Unitarian Universalism

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==Beliefs==
 
==Beliefs==
Unitarian Universalism is a remarkably difficult to define religion. The church tolerates a wide range of different beliefs regarding both theology and spirituality, but the vast majority (91%) say that they are, among other things, [[Humanism|humanists]], while those holding specifically Christian, [[Pagan|"earth-centered"]], [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], or [[Judaism|Jewish]] beliefs are a minority.<ref>See above:[http://archive.uua.org/news/011205.html Univerialist Unitarian Association]</ref> Unitarian Universalists often adhere to seven "principles", sort of like the Ten Commandments, which can be summed up as belief in the value of:
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Unitarian Universalism is a remarkably difficult to define religion. The church tolerates a wide range of different beliefs regarding both theology and spirituality, but the vast majority (91%) say that they are, among other things, [[Humanism|humanists]], while those holding specifically Christian, [[Pagan|"earth-centered"]], [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], or [[Judaism|Jewish]] beliefs are significant minorities.<ref>See above:[http://archive.uua.org/news/011205.html Univerialist Unitarian Association]</ref> Unitarian Universalists often adhere to seven "principles", sort of like the Ten Commandments, which can be summed up as belief in the value of:
 
*humanity
 
*humanity
 
*justice
 
*justice
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*respect for nature  
 
*respect for nature  
  
How an individual reaches these conclusions, however, is entirely up to them.<ref>http://www.uua.org/visitors/6798.shtml</ref>
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How an individual reaches these conclusions, however, is entirely up to them.<ref>http://www.uua.org/visitors/6798.shtml</ref>  
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Though the Unitarian Universalist Church takes no official stance on most current issues, its inclusive and pragmatic nature make it more appealing to [[Liberals]] than to [[Conservatives]]. In 1984, it became the first major church to recognize [[Gay marriage]] <ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E0DB1539F93AA15755C0A962948260</ref>, and remains one of the most vocal religious supporters of it to this day.
  
 
==Unitarian Universalist Christmas carol==
 
==Unitarian Universalist Christmas carol==

Revision as of 02:16, 5 September 2010

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The Unitarian Universalist Church is an organization that is probably the least dogmatic religion to come out of Western Christianity -- a textbook example of a liberal religion. Seriously, they make the Anglicans look like rabid fundies. It was formed as a merger of the Unitarians and the Universalists, which were once two separate Christian movements.

They are sometimes referred to by stricter dogmatists as "atheists,"[1] This is due to their very open-ended mission to provide a community for pursuit of faith and spirituality, and their remarked-upon debates a few years ago about whether to use the word "god" in their services.

There is a Unitarian Universalist house of fellowship in Portsmouth, NH, which ironically has a very large display of the Ten Commandments arrayed on each side of the pulpit ("stage") area set up by a previous sect which occupied the building. They have left it in place due to its historical importance[2] rather than for its religious significance.

Those Unitarian Universalists who are Christians believe that all people will get to heaven eventually. They don’t believe in hell, or see hell as a kind of purgatory where souls stay for a time till they are reconciled with God. References to eternal hell in the Bible are explained as mistranslations.[3][4]

Contents

Beliefs

Unitarian Universalism is a remarkably difficult to define religion. The church tolerates a wide range of different beliefs regarding both theology and spirituality, but the vast majority (91%) say that they are, among other things, humanists, while those holding specifically Christian, "earth-centered", Buddhist, or Jewish beliefs are significant minorities.[5] Unitarian Universalists often adhere to seven "principles", sort of like the Ten Commandments, which can be summed up as belief in the value of:

  • humanity
  • justice
  • diversity
  • free inquiry
  • democracy
  • community
  • respect for nature

How an individual reaches these conclusions, however, is entirely up to them.[6]

Though the Unitarian Universalist Church takes no official stance on most current issues, its inclusive and pragmatic nature make it more appealing to Liberals than to Conservatives. In 1984, it became the first major church to recognize Gay marriage [7], and remains one of the most vocal religious supporters of it to this day.

Unitarian Universalist Christmas carol

Gods rest ye, Unitarians, let nothing you dismay;
Remember there's no evidence there was a Christmas Day;
When Christ was born is just not known, no matter what they say,
O, Tidings of reason and fact, reason and fact,
Glad tidings of reason and fact.
Our current Christmas Customs come from Persia and from Greece,
From solstice celebrations of the ancient Middle East.
This whole darn Christmas spiel is just another pagan feast,
O, Tidings of reason and fact, reason and fact,
Glad tidings of reason and fact.
There was no star of Bethlehem, there was no angels' song;
There could not have been wise men for the trip would take too long.
The stories in the Bible are historically wrong,
O, Tidings of reason and fact, reason and fact,
Glad tidings of reason and fact!

This was posted to LiveJournal[8] and the UUs loved it.

External links

Footnotes

  1. Atheists and agnostics are a majority in the church, outnumbering Christians by 4 to 1.[1]
  2. The historical importance is as a display or work of art, and how it fits into the decor of the building, rather than as a set of laws
  3. Greater Reality Forum - Heaven and Hell
  4. Gospel Themes - Jesus' teachings about hell
  5. See above:Univerialist Unitarian Association
  6. http://www.uua.org/visitors/6798.shtml
  7. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E0DB1539F93AA15755C0A962948260
  8. http://community.livejournal.com/chalice_circle/152100.html
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