Welcome UUs!

So I guess this is kind of like posting that first dollar bill in the new store -- a Unitarian Universalist blogger named Chris Walton, who blogs under the nom de plume Philocrites, is, as far as I know, the first religion blogger to give a shout-out to the Globe's new religion blog (you are here!) and link to it (if you want to do the same, we're at Articles of Faith).

So, welcome Philocrites readers!

Chris notes that the new blogroll, which just went up yesterday, doesn't include any UU blogs (except for Beauty Tips for Ministers, which is UU-authored but ecumenically themed, and which also appears to be on hiatus). I sent him a note to say that my blog is still in its beta stage -- if there is such a thing, given that it's live -- as we tweak the design, get comments enabled, and as I experiment with various forms of posts to see what works. But I also have to be honest here -- the only UU blogger I have bookmarked is PeaceBang, and my familiarity with the UU blogging world is limited.

So, if you have any suggestions for UU blogs I should check out, or ideas for stories about what's going on in UUism, send them along.

Jessica Bennett, the blog editor at Beacon Press, suggests I check out Beacon Broadside:

"We post on the wide variety of issues covered by our list, including religious and interfaith issues. This week, Rev. Forrest Church posted about his battle with esophageal cancer and his acceptance of his terminal diagnosis. I hope you’ll get a chance to read it. Rev. Church is a beloved minister at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in New York, and has published numerous books with Beacon Press. I was tremendously grateful to receive this post, which I hope will be the first of many. His strength in the face of an incurable illness is truly inspiring."

Michele McNeill recommends Sunflower Chalice:

"My friend, Rev. Tony Lorenzen is a UU minister originally from Mass who just moved to texas to head a congregation there. He blogs here on UU and Zen stuff."

And Philocrites himself e-mails:

"The 'best' UU blogs probably depend on what you're most interested in. For news-related content, probably my blog Philocrites and UU World's Unitarian Universalists in the Media blog. UU World also has a weekly blog roundup that tracks developments in the UU blogosphere. You can get a full-text feed or email alerts from that one. I'm UU World's editor. For good reads in the UU blogosphere, I recommend the following: PeaceBang (Victoria Weinstein's other blog); Celestial Lands (by a UU studying to be a military chaplain); The Chalice Blog (by a law student in Maryland; when people want to bitch about denominational goings-on, they do it at her place). I've compiled an annotated guide to UU blogs here; the medallions indicate blogs I consider especially worth visiting.''