I think its an attempt to supply a social organization to marginalized non believers. As such,I consider it pretty positive.

I like UU. It has all the good things about religion -- fellowship and group singing, for example -- without the nonsensical mythology. It is a good transition for people raised in churches who discover that the myths are BS.

Unitarian means they do not accept the claim that Jesus was God. And Universalist means everyone gets to heaven no matter what you believe. They do not require you believe heaven is in the afterlife either. So you are covered.

The UU religion is post-Christian, and is the love child of the two eponyous liberal and semi-heretical denominations that merged around 1960. The Unitarians denied the doctrine of the Trinity and the Universalists believe in Universal Reconciliation (UR) rather than in the standard-issue hell-threat.

UU self-describes as "covenental" rather than creedal. Creedal being, the fact that Christian churches, either explicitly or implicitly, conform to one of the historic Christian creeds, such as the Nicene Creed -- you are, by joining, subscribing to some basic dogma and asserted truth (the divinity of Christ, the need for salvation, the authority of the Bible, etc).

UUs on the other hand accept any creed (belief) so long as you are, as their slogan goes, "standing on the side of love" as they define and apply it.

My experience has been that while they are very accepting of atheists, this varies from one congregation to the next; and they still have a great deal of the unlovely cliquishness and hypocrisy you find in any Christian church -- they have simply substituted political ideology for theology. Even though I'm politically liberal I feel a gravitational pull toward a particular kind of liberal sentiment that I'm neither very comfortable with nor particularly into, sort of an old-fashioned 60's hippie ethos with high levels of political activism. If you're not willing to chain yourself to the entrance gate of the local natural gas storage facility and get yourself arrested, you're sort of a second-class citizen.

I wish the sentiment were more humanistic than politically liberal as such.

Also I have found their Sunday services to be a little silly in their conformity to familiar tropes of Christianity. I've attended a UU congregation in North Carolina and their order of service is very familiar to any garden-variety Baptist of that region, sort of like if a Baptist high on cocaine had designed the liturgy and thrown in some Muslim or Buddhist hymnody. Up here in the NorthEast it looks more like a staid New England liberal service complete with an expensive tracker-action pipe organ. Both styles of service were a bit too kum-by-yah for my taste, but that's just me I suppose.

All of this varies as I said, per congregation. I would advise any atheist interested in a sense of community and at least somewhat common cause, to investigate the local group as a possible source of same. It might or might not be your cup of tea. I would imagine that some groups are less welcoming of atheists than others for example, more or less politically active, and so on. Also you can go to "adult ed" classes and special events and home cell groups and never show up for the formal service on Sunday and generally no one will bat an eyelash. There's none of that nosy / gossipy insincere "we missed you last Sunday" bullshit you get in evangelical churches, at least.

We raised our children in the UU church so they would have an understanding of religions. But we were clear with them we did not believe in god or anything supernatural but they had to evaluate the evidence and come to their own conclusions.

The one thing that church is good at is the social aspect. Some atheist groups have even started Sunday meetups for just this purpose. I think the religious trappings of UU are unnecessary, but I don't think you should feel guilty for wanting community. I hope you find an atheist group!

I'm sorry I don't do impressions

New Wave religion is still religion.

I am a u.u, and I find being a part of the fellowship does satisfy my need to feel connected. There are many free thinkers, atheists ,pagans, Buddhists and a few Christians that attend. the u.u's are very active with social causes ,environmental causes and are a support system for one another. No two Unitarian universalists are identical in their beliefs, so a certain amount of Tolerance is going to be required for you to feel comfortable.

I don't see it as a religion at all. I see it as a community and lifestyle. Since none of these people have a deity that they share in common I personally cannot consider it a religion. They're just using the word "church."

My experience is that UU uses left-wing politics as a substitute for for religious beliefs. I tried it and then dropped out.

After retirement I was looking for a place to meet people and since friends are members, I attended UU services for a while. At this site there was no pressure for money or particular religious belief. In fact, they explicitly stated that it didn't matter what you believed -- or didn't believe. My reason for no longer attending was the fact that everyone seemed to completely adhere to what might be considered "tree hugger" beliefs and there was at least a covert pressure to be very socially active. I just don't want anyone telling me what to do or think -- whatever their beliefs.

Just as deluded as any other religion or denomination. Just with a bit more hegemony

With one of my exes we went to a couple's counselor at the Jewish family center in Miami. I have not attended church since I was 13 (got confirmed just so my mother would think I escaped hell) except for a couple times with another ex who is a black Baptist from Mississippi. I really enjoy black gospel music, even if I do not agree with the lyrics in regard to a deity. The couple's counselor and I got along really well and she suggested that we attend a UU church for fellowship, because I mad it clear I am not a theist. The people were friendly, but I only went about 3 times.

I once saw a great concert at a UU, but it was so long ago I forgot who it was. I find them to be much more respectable than these evangelical Christofacists.

I attended a local UU briefly. I get that they are very welcoming and tolerant and that's cool.
Ultimately, I couldn't get passed how tied they remain to the Bible and other books which contain such backwards teachings. Now, they can choose to avoid the backwards teachings, "cherry picking" teachings they think are healthy. Fair enough.
But, music is very powerful to me and the day that Amazing Grace was in the repertiore I lossed it. No, I am not a wretch and I don't need grace. I don't think the "gospel" is good news at all.
What I began to focus on, in terms of wanting and needing to socialize, are groups of people doing things I enjoy. Like, hiking groups, discussion over beers groups, that kind of thing.

I have gone to a UU church, and above all, I noted the acceptance. It felt more like a philosophy group than a religion. I don't remember the ceremony, if any, but I do remember people were invited to speak. No belief system was treated differently or with more reverence than others. I did not feel uncomfortable, but I didn't attend enough to make any significant connection. I could find myself going again.

My experince is the same locally. However I have been to a U.U. in Denver where it was too "christ-ey". Locally, I have been asked about how I see reglion. Some of the people there are curious. They were interested, but nice. As for the cogitive dissonace, open minded churchs and groups serve as a saftey net and can be mentally healthy to join. Why should we miss out on the scocail benefits of belonging to a group that welcomes us. Meet-up groups for atheist/agnositics/freethinkers are needed sorely. If you can stand that only one person comes at first. ....I see the comment.. Kooks that play with crystals... and I have not seen that go on. It seems we also have a big proportion of people that are from the university.

I do it if theres one around havent been to one for years though, last time I was in Brighton about twenty five years ago - its harmless won't change my mind about anything and interesting experience

My interactions with them has been positive. The like social gatherings and many have potlucks at the end of the ceremonies. The one thing they do tout is promoting peace. They even say they are more peaceful than Quakers. I never understood how they could be a part of the Christian religion. However, one of the largest churche's is in Dallas, Tx.

A word of advice here, don't confuse Unitarian Universalists with Unitarians
Neither will thanks you for it.

A 'pseudo church'? I was brought up half Presbyterian and half Freethinker/Unitarian. I'm not sure you can even call UU a church per se. They welcome all without all that BS that comes with religion. So it is for socializing. I'd hope some serious discussions are going on with ideas shared with little to no judgment. There was one of the last Freethinker buildings a block from me years ago. I didn't even know Dad sometimes went to it. (Thanks, Dad.) It seems a logical place for the 'others' that Christians, forgetting Jesus' words, can't stand.

I went to one once because I heard you could go if you were an atheist/agnostic. It did seem open and welcoming to all. The one near me probably could have worked for me, but I think I just wasn't into the "churchy" aspects of it: ritual, singing, etc. The weird thing is, I used to be really into the Rocky Horror Picture Show... which is basically ritual/churchy... but I guess if there's a healthy dose of kind thrown in I'm into it?!

From what I’ve seen, they’re still kooks that play with crystals.