What exactly is a Unitarian Universalist?

Question

I know this is a denomination of Christianity, but I'm just wondering what they believe and what their values are etc.

Write whatever; I'd love a Unitarian Universalist to answer

Answer 1

The Unitarian Universalist name comes from their denial of the doctrine of the Trinity and their belief that all human beings gain salvation--the mere idea someone might go to hell is not compatible with the character of a loving God. Its roots go all the way back to the sixteenth-century when Unitarian beliefs became popular during the Reformation. Unitarianism thought and Universalism thought were merged together during the late eighteenth-century in America during the Age of Reason. The intellectual elite of that time refused to believe in such biblical teachings as total depravity and eternal damnation, but rather embraced the idea of a single loving God who would never cause someone to suffer.

Adherents of Unitarian Universalism base their beliefs primarily upon their own experiences, and are not committed to any one religious system. They believe that each individual has the right to decide for themselves what to believe in, and that others should not infringe upon this right. As a result, one such believer might lean toward liberal Christianity, while another might lean toward New Age spirituality. There is no real dogma beyond tolerance. They reject the Bible as being the Word of God, equating it with barbaric writing that has little to do with modern man; it is a book of myths. As such, they reject the Bible's portrayal of a Triune God, leaving the concept of God up to each individual's imagination.

To Unitarian Universalism, Jesus was a good moral teacher, but nothing more. He is not considered to be divine, and every miracle associated with Him is rejected as being outside of human reason. Most sayings of Jesus recorded in the Bible are regarded as embellishments on the part of the authors. Jesus did not die to save mankind from sin, as man is not a fallen sinner. Emphasis is placed on humankind's capacity for goodness. Sin is completely relative, and the term itself is rarely used. Man saves himself through personal improvement, salvation being a purely worldly experience, a "waking up" to the world around oneself. This is very important, for death is final. Most Unitarian Universalists deny the existence of an afterlife, so all we have on earth is all we'll ever get.

Unitarian Universalism has nothing in common with biblical Christianity. It is a false gospel; its teachings are contrary to the Bible, and its members strongly oppose traditional, biblical Christian beliefs (while purporting to be free of discrimination or prejudice of any kind). The Bible clearly refutes Unitarian Universalism on all the major points of its teachings.

Recommended Resource: The Kingdom of the Cults, revised and updated edition.

Answer 2

Actually Christian Universalism is a branch of Christianity. They believe that God is patient and loving and because of this will somehow facilitate the spiritual growth and salvation of everyone in existence. While they don't generally believe that the Bible is inerrant, they do follow it closely as a guide. And they do most certainly believe in the divinity of Jesus, and in the miracles discussed in the Bible.

Unitarian Universalists are a sort of umbrella group that acts as a place for people of various belief systems to worship together and learn about other faiths and beliefs. So there are Christian UUs and Wiccan UUs and Buddhist UUs, etc.

The Christians there are usually either Christian Universalists, or Progressive Christians. It is actually Progressive Christians that do not accept Christ's divinity or the accounts of miracles in the Bible. They are however very devoted to living their lives in a Christ-like manner and see him as having been a great-great teacher. The whole point of their faith is to learn from the example of Christ's life and teachings.

Here's a link to the Christian Universalitst Association: http://www.christianuniversalist.org/beliefs.html

and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations: http://www.uua.org/index.shtml

look under the UU 'Visitors' section. It has a 'Beliefs within our faith' section that lists the faiths that are there and what their individual beliefs are.

Answer 3

We don't "deny" anything, but do ask for some kind of proof if you expect to sway us. We do believe that all of creation is as the Creator intended, and that we ARE all part of that intent, with no need to be brought in under rituals or promises. The world does not need to be Saved or altered to earn the love of the one who created it. That is the root of Unitarianism and Universalism, and that is why they combined in the '60s. My really short version is that UUs are: Diverse people choosing to come together in community to support values & principles that will make this world better. The longer version of what UUs believe is: There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations 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. We are not a Cult, because all we ask you to believe is stated above. There is no superstition, and we won't tell you that your superstitions are wrong, as long as they promote a positive world view. While many UUs are politically active, we do not push politics, only ideas about how the world ought to be. How you help achieve that world is up to you. We are accepting of all people, just as they are, but that's is what community and religion are supposed to be about. We do tell you you are bad, or evil. We simply have a view of what we want in the world, and ask you to help us bring it about.

Answer 4

Actaully it's not a denomination of Christianity. I'm Pagan and I go to a UU church.

We believe in the inherent worth of EVERY human being.
We believe there is no wrong path to God. No one is more right or wrong then the other. Be a good human being. That's what matters.
Our faith, Unitarian Universalism, is a spiritually alive and justice-centered religion.

Unitarian Universalists search for truth along many paths. Instead of centering our religion on specific beliefs, we gather around shared moral values that include the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

If you were to visit a Unitarian Universalist congregation, you would probably find our religious observances to be familiar. Most congregations have regular worship services facilitated by ordained ministers, religious education classes for our children, religious music, study groups, community work, and much more.

Now we HAVE Christians at our Church. But they are generally open minded and progressive.

Answer 5

It is my understanding that Unitarianism began with Arius, a Christian bishop who opposed the Trinitarian doctrine and Jesus being Divine at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.

Answer 6

It is by far the Christian denomination that manifests the highest levels of fairness, intelligence, and common sense. For that reasons, many of us who proudly are social liberals who stand up for and defend human and civil rights belong to it.

It is NOT a ritualistic and "liturgical" church, and thus one attending it is not subjected to time-wasting and phony-baloney rituals. The congreation sometimes sings, depending on the individual church, and has sermons and discussions. It is *very* human-rights-oriented. It can be compared favorably as a Christian version of such service organizations as Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, etc.

I have been a Unitarian-Universalist, but am not currently attending it. I retain its philosophies and Christian attitude, however.

To "Cowboy Christian Fellow" -- Practically everything you said was wrong. You have a LOT to learn!

Answer 7

They're not a denomination of Christianity. UUists believe that every belief system has value and worth. So yeah, you could be a Christian UUist, but you could also be a Buddhist UUist or even an Atheist UUist.

Answer 8

it's basically the feel good church. they basically accept everybody and actually are very cool people. very open minded.

Answer 9

You really can believe in anything in that religion.

God Bless