christian-worldviews/the-gospel-according-to-carl-sagan-secular-humanism)
7. UUAs Have No Consensus View on Life after Death
The UUA makes no attempt to answer the question about whether life after death exists or, if it does, what it may be like. However, the majority of UUAs probably do not believe in any sort of conscious life after the death of the physical body and cessation of brain activity. That being said, with the inclusion of more adherents to occult paganism, some UUAs do believe that life continues in some form post-mortem. Some also may believe in a form of reincarnation. The point is, there simply is no consensus among UUAs about what happens to humans after physical life. Nonetheless, it is accurate to say that almost no UUAs believe in any kind of divine punishment (hell or purgatory) after death for anyone, good or bad.
Obviously, the most effective response Christians have to this UUA agnostic perspective is to show them the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is that event upon which Christianity stands for its confidence concerning resurrection from the dead (1 Cor. 15) There are many good reasons to believe the resurrection actually happened, most of which UUAs probably have never heard. (see: http://www.marketfaith.org/2017/03/jesus-resurrection-the-heart-of-the-gospel/ and http://www.marketfaith.org/why-should-i-believe-why-should-i-believe-in-the-resurrection)
8. Nearly All UUAs Reject the Notion of Absolute Moral Values
The girl in the story above was a zealous advocate for what she regarded as human rights. She argued that human exploitation and injustice was wrong. In that sense, she was right in many cases. The problem for her, and other UUAs, is not so much what they say is right or wrong, but why they say it. On the one hand, they extoll strong ethical standards for a just society. Yet, on the other hand, they kick the legs out from under themselves by denying absolute moral values. Ask them how they know something is right or wrong, and the best they can answer is that it just feels that way, or they just know it.
It is easy to see the fallacy in that approach to ethics. It is self-refuting to say it is absolutely wrong to affirm that anything is absolutely wrong. Likewise, to assert that something is “right” without an absolute basis for saying so, leaves it entirely up to the subjective opinions (and power) of the one saying it. For example, Joseph Stalin believed he was “right” to kill millions of his own countrymen for the cause of communism.
So, then, the UUA undercuts its moral authority by denying an absolute moral compass. For Christians, that compass is the Bible and Jesus Christ. (See: http://www.marketfaith.org/2015/01/the-secular-10-commandments-and-the-fallacy-of-atheist-ethics-part-1/ and http://www.marketfaith.org/2015/02/the-secular-10-commandments-and-the-fallacy-of-atheist-ethics-part-2)
In these two installments we have reviewed eight barriers that make witnessing to a Unitarian-Universalist difficult. Perhaps if someone had shared with her some of the principles we examined in these two installments, Amy, the young UUA mentioned above, may have taken a closer and critical look at the religion of her family.
Here is brief list of books for helping reach a Unitarian-Universalist. You may want to give him or her a copy and ask if he or she would be willing to read it and discuss it with you. (Keep in mind, he or she may challenge you, in fair reciprocation, to read a book by a UUA or humanist author, so be ready.)
- C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity
- Tim Keller: The Reason for God
- William Lane Craig and Chad Meister, ed.: God is Great, God is Good
- Paul Little: Know Why You Believe
- Josh McDowell: More Than A Carpenter; The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict
- Lee Strobel: The Case for Christ; The Case for Faith; The Case for a Creator
- Ravi Zacharias: Can Man Live Without God?
- Eric Metaxas: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God, But Were Afraid to Ask
- Gary Habermas and Michael Licona: The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus
- Freddy Davis and Tal Davis: Bridges: How to Share a Witness Across Worldview Barriers
© 2017 Tal Davis