Whether a congregation is a 'fellowship' or a 'church' sometimes hinges on whether it is led by one or more minister s: Many use the name "Unitarian Universalist", and a few "Universalist Unitarian" , having gradually adopted this formulation since consolidation in Others use names that reflect their historic roots by keeping the historical designation "Unitarian" or "Universalist" e.
A few congregations use neither e. For some congregations, the name can be a clue to their theological orientation. For others, avoidance of the word "church" indicates a desire to distance itself from traditional Christian theology. Sometimes the use of another term may simply indicate a congregation's lay-led or relatively new status.
However, some Unitarian Universalist congregations have grown to appreciate alternative terms such as fellowship and retained them even though they have grown much larger or lost features sometimes associated with their use such as, in the case of fellowships, a traditionally lay-led worship model. Also of note is that there are many more people who identify as Unitarian Universalist on surveys than those who attend Unitarian Universalist congregations by a factor of four in a recent survey , [61] reflecting those who have never joined and lapsed members but nonetheless consider themselves part of the Unitarian Universalist movement.
In , UU World magazine asked for contributions of " elevator speeches " explaining Unitarian Universalism. Here are examples of the speeches submitted:. In Unitarian Universalist congregations, we gather in community to support our individual spiritual journeys. We trust that openness to one another's experiences will enhance our understanding of our own links with the divine, with our history, and with one another.
Most Unitarian Universalists believe that nobody has a monopoly on all truth, or ultimate proof of the truth of everything in any one belief. Therefore, one's own truth is unprovable, as is that of others. Consequently, we should respect the beliefs of others, as well as their right to hold those beliefs. Conversely, we expect that others should respect our right to our own beliefs.
Several UU's then, would likely hold as many different beliefs. Other beliefs they may hold in common are a respect for others, for nature, and for common decency, leading to a particular caring for the poor, the weak and the downtrodden. As a result, issues of justice, including social justice are held in common among most. It's a blessing each of us was born; It matters what we do with our lives; What each of us knows about God is a piece of the truth; We don't have to do it alone.
As in theology, Unitarian Universalist worship and ritual are often a combination of elements derived from other faith traditions alongside original practices and symbols. In form, church services might be difficult to distinguish from those of a Protestant church, but they vary widely among congregations. The most common symbol of Unitarian Universalism is the flaming chalice , often framed by two overlapping rings that many interpret as representing Unitarianism and Universalism the symbol has no official interpretation.
The chalice itself has long been a symbol of liberal religion, and indeed liberal Christianity the Disciples of Christ also use a chalice as their denomination symbol [65]. It was created by Austrian artist Hans Deutsch, inspired by "the kind of chalice which the Greeks and Romans put on their altars.
The holy oil burning in it is a symbol of helpfulness and sacrifice. Nevertheless, other interpretations have been suggested, such as the chalice used by the followers of Czech Jan Hus , which was supposedly reverential of Eastern Orthodox traditions; although Hus's early National Church was intrinsically an evangelical Protestant. In some agnostic historiographies the flaming chalice displayed a vague resemblance to a cross in some stylized representations, relying on the sepulchral traditions of the Hospitallers.
Other symbols include an off-center cross within a circle a Universalist symbol associated with the Humiliati movement in the s, a group of reformist, liturgically minded clergy seeking to revive Universalism. Other symbols include a pair of open hands releasing a dove.
Religious services are usually held on Sundays and most closely resemble the form and format of Protestant worship in the Reformed tradition. Since Unitarian Universalists do not recognize a particular text or set of texts as primary or inherently superior, inspiration can be found in many different religious or cultural texts as well as the personal experiences of the minister.
The service also includes hymn-singing, accompanied by organ, piano, or other available instruments, and possibly led by a song leader or choir. The most recent worship songbook published by the denomination, Singing the Journey [70] contains 75 songs and is a supplement to the older Singing the Living Tradition which contains readings as well.
Instrumental music is also a common feature of the typical worship service, including preludes, offertory music, postludes, or music for contemplation. Many also include a time of meditation or prayer , led by the minister or service leader, both spoken and silent. Responsive readings and stories for children are also typical.
Unitarian Universalism
Many congregations also allow for a time at the end of the service, called "talk back", where members of the congregation can respond to the sermon with their own insights and questions, or even disagree with the viewpoint expressed by the minister or invited speaker.
Many Unitarian Universalist congregations no longer observe the Christian symbols of baptism , communion , or confirmation , at least in their traditional forms or under their traditional names. Congregations that continue these practices under their more traditional names are often federated churches or members of the Council of Christian Churches within the Unitarian Universalist Association CCCUUA , or may have active chapters associated with the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship or similar covenant groups.
Annual celebrations of Water Communion and Flower Communion may replace or supplement Christian-style communion though many pluralist and Christian-oriented congregations may celebrate or otherwise make provisions for communion on Christian holy days. After they have completed exploring their spiritual beliefs, they write a speech about it which they then personally deliver to the congregation. In the 19th century, Unitarians and Universalists were active in abolitionism , the women's movement , the temperance movement , and other social reform movements.
Additionally, four Presidents of the United States were Unitarians: Historically, Unitarian Universalists have often been active in political causes, notably the civil rights movement , [76] the LGBT rights movement , [77] the social justice movement, and the feminist movement.
Anthony , a Unitarian and Quaker , was extremely influential in the women's suffrage movement. Unitarian Universalists and Quakers still share many principles. It is therefore common to see Unitarian Universalists and Quakers working together. Unitarian Universalists were and are still very involved in the fight to end racism in the United States.
Two weeks after his death, Viola Liuzzo , a Unitarian Universalist civil rights activist, was murdered by white supremacists after her participation in the protest march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The Selma to Montgomery marches for voting rights are best known for Bloody Sunday , which refers to March 7, , the most violent of the three marches. Sinkford , is African-American , making Unitarian Universalism one of the first traditionally white denominations to be headed by a member of a racial minority.
While political liberals make up a clear majority of Unitarian Universalists, the movement aspires to diversity, and officially welcomes congregants regardless of their political views. Politically conservative Unitarian Universalists point out that neither religious liberalism nor the Principles and Purposes of the UUA require liberal politics.
Like the beliefs of Unitarian Universalists, politics are decided by individuals, not by congregations or the denomination. Several congregations have undertaken a series of organizational, procedural and practical steps to become acknowledged as a " Welcoming Congregation ": Unitarian Universalist ministers perform same-sex unions and now same-sex marriages where legal and sometimes when not, as a form of civil protest.
On June 29, , the Unitarian Universalists became the first major church "to approve religious blessings on homosexual unions. Gay men, bisexuals, and lesbians are also regularly ordained as ministers, and a number of gay, bisexual, and lesbian ministers have, themselves, now become legally married to their partners. In December , Washington, D. Unitarian Universalists for Polyamory Awareness engages Unitarian Universalist ministers and other leaders to educate them on polyamory. Many congregations are heavily involved in projects and efforts aimed at supporting environmental causes and sustainability.
These are often termed "seventh principle" activities because of the seventh principle quoted above. The lack of formal creed has been a cause for criticism among some who argue that Unitarian Universalism is thus without religious content.
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However, within weeks, Strayhorn reversed her decision. There are separate movements and organizations who hold to classical Unitarian or Christian universalist Christian theology and neither belong to the Unitarian Universalist Association nor consider themselves Unitarian Universalists.
The American Unitarian Conference and the Christian Universalist Association are the two most significant organizations representing these theological beliefs today. Christians who hold these beliefs tend to consider themselves the true Unitarians or Universalists and heirs of the theological legacy of the original American Unitarian Association or Universalist Church of America , and they do not wish to be confused with Unitarian Universalists.
The Unity Church is another denomination that is often confused with Unitarian Universalism. During the presidency of the William Sinkford, debate within the Unitarian Universalist movement has roiled over his call to return to or create an authentic Unitarian Universalist "language of reverence. He has suggested that Unitarian Universalists regain their proper seat at the interfaith table by making this language their own.
Others have reacted to this call by believing it to be part of an effort to return Unitarian Universalist congregations to more orthodox Christian worship patterns.
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Sinkford has denied this, citing the words of Unitarian Universalist humanists as examples of what he means by the "language of reverence. An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals [86] and is meant as a kind of handbook to be read alongside the Bible. It provides interpretative strategies, so that Unitarian Universalists among others might be able to engage in public debate about what the Bible says from a liberal religious perspective, rather than relinquishing to religious conservatives, and other more literal interpretations, all control over the book's contents and significance in matters of public and civic import.
An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism , [87] in which the authors explore the many sources of the living tradition of their chosen faith. The "borrowing" of religious rituals from other faith traditions by Unitarian Universalists was discussed at the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly in during a seminar titled "Cultural Appropriation: Danielle Di Bona said:. When UUs pick and choose from these things, it trivializes their spiritual practices.
The specificity [of their use] is so complete, that visiting Native Americans do not participate in another tribe's rituals, and to do so would be perceived as foolish. I would not even practice the rituals of my own tribe, because I am not an elder or spiritual leader. If this is true of her own people, then the use of these things by others who share no cultural context is seen not only as particularly foolish and inappropriate.
Not all of this usage is inappropriate, though. Some taped music, written prayers, that kind of thing, might be all right, but it's not right to fool around with it. If it's not in context, if the user is not walking with us, if the user is not part of our struggle, then it is presumptuous. Virgin Islands , 19 in Canada, six in other countries, [95] plus 28 multi-denominational member congregations: Seven of the ten US states with the most congregations are also among the most populous states; the state with the most congregations and members is Massachusetts; Vermont is No.
A map using U. Census data showing the relative number of congregations per 1 million people is posted here. In , Sam Wells wrote that "Unitarians and Universalists are considering merger which would have total U. Estimates from the s put world membership between , and , In the United States, the American Religious Identification Survey reported , members describing themselves as Unitarian Universalist in , an increase from , reported in a similar survey in Religious Landscape Survey, conducted in by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and featuring a sample size of over 35,, puts the proportion of American adults identifying as Unitarian Universalist at 0.
The Canadian census done by Statistics Canada put Canadian Unitarians at 17,, [] and the September 1, membership statistics from the CUC show they had at that time 5, official members. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This article is about the liberal religious movement. For the Christian theology that includes a central belief in the unitary nature of God, see Unitarianism. For the Christian theology that includes a central belief in universal reconciliation, see Christian Universalism.
For other uses of Unitarianism, see Unitarian.
What is Unitarianism?
For Universalism as a general philosophy, see Universalism. An early logo of the Unitarian Universalist Association which includes a flaming chalice , its most widely used symbol. This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. June Learn how and when to remove this template message.
Calvinism , Puritanism , Congregational church , and Pilgrim Fathers. Congregationalism in the United States. Universalism and Christian Universalism. Universalist Church of America. List of Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists. List of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist churches. Profile of the Unitarian Universalist Association".
Retrieved 8 November Archived from the original on Major Religions Ranked by Size. Retrieved April 19, Archived from the original PDF on Another term for this type of belief is called Monarchianism. In the context of universalism , the Unitarianism discussed here is that belief that denies the Trinity, the deity of Christ , the personhood of the Holy Spirit , eternal punishment , and the vicarious atonement of Jesus.
Unitarian Universalists use many biblical concepts and terms but with non-biblical meanings.
Unitarianism and Universalism | religion | theranchhands.com
Unitarianism is not Christian. There is a group known as the Unitarian Universalist Association. Its membership is around , The General Convention of the Unitarian Universalists formulated the five principles of the Universalist Faith in This last point, "Human reason and experience should be the final authority in determining spiritual truth," is perhaps the most revealing of the character of Unitarian Universalists. Instead of God and his word being the final authority on truth and error, or right and wrong, Unitarian Universalists subject God and his word to their understanding, feeling, and reason.
This is exemplified in the following quote obtain from the official Unitarian Universalist website at http: This was found under the heading Unitarian Universalists say:. Notice that each of the five statements begins with "I want It is not the attitude of one who wants to put God first.
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It can plainly be seen that this is a religion based on personal hopes and desires and not upon the Bible. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.
Many commentators believe that these five "I wills" were uttered by Satan as he sought to be exalted and equal to God. They reflect the arrogance of the evil one as his heart was filled with pride and put his own will before God's. He had his desires before God's.