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Unitarian
Universalist Campus Community
Searching for truth, Supporting
each other, Welcoming to all! |
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What Do Unitarian Universalists Believe? This is a difficult question for many of us to answer,
at least simply. In the Christian tradition--but not in many other world
religions--a church is expected to have a written creed that is taught to the
young and that is supposed to be taken on faith by all members. However, Unitarian Universalism is not a form of
Christianity nor do we have a simple creed. Unfortunately, this leads to
suggestions that we are a church "where you can believe anything you
want" or one that doesn't believe anything. That is an inaccurate charge
and one that applies a very narrow understanding of what it means to be
religious. We embrace the ancient spirit of liberal
religion. We believe that the quest for meaning and understanding is a
lifelong process. We believe that all people are capable of this pursuit, but
that no single human (or committee) is capable of divining the absolute truth
in its entirety. A written creed implies that the search is over, that your
mind and heart and experiences are irrelevant. Thus each Unitarian
Universalist is on his or her unique path--yet we walk our paths in
community. We learn from each other, not only from our ministers. Some Unitarian Universalists find meaning in the
Christian scriptures, and in the teachings and person of Jesus of Nazareth.
Some Unitarian Universalists find meaning in the earth and mystery of nature.
Some Unitarian Universalists find meaning in the life of the mind and
critical reason. Our "scriptures" are as varied as humanity, and
our individual conceptions of belief and faith are no less varied. "How can you claim to be a church when you
all believe different things?" But as paradoxical as it sounds, we do
have common beliefs! We honor and respect each other's religious quests. We
care for each other in community. Even if our understandings of
religious questions are different, we agree that we have a right to hold
them. You cannot be taught to be a Unitarian
Universalist. You can only become one through your own listening and study
and observation and contemplation. Our Unitarian Universalist churches and
groups offer you welcoming places in which to do so. Paul Riedesel [adapted] |