Unitarian Universalism: Beliefs and Organization

Unitarian Universalism: Beliefs and Organization

The Unitarian Universalist denomination, as it name suggests, believes in the unitary nature of God. Unlike most Christian sects, it rejects the concept of the trinity or the idea that God consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Although the modern Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) was founded in 1961, the sect has a long history in America. Unitarians distinguished themselves from other religious groups early in their history, because they believed in universal salvation, in contrast to the Calvinists who believed in the possibility of salvation for only a small, elect group of people.

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) unifies two religious movements, that of Unitarianism (believers in the unity of God) and Universalists (believers in universal salvation).The idea of a 'unitary' Christian God has origins back to the Christian early fathers. Origen of Alexandria and Gregory of Nyssa advocated the idea of a singular godhead, although the Council of Nicaea declared the idea to be heresy in 325 BCE. Another early advocate of Unitarianism, Michael Servetus was martyred in 1553 during the Reformation "for his criticism of the doctrine of the trinity and his opposition to infant baptism… Servetus rejected the doctrine of original sin and the entire theory of salvation based upon it, including the doctrines of Christ's dual nature and the vicarious atonement effected by his death. He believed Jesus had one nature, at once fully human and divine, and that Jesus was not another being of the godhead separate from the Father, but God come to earth. Other human beings, touched by Christian grace, could overcome sin and themselves become progressively divine" (Hughes 2011). The UUA traces its formal beginnings back to 1569 "when Transylvanian King John Sigismund issued an edict establishing religious freedom" including those who questioned conventional trinitarianism (Zavada 2011).

Unitarianism as a movement gained in popularity in the U.S. during the 19th century, and was associated with the Transcendentalist movement spearheaded by liberal thinkers and writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson (author of "Self-Reliance") and Henry Thoreau. America's democratic and independent philosophy as a nation resonated with the Universalist belief in the fact that every person could have a personal relationship with God and its stress upon the humanity of Jesus. "Some famous Unitarians include John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Paul Revere, William Howard Taft, and Frank Lloyd Wright" ("Unitarianism," UAA, 2011). It was formally established as a church in 1825 (Zavada 2011).

Universalism arose as a religious movement in England. Many fled to the United States to escape religious persecution, and the Universalist Church was founded as a formal church in 1793. It was the first church in the United States to ordain a woman and the Universalist Church strongly supported education for all citizens, women's rights, and the abolishment of slavery ("Universalism," UAA, 2011). In 1961, the Universalist and Unitarian denominations merged to form the UAA, as it exists today. Although-based within the United States, branches also exist internationally in many former U.S. outposts, such as the Philippines and in some European nations, including Romania.

Universalists today honor the wisdom of the teachings of Jesus, but have a pluralistic conception of religion. "Unitarian Universalism does not hold one particular religious text to be the most sacred or authoritative. Members use sacred texts from a variety of traditions or none at all, but the Bible is the most commonly used sacred text" ("Unitarian Universalism," Religion Facts, 2011). The principles of the organization are not a formal creed, but rather affirm the innate sacredness and dignity of all human persons. The seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote are: "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; at "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part" ("Our Unitarian Universalist Principles," UAA, 2011).

With respect to these principles, Unitarians have historically supported social justice movements within the United States, such as the Civil Rights movement, and anti-war causes. They also support interfaith dialogue, and believe there is value in all religious faiths, not just Christianity. The merged organization does not hold solely to Universalist or Unitarian beliefs, but honors both in the shaping of the tradition. Many women have served prominently in the movement since its inception, as have African-Americans. Unitarian Universalists also support full social equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people (GLBT).

Unitarian Universalists have occasionally been accused of being irreligious, because of their tolerance of so many conceptions of faith, and the fact that they do not insist that adherents subscribe to a particular conception of God, or even to believe in a traditional, anthropomorphic form of the divine at all. Unitarian Universalists view the religion as part of the individual's unique spiritual quest and state that even as a symbol 'God' "can serve several important functions," including offering a vision of higher values "of truth, justice, love, and goodness," as a reminder of human limitations, and as unifier under the ideal of a single symbol (Rasor 2011). While the Church conducts weddings, funerals, and other important services in a believer's life history, it does not consider these sacraments, and while some Unitarians believe in the saving power of Jesus, it is not a requirement to believe in the saving nature of Jesus or Jesus' divinity to be a member of the Church.

Unitarian Universalist worship ceremonies can take a variety of forms, including "prayer, meditation, silent contemplation, worship, and other types of spiritual practice" ("Spiritual topics," 2011, UUA). Services are held on Sunday, and begin with the lighting of the flaming chalice, a symbol of the faith. The symbolic chalice is surrounded by two interlinking spheres, which represent the unity of the Universalist and Unitarian traditions. Services begin with a sermon, during which the minster will reflect upon issues of faith he or she believes are important to the community. The holidays observed by the community are consistent with those of most other Christian denominations.