Hugh Gillilan

Hugh came to humanism from a rather orthodox Christian background. As a child he attended a variety of Christian churches and says his fondest memories of his early religious experiences was the robust hymn singing. During his college years he was actively involved in the Wesley Foundation, a Methodist religious organization. His involvement in the Wesley Foundation led to his decision to become a Methodist minister.

Hugh says his liberal arts education did what a liberal education is supposed to do: it opened his eyes to a wider vista, a wider perspective on the cosmology of our universe and particularly life on this planet of owl solar system. Classes on the history of religion increased his awareness of the many religious points of view, and philosophy classes revealed to him the various ways generations have thought about the important issues of life. All of these things were affecting his personal belief system even though he was seriously studying for a career in the ministry. "My heart was very much in what I was trying to do but my head was raising other kinds of issues and questions," Hugh told the audience at the May meeting.

Hugh says his biggest problems were caused by the theology classes, particularly a professor who frequently quoted the famous Tertullian phrase concerning religious faith: "I believe because it is absurd." Hugh said giving faith a higher value than reason made no sense to him then and it makes no sense to him now.

Hugh began his ministerial career as an assistant minister in a large Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. After two years, he decided his religious convictions were more in tune with the liberal theology of the Church of the Larger Fellowship, an outreach program at that time of the American Unitarian Association. Having a deep-felt need to be honest with himself and with his Methodist congregation, he resigned

his position. As he put it, "I gave up Methodism for Lent."

He became a candidate for a ministerial opening at the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City in 1961. He found the congregation was humanistically oriented and felt his religious philosophy was very much in sync with the membership of the Salt Lake Unitarian Society. He was unanimously approved by a congregational vote and served with distinction for eight years. He enjoyed his years as a minister in Salt Lake City because he could be a thoroughgoing humanist without any reservations 'whatsoever.

Hugh Gillilan's humanistic philosophy may be summarized in the following words he used during a memorial sermon for President John F. Kennedy on November 24, 1963: "It is for us to reaffirm that friendliness and sympathy for our fellow man, which now as always remains the foundation stone of the good society; to resolve anew to bend our minds and energies toward the pursuit of truth, the creation of beauty, and the freedom and welfare of all persons..."

Hugh left the ministry in 1969 and today is in private practice as a family therapist and active member of Humanists of Utah.