Newcomers' Bulletin Board Archive
2005

December 2005

(service attire)

QUESTION: I've been interested in attending a service but am concerned about what would be considered appropriate attire.  I was raised Baptist and just can't see myself in uncomfortable clothes as a requirement for attending services.  Is there a typical dress code?

Dusty
Findlay, Ohio

ANSWER: I don't know of any UU congregations that have dress codes: usually the kids and teenagers wear jeans and t-shirts, and the adults wear everything from jeans to slacks to suits.  I'd say the most standard Sunday outfit is comfortable slacks and a sweater or button-down shirt. Some congregations are more formal than others, but rarely are they "dressy."  If you have any questions about your local congregation's "dress code," feel free to contact the congregation directly.

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

(how does UUism work in practice?)

QUESTION: I posted a question here once before about the motivation an atheist might feel to be involved in a religious community - the answer was great and prompted more study of UUism and further reading which led to another question related to the first one I asked. I see UUsim as presented as a kind of "big tent" or a United Nations of faith/religion. On paper (website) this looks great but how does it work practically? How does an organization or a minister for that matter serve people who are so diverse with respect to belief/theology? Do the 7 priciples really serve as the common denominator in the way Jesus does for say liberal Chrisians? I have heard from people who once attended UU Churches that there is some hostility toward theists/Christians, is that something you've observed?  Well anyway I promise I am going to attend a service or two so I can direct my questions elsewhere - but this is a great service, and this website gest partial credit for keeping me interested in UUism over this last year. Thanks Chad
Rochester, NY

ANSWER: Great questions! Unitarian Universalism works in practice thanks to the willingness of our ministers and our congregational members to listen and learn. UU ministers have a great deal of training in a wide variety of world religions, religious rituals, philosophies, etc. to ensure that they can appropriately serve the needs of all of their constituents. UU congregational members are respectful of others' beliefs and inquisitive into their own beliefs. Congregations balance the focus of their worship services and other aspects of their community's religious life according to the spiritual needs of their members. It's sometimes a delicate balancing act, but it works!

The Seven Principles of the UUA provide a moral common ground for UUs.  They aren't a statement of belief, and UUs don't have to agree with or believe in them, so the relationship between UUs and the principles and Christians and Jesus is rather different.  What the Seven Principles are is a reflection of the shared values of almost all UUs, and a guideline for our congregations.

I have rarely encountered any hostility towards theists and Christians in Unitarian Universalist congregations.  Christians are truly just as welcome in UU congregations as people of any other faiths, so long as they (as with everyone else) are respectful of the different beliefs of others.  About 10% of UUs identify as Christians today.

As you have guessed, the best way to learn about Unitarian Universalism in practice is to visit one of our congregations.  I'm glad you have found this website helpful.

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
Public Information Assistant

(do UUs celebrate baptism)

QUESTION: What is the UU postion on baptism? Is there some kind of baptism ritual needed to join?

MAM
Las Vegas, NV

ANSWER: Adults do not need to have a baptism ceremony to join the faith.  Some congregations instead have "new member" ceremonies, usually consisting of an introduction of the new member and a welcome by the congregation.

Parents of children born into or joining the faith sometimes choose to have a dedication ceremony for their children.  An example of a Unitarian Universalist child dedication ceremony is available here. Each congregation has their own version of their ceremony, but most are similar to this one.

You local Unitarian Universalist minister would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about their particular traditions. Search our "Find a Congregation" page for contact information.

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
Public Information Assistant

(can non-members attend services?)

QUESTION: Is it considered ok for non-members to attend UU services? I've been reading about the faith and it sounds like just what I've been looking for: a dogma-free venue for spiritual growth and expression. I'd like to experience services for myself, but I'm not sure I'm at all ready to take the step of formal membership in a congregation. Does it make members uncomfortable to have non-members attend multiple services?

Sudro
Amherst, MA

ANSWER: You would be most welcome at any UU service! Many people attend quite a few times, sometimes for months, before deciding to become a member. If you have any questions or concerns, you can feel free to call the congregation before you attend: you can find their contact information on www.uua.org/cong.

In Peace,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

November 2005

(polytheism)

QUESTION: I have understood Unitarianism to be all-inclusive respecting all faiths providing they are not considered highly unethical (e.g. believe in barbarism, slavery, etc.). On the other hand a UUA minister tells me that Unitarianism believes in "at most one God". He says that while aethiesm, pantheism, deism and monotheism are acceptable within Unitarianism, you cannot be a polytheist and be a Unitarian at the same time. Thus, one who believes in the Trinity, multi-gods of American Indians or multi-gods of the Greek culture must change their theistic beliefs to become a Unitarian. Is this true? Are we exclusive of such people?

Anonymous
Mahwah, NJ

ANSWER: Polytheism is certainly accepted in Unitarian Universalism. Many Pagan, Hindu, and Native American Unitarian Universalists, as well as others who don't subscribe to a traditional belief system, believe in more than one god. These people and their beliefs are welcomed in UU congregations and in our larger faith community.

The line that Unitarians believe in "at most one God" comes from a joke from early last century—1930's or so, I believe. It was commenting on the increasing trends of Humanism and Atheism in the then-Christian Unitarian faith. Classic Unitarianism is based on the idea of the unity of God. It is true that you cannot be a Polytheist or Trinitarian Unitarian: the ideas are mutually exclusive. However, you can be a Polytheist Unitarian Universalist: when the Unitarian and Universalist churches in America merged in 1961, they abandoned all statements of belief. The name is almost a misnomer, as you don't have to believe in Unitarian or Universalist ideas to be a part of the religion.

Today, there is no official Unitarian Universalist view of God, or of any other theological principle. Unitarian Universalism has no creed: we are guided by principles, and have some common sources of faith, but have no shared opinion on God.

For information on our principles, sources of faith, etc., please see www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html. For some individual UU's views of God, please see www.uua.org/pamphlet/3039.html. You may also be interested in reading the related Newcomer's Bulletin Board post on Deism and Theism: www.uua.org/newcomers/newcomerbb.html#Deism.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(left-wing politics)

QUESTION: I was watching the tail end of a TV interview that had a lady describing her beliefs and the UUA. I was fascinated! I always hoped just such a religion existed! So I checked the internet and found your website. I love the whole concept. The "About Us-FAQ's" and "About Us- History" tell your story well. I just can't see why your home page has to serve as a platform for left wing politics, i.e. Cindy Sheehan and John Kerry. I'm not a George Bush fan. I just don't see why your home page must portray yours as an organization for democrats. Wasn't the separation of politics and religion one of the bases of your origin? Beyond that, BRAVO!!

PJ
Vancouver, WA

ANSWER: I assume you saw the interview with Rev. Catherine Torpey on the Hallmark Channel (video currently on www.newmorningtv.tv/todaysshow.jsp (in the "Studio" section, about halfway down the page). I'm glad you enjoyed what you saw—Unitarian Universalism is a vibrant, inspiring religion!  Our congregations hold very meaningful, spiritually-grounded worship services, and our community comes together around many issues of faith.

The Unitarian Universalist Association and its congregations are also very politically active. We speak out on many social issues and take action in many communities. Unitarian Universalism is not partisan in its political involvement—our Association and congregations do not speak out for or against any political parties or candidates. We merely speak out as our consciences dictate on issues of political importance.

I don't know of any religion that is similarly religiously liberal and tolerant that does not also have a very active political life. We liberal faiths believe in the ethical application of religion: that is, we try to practice what we preach. UU David O. Rankin writes that "Good works are the natural product of a good faith, the evidence of an inner grace that finds completion in social and community involvement." 

You can visit the web pages for our Washington Office for Advocacy (www.uua.org/uuawo), our Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (www.uu-uno.org), the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (www.uusc.org), and the webpage for the Commission on Social Witness (www.uua.org/actions) to learn more about our political advocacy and witness. This is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what social justice action we take, but it should give you some idea about the topics the UUA is involved with.

Now, this activism may seem frustrating to you, as you have shared that you wish our political involvement were otherwise. Rest assured, you are not the only person to have expressed frustration with the extent to which politics seem to dominate our spiritual communities. This is a topic that we are taking very seriously. The separation of church and state has indeed been a core issue for our community for hundreds of years.

Rev. William Sinkford, the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, is very concerned with "reclaiming a language of reverence" within Unitarian Universalism. He, and many others, feel that while our activist and secular involvement are very important to our communities and to our faith, Unitarian Universalism needs a stronger grounding in and participation with spirituality. We need to use religious language and reconnect with the spiritual aspects of our selves and our communities. More information on this topic is on the President's forum on reclaiming a vocabulary of reverence:www.uua.org/news/2003/vocabulary. An alternate view of the President's involvement on this topic can be seen in the President's statement on UU moral values: www.uua.org/president/041109.html.

Related Newcomer's Bulletin Board posts are on www.uua.org/newcomers/newcomerbb.html#socialjustice, www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#republicans, and in pieces of other posts. Our most popular UUA discussion board topic is on this subject: see its discussion here: www.uua.org/programs/forums/index.php?action=vthread&forum=3&topic=20.

I encourage you to visit your local Unitarian Universalist congregation (www.uua.org/cong) on an upcoming Sunday. The minister there will be able to answer any further questions you may have about Unitarian Universalism. Please also feel free to write to me at any time with questions you might have. Welcome to our faith!

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

October 2005

(holidays celebrated by UUs?)

QUESTION: What holidays are celebtrated by Unitarian Universalists? I am soon to be married and will be starting a family and am thinking about joining the UU church near us.

Bethany
Baton Rouge, LA

ANSWER: Because of the spiritual diversity in our religion, our members and congregations often celebrate many holidays over the course of the year. Most congregations either celebrate or reflect on the major Christian, Jewish, and Pagan holidays throughout the year including Christmas, Easter, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the Winter and Summer Solstices (shortest and longest days of the year), Samhain (Halloween), and others. Some congregations also celebrate some Hindu and/or Islamic holidays, such as Holi and Ramadan.

In addition to holidays established by other religions, Unitarian Universalists and UU congregations also celebrate such holidays as Earth Day, Mother's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, and days dedicated to the arrival of spring (which is often called the flower communion, www.uua.org/aboutuu/flowercommunion.html), the return of the congregation from their summer's travels (often celebrated as a water communion), and other such annual events.

It is important to understand that while some holidays are important to certain congregations and members, there are no official Unitarian Universalist holidays. Our congregations and members are welcome to celebrate whatever holidays with which they feel the most connection.

An example of a UU "liturgical" calendar is available on www.uua.org/worshipweb/calendar. The Wheel of the Year calendar
also serves as a resource for many Unitarian Universalist congregations, as they determine which holidays they will highlight each year. www.wheeloftheyear.com

Thanks for asking!

Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

August 2005

(Buddhism: tea instead of coffee after service?)

QUESTION: Sometimes I think my dog views me as nothing more than a doorman when he needs to go outside or a meal delivery system when he wants something to eat. I must confess I behaved that same way towards my God and savior. God was something to enable me to get what I wanted, when I wanted it. I am, glad to report, beyond that illusion now. I was a devout Roman Catholic and raised my children as Roman Catholics. I became a Buddhist practitioner about ten years ago. I have no regrets and offer no apologies.

My wife and I look forward to this Sunday when we plan on attending a local UU congregation for the first time. We both want to learn more about UUism and have, to date been fascinated by how much of it, though historically based on the Judeo-Christian paths, seems to embrace much of what we admire in the Buddhist path. The Principles and Purposes are very close to what the historical Buddha taught – use of reason, acceptance and tolerance, not one path, respect for the interdependent nature of things – on and on.

As the Dalai Lama has said, some people should take what they learn from Buddhism and make their own religious experience better, rather than becoming Buddhist. My question is; can we drink tea instead of coffee after the service?

Jim
Livonia, MI

ANSWER: No appologies necessary for converting to Buddhism!  You may be interested in learning more about the Unitarian Universalist Buddhist Fellowship (www.uua.org/uubf ), and in reading "The Faith of a UU Buddhist" at www.uua.org/pamphlet/3019.html.

You are also most certainly welcome to drink tea instead of coffee after services. Most UU congregations serve a variety of beverages, including coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juice, and water. You may be interested to know that many UU congregations (more than half!) now buy fairly traded organic coffee and tea: for more information on this project, please see www.uusc.org/info/coffeeproject.html .

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(water ceremony)

QUESTION: Could you please tell me about the Water Ceremony?

Kathy
Lake Geneva, WI

ANSWER: The Water Ceremony, also sometimes called Water Communion, was first used at a UU worship service in the 1980s. Many UU congregations now hold a Water Service once a year, often at the beginning of the new church year (September). The service usually goes like this:

• people bring small amounts of water from places special to them (a lake they swim in, their own well, a place they vacation, their bathtub, you name it).
• durring the appointed time in the service, people one by one pour their water together into a large bowl.
• as each water is added, the person who brought it tells why this water is special to them.
• the combined water is symbolic of our shared faith coming from many different sources. It is often then blessed by the congregation, and later boiled and used as the congregation's "holy water" in child dedication ceremonies and other such events.

There are examples of the text of water ceremonies at www.uuintergenerational.org .

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

July 2005

(interfaith premarital counseling?)

QUESTION: Does the UUA have any inter-faith/ pre-marital counseling available?  Especially in dealing with extended families and future children.

Sylvia
Miami, FL

ANSWER: Unitarian Universalist ministers often offer religious counseling and perform marriages for couples whose religious ideas cross traditional faith boundaries. Their training in many different religious traditions make UU ministers specially qualified to help interfaith couples. You can contact your local UU minister by contacting the nearest Unitarian Universalist congregation: www.uua.org/cong.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(church for gay people?)

QUESTION: I am interested in U.U. and everything I have read – However is seems the members may be predominately gay, all of whom I love and support. Is this a church primarily for gay people?

Melissa
East Brunswick, NJ

ANSWER: No, Unitarian Universalism is a religion for all people, gay or straight. Our last survey showed about 90% of the UU community as straight and 10% as not-straight (bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender), which is the same statistical breakdown as the whole US population. We are very outspoken for the rights of the BGLT community, though, which may have led to your confusion.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(welcoming to military officer, Republican?)

QUESTION: I am very interested in the UU church and have been for some time. I am a cradle Episcopalian who squirms during the recitation of the creeds and would welcome spiritual freedom. HOWEVER, my husband is very reluctant, as am I. We liked everything we read about your beliefs but some selections from your website caused us to wonder whether he would "fit in" or even not be welcomed as a career military officer and Republican, albeit a rather liberal one (particularly on many social issues). I felt that the spirit of the UU church was to welcome everyone but something on your website regarding military families led me to believe that might not always be the case. Could you comment on this? 

Ashley
New Orleans, LA

ANSWER: You and your husband would be more than welcome in any of our congregations!  UU communities are made up of a mix of people of all polical affiliations—Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Green Party, Libertarians, you name it—and of people with myriad opinions on war and the military.

For further information, please see the related Newcomer's Bulletin Board posts linked below:

• www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#republicans
• www.uua.org/newcomers/newcomerbb.html#chaplains
• www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#pacifism

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(racial and ethnic diversity)

QUESTION: I noticed that not too many minorities are part of UU. I wonder why that is, since UU seem to promote acceptance of all faiths as well as people from any race or background. Do UU try to encourage more people of ethnic backgrounds to join their congregation?

Kim
Columbus, Ohio

ANSWER: The Unitarian Universalist community tries to be welcoming to all people, including people of non-white racial and ethnic backgrounds. At the 1997 General Assembly, Unitarian Universalist delegates voted to become an anti-racist multicultural association (www.uua.org/actions/racial-justice/97uua.html). This vote drew on the hundreds of years of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist racial justice work (www.uua.org/actions/racial-justice, www.uua.org/uuhs/duub/search.php?search=abolition , www.uuworld.org/2001/02/, etc.).

Today, the UUA remains strongly dedicated to combating racism and oppression in our communities and in society. Our main congregational anti-racism resource is the Journey Toward Wholeness program, which is designed to "help UU congregations and organizations become more inclusive, develop new relationships in our communities, and initiate, as well as restructure, racial justice efforts to be more effective, authentic, and accountable to oppressed communities." www.uua.org/programs/justice/antiracism. Our youth and young adult communities are especially engaged in this issue: www.uua.org/ya-cm/youngadults/ar_ao/ar_index.html .

We are always looking for new ways to become more welcoming. If you would like to contribute your time or thoughts to this work, I encourage you to contact your local congregation (www.uua.org/cong).

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(prayer, individual conscience and death penalty, non-Sunday meeting times)

QUESTION: I have a few questions regarding prayer, principles, and alternative congregation meeting times:

First prayer-Are there certain prayers said at the congregational meetings?  Prayers sort of say what one believes in so if there are common prayers in the UU faith, what are they?

Secondly- I understand that the UU faith is for social justice. However, I am not thoroughly convinced that the death penalty is such a wrong thing. For example, I don't think that it is a deterrent from criminal activities, but I do think that habitual child molesters are a threat to society and virtually hopeless-so the death penalty would be apropo to one. Would that kind of intolerance be unworthy of consideration in the UU faith, or would that be a personal belief relatively irrelevant to the faith?  As well, rapists habitually rape and serial killers habitually kill-to rid the threat of these types of people from society would be the only reason I would think the death penalty to be actively used in the U.S.A. Whether I am judgemental or not, the safety of potential victims would be my concern.

Also, I have noticed that many of the congregational meetings occur in the morning on the weekend in my area. Are there any weekly meeting times that may not be a large gathering, but enough so that my domestic partner and I could meet UU's, ask questions, and become familiar with the UU's on a more personal basis?

Monica
Iowa City, IA

ANSWER: I'll answer your questions one at a time.

Prayer:
Unitarian Universalist congregations don't have standard, common prayers. Each minister and congregation chooses or creates their own prayers. The only prayer-like texts that I have ever encountered in more than one congregation was variations on the Christian doxology similar to this...

From all that dwell below the skies,
let songs of hope and faith arise;
let peace on earth, goodwill be sung
in every land, by every tongue.

...and a closing prayer similar to this:

May faith in the spirit of life
and hope for the community of earth
and love of the light in each other
be ours now, and in all the days to come.

These aren't official "UU" prayers (as there are no such things), and are only used by some of our congregations, but may give you some insight into what UU prayers might be. For more examples of UU prayers, please see www.uua.org/worshipweb. For more discussions of prayer in Unitarian Universalism, please see www.uua.org/pamphlet/3035.html.

Death Penalty and Individual Conscience:
While the UUA has long advocated for alternatives to the death penalty (www.uua.org/uuawo/new/article.php?id=47), we understand that not every individual will agree with the statements voted on by the congregations. Unitarian Universalism fully respects the right of individuals to disagree, and to have their own ideas about what is right: we call this the right of individual conscience. So long as you were respectful of others ideas on the death penalty or other contentious topics, you would be quite welcome in any of our congregations.

Meetings not on Sundays:
Each of our congregations determines their own worship schedule. You would have to check with your local congregation to see if they have gatherings on days other than Sunday. Quite a few congregations, especially the larger ones, have worship services at different times throughout the week. Even if you cannot attend a worship service, you may want to meet with the minister of your local congregation to learn more about Unitarian Universalism. You can find the contact information for your local congregation at www.uua.org/cong.

If there are no congregations accessible to you, you might also want to check out the Church of the Larger Fellowship, a congregation that serves members all over the world: www.clfuu.org .

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(self-actualization vs. self-centered behavior)

QUESTION: Hi, I have heard that one major belief of UUA is"self-actualization". It has been explained to me that it is if utmost importance to love yourself first, make yourself happy first, even at the expense of others(for example, moving states away from your children to follow your own dream).

Is this correct?  Some UUA'a are spreading this belief and using it to excuse their behavior.

I look forward to hearing the true story!

Keyne
Portland, OR

ANSWER: The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations doesn't have any official beliefs: we are a non-creedal religion. (www.uua.org/pamphlet/3081.html)  The UUA does have seven principles, which have come to be unofficial moral guidelines for many UUs.

Self-actualization is all well and good, as part of "a free and responsible search for truth and meaning", so long as it respects "the inherent worth and dignity of every person," and acknowleges "the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part" and the greater "world community."  If someone is entirely self-centered, they are probably not being respectful of others, probably not being good community members, and probably not acknowledging their connections to others.

To use your example:  it may be fine for a parent to move far away from their children in pursuit of a dream, if those children are adults, not dependent on the parent or not close to the parent, have an appropriate support system, and if the move would not overly or inappropriately burden the community or another person with the support of the children, etc. In other words, it would be fine, if the parent was acting respectully towards the children and the community. Entirely selfish behavior would not be appropriate. This is not "official"; we don't have any rules against selfish behavior. The UU community would merely expect and hope that individuals would be more moral and considerate than that.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(accept person previously addicted to drugs, imprisoned? tithing? cremation?)

QUESTION: I was raised and still live in the middle of the Bible Belt and grew up in a Methodist church. In my teens I strayed away from about any beliefs at all,but when troubled times came I would always run to God. The older I got the more I blamed God for my problems...drugs, loss of a hand to IV drug use, and eventually jail. There I dedicated myself to God again. But after going to church and hearing gay bashing and the importance of tithing I would leave church feeling guilty because I have nothing against gays and am living as a single parent on disability so most time there would be nothing for the plate. I quit going to church after about a year.There was so many questions I also felt were left unanswered.

I have come to believe there is more than one path up the mountain. But I feel lost.

I guess what I'm asking is would the UU accept a person such as myself with a history of drug abuse and also a convicted felon for drugs?

What is your stance on tithing?

Also on cremation?

Thank you for taking time to read this. I thought when I sat down to write I would be able to express my feelings better. I think the fear of strict Christian dogma has me nervous. But there are things I feel I need that I don't find within the church.

Jackie
Bristol,VA

ANSWER: Welcome!  It sounds as if the Unitarian Universalism might be a great religious home for you. While the UU community doesn't in any way support or encourage illegal substance use or abuse, we are happy to welcome people who in the past have had difficulties with drugs. The UU community would not think badly of you because of your past drug use or incarceration: the very first principle of Unitarian Universalism is respecting the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We would be happy to offer you a supportive spiritual community to further aid you in maintaining a more healthy lifestyle now and in the future. If you have any concerns about this, please feel free to contact the minister at your local UU congregation (contact information at www.uua.org/cong for the USA, www.unitarian.org.uk/local.htm for the UK, www.icuu.net/membership for other countries, or www.clfuu.org for anywhere) to talk about this further.

You may be interested to know that the Unitarian Universalist community has long spoken out on the "war on drugs," advocating for more reasonable sentences and a review of the substances that are currently legalized or illegal. Some of our related statements are on:

www.uua.org/actions/criminal-justice/65narcotics.html
www.uua.org/actions/criminal-justice/70marijuana.html
www.uua.org/actions/criminal-justice/73drugs.html
www.uua.org/actions/criminal-justice/91substance.html
www.uua.org/actions/criminal-justice/02drugs.html

For information about donations to UU congregations ("tithing"), please see my response to a similar question at www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#contribution.

Unitarian Universalists practice many different types of burials and death arrangements, including cremation. Individuals are free to choose whatever they want to be done with their bodies after death. Cremation would be fine: traditional burial would be fine: sea burial, green burial, and other legal arrangements are also fine.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

May 2005

(how many UUs are different faiths?)

QUESTION: Do you have statistics on how the UUs are made up? For example, what percentage of UUs came from Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Earth-Based, Humanist, etc. backgrounds?

I don't feel like this is terribly important in the big picture since UUs focus on individual beliefs but I'm still curious.

Brian
Louisville, KY

ANSWER: The Unitarian Universalist community includes people with many different spiritual practices. A 1997 survey of UU communities returned the following results:

* Humanist: 46.1%
* Earth/Nature centered: 19.0
* Theist: 13.0
* Christian: 9.5
* Mystic: 6.2
* Buddhist: 3.6
* Jewish: 1.3
* Hindu: 0.4
* Moslem: 0.1
* Other: 13.3

My guess would be that a more recent study might find more people with Earth/Nature based spiritualities, and more people of Jewish faith.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(Is UUism a religion?)

QUESTION: Is Unitarian Universalism religion or ethics?

Karen
Harrisburg, PA

ANSWER: Unitarian Universalism is a religion. It is a liberal religion that is open to many beliefs.

Some people find inspiration from Unitarian Universalist principles and moral values outside of our religious context, much as some find inspirtation from aspects of other value-based faiths such as Buddhism outside of their particular religious contexts. Some also choose to participate in our religious community without becoming spiritually involved. However, despite the fact that we are open to secular involvement, Unitarian Universalism is still a religion.

Unitarian Universalism grounds its religious faith and practice in principles and ethics rather than theological creed. Our principles are to 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.

The living tradition which we share 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.

Sincerely,

Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(creed, sacraments, pluralism, commandments, sin, non-members, conversion?)

QUESTION: Please forgive me if these questions have already been asked on your bulletin board.

First, my only definition of Universalist comes from the Termont-Webster's Dictionary which states, "One who believes that salvation extends to all humankind; especially a member of the Christian denomination that adheres to this doctrine."

My few questions are:

1. Is there a unifying creed by which all humankind which attends communially prays?
2. Are there unifying sacraments which indicate a profession of faith?
3. While diversity is something we all strive for through, in my case, ecumenical mindset, and prayer, do you consider all religious belief to be equal?
4. Do you have any equivalent to the commandments?
5. How does one confess sins, or find reconcilliation from sin? If sin is not defined, then how does humankind come to terms with these faults, or wrongdoings?
6. For those who, according to my local UU newsletter, "come strictly for the intellectual benefit of the service," is a profession of faith customary?
7. How would conversion be defined by your House of Worship?

Thank you for taking the time to read my questions. I note that the UU Church in my town has always had open doors for me in the past, for which I am grateful.

C.A. M.
Monmouth County/New Jersey

ANSWER: I'll answer each of your questions below, but first let me address the definition of Universalism that you quoted above. Unitarian Universalism today bears little resemblance to traditional Universalism, which is described in the Termont-Webster's quote above. Unitarian Universalism today is a non-creedal religion: we have no belief statement, and have no official opinion on salvation or God. For more information on Unitarian Universalism today, please read other posts on this bulletin board, and visit our other Newcomer's resources linked on the left.

Ok, on to your questions:

1. Unitarian Universalism does not have a creed or belief statement, nor do we have common prayers. For more information on UU prayer, please see www.uua.org/pamphlet/3035.html.
2. Each Unitarian Universalist develops his or her faith individually: there is no statement that anyone would have to agree to, read, sign, etc. to be a part of our community. However, many Unitarian Universalists and UU congregations use the UUA's principles and purposes as a guide to understanding and defining the faith: www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html.
3. Unitarian Universalism is equally open to and accepting of all religions, religious beliefs, and practices that fall within the guidelines of the principles and purposes: for instance, we would think that Christianity is as valid a spiritual path as Hinduism, but would certainly not ever encourage anyone to explore such a destructive and disrespectful path as devil worship.
4. There are no UU commandments. Some people use the principles as personal "commandments", though this is not their intended purpose.
5. Today's Unitarian Universalism has no official position on sin, despite our Universalist religious heritage. Many people ask how we can have religious morals and ethics without agreeing on whether heaven, hell, judgment, sin, and damnation exist. We leave it up to each individual to develop their own sense of ethics. Most Unitarian Universalists would probably tell you that their own ethical code has little to do with their ideas of the afterlife or with their ideas of forgiveness and redemption. I encourage you to pursue this question with your local UU minister (see below), as it is a rich and interesting one.
6. As in my response to #2, there is no profession of faith necessary to be a part of our community, whether or not you are spiritually involved in that community. Some congregations do ask members to promise to be involved in the congregational life to some extent, but you don't have to be a member to attend the congregation.
7. There was a UU ad campaign that ran about 10 years ago, the byline of which was "You may be a Unitarian Universalist and not know it." Anyone is welcome to convert to Unitarian Universalism at any time, with no ritual, ministers, or anything else involved. Anyone can declare themselves to be a Unitarian Universalist. That said, we hope that Unitarian Universalists uphold the spirit and purpose of our faith, and encourage Unitarian Universalists to participate in our congregations and broader community.

I hope that this covers it. If you have any other questions, I encourage you to contact the minister at your local UU church (which you can find at www.uua.org/cong).

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(questions from Catholic)

QUESTION: I've been raised Roman Catholic since the day I was born, and sadly the stereotype about close-mindedness of members of my church is true. I love my religion and it's principles, but I feel that I could become a better person if I was exposed to and encouraged to accept different people and their beliefs. This is really new to me, so I have a lot of questions (sorry!).

1. Would I be able to enrich myself in the ways and beliefs of others while still maintaining my own beliefs?
2. Would people have negative opinions of me because of my religious background?
3. Other than celebrating holidays, how else could I be exposed to what other people in a congregation believe?
4. What is a typical service like?
5. How are the Jewish and Christian teachings combined?
6. Do Unitarian Universalists generally believe in free will or predestiny?
7. Is reason more valued throughout the church, and is science a basis for teachings?
8. Are the answers to the FAQ's just what some UUC's believe in, or are there some things within the church that are just universally accepted?

Thank you so very much, I look forward to hearing from you!

Melissa
Westlake, OH

ANSWER: Welcome! I'm glad you asked--no apology necessary. I'll tackle your questions one at at time:

1. "[E]nrich myself in the ways and beliefs of others while still maintaining my own beliefs" is exactly what we would hope you do! One of the principles of the UUA (www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html; more on these in a minute) is "a free and responsible search for truth and meaning." Each person's individual beliefs are respected; there is no need to change your religious beliefs as you learn about different spiritualities unless you chose to change them. We encourage all Unitarian Universalists, regardless of their age, to always learn more about their own and other's religious beliefs.
   
2. People within the UU community would certainly not have a negative opinion of you because of our Catholic background. Many people come to Unitarian Universalism from Catholicism.
   
3. There are many ways of learning what other Unitarian Universalists believe. The best way is to ask people. Casual conversation in our communities often includes discussing aspects of people's spiritualities, though we always respect the fact that not all people are comfortable voicing their beliefs. Another way is to join a "small group ministries" group, an adult religious education group, or a group discussing various issues at your local congregation (www.uua.org/cong), or to ask your local UU minister.
   
4. There is no typical UU service, as each of our congregations determines their own worship service format. Most congregations have a consistent form of worship within their own community. You could contact your local congregation to ask about their style of worship. For more information on worship in UU congregations, please see www.uua.org/pamphlet/3064.html.
   
5. Jewish and Christian teachings are not so much combined as both used equally, along with teachings from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, earth-based spiritualities, science, popular novels, daily experience, and just about anything else you could think of. Unitarian Universalists find spiritual guidance and wisdom in many places. Some congregations and individuals find more meaning in some sources of wisdom than others. For more information on Judaism in Unitarian Universalism, please see www.uua.org/pamphlet/8150.html and the website of Unitarian Universalists for Jewish Awareness at www.uuja.org/ . For more information on Christianity within Unitarian Universalism, please see www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#Christianity.
   
6. Unitarian Universalism has no official position on free will or predestiny, but I think it would be safe for me to hazard a guess that most (but probably not all) Unitarian Universalists believe in free will. The Universalist side of our heritage spoke out very strongly against the idea of predestination in the 18th and 19th centuries.
   
7. Reason and science are both valued in Unitarian Universalism. One of the officially recognized sources of Unitarian Universalist faith is "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." (www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html) For more information on science in our faith, please see www.uua.org/pamphlet/3097.html.
   
8. There is very little in Unitarian Universalism that is "universally accepted"; we encourage the individual's right to conscience above almost all else. This is not to say that we have no principles, guidelines, or positions. The principles, sources of faith, and purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (of which almost all Unitarian Universalist congregations are a part) are listed on www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html. These provide guidance for our association, congregations, and for individual Unitarian Universalists.
   
   The official statements made by the UUA on various different issues (such as abortion, nuclear weapons, the right to die with dignity, etc.) can be seen on www.uua.org/actions. Not all Unitarian Universalists agree with these positions, but the majority do, as these positions are only passed by a vote from congregations.

In Peace,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

April 2005

(how do UUs differ from liberal Quakers?)

QUESTION: How do UU differ from liberal Quakers?

Bess
NSW (Australia)

ANSWER: You're in luck! There happens to be a liberal Quaker on staff, albeit an American. Quakers in Australia, of course, may answer differently, as will the majority of Friends in the world who are not "liberal" Quakers but rather evangelical or orthodox.

I'll base my answer on the Principles and Sources used by the Unitarian Universalist Association, with a UU statement followed by an RSF (Religious Society of Friends) commentary.

UU "We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote"
RSF Quaker meetings exist as part of the Religious Society, rather than the Society being a product of a voluntary association. There is no creed nor is there a unified statement that meetings have negotiated and agreed to affirm and promote.

UU "The inherent worth and dignity of every person"
RSF Liberal Quakers say "there is that of God in every person."

UU "Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations"
RSF Quakers would agree.

UU "Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations"
RSF Again, Quakers would tend to agree, but the spectrum of acceptable belief in Quakerism includes many more Christians and theists and far fewer atheists.

UU "A free and responsible search for truth and meaning"
RSF Integrity is a core Quaker value, which affirms the need for individual searching, but this is understood in tension with a tradition of capital-T Truth as discerned by the community of Friends.

UU "The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large"
RSF Quakers value the right of conscience (for example, in advocating for the right to conscientious objection to military service or to paying taxes for military purposes) but do not advocate the use of a democratic voting process within the meeting. One of the distinctive Quaker practices is decision-making based upon the sense of the meeting, which is an attempt to discern God's will for the meeting. While sense of the meeting should include everyone, it does not depend upon unanimity. It is certainly not determined by voting.

UU "The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all"
RSF Quakers heartily concur.

UU "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part"
RSF Liberal Quakers have over the last decade or two begun to emphasize environmental concerns as a corporate and individual witness.

UU "The living tradition which we share draws from many sources"
RSF The Quaker tradition has been influenced by several outside movements, notably the Wesleyan revival, modernism, humanism, the antiwar and social justice movements, and the New Age, but does not intentionally and corporately draw from "many sources."

UU "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"
RSF Quaker theology and practice is built upon faith in direct, unmediated experience of the divine.

UU "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"
RSF Liberal Friends are quite similar both in drawing inspiration from prophetic individuals and in tending to worship our ancestors.

UU "Wisdom from the world's religions which inspire us in our ethical and spiritual life"
RSF Many, if not most, liberal Quakers draw inspiration from the world's religions, but this is a recent addition to the historic focus on a Quaker understanding of Christianity.

UU "Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves"
RSF Quakers would agree.

UU "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" RSF There are and have been many Quaker scientists who have not seen any conflict between spirituality and "reason and the results of science." Even when not Christians, liberal Friends are much less likely than UUs to be atheists.

UU "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"
RSF While paganism has influenced some individuals and plays a part in their spiritual life and practice, it is not called upon as a source for corporate Quaker life.

There is also a significant difference in the understanding and practice of ministry, which isn't revealed in the Principles and Sources:

UU The majority of UU churches and fellowships employ a minister or ministers who lead the worship service and deliver a sermon. Even lay-led congregations follow an order of service that includes rituals like a chalice lighting, readings, congregational singing, and a prepared message or sermon. UU ministers, as described elsewhere on this website, undergo academic preparation resulting in an M.Div. degree, professional training, an internship, and a denominational process leading to ministerial fellowship. UU ministers are ordained by a congregation.

RSF Liberal Quakers worship on the basis of shared waiting for divine guidance. Anyone present may feel a leading to share a short message, a prayer, or a song. There is no human leadership of the worship service. Even in meetings that recognize the ministry of individual Friends, there is no ordination and no requirement (among liberal Friends) for academic qualification.

Kenneth Sutton
Manuscript Editor, UU World
Unitarian Universalist Association
ksutton@uua.org

(how welcome are we to Christians?)

QUESTION: I appreciate this bulletin board and wonder if you could answer my question, which may complement some recent questions.

I would like to see more FAQ on how welcome Christians (or at least those who have not formally rejected Christianity) really are.

My beliefs may be summarised as belief that God, however defined, is Love; that Jesus was a great teacher, that there are many good teachers and much good to be found throughout the religions of the world.

What I, and I think quite a few people of my generation are looking for is a non-creedal church with its roots in Christianity, which has not rejected those roots, but which has expanded to welcome as equals those of other faith traditions and none.

ANSWER: Christians and Christianity are quite welcome in Unitarian Universalist congregations! The expressed spirituality of individual congregations may vary a great deal from one to another, so if one congregation has more or less Christian influence than you prefer, you might try another: www.uua.org/cong/.

For information on further UU Christian resources, please read my previous post on this topic: www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#Christianity

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(When did UUism stop being Christian? Why would atheists come? Am I a UU? Seminary?)

QUESTION: I have been reading as much of your web page as possible and I have just a few questions.

1st it seems to me and I could be misguided that the backgrounds of both the Unitarians and Universalists was decidedly Christian. How long after the union of the two did the Christian origins take a back seat?

2nd and this may be a futile question as noone can answer for all, what if any reason would someone who has no theistic/deistic belief have for attending "worship" services of any kind?

3rd I was raised a Christian in a typical traditional "orthodox" ministers home.. I still connect with much of what I identify as Christian, though I have become very liberal on theology and outlook, most recently I have been attending a United Church of Christ if that helps with the liberalness of my belief. I do see much of the UUA as being what I think, the freedom, true liberalness in fact more so even than the UCC which still has remnants of conservativism. How would I fit in UU Church?

Finally, what kinds of Seminarys do UU ministers attend?

Thank you

Chad
Rochester, NY

ANSWER: You aren't mistaken--Unitarianism and Universalism were both technically Christian denominations right up until they merged in 1961.

I say technically because from the 1850's-1950's, starting with the Transcendentalists (Emerson, Thoreau) and ending with effects of the 1930's Humanist Manifesto, both Unitarianism and Universalism became accepting of beliefs outside of traditional Christianity.

By 1961, when the two denominations were together writing the beliefs statements of the forming Unitarian Universalist Association, their congregations included people from many faith backgrounds. The UUA ended up being formed as a non-creedal religion: we have no statement of religious belief, Christian or otherwise.

Since 1961, the UUA has become even more welcoming of people with non-Christian beliefs, including many Humanists, Pagans, Buddhists, and others.

You ask why people with no theistic belief (i.e. atheists) might want to participate in worship services. Many people who don't believe in a deity (god) have very deep and meaningful spiritualities. Some atheists believe in the holiness of the world or people, or in the soul or afterlife, or in other aspects of religious existence despite their belief that there is no divine being. Others find great meaning in religious community, and in celebrating shared moral values. Others just like to sing in the choir, or hear interesting sermons. There are many different reasons.

To read my response to a woman with a similar question, please see www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#atheist.

As for how you would fit in a UU congregation: the fact that you are intrigued by our website and ideas makes me think that you could find fellowship in our community. Each UU congregation is different from another, so you may want to visit each of your local congregations (which you can locate at www.uua.org/cong) to see which is the best fit for you.

To learn more about Christianity in today's Unitarian Universalism, I encourage you to read www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#Christianity.

There are two Unitarian Universalist seminaries, Meadville/ Lombard (www.meadville.edu/ ) and Starr King (www.sksm.edu/ ). We also have a number of students at Harvard Divinity School (www.hds.harvard.edu/ ), a non-denominational school. There are students are many different schools across the county as well. You may want to check out the website of the Association of Theological Schools at www.ats.edu .

The road to becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister begins with the required Master of Divinity, which may be taken at any school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. In addition to the MDiv, we also require a basic unit of Clinical Pastoral Education, an approved internship (full-time for a year, part-time for 2 years), a career assessment at an approved Center for Ministry, an interview with the Regional Sub-Committee on Candidacy (RSCC) a sponsorship by a Unitarian Universalist congregation, and ultimately an interview with the Ministerial Fellowship committee, our credentialing board.

For more information, I encourage you to visit the UU Ministerial Credentialing website, www.uua.org/programs/ministry/credentialing/preparation/

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(welcoming of agnostics)

QUESTION: I'm very nervous about religion in general, but I am interested in the UU church. Do you think that the UU church is a place that openly accepts agnostics?

Teresa
Gainesville, FL

ANSWER: Unitarian Universalism welcomes agnostics with open arms. You don't have to subscribe to any particular religious beliefs or have your personal beliefs figured out to be a part of our faith.

Even those in our community who believe in particular spiritual ideas and concepts of the divine (i.e. the Judeo-Christian God, or the teachings of the Buddha, or atheism) never stop exploring and stretching their beliefs. One of my favorite parts of our faith is that we believe that revelation is never sealed: that is, that we can always continue to learn more about the divine, our part in the world, and our own spiritualities. In a way, you could say that we are all agnostics to some degree.

You may also enjoy reading some of the essays on www.uua.org/pamphlet/pamphlets.html.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

March 2005

(Deism and Theism)

QUESTION: Hello,

I recently read the publication "A Chosen Faith", concering the UUA. My religious experience and understanding over the years has been fashioned by the writings of men like Thomas Paine, John Locke, H.D. Thoreau, Thomas Jefferson. Since, the UUA has undergone many changes over the years, what place does "deism" hold in the current houses of UUA.

Chris W.
Phelps, KY

ANSWER: Deism is alive and well in the UUA. There is an active UU Deism group which you can read about on unitariandeism.dynamicdeism.org/ . I am sure that they would be happy answer any questions you may have about Deism in Unitarian Universalism today.

Just to clarify for others who may be reading this post, let me clarify what Deism is, and how it differs from Theism:

Both Theism and Deism come from ancient words meaning "God:" Theism from the Greek theos, and Deism from the Latin deus. Theism is the belief in the existence of a god or gods. This does not specify the kind or number of god(s), nor the religious context for that belief. Types of theism include monotheism, pantheism, polytheism, and deism. The antithesis of theism is atheism, which is the lack of a belief in a god or gods. There are both theists and atheists in Unitarian Universalism today.

Deism is a type to theism. The differences between general Theism and Deism are in their beliefs about knowledge and miracles. Theists usually accept revelation (divine inspiration) as a valid source of knowledge, while Deists believe that logic and rationale are the only sources of true knowledge. Theists generally believe that the divine continues to act in human affairs, while Deists generally believe that the divine does not intervene in the workings of the world.

Some UU Theist resources include:

• Faith of a UU Theist pamphlet:www.uua.org/pamphlet/3015.html
• UU views of God pamphlet: www.uua.org/pamphlet/3039.html
• Wrestling with God: A Unitarian Universalist Guide for Skeptics and Believers by Tom Owen-Towle
  www.uua.org/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=1252
• Science and the Search for God by Gary Kowalski
  www.uua.org/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=1218

UU Theism Sermons:

• www.southchurch-uu.org/theismsermon.html
• www.olympus.net/community/quuf/sermons/theism.html#sermon

There is no one UU theist group. There are many different UU groups with various Theist theologies: for example:

• Christian UUs: www.uuchristian.org/
• Jewish UUs: www.uuja.org/

I encourage you to contact your local Unitarian Universalist congregation, which you can find at www.uua.org/cong. The minister there will be able to answer any other questions you may have about our faith.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(logical rationalization of Unitarian Universalism)

QUESTION:What is the main measurable purpose for the existence of Unitarian-Universalism?

What is the primary quantifiable goal that Unitarian-Universalists are working toward achieving?

What is the foremost computable objective which, once reached, will give Unitarian-Universalists the satisfaction of accomplishment?

U.K.
St Pete, Florida

ANSWER: Spirituality and religion are not measurable, quantifiable, or computable,* nor do they require a purpose, goal, or objective.** Unitarian Universalism does not have a quantifiable purpose or goal.

The principles of the Unitarian Univesalist Association (UUA) (www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html) may help you to understand what Unitarian Universalists view as our moral goals: for instance, "We...covenant to affirm and promote...the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all." With these in mind, you could say that we will not be satisfied until all people are granted peace, liberty, justice, and respect (as mentioned in the first principle).

Your previous interest in the UUA's Study/Action issues tells me that you are already aware of the UUA's commitment to social justice. If you would like more information on our work to support our principles, please visit the Washington Office for Advocacy's website, www.uua.org/uuawo.

In Peace,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

*I know that there are those who would disagree with this, i.e. numerologists, those interested in the logical dynamics and soul-capacities of heaven and hell, etc. **Similarly, there are those for whom a belief in an afterlife, judgement, karmic balance, etc. are integral to their spiritualities. These are all perfectly valid beliefs; I am merely trying to represent the general Unitarian Universalist sentiment.

(American Unitarian Conference)

QUESTION: What is the UUA's opinion on the American Unitarian Conference?

Dave
Boston, MA

ANSWER: The American Unitarian Conference was started by Unitarian Universalists
who wanted a forum in which to explore a more traditional Unitarianism than Unitarian Universalism generally expresses today. Their theology is not representational of the beliefs of most Unitarian Universalists, but still falls within the principles of Unitarian Universalism (www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html). The American Unitarian Conference is not affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association.

In Faith,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(UU view of Jesus? The Trinity?)

QUESTION: Hello. I have attended a handful of sermons (if thats what you call them?) and have found a strong pull to join a UU congregation. My best friend has recently become a Christian and has been taught by mostly very conservative christian mentors. I have the utmost respect for him and his teachers and I have recently been joining the bible studies that they have been holding. Unfortunately I have found absolutely no solace in them. However I do find Jesus's teaching to be the pinnacle of human excellence in many ways, and its hard for me to believe that he could only be a teacher if he also called himself the son of god. To me it seems that he is either the son of god or simply insane. I guess what I am looking for is how do UU's view Jesus and how he self proclaimed himself as the son of god? Do UU's still stress the unitarian nature of god and reject the trinity? I am fascinated in that topic and am curious where I can get some info on it.

Thank you for your time, I hope to be a member of your congregation soon!

Mike
Ypsilanti, Michigan

ANSWER: The quick answer to your question about UUs' views of Jesus is that Jesus and Christianity are interpreted in many different ways by different Unitarian Universalists. Unitarian Universalism is no longer a Christian religion, though some of our members are Christian: we welcome people of all faiths.

For more information about Unitarian Universalism and Christianity, please see the newcomer's bulletin board posts at
www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#Christianity
www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.htmll#Jesus
www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#worship.

As to the trinity--Unitarianism began in the 1500's when individuals began speaking out against the doctrine of the Christian Trinity (father, son, and holy ghost). These early Unitarians said that God had only one aspect, and was not divided into three parts. Unitarian Universalism does not have a position on the concept of the Trinity now, as we are no longer a Christian religion. However, I would be very surprised to find a UU who believes in the Trinity, though it would be fine if they did.

If you are interested in joining a UU congregation, I encourage you to talk with the minister of one of your local UU congregations (of which there are many: www.uua.org/cong). He or she will be happy to answer any questions about Unitarian Universalism or their congregation that you may have.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(UU army chaplains?)

QUESTION: Are there any UUA chaplains in the military service, specifically the Army?

Jeff
Fort Lewis, WA

ANSWER: There are currently five Unitarian Universalist chaplains serving in the US Armed Forces, one of whom is in the Army. The contact information for all UU chaplains are at www.uumm.org/contact_a_chaplain.htm.

There are also many other resources for UUs with connections to the military.

The main resources are the webpage www.uumm.org/, "Unitarian Universalist Military Ministries," and the listserve "UUMIL" which can be found at lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/uumil.

There is also an excellent resource on welcoming veterans and military families into UU congregations on www.uua.org/uuawo/new/article.php?id=589.

The UU World magazine has published quite a few articles and editorials on the issue of UUs and the military. You can find them by searching www.uuworld.org for "military," "war," and other similar keywords. You may be particularly interested in the issue at www.uuworld.org/2003/04/contents.html.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(sub-group necessary? UUs in Spain? worship online?)

QUESTION: I have just begun reading about UU and am fascinated by your philosophies (may I call it a faith?). It seems like the UU is completely inclusive, but I don't know what sub-group that I would belong. Is it important for me to select a sub-group or can I "flit" to figure out where I belong? Also, since I live 4000 miles from the nearest UU Church, is there a way to worship on-line?

Thank you very much for entertaining my questions.

Chip
Cadiz, Spain

ANSWER: Welcome!

You may certainly call Unitarian Universalism a faith. While we are unlike many other religions in the extent to which we welcome spiritual diversity, we are still a religion, so "faith" is an appropriate word to use.

As you have gleaned from the other posts on this bulletin board, there are some Unitarian Universalists who identify with specific religious traditions within their Unitarian Universalist faith. This is especially common among people new to our faith, as they sometimes feel the need to hold onto a connection with their past religious practice.

However, there is no need to identify with any particular spiritual practice or religious tradition within Unitarian Universalism: it is its own religion, and needs no further descriptors or groupings. You are welcome to be "just" a Unitarian Universalist, and to explore different spiritual traditions as you wish.

There are Unitarian Universalists in Spain: Their website is www.suue.org/ , and further information is on www.icuu.net/membership/spain.html .

There is also a way to worship online: the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) serves Unitarian Universalists who do not have access to UU congregations. The CLF is our largest and among our most vibrant congregations. Their website is www.clfuu.org .

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

In Faith,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(evil and sin)

QUESTION: What do Unitarians believe about evil and sin?

CB
New York, NY

ANSWER: You have asked a question that troubles the minds of much of the world these days. With so much ill will and violence around our planet, and the increasing acts of desperate people causing harm to so many, our traditional concepts of good and evil come to mind. However, many of the people who do these terrible things are not evil people, and believe that they have good intentions. How, then, to understand evil and sin?

Unitarian Universalists have a complicated understanding of evil. Since Unitarian Universalism is open to people of many faiths and beliefs, our religion has no definition of evil; we leave it up to individuals to determine for themselves who and what are evil, and how to confront that evil.

Many Unitarian Universalists use the Principles of the UU Association to judge good and bad in the world:

We covenant to 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. (www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html)

Despite the fact that there is no official definition, there are certain things concerning evil on which most Unitarian Universalists would agree. The first is that natural forces, natural disasters, and animal's actions, while sometimes violent or tragic, are not evil. Evil does not happen: it is created. Most Unitarian Universalists don't believe in an evil powerful being like a devil, and many do not believe in a god, so UUs would not usually say that "natural" disasters are created by an evil being or by an angered or careless god.

The second thing that most Unitarian Universalists would probably agree on is that there are evil acts, but only very rarely, if ever, evil people. Historically, the Universalist half of our religious heritage preached universal salvation: that everyone will go to heaven, and that all sins will be forgiven. While sin is not part of our theology today, as most UUs don't believe in salvation, Unitarian Universalists still believe in the inherent goodness of people (as seen in the first principle above). Rather than people being evil, UUs usually say that evil is something that humans create when hatred spurs on terrible actions.

Some people within Unitarian Universalism believe that we need to address evil much more seriously within our religious movement. They say that "having no theology of evil has weakened our prophetic voice in trying to resist it."(-Paul Rasor) While this probably is true, it is also true that Unitarian Universalists have been committed to confronting evil in our society for hundreds of years. Social injustice, racism, pollution, and other problems facing the world are the results of long-established evil and ignorant actions and attitudes. The Unitarian Universalist Association works for social justice in many ways, including promoting civil rights, addressing institutional racism, advocating environmentalism, and lobbying for better legislation. For more information on the UUA's current social justice work, please see www.uua.org/uuawo.

To read more on Unitarian Universalist's views and opinions on evil, I recommend an excellent issue of the UU World magazine dedicated to understanding evil, available online at www.uuworld.org/2002/01/index.html. There is also an excellent article entitled "Human rights and the evil of terrorism" by William F. Schulz in a later issue of the magazine: www.uuworld.org/2004/01/commentary.html

In Peace,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

February 2005

(whom do we worship?)

QUESTION: I was just wondering if ya'll don't believe in just Jesus, or a single higher power, then who may I ask do you sing to if your singing worship songs and praises? Do you sing to yourself or each other... who? Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

Meghan
Houston, TX

ANSWER: Worship is defined in many different ways by different Unitarian Universalists. Some believe in a god or divine being, and worship it/him/her durring our Sunday services. Others believe in the divinity of Nature, and worship the Earth and their natural surroundings. Others use our services as a time to reflect upon and value the divine in others, themselves, music, words of wisdom, etc. Others do not believe that there is anything to worship, and merely connect with the services in an intellectual and reflective manner. Overall, though, people's individual worship/reflective experiences are private in our Sunday services, so that each person can interact with the service as they please. We call them worship services because that is how many of our members use the time.

If you would like to see first-hand how Unitarian Universalists worship, I encourage you to use our website to locate your local Unitarian Universalist church: www.uua.org/CONG/. You might also be interested in contacting your local Unitarian Universalist minister to discuss any of these questions. That would provide you with someone who is theologically trained, who has a lot of experience discussing these issues in depth, and who would be able to talk to you personally.

Sincerely,

Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(adult religious education)

QUESTION: I am still exploring UU and have visited a local UU congregation in the past and talked with other people who visited the other local congregation. The disappointing thing for me was as someone as an adult exploring religion, the two local UU congregations focus on child RE and offer very little for the adults. When they do offer adult classes, it is during the week and often not at a time that works for me as I live 25 miles from the congregation and can't always do that and take care of home responsibilites. What can I do? How should I approach this with the RE or minister of the congregation. Are there any other UU groups that aren't official "churches". I really believe and love the UU idea, but can't seem to find a UU home that offers what I need.

Jenny
Flowery Branch, GA

ANSWER: I am sorry to hear that your local congregations are not yet able to serve your needs. The Unitarian Universalist Association is committed to adult religious education; we even changed the name of our Religious Education department to "Lifespan Faith Development" to demonstrate our dedication to life-long learning.

However, some of our congregations are better able to fulfill this commitment than others. It may be that your local congregations do not have enough staff or volunteer support to offer adult religious education classes on the weekend, or they may not think that there is a demand for such classes.

I encourage you to talk with the minister or Director of Religious Education (DRE) of your local congregation (www.uua.org/cong). I am sure that they would be happy to help you in your quest for knowledge, even if not in an official class setting. They may be able to connect you with community classes, suggested readings, or other local resources.

You may also find useful information through the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Larger Fellowship (www.clfuu.org). They are an online UU congregation dedicated to serving those who cannot or do not attend traditional UU congregations, and to supplementing the resources of UU congregations. They have many excellent religious education resources.

I hope that you are able to find the information you are seeking. Good luck!

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(child dedication service)

QUESTION: I was raised in the Catholic religion and I recently had a child of my own. We are getting pressure to "Christen" our child but I do not want to raise him Catholic. I want my child to have faith in his life. I am curious about the Unitarian church and would like to know more about a child's naming or dedicating service. Any info would be helpful. Thank you, Jacky

ANSWER: Congratulations on becoming a parent!

An example of a Unitarian Universalist child dedication ceremony is available at www.uua.org/families/rites_passage/dedication.html. Each congregation has their own version of their ceremony, but most are similar to this one.

You local Unitarian Universalist minister would be more than happy to help you develop a dedication ceremony that fits your family's wishes and needs. You can find their contact information at www.uua.org/cong.

To learn more about Unitarian Universalist religious education, please see my responses to the newcomer's bulletin board posts at
www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#structure
www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#re.

Congratulations again, and good luck!

In Peace,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(no religious education; would UUism be a good place for me?)

QUESTION: I attended church when I was very young, but was never fully taught all the stories and things in the bible. Now, I don't have much faith or religion because I wasn't raised with it in my home. I feel like most other religions, mainly Christian and Catholic, don't suit me because I just don't understand them. Most people I talk to don't understand how I can have as little faith as I do, and so I tend to feel alone when it comes to religion. It seems like UU is the right religion for me, but I dont know if I'm missing anything. I don't know if there is a God or any sort of Divine being. But I also don't have much knowledge of the bible or anything of the sort. That's why I find it hard to fit in with other churches and religions. Would UU be a good place for me?

Stephanie
Chariton, IA

ANSWER: It sounds as if Unitarian Universalism may be a very good religious home for you. Unitarian Universalism is a wonderful community in which to learn about the religions of the world and explore your own spirituality. You don't need to have any prior knowledge or experience of religion to fully participate in a UU congregation. If come with an open heart and mind, you will feel right at home.

I encourage you to visit your local Unitarian Universalist congregation (www.uua.org/cong). If there are particular religions or aspects of religions that you would like to learn more about (i.e. Buddhism, the Bible), ask your local UU minister if there are any adult religious education classes that you can attend.

In Peace,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(what is institutional racism?)

QUESTION: I want to understand more about 'institutional racism'. That's the term the minister used when giving his MLK sermon. He made it plain that 'white' people are privledged and should be ashamed of who they are. I want to know where these ideas came from. Help?

R E Greene
Jacksonville, FL

ANSWER: Taquiena Boston, the Director of Identity-Based Ministries here at the UUA writes,

Institutional racism refers to the way that racism is structured, directly or indirectly, into the social, political and economic institutions that govern the lives of a society or nation. It includes the power of state-sanctioned institutions (schools, law enforcement, government, banks, social service agencies, the church, etc.) to perpetuate race-based discrimination and inequality through laws, policies and practices. In the United States, institutional racism results in privileges and benefits for white society at the expense of people of color. An example of institutionalized racism is redlining in mortgage lending, a practice of assigning ratings to communities based on their racial composition to determine interest rates and granting loans (see the PBS series "Race: The Power of an Illusion," third episode). Though this practice is commonly associated with banks, it was the United States government that instituted the practice of redlining through the Federal Housing Administration in the 1950s.

Resources that examine institutional racism include the following:

• Dismantling Racism: The Challenge to White America by Joseph Barndt
• Undoing Racism by Paul Kivel Privilege
• Power and Difference by Allen G. Johnson
• Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Tatum
• Yellow by Frank Wu

More resources can be found at the PBS website for Race: The Power of an Illusion

I hope that this answers your question.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(what is social justice?)

QUESTION: I need to understand "Social Justice" as taught by UUA. Our local minister talks about "Social Justice" as activities, or social policies to undo "injustices" which have occured to people in the past. This is most notably pronounced during "Black History" month. I really need some clarity here. Please help.

R E Greene
Jacksonville, FL

ANSWER: To the UUA, working for social justice means working to help people who are treated poorly by our society. Some examples of social injustice are people who are discriminated against because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, class, or religion; people who don't have access to health care, child care, proper housing, and education; and people whose environment (natural or political) is harmful or dangerous to them.

Since it is Black History Month, you may notice a focus on discussing past and present injustices to the black community, from slavery to institutional racism to modern urban blight (www.uua.org/programs/justice/antiracism/). At other times of the year, you might notice more discussion of our work with the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender communities (www.uua.org/obgltc/), or our work with the disadvantaged Dalit peoples of India (www.uua.org/international/holdeen/), among our other social justice programs.

The Unitarian Universalist Association is very committed to working for a fair and just society, in which all people can filly participate. To read some of the social justices statements made by the UUA, please see www.uua.org/actions/index.html#list. To see what issues the UUA is currently working on, please see www.uua.org/uuawo/new/article.php?list=type&type=2.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(do we believe in the Pope? Can people under 18 convert?)

QUESTION: Does the UU believe in the Pope?
Can a person under 18 convert to UU?

ANSWER: Well, we believe that the Pope exists: there is no denying that he is a significant contemporary religious figure, and a long-standing leader of the Catholic church. However, since Unitarian Univesalism is not Christian, let alone Catholic, the Pope has absolutely no authority over our church. We leave it up to each person do decide what they think about the divine appointment of his position.

To read more about the role of Christianity in Unitarian Universalist churches, please see the Newcomer's Bulletin Board post at http://www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#Christianity.

People under 18 can certainly convert to Unitarian Universalism. You would have to work things out with your parents so that you could attend your local Unitarian Universalist church. For more information on this, please see the Newcomer's Bulletin Board post at http://www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#youth.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

January 2005

(are Pagans welcome in your church?)

QUESTION: Do others Wiccans go to your groups? Would I be welcomed there?

Summer
Waterloo, IA

QUESTION: I am a practising witch who is a former Seventh Day Adventist. Would I be welcome in the UU church?

Ravenwolfi
Graham, WA

ANSWER: There are many Wiccans, witches, and other Pagans who worship in Unitarian Universalist congregations. We have long had deep respect for and found great inspiration in earth-based spiritualities. At last count, 19% of our members identified with an Earth/Nature centered faith. I expect that this number is higher today.

The sources of inspiration for the UU faith are too many to be counted, but delegates from each congregation have agreed that the predominant sources of our faith are, "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." (To read more of the source of our faith, as well as the principles and purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association, please see www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html)

The most active aspect of Pagan Unitarian Universalism is the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) (www.cuups.org ). They have member groups all over the country, and help UU congregations integrate Pagan worship into their congregation's lives.

You may be interested in reading an article written by Margot Adler, UU and author of Drawing Down the Moon, on why she is a UU Pagan: www.uua.org/WRLD/1196feature1.html

If you remain interested in Unitarian Universalism, I encourage you to use our website to locate your local Unitarian Universalist church (www.uua.org/cong). In addition, you could contact your local District Office (www.uua.org/dist) or CUUPS to learn more about any earth-based UU groups in your area.

In Peace, and Blessed Be,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(paganism, religious education)

QUESTION: I was raised and confirmed Lutheran. I went to a Jesuit Catholic University. I discovered paganism years ago, and am more apt to describe myself as such. My husband would describe himself also as pagan. We believe more in the inherent good in people and that god/goddess/higher power is inherent in everything.

My 4 year old son has recently started talking about God and angels. Whether this is a hold over from his previous day care (a very religious, Catholic woman) or just natural curiosity, I don't know. While I believe the bible has good stories to tell, that's what they are to me, stories.

I'd like to give my son (and my daughter when she's older) some sense of spirituality, but I have a problem with "organized religion". I dislike being told when, where and how to worship. I'm more comfortable praying to the powers that be in the forest than in a formal church. I'm sure that has to do with my upbringing. But I'm leery of churches.

Do you think UU would be a place for us? There is an emerging congregation not too far from our home that I'm interested in looking at. Or should I find an established one?

For what it's worth, I have no issues with learning about other religions, I find it fascinating. And your approach to recognizing the divine and gender-neutral phraseology interests me. I'd like to learn more.

Jenni
Gurnee, IL

ANSWER: It sounds as if Unitarian Universalism could be a very good spiritual home for you and your family. We have many people in our congregations who are previously been leery of organized religion, and we have many members with earth-based spiritualities.

You are not alone in wanting to help your children develop their own spiritualities and understandings of religion. Many people come to Unitarian Universalism because of the inclusive religious education programs our congregations offer.

From your message, it sounds as if you have already read the other postings on the Newcomer's Bulletin Board. Even if you have already done so, I encourage you to read my responses to these questions, whose questions are similar to your own. The resources referenced in these responses should be useful to you:

• www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#paganre
• www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#re
• www.uua.org/newcomers/december2004.html#structure

As for deciding to attend the emerging congregation near you or one of the more established Unitarian Universalist congregations in your area, it is really up to you. Many people enjoy visiting all of their local Unitarian Universalist congregations before deciding which best suits their needs. You can find a complete listing of the churches in your area at www.uua.org/cong.

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

(a UU sub-group to fit me? (feminist))

QUESTION: A little background... I was rasied Catholic, and like many children in Philadelphia, I attended 12 years of Catholic School. I of course disagree with many of the RC Church's views on homosexuality, women's rights and their lack of social activism. I have read many UU books (which I ordered from your bookstore) and have read the pamphlet from Rev. Dr. O'Neil. My concern is from my Catholic upringing, I used to ask many questions relating to women's roles in the bible when I was young, and as an adult have done many readings on the Gnostic Scriptures and the Nag Hammadi Library. I find this to be a logical and believable combination of the feminine, Jesus's pro-feminist messages, how the Old Testament was wrong with their Creation story, as well as the moral/ethical teachings of God. I notice UUs have many subgroups such as UU Christians, UU Pagans, and UU Buhddists. Do you have groups for people like me? I plan on attending my first service Sunday at the First Church of Philadelphia and am a little shy about stopping by and being bombarded about discussing my beliefs. Thanks for taking the time, and have a happy and peaceful new year.

Anna
Philadelphia, PA

ANSWER: You sound like a Unitarian Universalist already! :)

Don't worry about "being bombarded about discussing my beliefs." While Unitarian Universalist churches are very open to discussions of belief, UUs are very respectful of people's different levels of comfort around such discussions. People rarely ask about other's beliefs.

There are many feminist Unitarian Universalists. This comes from the fact that Unitarian Universalists believe strongly in the equality of the sexes. The first principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association is to "affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of EVERY person." [emphasis added]

Our religion is not new to the topic of women's rights. The Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation (UUWF: www.uua.org/UUWF/ ) was formed in the 1800's. Unitarian and Universalist women such as Margaret Fuller, Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, Louisa May Alcott, Julia Ward Howe, Mary Ashton Rice Livermore, and others led their denominations, and the country, to support women's right to vote. Our denominations ordained some of the first female ministers in the country. In the 1960's and 1970's, the Unitarian Universalist Association championed the feminist reform. Today, more than half of our ministers are women, and we continue to support women's rights (www.uua.org/actions/women/).

For more information on famous Unitarian Universalist women, please see these websites:

• www.uua.org/uuhs/duub/
• www.famousuus.com/
• www.geocities.com/Wellesley/Garden/1101/uuwomenl.html
• www.geocities.com/~bread_n_roses/

Also check out "Standing Before Us; Unitarian Universalist Women and Social Reform 1776-1936" by Dorothy May Emerson, published by Skinner House Books in 2000.

I hope you enjoy your visit to the First Church of Philadelphia this Sunday. If you have any other questions in the meantime, please let me know!

Sincerely,
Erika Nonken
UUA Public Information Assistant

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