UUBRidge

Unitarian Universalists of the Blue Ridge

Serving Rappahannock, Culpeper, Madison, Fauquier, Page, and Warren Counties

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Unitarian Universalism

Unitarian Universalism creates change: in ourselves, and in the world.

Seven days a week, UUs live their faith by doing. Whether in community with others, or as an individual, we know that active, tangible expressions of love, justice, and peace are what make a difference.

In Unitarian Universalism, we can bring our whole selves: our full identities, our questioning minds, our expansive hearts.

Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or one belief system. As Unitarian Universalists, we do not have to check our personal background and beliefs at the door: we join together on a journey that honors everywhere we’ve been before.

Our beliefs are diverse and inclusive. We have no shared creed. Our shared covenant (our seven Principles) supports “the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” Though Unitarianism and Universalism were both liberal Christian traditions, this responsible search has led us to an inclusive spirituality drawn from six sources: from scriptural wisdom to personal experience to modern day heroes. We think for ourselves, and reflect together, about important questions:

Evolution of Unitarian Universalism

Our faith tradition is diverse and inclusive. We grew from the union of two radical Christian groups: the Universalists, who organized in 1793, and the Unitarians, who organized in 1825. They joined to become the UUA in 1961. Both groups trace their roots in North America to the early Massachusetts settlers and the Framers of the Constitution. Across the globe, our legacy reaches back centuries to liberal religious pioneers in England, Poland, and Transylvania. Today, Unitarian Universalists include people of many beliefs who share UU values of peace, love, and understanding. We are creators of positive change in people and in the world.

The Unitarian Universalist faith has evolved through a long history, with theological origins in European Christian traditions. Today Unitarian Universalism is a non-creedal faith which allows individual Unitarian Universalists to search for truth on many paths. Unitarian Universalism welcomes people with diverse beliefs. There is a rich dialogue in UU congregations about many spiritual topics.

Principles and Sources

Unitarian Universalist congregations are united in our broad and inclusive outlook. We affirm and promote these seven principles:

  1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
  2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
  3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
  4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
  5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
  6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
  7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

While our congregations uphold these principles, individual Unitarian Universalists are free to explore and embrace their own beliefs about spiritual, ethical, and theological issues. Many Unitarian Universalists identify with and draw inspiration from atheism and agnosticism, Buddhism, Christianity, humanism, Judaism, Sufism, paganism, and other religious or philosophical traditions. This is reflected in our six 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 people 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.

We are united in shared experience: our open and stirring worship services, religious education, and rites of passage; our work for social justice; our quest to include the marginalized; our expressions of love.

For more information on Unitarian Universalism, please visit http://www.uua.org/.