What is Unitarian Universalism?
A very complex question, and one that can't be fully explained in a paragraph or two. Most simply, Unitarian Universalism is a religious movement based on principles of respect, compassion, freedom, and justice. It is a belief that one learns to be closer to "God" or "the truth," or "the ultimate," or "honest living," or whatever you see as the ultimate state of being, by examining, learning, questioning, loving, and being open to new answers rather than blindly following a fixed creed. It is a commitment to living honestly and intentionally.
Universalists can be traced to Origen, a third-century father of the Christian church. Unitarians have their roots in a Protestant movement of 1638.
Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, a scientist and a Unitarian minister, brought Unitarianism to the United States in 1794, the year the first Unitarian Church of Philadelphia was founded.
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States, was a Unitarian. Besides Jefferson, four other American Presidents were Unitarians--John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Millard Fillmore, and William Howard Taft. Universalists first organized in the United States in Massachusetts in 1773.
[to date, 1 out of every 8.6 American Presidents have been Unitarian!]
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, both Unitarians and Universalists were active in such movements as abolition of slavery and the Underground Railway, in seeking fair treatment for Native Americans, in securing the legal rights of women, and in promoting treatment for the mentally ill. American Unitarians and Universalists joined forces in 1961 as the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Today more than 1,000 UUA churches and their nearly 200,000 members continue to fight for human rights.
UUism is a creedless, free religion; there is no theological test for membership. We are encouraged to find insights from all the world's great faiths. We believe that no single religion has the ultimate truth about God, creation, death, and the human spirit. We invite people to be responsible, grateful for life's blessings, cherish the earth, and free the oppressed. From a combination of reflection and experience, each one of us shapes a personal faith.
The Seven Principles of
Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalists have no creeds or dogmas. They are guided
by the Seven Principles which bind members and churches together.
These principles are as follows:
• A belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and Encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
•The right of conscience and use of the democratic process in our congregations and society at large.•A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
•The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
•Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Modern Unitarian Universalism
recognizes many sources of our tradition:
The living tradition which
we share draws from many sources:
• Direct experience
of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures,
which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to
the forces that create and uphold life;
• Words and deeds of
prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront the powers
and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming
power of love;
• Wisdom from the world's
religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
• Jewish and Christian
teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our
neighbors as ourselves;
• Humanist teachings
which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results
of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
• Spiritual teachings
of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle
of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of
nature.
(The sources of our living tradition are from our Principles and Purposes which are part of the by-laws of the Unitarian Universalist Association.)
Do All Unitarian Universalists believe the same things?
Unitarian Universalists
differ widely in their theological perspectives. There is a common
thread that ties together this
unlikely association of Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Christians, Free-Thinkers,
Hindus, Humanists, Jews, New Age seekers, Pagans, Pantheists, Rosecrucians,
Wiccans, and just about every other philosophical or spiritual path you
can name. We all pretty much agree that the principles of freedom, compassion,
justice, love, and respect are what's important. How each person gets
there is up to the individual.
Do Unitarian Universalists believe in God?
The answer to this question is up to each individual Unitarian Universalist. Most Unitarian Universalists believe in a creating, sustaining force or spirit. Some believe this force is expressed solely in the natural forces of creation; others believe that the physical world and physical laws are only one aspect of The Ultimate. Some of us choose to use the term "God," some do not. Unitarian Universalism does not have a specific doctrine on the subject.
Why don't I hear much about Unitarian Universalism?
Relatively speaking, we're a small group. (The UUA estimates a little more than 200,000 active Unitarian Universalists in the US and Canada), and we're not into proselytizing. No Unitarian Universalist is going to come to your door to try to convert you. On the other hand, you probably know some Unitarian Universalists without even being aware of it. You will find us speaking our minds as individuals, and actively working to defend freedom of speech and religion, champion the rights of the oppressed, speak out against hunger, poverty and violence, and promote a greater respect for our environment.
Where Did Unitarian Universalism come from?
Unitarian Universalism traces its roots to Christian heretics who disputed the fixed dogma of the early church on subjects such as the Trinity and eternal damnation (hell). Early Unitarians like Miguel Servetus (1511-1553 ce) dared to dispute the notion of "three Gods in one" canonized by the council of Nicene in 325 ce. For this he was burned at the stake by Calvin. Universalism was another product of the Reformation. People started to question the idea that a loving God would condemn people to eternal suffering and separation as punishment. The two religious organizations that developed in the 18th and 19th centuries around these ideas merged in 1960 to form The Unitarian Universalist Association.
Are Unitarian Universalists Christians?
That depends on the individual Unitarian Universalist, and probably on who is defining the word "Christian." The specific theological beliefs of each Unitarian Universalist are a matter of personal choice. There are a substantial number of Unitarian Universalists who do call themselves Christian, including some of our ministers. There are probably a great many Christians who would not consider most UU Christians to be Christians by their definition. While Unitarian Universalism originally sprang from Christianity, modern Unitarian Universalism is not a specifically Christian religious movement, although there is nothing in Unitarian Universalism that excludes Christians or Christianity.
Is Unitarian Universalism a cult?
The word "cult" in this context is often a pejorative term that is used to describe a group or organization that attempts to exert coercive control over the thinking and lives of its members, requires adherence to a specific creed, unquestioning obedience to a prophet or leader, avoidance of non-members, surrender of personal property or finances to the group, disregard of physical or emotional health, or some combination of the above.
Obviously Unitarian Universalism does not fall into this category.
Some individuals and religions label all spiritual movements that differ substantially from their own beliefs and teachings as "cults." This is not a particularly useful label unless you are a member of the "in" group and want to exclude or put down everybody who thinks differently.
The original meaning of the word "cult" refers to any religious body. In this sense all religions and religious movements, including everything from Anglicanism through Born-Again Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Unitarian Universalism, Zen Buddhism and everything in-between are all cults.
