For the last three years I have taught a class at the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City called "Building Your Own Theology." The title of the course might make some agnostic humanists a little apprehensive, but the words theology, and religion are defined so broadly that it can encompass Humanism. The values of freedom to use ones experience and reason to examine religious belief, the right to choose ones beliefs, and tolerance toward the beliefs of others is at the very center of the course, and have characterized the Unitarian tradition for 500 years. The Unitarian church embraces pluralism, and it has made humanists like me quite at home.

The majority of people who attend the class are "come outers." That is, they have become disaffected with the church or religion they were born into, and have left looking for something else. With the collapse of their religious faith, and alienation from their church, many people sense a void in their life, and they come seeking to fill it. Others, who were not raised with a church and its creed, also sense something amiss and come searching.

My experience suggests that people need a belief system to function. Beliefs are conclusions we have drawn from our experience of the world. They are the bedrock to which we anchor our lives. They help us decide toward which ends we shall live our lives, and what values and principles will enlighten our journey. Without beliefs, there is a kind of paralysis: we need beliefs to get on with our lives. I also observe that some beliefs are better than others. Socrates was right when he said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." I believe that science and rationality are important instruments to use in this examining process, and that our conclusions must be consistent with our own personal experience of life.

The course begins with each person sharing the story of their own religious odyssey. For many, it is the first time that their story can be heard, and understood about why they no longer can believe in the ancient creeds. Each person discovers that there are others who share their doubts, and that they are not alone. Being heard and understood provides affirmation, and courage to continue the quest. A feeling of trust, concern for others and community often grows out of this experience.

The course mostly employs a discussion and sharing format of instruction. What happens in the course is very much dependent on what the individual participants bring to the group. Some topics discussed are human nature, God, ultimate reality, ethics, suffering, death, immortality, truth, authority, history, justice, good, evil, eschatology and meaning.

I like the course because it goes well beyond helping each participant discover what they do not believe. It helps them build and be able to articulate a core of possible beliefs. I am always fascinated by what kind of beliefs each individual will choose for themselves when given the opportunity of free inquiry. Most of the participants build belief systems that are skeptical of the supernatural, center their lives in this life rather than an after life, and place their hopes for the future in human endeavor.

I don't believe the course proselytizes humanism, but in spite of this, most participants would probably feel comfortable with views expressed in the Humanist Manifesto II. I observe that the course helps people make a transition; it doesn't make converts. People don't come to this course unless they have leanings in this direction already. I believe it is a good course for anyone examining humanist beliefs, and I extend an invitation to all who read this article.

--Richard Teerlink