Unitarian Universalism: The OTHER religion.

by Kimber ~ 2003

This is not going to be a historical account of Unitarian Universalism. For that go here: http://www.uua.org. This is going to be about Unitarian Universalism as a spiritual alternative and a religious community. Some of the technical stuff will come from UUA.org.

UU isn't for everyone. Actually, it is for everyone, but not everyone will be comfortable with it. We are a very open religion. We have Jews worshipping next to Christians next to Buddhists next to Pagans. We have families composed of children and parents of a rainbow of colors, religions and cultures. One family celebrates Chanukka, Christmas, Kwanzaa and 3 birthdays in the same month. We have several families with same-sex parents. UUism is kind of a refuge for those who don't feel quite right in their own churches or who aren't welcome in any other church. They want to worship their own gods and follow their own paths but they also what to let others do it as well. Not only let them but join them, celebrate the diversity and the oneness of humanity.

Here is the way it is described by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA):

"With its historical roots in the Jewish and Christian traditions, Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion -- that is, a religion that keeps an open mind to the religious questions people have struggled with in all times and places. We believe that personal experience, conscience and reason should be the final authorities in religion, and that in the end religious authority lies not in a book or person or institution, but in ourselves. We are a "non-creedal" religion: we do not ask anyone to subscribe to a creed.

Our congregations are self-governing. Authority and responsibility are vested in the membership of the congregation. Each Unitarian Universalist congregation is involved in many kinds of programs. Worship is held regularly, the insights of the past and the present are shared with those who will create the future, service to the community is undertaken, and friendships are made. A visitor to a UU congregation will very likely find events and activities such as church school, day-care centers, lectures and forums, support groups, poetry festivals, family events, adult education classes and study groups. "

They encourage the journey. The community helps its members search for their own path to god or deity.

"There are 7 basic precepts that all UUs follow:

• 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.

The living tradition which we share 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.

Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support. "

I like to explain it this way. Our hearts don't all speak the same language. So Deity or God speaks to us all in a language we will understand but the message is always the same. Love, understanding, acceptance. Some people think their churches are moving away from this message. So instead of giving up their spirituality and connection to god, they just give up their church. Most of them find their way to UU churches. Some stay, some don't. But we welcome them all and try to give them a safe environment to build and practice their faith.

UU churches celebrate ALL holidays, from Ramadan to Easter to Winter Solstice. And at these celebrations we all learn about one another and come to understand where each of us is coming from and we accept our differences in the spirit of inclusion and worship of the divine in all of us. The children in the Religious Education classes (Sunday School) are taught about all cultures, religions and differences in people. They are taught to question, learn, understand and accept. That doesn't always mean condone. If someone is harming someone else in anyway or if some religion or group has harmful or hateful practices, these aren't taught as acceptable, but we try to teach the children and ourselves to understand why they feel they have to behave that way. We try not to hate or judge but at the same time, not to condone exclusion or prejudice. And just like every religion, some of the teachings are harder than others to accept. At least they are for me. I hope that because my kids are being raised this way it won't be so hard for them.

I think one of my fondest memories of our church has got to be this Winter Solstice celebration. At the end of the service they brought out some drums and other percussion instruments and we all started a chant and moved in a circle around the bowl of water in the center of the room where we had set our candles afloat. I couldn't dance because I was having breathing difficulties at the time but I sat and watched and it was the most beautiful thing. Everyone, old and young, men and women, christian, and pagan were banging tamborines or marraccas and dancing in a circle, holding hands if they had one free, chanting and laughing and at the end everyone was hugging and laughing. We were together, worshipping as a community, sharing our spirits with one another and with the Deity and it was wonderful.

Like I said. Not everyone will be comfortable with the concept of UUism, but we like it.