UU Day 1 - a free and responsible search for truth & meaning

"Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion that embraces theological diversity; we welcome different beliefs and affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person."

Whoa, Nelly! When I read this phrase 6 months ago, I thought I had found the fabled pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It described me perfectly! I was excited to jump into my UU research with such a positive stance.For those of you unfamiliar with UU, or perhaps only vaguely familiar with their beliefs and practices, let me briefly school you.



Unitarian Universalism is a religion that celebrates diversity of belief and is guided by seven principles. Those principals are:

• 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.

Unitarianism and Universalism existed separately for centuries. In 1961 ((during the free love period in America)) the two were married and formed the Universalist Unitarian Association, and thus Universal Unitarianism was born.

The Roots of Universalist Unitarianism (photo credit)

Unitarianism has protestant origins - consisting originally of Christians who didn't believe in the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, but rather in the Unity - the single aspect - of God. As they evolved, they emphasized the importance of rational thinking, a direct relationship with God, and the humanity of Jesus. Universalism had a central belief that all people will eventually be reconciled with God (the concept of Universal Salvation). Both denominations were strong proponents of social justice and liberal religion. You could say the two were a marriage made in heaven... but not all UU's believe in heaven. :)

They earned a reputation throughout history as heretics because they insisted on their right to choose their own religion. One of the early Unitarian leaders, Frances David, argued the right of Christians to choose the tenets of their belief, based on Scripture. He defended the individuality of relationship with God. When questioned about the specifics of his theology and doctrine, he replied, "We need not think alike to love alike." Love has continued to be a running theme in Universal Unitarianism.

As I began to study Universal Unitarianism, I started attending the First Universal Unitarian Church of Dallas. I entered the first service I attended with trepidation, not knowing what to expect from these "Woowoo UU's" as my friend jokingly called them. I was pleasantly surprised. Accomplished musicians played classical overtures to call people to worship. A woman read a meditation from a Buddhist nun. The pastor preached on justice and compassion and the marriage of the two in modern society. I found myself wanting to jump up and shout "AMEN!" to his call to action!

The central belief in "justice, equity and compassion for all" resonated with me - I am a person who values justice and who wants to take up my plowshare and fight when I see injustice going on around me. (Take for instance the insane bill Texas is trying to pass about ultrasounds... but that's another story for another day.)

The education of UUs was also appealing to me as I attended their congregation. They were not only accepting of other belief systems, but they learned about them - they were actively engaged in "a free and responsible search for truth and meaning." Come to think of it, I am actively engaged in the same!

To me, it seemed that they took everything that made us really human - our connection to the divine, our uniqueness and our journeys, our inherent call to compassion and love, our natural inclination to protect the weak and take up fights for those who cannot defend themselves - all those pieces of being human that I love, and they combined them into a religion. And not just a dogma. Not just a uniform way of thinking. This was the seeker's paradise, because wherever your "free and responsible search" for [God] took you, they were respectful and accepting of your path.

Regarding specific theology today, it was hard for me to really figure out. The seven guiding principals (which I resoundingly support) are the tenets of faith and doctrine. So answers to specific questions like: was Jesus the son of God? Was Muhammad (pbuh) a prophet? Is there life after death? If so, how do you accomplish it? Is God just a figment of our imagination? - were apparently all "yes", or "no", or "maybe" - depending on your particular sway. It is hard for someone so used to rigid boundaries to suddenly be given the freedom to think in the round and it kinda blew my mind!

As I progress into UU, I will share with you some amazing women on their UU journey. I will, as with other religions, talk about beliefs and customs, and various other things I come across on my way. Welcome to the UU experience!