What do Unitarian Universalists believe?
We believe in the freedom of religious expression. All individuals should be encouraged to develop their own personal theology, and to present openly their religious opinions without fear of censure or reprisal. We believe in the toleration of religious ideas. All religions, in every age and culture, possess not only an intrinsic merit, but also a potential value for those who have learned the art of listening. We believe in the authority of reason and conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, or a document, or an official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual. We believe in the never-ending search for truth. If the mind and heart are truly free and open, the revelations which appear to the human spirit are infinitely numerous, eternally fruitful, and wondrously exciting. We believe in the unity of experience. There is no fundamental conflict between faith and knowledge, religion and the world, the sacred and the secular, since they all have their
Because Unitarian Universalism places value in the individual religious quest, the question of what we believe has many answers. Rather than teaching a particular set of beliefs, we seek to nurture an inquiring mind, a tolerant spirit, and a loving and compassionate heart. In our congregation you will find people with a wide spectrum of beliefs. Some might be theists, who hold a faith in God or the creative life-force, often defined as “that which is greater than each, yet present in all.” Some may be humanists, who focus their faith in human abilities and ideals. You’ll also find Liberal Christians, who find a unique spiritual power in the ministry of Jesus, and are committed to following him, while reappraising the Christian scriptures through the insights of modern culture and scholarship. Some of us affirm a mystical spirituality, believing that direct experience of a sacred oneness or reality is achieved through spiritual practices or awakening. Many of us find joy and spiritual e
