What We Believe

Unitarian Universalism begins with a deep-seated conviction that human life is invaluable. We do not set people apart into groups of saved and unsaved, but rather we affirm the dignity and worth of all people. This is our first UU principle.

With this perspective, we are compelled to treat others with compassion and to work for justice for all people. This world view may be based for some of us in the belief that the spirit of God loves all people, or in the belief that there is a spark of divinity in all people, or in the simple truth that goodness can dwell in every human heart. From any of these angles, we cannot easily dismiss the "other" as less than human. Thus we are challenged to live with others in peace and as much harmony as we can muster.

Our principles also remind us that the world is interconnected. The earth, the stars, the universe-- these are not separate from us; they are us. As seekers of truth, we have the wisdom of scientists and philosophers to teach us the deep reality of existence-- that we are made of the same stuff as all living creatures, even inanimate life. We are indeed the stuff of stars, and our religion honors this interconnectedness.

The religion we espouse draws on six sources for its foundation. Although we come out of a Protestant tradition, we believe that the Bible is one of many sacred texts that contain guidance for living a meaningful life. Unitarian-Universalism draws wisdom from the world's religions including Jewish and Christian teachings, Humanist teachings and the spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions. Unitarian-Universalists are neither a chosen people nor a people whose choices are made for them by theological authorities-- ancient or otherwise. We are a people who choose. As we study and reflect on our sources of wisdom, we discover our own individual insight and revelation.

Although we don't share a universal creed, we share a common commitment to work in the world to make it a more just place. To that end, social action work is an important part of our faith community.

A group of local ministers, including Reverend Kent, worked together over nine months to develop the following statement of faith:

We base our faith primarily on experience. As humans, we suffer and are often broken, but our faith teaches that we can all find wholeness. We experience God as a spirit that binds together all of existence and animates all of life, rather than a being that controls existence. This spirit of life is a mysterious force of love and grace, found in nature, community and within ourselves. We are all a part of it, and all exist within an interdependent web of life. We are limited beings, but we are responsible for one another, and we help create the future. When we practice our faith – through generosity, gratitude, humility and compassion – we help to make God manifest. We do this not just for ourselves, but to serve others, promote justice and transform a hurting world.

If you would like more information about Unitarian-Universalism than this "taste," we recommend a visit to the website of the Unitarian Universalist Association at www.uua.org.

For more information about what it means to be a member of USG, please visit the Membership page.