Episode 007 – Humanism and Unitarian Universalism with Rev. Dr. TK Barger
In this episode Douglas talks to Rev. Dr. TK Barger of the First Unitarian Church of Toledo about the historic ties between the UUs and Humanism. We also discuss how Unitarians have religious rituals that are not based in the supernatural and we talk about some of the differences between religious and secular humanism.
Rev. Dr. TK Barger has been the called minister for First UU of Toledo since 2017 and is a founding Board member of our sponsor the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie. TK got his start in Journalism and after 9/11 decided to be of more service by becoming a minister. He also worked as the Religion Editor at the Toledo Blade for several years before being called to serve full time at First UU of Toledo.
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Extras:
First Unitarian Church of Toledo
Humanist Unitarian Universalists
Humanist Common Ground: Unitarian Universalism
Living on the Creative Edge of Our Culture
Edwin H. Wilson, Curtis Reese, and John Dietrich
Journal Article: Away from a Language of Reverence
Host Notes:
I appreciated talking to Rev. Barger about Religious Humanism and UUism. He has been a good friend to our group the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie and like I say in the interview, his congregation was very welcoming.
I still have philosophical issues with the UU church especially when it comes to god talk and I disagree with Rev. Barger when he says that meeting on a sunday in church is the best way to celebrate the awe of the universe.
I do believe that those raised in a religious way who are no longer believers and those who still believe but don’t want the extreme hierarchical structure can find a home in a UU congregation. It will be harder for atheists like me but like the title of the episode says we are in the same church just different pews.
— Douglas
