Abby Recommends UUs

Pam and I make a daily habit of reading the column "Dear Abby." As we read yesterday's letter from "New Mom in Arkansas," we knew where Abby might be headed with her answer, and we are pleased to report that we were correct. As Abby would say, read on:

DEAR ABBY: I recently had a child and would like to join a church for the community, moral messages and the music. I grew up going to one and got a lot out of it. 

However, exploration throughout my 20s made me realize that I didn't believe what was being taught. I tried hard to accept the doctrines, but truthfully, I doubt I ever will. Would it be dishonest to start attending again? -- NEW MOM IN ARKANSAS

DEAR NEW MOM: Many people consider themselves to be more "spiritual" than "religious." And I'm willing to bet that in many congregations there is a range in the intensity of belief among the attendees. I encourage you to select a denomination with which you feel most comfortable. Some -- like the Unitarian Universalist faith (www.uua.org) -- have no dogma or creed and support their members in following their own spiritual paths.

Incidentally, some of my own advice regarding plastics was recently featured in the column.