Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

Small Group Ministries

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Who or What is God

This program encourages members to explore who or what God is to them, whether they believe in that concept of God, and whether or not a religion must, by definition, require its members to have the same “ultimate reality.”

For another view on this topic, see the session “Do We Need God”.

Member Preparation

In preparation for this session, take some time to think about who or what the God that you do or do not believe in is to you.

These questions provide ways you may want to approach this topic. Remember to focus on just one or two of the questions, if you choose to use them, as this will allow you to explore the topic in more depth.

• Do you believe in a ”higher power”? a “spirit of life”? By what name, if any, do you call this power or spirit? Is this your God or god?
• What does it mean to you to be "spiritual"? To be “religious”? Can one be spiritual and/or religious and not believe in a higher power?
• Do you consider anything “sacred” or “holy”? Do you ever feel connected to something beyond your understanding?
• Do you ever find yourself talking to "a higher power" in times of extreme need? Do you only do this during times of extreme need? Why?
• If we do not all believe in the same “ultimate reality,” can we as Unitarian Universalists consider our faith a religion? How do you react to that idea?

Further Exploration

• Selected Views on God (MS Word document)
• Selected Views on Religion (MS Word document)
• William R. Murry, “Reason and Reverence,” UU World (November 2006).
• Victoria Weinstein, “How Jesus claimed me: One Unitarian Universalist's religious journey,” UU World (April 2007).
• UU World.org index of articles about theology
• The Journal of Liberal Religion. Volume 3, Number 1: New Horizons in Constructive Liberal Theology (Winter 2002)
• Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippet, American Public Media Radio Program.
  - Quarks and Creation (April 20, 2006)
  - The Freelance Monotheism of Karen Armstrong (August 17, 2006)
  - Pagans Ancient and Modern (February 15, 2007)
  - Einstein’s God (March 8, 2007)
  - A History of Doubt (May 3, 2007)
• Richard Dawkins Explains The God Delusion, National Public Radio.
• Francis Collins on The Language of God, National Public Radio.
• Bill Moyers: Faith and Reason, PBS.
  - Mary Gordon and Colin McGinn (June 30, 2006)
  - Richard Rodriguez and Sir John Houghton (July 21, 2006)