Owning Your Religious Past

By Bonnie (Stauffacher) Withers

Web site

www.uua.org/re/curriculum/Owning_Religious_Past.pdf

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Theme and Description

A workshop format provides some simple tools with which individuals may re-examine and retrieve positive aspects of their past religious experience as part of their continuing religious growth.

Goals for Participants

To enhance and deepen their present Unitarian Universalist identity by addressing and resolving the negative or limiting elements of past religious associations;
To assimilate positive aspects of their religious past into their present religious identity.

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Age Range

Adult

Size of Group

5 to 10 with one leader, 11 to 15 with two leaders

Space Requirements

A meeting space that allows comfortable seating for large- and small-group interactions. Wall space is needed for displays.

Number and Length of Sessions

5 sessions
Length: 1 1/2 to 2 hours

Leader Training

Background reading and experience in group process are necessary.

Leader Preparation

1 to 2 hours per session

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Strengths

Poses a nonthreatening way for participants to confront their religious pasts and thus enables religious growth.
Is easy to follow and effective, with few supplies necessary.

Limitations

Begins the process of examining one's religious past but provides few resources or vehicles to move individuals to a deeper exploration of religious meaning.
Suggests no bibliographic resources.

Adaptability

Can be adapted to a weekend workshop or retreat. Also adaptable for older youth.

Unitarian Universalist Values

None are explicitly stated, but the values affirmed throughout the program include acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; a free and responsible search for truth and meaning; and the living tradition we share draws from many sources.

Reviewed on June 30, 1996

Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. | Boston, MA 02108 | 617-742-2100