So, today, I went to church.

Turns out that I am a Unitarian Universalist after all.

Those of you who know me, know that I am not big on church. Me and religion--hmm. Just don't get along, the two of us. Which is not to say that I am off God--my relationship with my creator has always been pretty healthy. I just always found organized religion distasteful. It always seemed, to me, that religion was was what kept us separate, kept us suspicious of each other, allowed for a large enough disconnect that some of us felt the need to, say, fly planes into buildings to make a point. Even among people that supposedly believe the same thing, there was a gulf. I remember talking with a friend, a friend who was "saved" and asking him if, in his book, I was destined for heaven. I told him that I believe in God, that I try to be a good person, that I try to live a good life. Do I get into paradise?

He countered with that question. "Are you saved?"

Well, no, not in the strictest sense. I was baptized, I believe in God, I am a good person.

"But, are you saved?"

Well, I guess not, not in the way that you mean.

"Well, then, I'm sorry. You're not going to heaven."

What kind of freaky God do you worship?

I was first given to understand that I wasn't going to heaven when I was 9. My grandmother had died when I was eight and a year and a half later, my grandfather married a Baptist woman. Before they married, though, he converted. And then tried to convert all of us. His technique was interesting, though, to say the least. He told us that he was sorry--they are always sorry, aren't they?--but that we were all going to hell. My mother, always game, said, "why is that, Daddy?"

"Well, you're not Baptists and only Baptists are going to heaven."

"So, you are telling me that my Methodist Mother is rotting in hell?" I love my mom.

"I'm sorry, babe, but yes."

Again, what kind of weird-ass God is this?

It would be a question that I would ask a lot over the next 25 years, as I encountered various levels of bile, all disguised as "Christian". And then, today, well, I went to church.

After I took the Belief net quiz last week, I got a call from jheaton. He was chuckling and said to me, "You are a Unitarian Universalist."

Thinking that he had just seen my entry for that day, I replied, "It would appear so." "No, " he said. "You *ARE* a Unitarian. It's perfect."

Now, I trust jheaton, especially in matters of facts and knowledge. So I did a little research. Turns out that these UU folks have it going on in a big way. They don't have the weird God. In fact, God is pretty much optional. What they do have is a very aggressive approach to human dignity, equality, strength and moral courage. They don't claim to be God's disciples, messengers, or even, really, followers. Sure, they seem to think that God is cool, as is Jesus, but they also seem to think the same of all the great prophets and philosophical leaders.

Mostly, though, beliefs aside, they were just pretty joyful people. I guess when your goal is to be a good person and to live a good life, because it's the right thing to do and not because you have to to get into heaven, well, living that way must be a joyful thing. I drove home from the service in a stunningly positive mood. I called all my family members and wished them a happy Easter. I came home, woke John and made breakfast. Then we went to Borders and I bought three books: a copy of Carl Dennis' Practical Gods, a Jan Burke mystery, and a small pocket bible.

And, the Mariners won. And they didn't need extra innings to do it, which is refreshing.

All in all it was an excellent day.

Regarding the bible purchase, just in case you think that my one day at church made me all *fundamental*, I bought it because my listening comprehension isn't very good and if I am going to keep going to church, I want to be able to read along with the pastor. Don't think that I'm going to go, you know, *weird* on you.