Book Review: “Decolonizing the Religious Liberal Mind”

Last updated on: August 27, 2025 at 11:36 am by Carl Gregg

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Book Review: “Decolonizing the Religious Liberal Mind” 2025-08-27T11:36:41-04:00 Carl Gregg

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Fred Muir is a friend and a colleague, and I am a longtime fan of his scholarship. My first introduction to his work was his book Maglipay Universalist: The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines. which explores the origins of that liberal religious movement from its mid‑20th‑century origins through the book’s publication in 2001.

Fred and I also share a love of Darwin. Although Darwin was baptized in the Anglican Church, educated at an Anglican boarding school, and married by an Anglican priest, his early religious life was shaped by his mother’s Unitarian commitments — he and his siblings regularly attended a Unitarian chapel with her. Even his wedding ceremony to Emma Wedgwood drew on Anglican forms that were modified to accommodate Unitarian sensibilities. Fred’s 2009 book on Darwin is titled The Whole World Kin Darwin and the Spirit of Liberal Religion.

In 2016, Fred published an influential book on the future of liberal religion titled Turning Point: Essays on a New Unitarian Universalism.

This summer, I was excited to learn that he had published a new book that recapitulates and expands on many themes from his previous books. Benevolent Intentions: Decolonizing the Religious Liberal Imperial Mind, an American Story is stunningly well researched and beautifully laid out with many photos included. In the wake of rising authoritarianism around the world and the powers in our own country openly flirting with a return to imperialism, the themes of this book are more relevant than ever. Anti-oppression work reminds us that “intention does not equal impact,” and Fred’s scholarship challenges us to look into the mirror of our past to avoid repeating the mistakes — intended and unintended — of our forebears. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the future of religious liberalism, decolonization, and anti-imperialism.

The Rev. Dr. Carl Gregg (he/him) has been the minister at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick since 2012. He holds a Doctor of Ministry and a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy (cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from Furman University. He has been a full-time minister since his ordination in 2003, and served two congregations prior to UUCF. In 2022, he was authorized as a Meditation Teacher through Buddhist Geeks. Carl was married in 2007 to Magin LaSov Gregg. They live in downtown Frederick, Maryland along with their son Jaylen, dog Scout, and two cats Kol Nidre and Shamash.

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