Yesterday, I attended the Sunday service of the Lycoming Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Williamsport. I wanted to go, because Dai-En Bennage, the Abbess of the Mt Equity Zendo, was the guest speaker.

She gave a very nice talk on a number of subjects. One of the things she talked about was the relationship between bio-fuels and world hunger.

A couple of the people looked genuinely surprised to learn that putting corn-ethanol in their gas tanks raises the price of corn, and subsequently, people in far-off lands starve to death.

After the talk was over, they had free cookies and apple cider. That was pretty nice.

The Unitarian Universalists were very nice people and I didn’t feel as if I were going to spontaneously combust, or that I might be struck by lightning, the way I do when I go inside most other churches.

They gave me some literature about UUism in general, and it was by far the least stupid of any church I’ve ever been to.

I can’t say that I’d go every Sunday, but when George Bush declares himself King and makes church attendance compulsory, I’ll probably go to a UU church if there aren’t any Zendos around.

Anyhow, if you’re looking for a religion that doesn’t ask you to believe in improbable things, Unitarian Universalism might be the ticket.

On the way home, I snapped a panorama from the Williamsport overlook. The leaves have finally changed color. (Click for big)