Question: “What is the relationship of Unitarian Universalism to Christianity?”
Answer: Unitarianism came out of the left wing of the Protestant Reformation, and therefore was a Christian faith and remained so until the 19th century in our country. At that time new influences made their appearance: the Free Religious Movement, transcendentalism, Biblical scholarship bringing doubts to the surface, influences from Eastern faiths. In the second quarter of the twentieth century, the humanist movement greatly impacted our churches, and fellowships without ministers were started, often in college towns, often by humanist lay leaders. Because we are a free faith, with each person responsible for his or her own theological beliefs, our institutional umbrella became larger and larger, and today includes every religious tradition, and includes as well atheists and agnostics.
Our churches are congregationally based, so each has a different flavor and theological leaning. Virtually all our churches, however, contain congregants with a wide diversity of beliefs. Because New England was the place where our faith first took root in the New World, most of our predominantly Christian churches are still there.
There is a notable difference between Christians, as that term is usually defined, and UU Christians. Most Christians believe that Jesus is the true path; Unitarian Universalists tend to believe that Christianity is a path, but just one of many. Jesus is seen as a prophet, a wise teacher, and not a god.
Question: “What sort of commitment must I make to become a member of a Unitarian church?”
Answer: Each church is different and sets its own standards for membership. In our church, you must be of age (at least 18), you must sign the membership book, and you must make a financial pledge that is generous within your means. You also are agreeing that you will continue your religious deepening, in community, always being open to new truth when it might be revealed to you.
In terms of how we are to be together in community, Our “Purposes and Principles” are instructive. Our church is presently working on a church covenant, which will help guide our behavior as we relate to one another.
Question: “Why do people think this is a ‘feel good’ religion?”
Answer: Perhaps because our public relations has been so poor through the years. People who do not know us well have heard jokes that imply we are a vague and shallow people, who “can believe anything.” Actually our faith is the most difficult of all, because we do not accept easy answers, or answers in fact that are given to us in a package; we require our members to search out their own truth and then to live out of that truth. Not exactly what I would call a “feel good” religion.
Question: “What does it mean that UU churches are ‘covenantal, not creedal’”?
Answer: We are not required to accept any particular creed or dogma. But we are asked to relate in certain specific ways to one another and to the earth. (See our Purposes and Principles on the web site or on the Sunday bulletin.)
