Recently, I have been soul searching in an attempt to find a theology that fits me. Over the last few years I have attended several churches in hopes to find somewhere I fit it; A place I could call home. I have my credence in regards to heaven and earth, death and afterlife, God and Jesus, and all other questions that are usually answered when you "find religion". My main obstacle has been that my beliefs weren't easily categorized in one particular religion. My beliefs span from Neo-Paganism to Buddhism to Christianity. Until recently, no church I attended could really cater to the likes of me.
But, as I said.. until recently. A few weeks ago, I attend a Unitarian Universalism (UU)congregation for the first time. I was amazed, and inspired. They allow each individual to find their own theology, without force feeding opinions down your throat. When I first heard of UU, I had no idea what they stood for. So, what does a UU believe in? These FAQ's that I obtained from the book "100 Questions that Non-Members Ask About Unitarian Universalism" by John Sias may help you understand more:
What do Unitarian Universalists believe?
- Every individual should be encouraged to develop a personal philosphy of life.
- Everyone is capable of reasoning.
- We do not need any other person, official or organization to tell us what to believe.
- We should be able to present religious opinions openly, without fear of censure or reprisal.
- All people should be tolerant of religious ideas of others.
- Truth is not absolute; it changes over time.
- Everyone should continue to search for truth.
- Everyone has equal claim to life, liberty and justice.
- People should govern themselves by democratic processes.
- Ideas should be open to criticism.
- Good works are the natural product of good faith.
What do you not believe?
We do not believe that any religious precept or doctrine must be accepted as true simply because some religious organization, tradition or authority says it is. Neither do we believe that all UU's should have identical beliefs.
Do you believe in God?
While there is a perception of UU's that we do not believe in god, it is much more accurate to say that we do not have a single, defined concept of God in which all UU's are expected to believe. Each member is free to explore and develop and understanding of God that is meaningful to him or her. They're also free to reject the term or concept altogether.
Most of use do not believe in a supernatural, supreme being who can directly intervene in and alter human life or the mechanism of the natural world. Many believe in a spirit of life or power within themselves, which some choose to call God.
How do you regard the bible?
We regard the bible as one of many important religious texts but do not consider it unique or exclusive in any way. We do not interpret it literally. We think some parts of it offer more truth and relevance than other parts. Although UU's respect the bible and regard some of its content as great literature, it is not a central document in our religion.
Do you believe in Jesus?
We do not believe that Jesus Christ was born of a vergin, performed miracles and was resurrected from death. We do admire and respect the way he lived, the power of his love, the force of his example, and his values.
Most UU's regard Jesus as one of several important moral and ethical teachers who have shown humans how to live a life of love, service and compassion. Though some of us may question whether Jesus was an actual historical figure, we do believe his teachings are of significant moral value.
What are the bonds that unify UU's?
While there are no written or verbal doctrines designed for that purpose, we have both stated and unstated bonds which unify us. The stated bonds are the principles and purposes of the UUA which we support individually and collectively.
Among the unstated bonds are our mutual respect for each other and our appreciation of many religious, philosophical, and spiritual paths which our members pursue. We are bound together in our mutual concern for one another's well being, and our willingness to aid each other in time of need.
Is UU really a religion?
In dealing with beliefs and theology, it's important to note that Unitarian Universalism is a way of being religious rather than a religious doctrine. For us, religion is an ongoing search for meaning, purpose, value and spiritual depth in one's life. We believe that individuals are entitled to make their own search, and that not all persons (not even all UU's) are going to share the same beliefs.
Reverend F. Forrester Church has defined religion as, "Our human response to the dual reality of being alive and knowing we will die." This captures a common UU understanding of religion. It is how we respond to life, and how we find meaning, purpose and depth in life, in the face of our human mortality.
Unitarian Universalism is a non-creedal, non-doctrinal religion which affirms the individual's freedom of belief. For this reason it is not possible to give a blanket answer to whether or not UUs believe in God, Jesus, and the bible or life after death. Although we do not all believe the same things about these and other matters, we do believe that each person has the integrity and the ability to come to terms with their religious beliefs in a way that is right for that person.
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