Unitarian Universalism

Unitarian Universalism (“UUism”) is a liberal, non-credal religious tradition with roots in Christianity, especially the Radical Reformation, and in the Enlightenment. In 1961, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (“UUA”) arose from the combination of the American Unitarian Association (organized in 1825) and the Universalist Church in America (organized in 1793).  Members of Unitarian Universalist (“UU”) congregations identify with a spectrum of theologies, from liberal Christian to humanism, including theistic, agnostic and atheist identities, with members who also identify with earth-centered spiritualities, Buddhist practices, and more. 

Historically, Unitarians taught the oneness of God, while Universalists taught that ultimately all would be restored to oneness with God, i.e., universal salvation.  The Rev. Thomas Starr King, who served both Universalist and Unitarian congregations in the mid-1800s joked that the difference between the two traditions was that Unitarians believed that people were too good to be damned forever, while the Universalists believed that God was too good to damn anyone to eternal punishment.  Both traditions opened early on to an appreciation of world religions, and today UUs teach about common values shared by people in all traditions. 

According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, about .3% of Americans self-identify as Unitarian Universalists; about 220,000 of that number are affiliated with about 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations across America.  There are also Unitarians or Unitarian Universalist organizations in more than two dozen nations and on every continent except Antarctica. The UUA is part of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists.  UU organizations are also members of the International Association for Religious Freedom.

The Rev. Forrest Church once described UUism saying: “In a sweeping answer to creeds that divide the human family, Unitarianism proclaims that we spring from a common source; Universalism that we share a common destiny.”  The Rev. Steven Kendrick put it this way:

• Our congregations freely gather to live out a democratic faith.
• Every human being is holy and is called to the tasks and joys of love.
• We do not limit the truth of God (even to the word “God”) but live in openness and belief in human freedom and dignity.
• Our creed is kindness.
• We celebrate the gift of life, and join in taking on the sufferings of this fragile world.
• We are this generation’s bearers of an eternal message, drawn from ancient springs, that truth must grow, enlarge, and glow in creative freedom.
• Revelation is not sealed.  It is lived anew in every heart.

Some Key Concepts in Unitarian Universalism

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations 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 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.

Some Unitarians, Universalists, or UUs You May Recognize

John Adams, Louisa May Alcott, Susan B. Anthony, Bela Bartok, Clara Barton, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Julia Ward Howe, Thomas Jefferson (self-identified in his correspondence), Tim Berners-Lee, Linus Pauling, Beatrix Potter, Christopher Reeve, Pete Seeger, Henry David Thoreau, William Howard Taft,  Whitney Young.

Unitarian Universalism 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.

Selected Unitarian Universalist Practices 

UU worship services will vary in detail and emphasis from congregation to congregation, but will mostly include elements familiar from Protestant Christian worship: a sermon, readings, a time for prayer and/or meditation, congregational singing, etc.  Most UU congregations open worship and other meetings with the lighting of a candle or other flame in a chalice, a flaming chalice being the symbol of the movement.

UU congregations often mark the celebrations of the culture around them, so that services may hold observations of Christmas and Easter, Passover and Kwanza, as well as Earth Day and Halloween, each from a UU perspective.  Some UU congregations will celebrate the solstices and equinoxes, and/or special Sundays such as Justice Sunday, Youth Sunday, etc. UUs celebrate child dedications, weddings and holy unions (for same sex couples when legal marriage is not available), coming-of-age recognitions for young teens, and memorial services.  Age appropriate religious education or exploration opportunities are regularly offered.

UU congregations are congregational in polity.  That is, they call their own ministers and govern themselves in congregational meetings and with elected boards.  Congregations also send delegates to an annual General Assembly that meets in different places across the country. 

Sources for Further Information 

The UUA website: http://uua.org/ ; A Chosen Faith, by John Buehrens and Forrest Church; The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide [at LFPL at 289.132 UNI, 1991]; The Unitarians and the Universalists, by David Robinson [at LFPL at 289.133 ROB]; UU videos http://www.uuplanet.tv/;  Beliefnet on Unitarian Universalism: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Unitarian-Universalist/index.aspx