Religious Outlook
Our congregation views spiritual growth as a very important part of church life. Over two-thirds of survey respondents said that spiritual growth was a reason they first attended and 88% said it is a reason they keep attending. Spiritual growth can be defined and measured in various ways, so it is important to try and describe how our congregation sees it.
In our congregation spirituality is manifested in two ways when taken in the aggregate. Neither of these two ways can be considered as clearly dominant. At the individual level, we all show a blending of spiritual orientations.
The first spiritual way is seeking connection. A full experience of this connection can lead to a sense of awe and ecstasy. This way is well described by Makanah Elizabeth Morriss, former Co-minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne, Wyoming who wrote: “Spirituality for me is about connections, with people, with animals, with nature, with energies deeper than the human eye can perceive. My spiritual awakenings occur as I touch and am touched by other parts of our miraculous web of existence.” This spiritual path acknowledges that congregants of the UU Church of Canton relish acts of celebration and a nurturing community through mindful, ongoing connections that create a web of interconnectedness - not only to the human aspects of our lives but also to the natural world.
The second spiritual way is searching for truth and meaning, such as what Scott Alexander suggests in Everyday Spiritual Practice. He says that the purpose of the spiritual life is to: "……examine, shape, and care for your life—and the life around you—to achieve more wholeness, satisfaction, depth, and meaning.” This spiritual way is all about being a better person and also treating other beings better. It is a major trait of those who consider themselves Humanists.
The congregation has shown a desire to pursue these spiritual directions through both intellect and emotion. Many in the pews seem to be comfortable with a well-reasoned, fact-filled sermon while others do not so much want to be convinced as moved. Based on ongoing conversations with the congregation, it emerges that our spiritual enrichment occurs during a combination of worship services, church rituals and community functions that simultaneously feed our desire for connection and the search for truth and meaning.