Unitarians spark controversy with Pagan Pride Day

[icymist]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- The First Unitarian Church has drawn criticism from at least one member for a Pagan Pride Day it plans to hold Saturday.

In a letter circulating among the congregation, one member describes the event as a Dungeons and Dragons festival featuring "flaky spiritualities and ancient occult practices." The letter says Unitarianism is a rational religion that should avoid superstition.

But Lorna Steele, who organized Pagan Pride Day, said she has led a pagan group within the church for 14 years. She estimated 400 pagans live in Rhode Island.

"There are a lot of misconceptions out there that we hope to correct," Steele said.

{link:ww2.wpri.com/Global/story.asp?S=5412366|Read the article]

[intheflow]

1. It pains me that there are so many who equate "Unitarian" with

"Athiest." What about the Universalist part of the tadition, the people who believe that all paths toward enlightenment are valid as long as they encourage living compassionate, ethical lives? Of course you can be rational and also a pagan. IMO, these kinds of opinions are an kind of prejudice that has no place in true communities of faithful tradition.

[Chovexani]

2. I find that UU really depends on the congregation

I'm not a UUer (no CUUPS in NYC that I could find, and I'm still new to the Phoenix area), but I know a lot of UU Pagans online and from the stories I've heard, some congregations are more accepting than others. Some can be just as bad as a fundie megachurch.

It's sad, because the Unitarian philosophy is something I agree with--if I ever go back to church, it'll be to a Unitarian one.