An Exploration Of Unitarian Universalist (UU) Religion

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An Exploration of Unitarian Universalism
The Unitarian Universalist (UU) religion began as two separate belief systems: Unitarianism and universalism. Unitarians believed there is only one God, and Jesus, a human, was beneath him; as such, they maintained that people “must follow Jesus, not worship him” (Harris xxii). Universalists believed that God loved everyone; this belief was instrumental in forming their belief that every religion contained some truth, and that every person, regardless of their sex, class, religion, race, or sexual orientation, has worth and dignity. Upon realizing that these two religions had similar beliefs and that their influence would be stronger if they joined forces, the leaders of these two religions formed one …show more content…

UU Buddhists have introduced Eastern traditional beliefs to the UU religion, and many UU Sunday services now have a meditation component (Buddhist, www.uua.org). Both UU and Buddhism also search for ways to live in harmony with the world around them. UU Jews are also able to experience their religious practices within their UU congregation with Yom Kippur and Seder services (Jews). The UU religion has also incorporated an earth-centered approach to religion in their practices (Pagan, www.uuc.org, Welcome). This earth-centered approach is appealing to UU Pagans, as is the UU’s belief that all things are …show more content…

With some members believing in a deity, some disbelieving, others content on letting it remain a mystery, and still others believing in a universal life force, it is no wonder that the UU religion as a whole does not have a declared stance on deities or the afterlife.
With so many different faiths incorporated into the religion, one might wonder what brings the UUs together. According to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), UUs are united through their belief in the Seven Principles and their life experiences.
The Seven Principles of the UU serve as values and moral guides for all UUs; they are the closest thing the UU has to a creed. They are a statement of what the UU stands for and how its members should act. The Seven Principles

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