Unitarians accept different beliefs
The letter (Nov. 11) concerning public prayer was written by someone who makes a fairly common mistake about Unitarian Universalists, and so I write to set the record straight.
The writer states that “Unitarians … embrace all forms of religious expression.”
No. We don’t. I cannot speak for all Unitarian Universalists, but I suspect they would reject the more extreme pronouncements of Sharia; I suspect they would not “embrace” the “religions” espoused by Nazi skinheads and I suspect they would not take up the practice of spinning and turning as do the mystical elements of Sufi Islam. My church is not the church of “anything goes.”
The Unitarian Universalists I know readily look for meaning and inspiration in all the great world religions and are loathe to exclude from their fellowship people who believe differently than they do. I suspect that most Unitarian Universalists believe, “One mountain, many ways to the top.”
Francis David was the founder and first bishop of the Unitarian Church in Transylvania. He died in 1579. David is best known among modern-day Unitarian Universalists for his often quoted statement, “We need not think alike to love alike.”
REV. JEFF BRIERE
Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga
Children learn banking lesson
As part of our parenting responsibility, my wife and I decided that it was time to bestow upon both our daughters some banking knowledge. I opened a savings account in each of their names.
The third month after opening the First Tennessee accounts, the older child asked me the question, “Daddy, why is the bank taking $10 out of my account for something called a service fee.” I told each of the children this was a fee for the bank keeping their money. The oldest child responded, “Then why let them keep it if they are going to charge me for it.”
I thought about this statement and agreed with her. I went to First Tennessee bank and discussed the situation with them, and their response was that they would not waive the quarterly fee unless each account balance was at least $500. I asked for an exception but it was to no avail. In the end I closed out both accounts and gave the money back to each child.
The only lesson they learned was, “The bank is going to charge you for putting money in an account that has your name on it so why give them the money.”
RUSSELL & GINGER
BOLLING
Soddy-Daisy
Both sides take a hit
With this letter, I’m going to take a swipe at both sides of the editorial page.
On the Times side, I really look forward to seeing Clay Bennett’s cartoons. Someone once said that if you laugh, you’ll live longer. Well, Clay’s cartoons are so laughable, I think I’ll live ’til I’m 120.
On the Free Press side, don’t get too pumped up by the Republican sweep in the midterms. It’s all about the independent voters. The landscape will definitely change in 2012 if the Republicans don’t produce, because the independent voters (I’m one) will be in charge for a long time to come.
STEVE BERNTHAL
Blairsville, Ga.