The following materials are from the Unitarian Universalist Association website Unitarian Universalist Association:
Welcome to Unitarian Universalism
We are people of all ages, people of many backgrounds, and people of many beliefs. We are brave, curious and compassionate thinkers and doers. We create spirituality and community beyond boundaries, working for more justice and more love in our own lives and in the world.
Unitarian Universalism draws from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love. We covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries.
Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. The values we share include all the following, which we hold as inseparable and deeply interconnected:
Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence and acknowledge our place in it.
Pluralism: We are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all feel welcome and can thrive.
Transformation: We adapt to the changing world.
Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.
Get to know us:
- Beliefs and Shared Values – more information on our shared values and answers to some common belief questions
- Who We Are – our history, symbols, backgrounds and stories
- Religious Practices – what Unitarian Universalists do on Sunday and every day, including holidays and rites of passage
- Get Involved – find out how to connect with Unitarian Universalism, no matter where you are
To experience the Unitarian Universalist spiritual tradition online through the WorshipWeb collection and more, visit the Worship & Inspiration section.
For more information contact .
History of Unitarianism and Universalism
Unitarian Universalism represents the merger (in 1961) of two groups that shared a common belief in the spiritual potential of individual human beings, and a readiness to question religious dogma. At present there are approximately 1,050 Unitarian Universalist churches and fellowships in the United States and Canada, serving some 220,00 Unitarian Universalists.
Of these two streams, the older and more international is Unitarianism. Unitarian beliefs emerged in Central and Eastern Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, reappeared in the 18th century in England, and then made their way to the North American colonies, taking root especially in Massachusetts. Unitarians denied the belief in the Holy Trinity shared by Roman Catholics and most Protestant churches. Universalism , on the other hand, became an almost entirely American movement despite its origins in England in the 18th century. The early Universalists affirmed the unlimited (or universal) provision of salvation from sin, denying that such salvation could be conferred by a church authority only.
Affiliations
Unitarian Universalist Association
