What is Unitarian Universalism?
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion born of the Jewish and Christian traditions. We keep
our minds open to the religious questions people have struggled with in all times and places.
We uphold the free search for truth. We will not be bound by a statement of belief. We do not ask
anyone to subscribe to a creed. Ours is a free faith. We do affirm the principles of the Unitarian
Universalist Association.
Affirmation
We 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 congregation 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 believe that personal experience, conscience, and reason should be the final authorities in
religion. We put our religious insights to the test of our hearts and minds. We believe that
religious wisdom is ever changing. Human understanding of life and death, the world and its
mysteries is never final. Revelation is continuous. We celebrate unfolding truths wherever
found.
The living tradition 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 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.
We affirm the worth of all women and men. We believe people should be encouraged to think for
themselves. We know people differ in their opinions and lifestyles, and we believe these differences
generally should be honored.
We seek to act as a moral force in the world, believing that ethical living is the supreme
witness of religion. The here and now and the effects our actions will have on future generations
deeply concern us. We know that our relationships with one another, with all people, and with
the earth should be governed by justice, equity, and compassion.
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This page was updated August 25, 2003