AgDragon's UU Page

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion. UU's are a varied bunch, to the point that if you were to ask two (or two hundred) UU's what they believed, you would get two (or two hundred) different answers! There are Christian UU's, Hindu UU's, Buddhist UU's, Pagan UU's, Athiest UU's, Humanist UU's, etc. UU-ism is a doctrineless faith, but there are a few Principles and Purposes that most UU's hold up. These Principles and Purposes are:

Principles and Purposes

• We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote
  • The inherent dignity and worth 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.

Famous UU's

There have been many famous UU's through the years. Some of the more notable folks include: Horace Mann, Paul Revere, Florence Nightingale, Susan B. Anthony, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Isaac Newton, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry David Thoreau, Beatrix Potter, Ralph Waldo Emmerson, e.e. cummings, and many more! See Famous UU's for a more complete list with more links!

A Brief UU History

The history of the UU movement starts with the very beginnings of Christianity.

• The Unitarians (who believe that God is One) and Trinitarians (who believe in 3 separate entities: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost) came to odds during the Council of Nicea (325 CE) and the Unitarians were declared heretics.
• The Universalists were making their move during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Essentially, the Universalists believed in the doctarine of Love-- that God loves his children so much that the concept of "original sin" seemed foreign.
• In the 1960's the two separate, but similar groups joined their Humanist, and other liberal religious colleagues to form the UUA. The teachings of the Unitarians, Universalists, Humanists, and the rest have combined to make the UU faith a welcoming faith for all.

The UUA has a very good history of the faith at:http://uua.org.

What happens at a UU Church?

On any given day a variety of services might be held at UU Fellowships and Churches around the world. There may be a Christian service, nearly unrecognizeable from any other Protestant church service happening at the same moment. At another location a discussion group may be meeting, talking about a variety of topics, such as social justice. At still another location an outdoor ritual may be happening, celebrating the interdependant Web of all existance. Yet other places there may be an Islamic service, Buddhist meditation, or just about anything else you could imagine! Each Church is very different, so if you don't find what you're looking for at one Church, try another!

The Links

Since there is so much to say about UU-ism, I believe that a list of links can express the diversity of this non-faith much better than a bunch of text.

• The Unitarian Universalist Association: The homepage for the UUA-- a good place for lots of information and links.
• Usenet FAQ
• 100 Questions Nonmembers ask UU's: This is the e-text of an excellent book that answers the most common questions asked of UU's.
• University Unitarian Universalists (U-cubed): This is the University of Alabama UU student organization. (not finished)

"The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by The University of Alabama"