Unitarian Universalism

The Unitarian Universalist Association came into being in 1961 as the result of a merger of two previously independent institutions: the American Unitarian Association (founded in 1825) and the Universalist Church of America (established in 1866).

Each of these religious communities represented, within the context of nineteenth-century Christianity, a radical deviation from the more familiar forms of Christian faith: the Unitarians denied the Trinity, and the Universalists denied any belief in eternal damnation. As both groups evolved, they moved closer to a “humanist” worldview in which the rule of reason and the authority of science displaced religious dogmas as an acceptable basis for understanding the universe, as well as human nature. By the time of their merger, neither the Unitarians nor the

Universalists saw themselves as definably (or exclusively) “Christian” any longer, though Unitarian Universalists feel free to adapt specific Christian ideas—such as the Golden Rule or the forgiveness of one’s enemies—to their own developing system of ethics.

At the heart of Unitarian Universalist teachings today, we find seven “principles and purposes” that constitute the spiritual core of the Association’s belief system:

1. A belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every human being

2. A need for justice, equity, and compassion in all human relationships

3. Toleration and respect for each other as the basis for spiritual growth

4. A need for a free and responsible search for truth and meaning

5. The right of the individual conscience and a commitment to the democratic process

6. The goal of a world community based on peace, liberty, and justice for all

7. Recognition of the “web” of all living things and the interdependence of all life forms, human and nonhuman

None of these teachings amounts to a creed. Instead, they can be viewed as guidelines for moral conduct and social relationships, accompanied by an enduring respect for the “mystery and wonder that all peoples have experienced in the presence of those forces that create and uphold life.”

Unitarian Universalists have adopted rituals to embody these teachings, depending on the cultural and religious backgrounds of any particular congregation. Thus, any given Unitarian Universalist community may observe some version of a Passover Seder, a Muslim Iftaar, a Buddhist meditation, or a Christmas Eve celebration (possibly combined with a winter solstice rite). Such eclecticism reflects both the openness of Unitarian Universalist society and the recognition of religious diversity, seen from a global perspective.

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Source: Brodd Jeffrey, Little L., Nystrom B., Platzner R., Shek R., Stiles E.. Invitation to World Religions. 4th edition. — Oxford University Press,2022. — 1196 p.. 2022

Unitarian Universalism

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