• Your desire to serve others will be stimulated.
• Your need to laugh will be well received and shared.
• Your grieving is comforted.
• Your sorrows are lightened.
• Your doubts are respected.
• Your children are received and welcomed.
• Your talents nourished.
• Your love of art and music expanded.
• Your reasoning appreciated.
• Your friendships strengthened.
• Your personal conscience treasured.
• You receive respect just for who you are.

* adapted from www.uupuertorico.org

Beliefs Within Our Faith

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion that encompasses many faith traditions. Unitarian Universalists include people who identify as Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and others.

As there is no official Unitarian Universalist creed, Unitarian Universalists are free to search for truth on many paths.

To quote the Rev. Marta Flanagan, "We uphold the free search for truth. We will not be bound by a statement of belief. We do not ask anyone to subscribe to a creed. We say ours is a non-creedal religion. Ours is a free faith."

Although we uphold shared principles, individual Unitarian Universalists have varied beliefs about everything from scripture to rituals to God.

Our Principles

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity 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.

Many Sources

Unitarian Universalism (UU) 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.

These principles and sources of faith are the backbone of our religious community.

* adapted from http://www.uua.org/visitors/

• A general description of Unitarian Universalism: http://www.uua.org/visitors/index.shtml
• Our principles and purposes: http://www.uua.org/visitors/6798.shtml
• Beliefs within our Faith: http://www.uua.org/visitors/beliefswithin/index.shtml
• Why is the chalice our symbol? http://www.uua.org/visitors/6901.shtml
• Basic UU History http://www.uua.org/visitors/ourhistory/index.shtml

• A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism by John A. Buehrens and Forrest Church. Thought-provoking, entertaining sourcebook for searchers, newcomers, and lifelong learners. Published by Beacon Press (Boston, MA) in 1998.
• Being Liberal in an Illiberal Age: Why I Am a Unitarian Universalist by Jack Mendelsohn. A minister for over 50 years, Mendelsohn writes with conviction and eloquence in defense of liberal religion and discusses what draws people to UUism. Published by Skinner House Books (Boston, MA) in 1995.
• Finding Your Religion: When the Faith You Grew Up With Has Lost Its Meaning by Scotty McLennan. McLennan, the inspiration for the character "Reverend Scotty Sloan" in Garry Trudeau's comic strip Doonesbury, is a real-life UU minister and chaplain at Stanford University. McLennan shares his own and his students' search for a meaningful spiritual life. Published by HarperCollins Publishers (New York, NY) in 2000.
• Our Seven Principles in Story and Verse: A Collection for Children and Adults by Kenneth W. Collier. Creative responses to the seven Principles. Each Principle is illustrated with a story, a poem, and a brief essay. Published by Skinner House Books (Boston, MA) in 1997.

This list is excerpted from the UUA web site which may be found at http://www.uua.org/visitors/4721.shtml