Imagine a religion that embraces many different beliefs…

08May08

I’ve recently discovered a community of folks who have made it their singular goal to create a safe space for folks to come together from widely divergent religious backgrounds, to learn from and honor each other’s beliefs and worship together as one faith. They are an open-minded religious community that encourages its members to seek their own spiritual path, wherever it leads.

Apparently, many people say, “We’ve always been Unitarian Universalists, but we just didn’t know what to call ourselves.” I must admit, the more I read, the more at home I felt with their seven guiding principles.

The Unitarian Universalists affirm and promote…

1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

These seven principles are consistent with the Christian scriptures with which I was raised, and yet they resonate with me on a deeper level than any “statement of beliefs” touted by the many churches of which I have been a part.

In fact, do you notice what is missing?

That’s right… any statement of belief whatsoever. They affirm and promote these overarching principles, but in the “space between” there is plenty of room for the specific religious beliefs of any one individual.

Imagine a group of people coming together for the purpose of sharing their lives with each other – not on the basis of doctrinal creeds, congruent beliefs, or even the shared reverence for a singular book. What a refreshing idea.

In fact, didn’t Jesus affirm and promote the same seven principles?

Filed under: Musings   |  
Tags: UU