The Tenets of the Unitarian Universalist Path
click for more discussions fromThe Unitarian Universalist View thru the eyes of Rev. Charles Davis
1. How does one learn the teachings of your tradition?
BY visiting our congregations. And our website www.uua.org. We are a non-creedal faith which mean people are not coerced into professing a specific belief. Our congregations contain atheists, Christians, pagans and more. What unites us is our common desire to serve humanity.
2. Does your tradition accept an authoritative body or council? If so, how active are they in the every day life of the practitioner?
All of our church leaders are elected democratically and changes over time. Each member is encourage to vote by their own conscience and not according to some outside authority.
3. Does your spiritual tradition acknowledge a higher power? If so, what is the nature of this higher power? Is it a personal divine being or a non-personal energy or state. How do you refer to this higher power?
Classical Unitarian Theology viewed Jesus as a human prophet of God rather than a divine member of the trinity. We currently allow for a variety of perspectives on the divine.
4. What is the relationship between Divinity and humanity?
Emerson was a Unitarian who viewed divinity as being within each person. His concept was related to the Hindu concept of atman Brahman. This concept is called Transcendentalism. Others in our faith choose not to label human ideals as divine. These people are called humanists or Atheists. Others hold a more traditional concept of a personal god.
5. What is the relationship between humans, animals, plants and elements?
One of our principles is respect for the interdependent web of which we are a part.
This reverence for nature has been part of our tradition since the time of transcendentalists like Thoreau and Whitman.
6. In your tradition, is there a conception of matter and of spirit, and if so, what is the relationship between the two? If not, please explain how you see it.
Again there is freedom of belief regarding the spirit world. Unitarian Universalist tend to unite around Justice issues in the material world. They focus on human rights, womens rights, civil rights, gay rights, freedom of religion and environmentalism.
7. Is there something that stands out to you that people "outside" of your tradition misunderstand about your tradition. If so, please set us straight.
Because we have no creed people often think we do not believe in anything. We respond,”Actions speak louder than words.” We are a religion of deeds not creeds. Susan B. Anthony said it best when she said “I pray every single second of my life; not on my knees but with my work.” New York World, February 2, 1896
BY visiting our congregations. And our website www.uua.org. We are a non-creedal faith which mean people are not coerced into professing a specific belief. Our congregations contain atheists, Christians, pagans and more. What unites us is our common desire to serve humanity.
2. Does your tradition accept an authoritative body or council? If so, how active are they in the every day life of the practitioner?
All of our church leaders are elected democratically and changes over time. Each member is encourage to vote by their own conscience and not according to some outside authority.
3. Does your spiritual tradition acknowledge a higher power? If so, what is the nature of this higher power? Is it a personal divine being or a non-personal energy or state. How do you refer to this higher power?
Classical Unitarian Theology viewed Jesus as a human prophet of God rather than a divine member of the trinity. We currently allow for a variety of perspectives on the divine.
4. What is the relationship between Divinity and humanity?
Emerson was a Unitarian who viewed divinity as being within each person. His concept was related to the Hindu concept of atman Brahman. This concept is called Transcendentalism. Others in our faith choose not to label human ideals as divine. These people are called humanists or Atheists. Others hold a more traditional concept of a personal god.
5. What is the relationship between humans, animals, plants and elements?
One of our principles is respect for the interdependent web of which we are a part.
This reverence for nature has been part of our tradition since the time of transcendentalists like Thoreau and Whitman.
6. In your tradition, is there a conception of matter and of spirit, and if so, what is the relationship between the two? If not, please explain how you see it.
Again there is freedom of belief regarding the spirit world. Unitarian Universalist tend to unite around Justice issues in the material world. They focus on human rights, womens rights, civil rights, gay rights, freedom of religion and environmentalism.
7. Is there something that stands out to you that people "outside" of your tradition misunderstand about your tradition. If so, please set us straight.
Because we have no creed people often think we do not believe in anything. We respond,”Actions speak louder than words.” We are a religion of deeds not creeds. Susan B. Anthony said it best when she said “I pray every single second of my life; not on my knees but with my work.” New York World, February 2, 1896
|