What Unitarian Universalists Believe
On this page you will find thoughts from a couple of Unitarian Universalists about what we believe. First thoughts from David Rankin on Ten Beliefs and then thoughts from Ted Pack on Why we are not the church that doesn't believe anything
Ten Beliefs of Unitarian Universalists
- We believe in the freedom of religious expression. All individuals should be encouraged to develop a personal theology and to openly present their religious opinions without fear of censure or reprisal.
- We believe in tolerance of religious ideas. The religions of every age and culture have something to teach those who listen.
- We believe in the authority of reason and conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, a document, or an official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual.
- We believe in the search for truth. With an open mind and heart, there is no end to the fruitful and exciting revelations that the human spirit can find.
- We believe in the unity of experience. There is no fundamental conflict between faith and knowledge, religion and the world, the sacred and the secular.
- We believe in the worth and dignity of each human being. All people on earth have an equal claim to life, liberty, and justice. No idea, ideal, or philosophy is superior to a single human life.
- We believe in the ethical application of religion. Inner grace and faith find completion in social and community involvement.
- We believe in the force of love. The governing principle in human relationships is the principle of love, which seeks to help and heal, never to hurt or destroy.
- We believe in the necessity of the democratic process. Church records are open to scrutiny, elections are open to members, and ideas are open to criticism, so that people might govern themselves.
- We believe in the importance of a religious community. Peers confirm and validate experience and provide a critical platform, as well as a network of mutual support.
David Rankin's statement of Unitarian Universalist Beliefs From A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism, by John A. Buehrens and Forrest Church (Boston: Beacon Press, 1998).
Why we aren't the church that doesn't believe in anything
There are Presbyterians who vote Democratic and Presbyterians who vote Republican. No one calls them "The church that doesn't vote for anything". There are Lutherans who eat lima beans and Lutherans who do not. No one calls them "The church that doesn't eat anything". There are UUs who believe that God exists, UUs who believe that God does not exist, and UUs who believe that the nature of God is beyond human comprehension. This upsets people and they call us "The church that doesn't believe in anything."
If you join a Christian church, you have to say that you believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that Jesus was born of a virgin, that Mary was born without Sin, that everyone else was born covered with Original Sin the way seagulls get covered with goo when an oil tanker springs a leak, and so on. We don't make you say any of that to join us. We assume you will make up your own mind about the nature of God, and we’ll provide interesting questions to help you.
We UU’s believe in a lot of things, but we don’t think in lockstep.
Taken with permission from materials written by Ted Pack of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County in Modesto, CA.