What do Unitarian Universalists believe?
Category: Unitarian Universalism - General
I am often asked: “What do UU’s believe?” or “What is Unitarian Universalism?” or “I’ve heard about that before. It sounded like something I would like. Could you tell me more?”
I’ve answered different parts of these questions on Looking for Faith, but I’d like to provide a more comprehensive overview for readers who are new to Unitarian Universalism…
Unitarian Universalism is a religion that is noncreedal, which means you don’t have to believe in a particular doctrine to be Unitarian Universalism. What we have in common is that we commit to a way of being together in our congregations. This way of being together is expressed in our Seven Principles. In addition, some congregations have their own covenants, which describe how they will be together in religious community.
The Seven Principles describe our obligation to support one another in our spiritual exploration. They also assert that each person has inherent worth and dignity. This particular principle has been very meaningful to me.
Historically, Unitarianism and Universalism were separate religious traditions in America. Unitarianism arose in the early-to-mid 1800’s, and Unitarians asserted the oneness of God. Universalism emerged in America in the late 1700’s, and Universalists believed in universal salvation, meaning that everyone would go to heaven. The two denominations merged in 1961 to form Unitarian Universalism, although some people still identify as primarily Unitarian or Universalist.
Although both Unitarianism and Universalism began as Christian religious traditions, within Unitarian Universalism today, there are people that believe different things and come from different faith traditions. I believe in God. Other UU’s are atheist, Pagan, agnostic, Christian, and other religious identifications. Sometimes a particular congregation tends to be more God-centered, whereas another congregation may be more atheist, or more Jesus-centered, or more Pagan. But even within congregations, there can be a variety of beliefs among congregants.
Unitarian Universalist worship generally follows the format of a Christian service. Worship is held on Sunday morning. During worship, we pray or meditate, hear sermons, sing hymns and listen to readings. Many congregations have a social hour after the worship. Many congregations also offer classes for children on Sunday mornings. These classes teach about other religious traditions and our own.
And I always suggest that folks visit a Unitarian Universalist community to see for themselves.
You can locate the congregation nearest you by using the “Find a Congregation” page of the Unitarian Universalist Association website There are also UU communities that communicate through the mail, online and in cyber space.
And if you’d like to learn more about UU history, click here for a list of resources.
September 18th, 2007 11:21
That is so INTERESTING I am teaching/facilitating the Adult RE program Articulating Your UU Faith tonight for the first time. I think that idea of how to talk about being UU is something that many of us struggle with.
September 18th, 2007 15:44
Dear Jacqueline,
Good for you! I’ve never led an RE class, and it is a wonderful opportunity to help people go deeper in their faith development. It’s very important that UU’s be able to talk about Unitarian Universalism not only using “the facts,” but also drawing on their own words and their own experience. Blessings to you on your teaching.
September 19th, 2007 18:31
[…] In my previous post (“What do Unitarian Universalists Believe?”), I explained that Unitarian Universalism is non-creedal, so that what joins us to one another in our congregations is not a shared belief system, but rather a shared commitment to supporting one another in our spiritual journey. […]
October 16th, 2007 16:56
[…] What do Unitarian Universalists Believe? […]
December 1st, 2007 17:59
I am confused.
I know I am a Unitarian Universalist from reading hundreds of articles and sermons online and from listening to other people discuss their general ideals and beliefs, I agree with the 7 principles wholeheartledly as well.
Now, the confusing part…
My beliefs and practices are all over the place, I draw from different sources when the need arises, one day I am reading 365 Tao and the next day I am studying the Bible, I consider myself a very deeply spiritual person, I have ritual days where I spend a day away from other people and the daily hassles of life in meditation for example…
Yet, I have no belief in God so I am what a spiritual Atheist? This term is non sensical for me…I do believe the earth is sacred and the Universe is divine, so what does that make me?
I have no beliefs in the supernatural or superstitions and yet I have an altar where I sit on my ritual days and pray, meditate, read, connect…
Like I said I am confused, an eclectic UU?
:0(
J
December 1st, 2007 18:27
Hi John,
Thanks for writing. You sound like a lot of UU’s: eclectic and interested in different faith traditions (including Taoism, Christianity, and earth-centered spirituality).
You don’t have to have an easy label for what you believe. It’s ok to draw from many different sources, and find your own ways of engaging in spiritual practice. Also, I think that a person can be spiritual without believing in God.
Have you checked out a UU congregation in your area? I am hopeful that you will find other people there who are exploring different religious paths, and who take spiritual growth seriously (as you do).
February 11th, 2008 11:39
[…] But precisely because Unitarian Universalists are not required to follow a shared creed, our commitments to one another are all the more crucial. As I wrote in an earlier post, “What Do Unitarian Universalists Believe?,” “what we have in common is that we commit to a way of being together in our congregations,” (as expressed in the seven principles). […]
January 17th, 2010 21:43
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February 15th, 2010 15:37
:roll:
:shock::lol:
come on really guys?????!!!!
Jesus died for us to take away our sins.
If you believe in Jesus then you will go to heaven, if you don’t then you will go to hell - not everyone goes to heaven. Amen.
Jesus loves you!!!