I have read at least the titles of over 2,000 on-line UU sermons.
This was not a scientific sample in any sense,
just the random congregations I came across,
beginning with my part of the country.

    These are a few random observations,
which I will probably revise and update
as I do more surfing of UU sermons online.

REMARKABLY LITTLE MENTION OF GOD

    Most UUs now think of themselves as humanists,
which also seems to include our ministers.
They consider themselves religious in some senses,
but being religion does not include appealing to a higher power
that is going to help the human race or individuals in some way.

    One of our names ('Unitarian") means that we believe in one God.
But as the Unitarian joke adds---"at the most!"
The history of theology is filled with speculations
about the nature and powers of God.
But almost nothing like this is found in UU sermons.

ALMOST NO APPEAL TO SACRED TEXTS

    This is also a stark contrast with Christian sermons.
Some Christian churches believe that every sermons
must be based at least in part of the scripture reading for that Sunday.
Preaching is often thought of as explaining the Bible for today.

    But because UUs do not have a Bible or a doctrine,
UU preachers do not begin with any such sets of beliefs.
This means that they construct sermons
beginning with some other source,
often some element of life-experience.

    Religious movements or denominations
that are based on ancient sacred texts
thereby necessarily limit themselves
to whatever can be teased out of those texts.
And as these texts get more and more out of date,
the religions based on them are likely to decline.

    There will be some liberal or modern elements
of these traditional religions that will seek new truths
beyond their given sacred texts.
But those denominations that stick to the Bible, for example,
will find themselves becoming less and less relevant
to the modern world.

    These words were first drafted in during the year 2000.
This is a time of looking back on 2000 years of Christian history.
And looking forward to 1000 years
of civilization advancing faster than ever before.

    Because the UU movement is not tied to any beliefs of the past,
it will probably be around in the year 3000.
But only the most conservative people will cling
to one of the religions based on ancient sacred texts.

    The UU movement is open to new forms of spirituality.
When prophets appear in the religions based in tradition,
they are usually dismissed as not orthodox enough.
But because we UUs have no ' straight doctrine',
we do not dismiss new ideas as violating what we already believe.

    New forms of spirituality within UUism
will be tested by the light of reason
and by the experience of the people
who hear these new forms of the life of the spirit explained to them.

    Because 90% of adult UUs were raised in other denominations,
many still think in terms of 'a faith' or some kind of belief system.
When they come to UUism, they want to know what UUs believe.
But later they are pleased that there are no given doctrines
to which they must subscribe.

THE INTERNET WILL BE A LEVELER OF UU SERMONS

    Online sermons can be posted by any UU congregation.
This means that all UU ministers have equal access
to the same reading public.
It used to be that UU ministers
had to work their ways up the ladder of achievement
before they would have a pulpit 'prominent' enough
for them to be noticed.

    But now any UU minister with a congregational website
can post sermons for all to read.
And the readers have the instant power to decide
what to read and what to ignore.

    When searchers go to local UU congregations,
they must listen to whatever is offered that Sunday.
But searchers on the Internet can be much more selective.
In the same amount of time,
they can look at a dozen sermons on the Internet.

    Because the Internet works mainly with the written word,
the personal presence of the minister does not matter much.
These on-line sermons are judged mainly on their content.
Some ministers are wonderful persons in every other way
besides being able to put ideas into written words.
And some who can create remarkable written sermons
cannot present them from a pulpit well enough
to keep the congregation awake.

    Only the intellectual and spiritual content of a sermon
will come across on the Internet.
This is only part of the experience of hearing a sermon.
Perhaps only 20% of UU sermons
come across well on the Internet.
This would be one reason for UU ministers
to be selective about what they publish on the Internet.

    Instead of routinely putting every sermon on the website,
they should ask themselves which have the most pure content,
which can be understood by readers anywhere in the world.

    Other cyber-sermon surfers are hereby invited
to create similar summaries of their observations
arising from reading UU sermons on-line.