Can anybody tell me about Unitarian Universalism?

Question

You can even copy and paste it if you like. Please leave as many links as possible too thanks.

Monica L- How many times are you gonna type inn www.google.com?

Royal Racer- You're so smart can we be friends?

Answer 1

Unitarian-Universalism is a very liberal, open minded religion that allows its members to search and explore on their own. They adhere to 7 principles:
1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The primary focus of Unitarian Universalism is not to enforce a belief doctrine, dogma, etc, but rather has a strong emphasis on social justice, human rights, equality, and the protection of the enviroment. I am a practicing Hindu who attends a Unitarian Universalist fellowship and it is at a UU fellowship where my local satsang meets. In UUism a fellowship is different from a church in that with a fellowship only a board maintains the facilities and a church actually has clergy who give sermons, etc. The fellowship often has guest speakers instead.

To learn more about UUism you can visit their website at http://www.uua.org
Outside of the United States Unitarian-Universalism is usually just refered to as Unitarianism. In the US it is called Unitarian-Universalism because these two religious groups who shared similar perspectives on matter of religion, etc, merged together to form the Unitarian-Universalist Association (UUA). In some places in the US you will still some churches and fellowships that are identified as Unitarian or Universalist which have retained their name for historic reasons but are members of the UUA. Here is the statement by the UUA about the purpose of the UUA "The Unitarian Universalist Association shall devote its resources to and exercise its corporate powers for religious, educational and humanitarian purposes. The primary purpose of the Association is to serve the needs of its member congregations, organize new congregations, extend and strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions and implement its principles. The Association declares and affirms its special responsibility, and that of its member societies and organizations, to promote the full participation of persons in all of its and their activities and in the full range of human endeavor without regard to race, color, sex, disability, affectional or sexual orientation, age, or national origin and without requiring adherence to any particular interpretation of religion or to any particular religious belief or creed. Nothing herein shall be deemed to infringe upon the individual freedom of belief which is inherent in the Universalist and Unitarian heritages or to conflict with any statement of purpose, covenant, or bond of union used by any society unless such is used as a creedal test."

Great question. Hoped I helped. Peace be with you.

Answer 2

We are members of an odd little denomination that believes what you do is more important than what you think about the nature of God. Our first princlipe is to value "The worth and dignity of every person". We take "worth and dignity" seriously. That means even if he is black, white, brown or red; even if she is poor or a lesbian; even if he is gay or homeless, or she used to be a man, or he stammers because he has an IQ of 140 trapped in an 80-year old body that suffered some strokes, or her legs don't work. The gay or lesbian part usually upsets conservative people.

Read more, on the web site for my congregation; the Links page has a dozen or more:
http://www.stanuu.org/beliefs.html
http://www.stanuu.org/newfaq.html
http://www.stanuu.org/links.html

If you leave this question up long enough, someone will say we are a cult, and someone else will say we are "The church that doesn’t believe in anything." Wrong!

Cults have three hallmarks. 1) They are relatively new, 2) they have a single, charismatic leader, and 3) they share a single mindset.

By the numbers:

1) We have been around for 200 years. President John Adams and his son, President John Quincy Adams, were Unitarians.

2) Our leader, the president of the UUA, changes every ten years. Sometimes we elect a person with charisma, sometimes we don't.

3) Some of us believe in God, some don't. That is the widest variety of "mindset" you'll find in any religion today.

We are not a normal denomination, but we are far from being a cult.


On to beliefs: There are Presbyterians who vote Democratic and Presbyterians who vote Republican. No one calls them "The church that doesn't vote for anything". There are Lutherans who eat lima beans and Lutherans who do not. No one calls them "The church that doesn't eat anything". There are UUs who believe firmly that God exists, UUs who believe very firmly that God does not exist, and UUs who believe very firmly that the nature of God is beyond human comprehension. This upsets people and they call us "The church that doesn't believe in anything."

If you join a Christian church, you have to say that you believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that Jesus was born of a virgin, that Mary was born without Sin, that everyone else was born covered with Original Sin the way seagulls get covered with goo when an oil tanker springs a leak, and so on. We don't make you say any of that to join us. We assume you will make up your own mind about the nature of God, and we’ll provide interesting questions to help you.

We UU’s believe in a lot of things, but we don’t think in lockstep.

Answer 3

Basically they believe that there is truth in all the world's faith systems, they are all just different ways of experiencing and understanding. No one goes to hell for not following a certain path. The character and actions of a person are more important than the creed. I'll post a link for them and their main principals are below as well.

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote

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;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
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.

Answer 4

Unitarianism Universalism is an unusual religious organization. Unlike most religions in North America, it does not require its adherents to adhere to a specific set of beliefs. Its membership includes individuals who identify themselves as Agnostics, Atheists, Buddhists, Christians, Humanists, Wiccans, or other religious tradition. Many inter-faith couples find it to be a comfortable religious home. UUs view the main function of the congregation as facilitating the spiritual quest of its members.
Major concerns of the UU religion include social justice and service to humanity. Most UUs readily adapt their beliefs to the findings of science. Thus they were very active in the abolition of slavery, gaining of equal rights for women, and the attainment of equal rights, including the right to marry, for homosexuals and bisexuals. They have an influence on the culture that is far beyond what one would expect from their numbers.

Answer 5

Im a member of the Unitarian Univeralist community. that is not a religon, it particularly is a place of religious growth. you'll be in any denomination to circulate to a UU church. At my church we've had Pastors, Rabbis, and Buddhist clergymen as focused visitor audio equipment. the emblem of the church is a Chalice this is lit at each and every provider. The Chalice performed a key functionality in the process international war II as an emblem to the european Jews as a "shelter" style of like an underground railroad in the process the civil war. i used to be a Roman Catholic and visit 3 Christian centers, yet going to a UU Church is the superb difficulty that has happend to me. i'm a member of a good-nit community that enables me in my spritural and emotional growth. Our church does not discriminate all and sundry whether they're comparable sexed. Do sturdy DEEDS over RECITING CREEDS

Answer 6

I took this religious test! I came out to be that! I guess I am a person who believes in many different things when it comes to religion! for example: I believe that Jesus existed and is a teacher of life, but I also believe in evolution! so basically an atheist with a religious component! I know , sounds weired but what can I say! a very liberal way of thinking about God and the world ! some Jewish some christian some scientific believe!

Answer 7

Royal Racer is incorrect. It has 11 syllables.

Answer 8

I'm a sixth generation Universalist, now Unitarian Universalist. Unitarian Universalism is a non creedal, liberal religion which allows a broad range of religious expression. One of the best ways to learn about UU is by visiting the Unitarian Universalist Association web site. Here are the principles and purposes:

The Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote

* 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;
* A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
* The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
* 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.

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 which create and uphold life;
* Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront 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.

Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.

The Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association

The Unitarian Universalist Association shall devote its resources to and exercise its corporate powers for religious, educational and humanitarian purposes. The primary purpose of the Association is to serve the needs of its member congregations, organize new congregations, extend and strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions and implement its principles.

The Association declares and affirms its special responsibility, and that of its member congregations and organizations, to promote the full participation of persons in all of its and their activities and in the full range of human endeavor without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, disability, affectional or sexual orientation, age, language, citizenship status, economic status, or national origin and without requiring adherence to any particular interpretation of religion or to any particular religious belief or creed.

Nothing herein shall be deemed to infringe upon the individual freedom of belief which is inherent in the Universalist and Unitarian heritages or to conflict with any statement of purpose, covenant, or bond of union used by any congregation unless such is used as a creedal test.

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Another and perhaps more personal way is to visit a local congregation. Each congregation has its own unique "flavor", so you may want to try more than one, if there happen to be two or more in your area. You can find the link to the congregation finder below.

Unitarian Universalism isn't for the faint of hear, you have to be ready to take responsibility for your own spiritual growth. I hope you will find what you need amoungst us.

Answer 9

It has 10 syllables

Answer 10

Yeah, what Elizabeth said!