What is Unitarian Universalism?

Understanding Unitarian Universalism is a bit tricky because many people approach it from an experience in the Christian or Jewish faiths. As a result, they have certain assumptions about what a religion is, but unfortunately these assumptions don't easily fit into Unitarian Universalism. For this reason I find it best when explaining our faith to start by looking at some basics about religion.

Most religions have two types of beliefs. There are the theological beliefs which address such issues as what is the nature of the ultimate reality, what happens after death, and why do things happen as they do; and there are the relational beliefs concerned with how we should live together in the here and now in a holy/wholly way. Examples of relational beliefs include the Golden Rule (which is found in most religions), and many of the Ten Commandments.

Customarily religions have a set of theological beliefs and a set of relational beliefs that all members supposedly hold in common. This is to a large degree how they define themselves. In Unitarian Universalism, though, there is no set of theological beliefs that all members hold. Instead of prescribing a theology we encourage each other to make a free, reasoned and open search for a theology which fits the individual. This means that within any Unitarian Universalist church there is a broad spectrum of theological beliefs.

What Unitarian Universalists do hold in common is a set of relational beliefs outlined in the seven principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association. These principles are concerned with:

• 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.

Unitarian Universalists are people who promote these principles in the world and join in community with other like minded people.

It is often asked if Unitarian Universalism is then a religion since it doesn't have a set of core theological beliefs. The answer to this question is "yes" if one understands the word "religion" to refer to a system of practices and beliefs which assist an individual come to terms with the ultimate reality (that which some call God) and find meaning in life. Many UUs believe this is the core of religion, and this is the focus of our faith.

- Rev. Dan Brosier