One of our visitors suggested that our web site contains a lot of
religious data, opinions, beliefs, and practices. But it lacks guidance;
it lacks a conclusion. For example:
How does one digest all of the data about the beliefs and practices
of dozens of faith groups and religious traditions, and
How does one study all of the religious opinions about dozens of
"hot" religious topics, and
decide which spiritual and religious path is the right (or true, or
correct, or best, or least-worse) choice?
Our reader raised an interesting point. In our essays, we do not
normally draw conclusions, except in rare cases when the author adds their own
comments. Our policy has always been to provide our visitors with a
balanced presentation of both or all sides to each issue. For example:
On Christian matters, we explain what the most conservative and the
most liberal theologians believe, while realizing that most Christians'
beliefs probably lie somewhere in the middle. Sometimes, we include in 1st
and 2nd century teachings as well. We let our reader
reach their own conclusions.
On controversial social matters, we also explain all sides to an
issue. On homosexuality, for example, we describe the typical
conservative Christian point of view, and contrast it with the beliefs of gays,
lesbians, human sexuality researchers and mental-health professionals.
Again, we assume that the visitor will reach their own conclusions.
It may well be that our religious backgrounds have influenced how we
designed our web site. Two of us are Unitarian Universalists; UUs are known to be
dedicated seekers after truth but not necessarily very good finders of
truth.
Perhaps some of our visitors are interested in religious conclusions,
not just religious information.
So here are our suggested answers to some really basic questions. We do
warn you that some of the conclusions below are influenced by our
religious faiths; this essay is not as balanced and objective as the rest
of this web site.
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