- This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 1 week ago by
Ursula.
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tfindlay
Should we be doing projects we aren’t currently doing that would cost money? Should we be urging people to send money in anticipation of the day when a project presents itself that we wish we had funds for? Would people feel more involved if we provided more opportunities for giving? Should we start a dialogue to address these questions and propose other ones?
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vandermude
In my opinion, the Religious Naturalist Association should levy annual dues.
I think it is reasonable for people to participate without paying, but having dues shows a commitment.
This is similar to what we do at our Unitarian Universalist church. We have pledging members, but anyone is free to come to a service and otherwise participate.
I propose two levels of membership: Basic at around $25 USD and full membership at $100 USD.
As far as projects go, I suggest that the projects are directed to the furtherance on religion as a practice. I do not think that we should do anything on ecology or policitcs or social justice or economics. There are other organizations for that. I would prefer that we spend our time and effort on furthering religion.
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Ursula
What do you mean by furthering religion?
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“What do you mean by furthering religion?”
Beats me.
You are doing a good job, Ursula, right now.
Loyal Rue views religion as having a central story. I would prefer that the RNA puts its time and effort into making this better known to people at large. Society today is suffering from a lot of ennui and alienation. The old-time religion is not working anymore to give people meaning in their lives. It’s time for RNA to step up and provide an alternative. I guess what I am suggesting is that we focus on evangelism and outreach. I suspect that the reason that there are so many who say their religion is “None” is that they don’t know that there is something that speaks to them.
Maybe we can do some advertising.
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JD Stillwater
There’s another kind of project that might require some money (maybe from grants?), and that’s related to advancing RNA as an organization. We may be approaching a critical mass where the need for coordination becomes a half-time or full-time effort for someone, a role that’s difficult to share between more than one individual.
Before that though, I think we need more discussion (and resolution) of exactly what our mission is. I hear general consensus around a mission something like giving people a name for their orientation in the world. If that’s the mission, then we don’t need to invest much time and effort in member services, and should instead focus on outreach. I don’t yet feel like I have a clear sense of “whither RNA.”
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My understanding is that the mission of RNA is to spread awareness of the Religious Naturalist orientation. It is also my understanding that initiatives undertaken by individual members or groups of members have been and continue to be designed to further this mission.
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Same idea, different words. Is that mission statement “official” though?
If our mission is limited to spreading awareness, that would preclude efforts like the newsletter, which is purely for existing members, who are already aware. Seems to me our current efforts are broader than that, and include developing the orientation philosophically and ethically, and defining its edges, and collecting supporting materials, etc.
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Well hopefully some members are moved to forward the Newsletter!
Several descriptors are on the RNA website. Terry is recalling only part of it.
A Worldwide Home For Religious Naturalists.
The Religious Naturalist Association (RNA) is a non-profit corporation formed in the summer of 2014 to create an active and stimulating community for religious naturalists.Our Mission
Our stated purpose is to encourage the development and spread the awareness of the religious naturalist orientation. -
Found another one: The Association
THE RELIGIOUS NATURALIST ASSOCIATION (RNA)
(pun intended)
is a worldwide community of people interested in exploring or expressing support for the religious naturalist orientation.
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