Case Study: Unitarian Universalism

Rhetorical Case Study One The freedom of religious belief, regardless of the affiliation, has always played a salient role in society and culture in the United States: even before the country’s official inception. Likewise, religious freedom has always been a vital aspect in the past and present of Unitarian Universalists. I have chosen the Unitarian Universalist church for my rhetorical case study due to me being a member at a local congregation and my fascination with their teachings and platform. Rhetoric is dependent upon the circumstances of the situation and “independent of the perception of its interpreter or independent of the rhetoric with which [the community] chooses to characterize is” (Vatz 154). The rhetorical principles of the …show more content…
The main narrative frame perpetuated by the church is that everyone is welcome. While this on paper is an inspiring concept for a church to have, it can, however, pose problems for the congregation. The all-inclusive, all welcoming, catchall, platform can be confusing to those inside and outside of the community. The church is both Christian based but not Christian focused, spiritual but not religious, and the list goes on. Hence the rhetorical situation of the church “may become weakened in structure due to complexity or disconnectedness” (Bitzer 12). This can make it hard for new members to find something in which they can connect to. Furthermore, the lack of a shared creed can make it incredibly hard for the liberal religion to gain purchase when compared to other faiths that have a centralized belief …show more content…
Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices shape individuals throughout their life and create, often, lifelong communities that they connect with. These practices and ideals are formed by the rhetoric of the situation. To better understand the rhetorical situation of the Unitarian Universalist church, there are many aspects that need to be considered like the background, community affiliation, and the narratives that frame the platform. For this paper, I focused inwardly on how the community defines itself and the narrative it creates. For the next rhetorical case study, I will examine the rhetoric employed about Unitarian Universalists by individuals who are not a member of the community. By analyzing outward observations and thoughts about the community, a more rounded picture of the community as a whole can be explored and