To be challenged or to be moved (during service)

[Elroy Sullivan]

A criticism that UUs often get is that we are too rational and cognitive, and that we sometimes neglect the emotional stuff. Is this true? Is it okay to be so rational? Should we have more appeal to our emotions during our sunday talks?

[Hollie Regalo]

Great question. I, for one, am not sure what this would look/sound like. I associate religious emotion with things like snake handling and walking on coals -- not that there's anything wrong with that!

However, I think there is an emotional component to religion. Feeling compassion for the plight of another, or outrage over injustice, can impel us to do things that need to be done. Simply knowing it is the right thing to do often isn't enough. But how would we appeal to emotions in a service without putting people off?

[jilla]

I do think that people can be moved emotionally by a service. Many times when I hear speaker, something makes me think and consider how I feel. It may be just a phrase or just thinking about the topic being discussed. Joys and Concerns sometimes are emotional as are some of the readings. When a person cares deeply about something they are discussing (either informally or in the main Sunday talk), I think people can be emotionally moved by that person's passion and care for the issue.

I don't think there is anything wrong with our rational, thoughtful approach to discussion -- we can be emotionally moved by examining and adjusting our rational view of an issue. -- I know I feel very strongly about some ideas I have developed through disucsssions at UFM over the past year or so -- my strong feelings definitely create emotion in me about those issues.

[sara]

I think the issue is not really a question of emotion vs. intellect, but spirituality vs. intellect. The trend in UU congregations is toward more spiritualism. I'm not even sure exactly what this is supposed to mean. What it means for me is that fewer and fewer UU services engage me intellectually. Almost anything that is intellectually engaging will also engage one's emotions. However, topics completely devoid of reason and rationality do not engage me at all, intellectually or emotionally.

UU's are thoughtful, moral people. That ought to be enough.