If Unitarian Universalism doesn explicitly require its members to believe in a personal God, why does it call itself a religion? Is Unitarian Universalism generally regarded as a religion?
Actually, a personal God is a particularly Western concept. Many Eastern religions (universally recognized as such) have either no gods or many gods, none of them personal in the sense that they are believed to respond to our individual needs. But all religions encourage their adherents to ask ultimate questions and to recognize that there is a profound dimension of human life that transcends our normal day-to-day activity. In our worship services, we celebrate that which is of most worth. For some of us, that may include a personal God. But for others, it will not. And yes, Unitarian Universalism is recognized as an established religion throughout the world.
