Beliefs Within Our Faith
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion that encompasses many faith traditions. Unitarian Universalists include people who identify as Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and others. As there is no official Unitarian Universalist creed, Unitarian Universalists are free to search for truth on many paths.
To quote the Rev. Marta Flanagan, "We uphold the free search for truth. We will not be bound by a statement of belief. We do not ask anyone to subscribe to a creed. We say ours is a non-creedal religion. Ours is a free faith."
Although we uphold shared principles, individual Unitarian Universalists have varied beliefs about everything from scripture to rituals to God.
Our History
Unitarian Universalism emerged from two different religions: Unitarianism and Universalism. Both Unitarianism and Universalism started in Europe hundreds of years ago. The Universalist Church of America was founded by 1793, and the American Unitarian Association by 1825. In 1961, these denominations consolidated to form the new religion of Unitarian Universalism.
Worship
Unitarian Universalists have a rich religious community. When Unitarian Universalists speak of "worship," they usually are referring to the shared religious life of their congregation: attending Sunday worship services, creating religious music, honoring life passages like marriage and death, and celebrating special holidays together.
For Further Reading
If you would like to learn more about Unitarian Universalism, you might enjoy reading some of the books and pamphlets available through the UUA Bookstore or your local library.
* The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide
edited by William Sinkford
(in English) (en Espanol)
* A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism
by John A. Buehrens and Forrest Church
* With Purpose and Principle: Essays About the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism
edited by Edward Frost
* ABC's for UU Newcomers: A Brief Introduction to Unitarian Universalism
by William Cleary
Feel free to contact the Public Information Assistant, info@uua.org, if you would like to have a free packet of pamphlets and information about Unitarian Universalism mailed to you.
The Symbol of the Chalice
A flame within a chalice (a wide-lipped stemmed cup), like that which you can see at the top of this page, represents the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and is a symbol of the Unitarian Universalist (UU) faith.
"At the opening of Unitarian Universalist worship services, many congregations light a flame inside a chalice. This flaming chalice has become a well-known symbol of our denomination. It unites our members in worship and symbolizes the spirit of our work." -Dan Hotchkiss
Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first brought together the chalice and the flame as a Unitarian symbol during his work with the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II. To Deutsch, the image had connotations of sacrifice and love. Unitarian Universalists today have many different interpretations of the image. To many, the cup represents religious community, while the flame represents ideas including the sacrificial flame, the flame of the spirit, and more.
The flaming chalice image has changed many times over the past 65 years. There is no single interpretation of today's flaming chalice symbol. Modern chalice designs often incorporate two overlapping circles which, for many people, represent our Unitarian and Universalist heritages. Other images include additional elements, some of which are merely decorative and others which are very meaningful.
Our current official UUA logo (at the top left of each UUA.org web page) was designed to offer a visual representation of a modern and dynamic faith. Unitarian Universalist congregations are free to use the UUA's logo in their congregational work, but they are not required to do so. Because of this, you may see many different styles of flaming chalices and other images used by UU congregations.
There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations 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 the 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.
Unitarian Universalism (UU) 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.
These principles and sources of faith are the backbone of our religious community.
Principios en Español
Nosotros, las congregaciones miembros de la Asociación Unitaria Universalista, convenimos en afirmar y fomentar:
* El valor y la dignidad propia de cada persona;
* La justicia, equidad y compasión en las relaciones humanas;
* La aceptación del uno al otro y el estímulo al crecimiento espiritual en nuestras congregaciones;
* Una búsqueda libre y responsable por la verdad y el sentido;
* El derecho de la conciencia y el uso del proceso democrático dentro de nuestras congregaciones y en la sociedad en general;
* La meta de una comunidad mundial con paz, libertad y justicia para todos;
* El respeto por el tejido interdependiente de todo lo existente, del cual somos una parte.
La tradición viva que compartimos proviene de muchas fuentes:
* La experiencia directa de aquel misterio y maravilla afirmada en todas las culturas, que nos lleva a una renovación del espíritu y a una apertura a las fuerzas que crean y sostienen la vida;
* Las palabras y escrituras de mujeres y hombres con visión profética que nos desafían a enfrentar las poderes y estructuras del mal con justicia, compasión y el poder transformador del amor;
* La sabiduría de las religiones del mundo que nos inspiran en nuestra vida ética y espiritual;
* Las enseñanzas judías y cristianas que nos llaman a responder al amor de Dios, amando a nuestros vecinos como a nosotros mismos;
* Las enseñanzas humanistas que nos aconsejan a oír la guía de la razón y los resultados científicos y que nos advierten contra las idolatrías de la mente y del espíritu.
* Las enseñanzas espirituales de tradiciones tierra-centradas, las cuales celebran el sagrado círculo de la vida y nos enseñan a vivir en harmonía con los ritmos de la naturaleza.
