Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Direction – for the Spiritual but not Religious
spiritual direction, Spirituality
People who are spiritual but not religious seek spiritual directors who can be attentive to them without attempting to put them in an institutional box. While spiritual directors of all backgrounds are supposed to have this sort of openness, there is one religious tradition that has a history of not forcing seekers into a box: Unitarian Universalism (UU). That’s why when referring people who call themselves spiritual but not religious to spiritual directors, I many times steer them toward directors from the Unitarian Universalist tradition.
Unitarian Universalists are committed to “helping people lead lives of justice, love, learning, and hope.” While they hold to no creed or doctrine, Unitarian implies they are monotheistic (Divine oneness) and Universalist refers to the belief that all people — no exceptions — are acceptable to the Divine, with the divine interpreted in any number of ways. Atheists can find a home among UUs, alongside humanists and people from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and pagan backgrounds.
Here are five reasons I believe Unitarian Universalist spiritual directors — especially the three I interviewed, whose thoughts you’ll find below — are good choices for the spiritual but not religious person.
1. UUs know how to talk about the spiritual life without overly theistic or “churchy” language.
Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein: UUs are very experienced with people who have been wounded by religious tradition and communities so — for better or worse — we become theologically multi-lingual. We know that the beginning of spiritual direction is listening, so we listen carefully for the language the directee is using. We are listening for the presence of the spirit. What are they groping toward? Also, what language hurts or triggers them? What are they rejecting? What is the language that has excluded them? We are comfortable with their stories of being hurt by religious people or institutions because of sexuality, being too curious, or too open.
Spiritual director with over 20 years of experience helping people explore their spiritual path. Received Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction in 2000 from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Currently running the Apprentice Training Program in Spiritual Direction for the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction.
You’ll often hear spiritual directors talk about how much they love their directees. And it’s true that when we hold stories of vulnerability and pain or strength and joy, we feel a sense of love. What kind of love are we talking about?
Love, not Romance
First, let me be clear ...
The legend of Theodora of Alexandria is a 5th century tale of sex, gender fluidity and deception.
Theodora was a beautiful married woman, who in a moment of sexual passion cheated on her husband with another man. Her guilt over ...
The Desert Fathers and Mothers of the 4th century were the original spiritual directors, sought out by pilgrims coming to them to explore their spiritual life. In this series, I’m introducing a few of these amazing people. Some you have heard of. And, some I’m guessing you have not.
Meet ...
