Soon many well established American churches acquired Unitarian ministers or Unitarian views. By now the day was long gone when an aversion to Trinitarian doctrine was sufficient to define these religious liberals.
In Unitarianism and Universalism virtually every aspect of religion was fair game for doubt and debate. Many smaller liberal movements began, later to be reabsorbed into the Unitarian Universalist movement as it learned greater and greater tolerance. In the 19th century both Unitarianism and Universalism took on associations with causes of social justice that have endured to this day.
Anthony, and Clara Barton, the liberal religious movement became the champion of the abolition of slavery, women rights, and penal reform. Though these issues sometimes divided the religious liberals, the gap was often greater between members of the same movement than it was between Unitarians and Universalists. As the two movements grew and acquired greater definition in the ministries of Hosea Ballou, Ralph Waldo Emerson, William Ellery Channing, Theodore Parker, and others, the two paths of religious liberalism grew ever closer.
Both movements became more organized. In a Universalist convention adopted a Charter of Compact, which eventually evolved into the Universalist Church of America. In May of the America Unitarian Association was formed. In the first Unitarian church in Canada was founded in Montreal. The Unitarians and Universalists shared first a philosophy of religious tolerance and religious questioning. Later they shared resources such as religious education materials, a joint hymnal, and finally on May 11, they combined their organizational strength by becoming the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations in North America.
Both denominations have long histories and have contributed important theological concepts. Most notably, Unitarian Universalism has evolved to be a non-creedal religion that welcomes people of all beliefs. Humanism itself became an influential part of the religion in the early 20 th century and remains strong to this day.
The Unitarian Universalist Association currently represents approximately 1, member congregations in the United States with more than , members and several hundred thousand more who identify as Unitarian Universalists but are not members of a congregation. Unitarian Universalists work in local, state, national and international interfaith coalitions and partnerships to affirm its principles and values. Although there have been many chronicles of the history of Unitarian Universalism, perhaps the most notable one is the widely-read pamphlet Unitarian Universalist Origins: Our Historic Faith by Mark W.
The following are several excerpts from this valuable document:. As early as the s, both groups were studying and promulgating texts from world religions other than Christianity. By the beginning of the twentieth century, humanists within both traditions advocated that people could be religious without believing in God.
No one person, no one religion, can embrace all religious truths. Many Unitarian Universalists UUs became active in the civil rights movement. Our history has carried us from liberal Christian views about Jesus and human nature to a rich pluralism that includes theist and atheist, agnostic and humanist, pagan, Christian, Jew, and Buddhist.
Brief reflections on each of the seven principles taken from the statements of various UU ministers in The Seven Principles in Word and Worship ed. Ellen Brandenburg add a greater understanding of their depth. The official statement of Unitarian Universalist principles also describes these sources on which current practices are based:. The key concepts in the Unitarian Universalist principles are: worth and dignity; equity and compassion; acceptance of one another; search for truth; the democratic process; peace, liberty, and justice for all; respect.
There also are numerous statements that express the principles of humanism that cover a wide array of humanist concerns.
We have drawn from several statements. From Humanist Manifesto I — In place of the old attitudes involved in worship and prayer, the humanist finds religious emotions expressed in a heightened sense of personal life and in a cooperative effort to promote social well-being. At the present juncture of history, commitment to all humankind is the highest commitment of which we are capable. Thus engaged in the flow of life, we aspire to this vision with the informed conviction that humanity has the ability to progress toward its highest ideals.
The responsibility for our lives and the kind of world in which we live is ours and ours alone. From the Amsterdam Declaration International Humanist and Ethical Union — Humanism is a lifestance aiming at the maximum possible fulfillment through the cultivation of ethical and creative living and offers an ethical and rational means of addressing the challenges of our times.
Humanism can be a way of life for everyone everywhere. What Is Humanism? In the essay titled, What Is Humanism? And even in critique it is tolerant, defending the rights of all people to choose other ways, to speak and to write freely, to live their lives according to their own lights.
So the choice is yours. Are you a humanist? Humanism is yours — to adopt or to simply draw from. You may take a little or a lot, sip from the cup or drink it to the dregs.
What Humanism Means to Me. Creating purposes and goals Nourishes all human souls. Our ethics we ourselves have wrought From social need and human thought. Mythology and metaphor Can help us penetrate the core Of Mystery, that source of art That may reveal the human heart. Unlimited capacity For good or ill, tenacity And products of the human mind Promote my faith in humankind. Evil can cause us to fail, But I think goodness will prevail. Though orthodoxies throw a rope, Humanism is our hope.
Wilson, Lester Mondale, and others to advance humanism within Unitarian Universalism and to promote humanism in general. The primary intent of the association is to promote and extend the use of rational inquiry without supernatural considerations and compassionate action in all human interactions.
The mission statement of the association includes these two goals: 1 to promote a broad acceptance of humanism in our society, particularly throughout the Unitarian Universalist Association and its congregations and 2 to provide an active interface between Unitarian Universalists and the secular community.
Local groups, many of which are associated with the AHA, are an important part of its mission. The following are illustrations of the core values and aspirations and major initiatives of the UU Humanist Association:. Like our forebears, we Unitarian Universalist Humanists have a special role to play with freethinking people of today — especially young people….
Young non-theists of today deserve the same opportunity that was given to all of us — the opportunity to find a home in a beloved community, where their life stance will be not only welcomed, but also celebrated and shared. The statements above are not the only ones which illustrate the Common Ground on which both Unitarian Universalism and humanism stand.
Below are excerpts from five additional expressions of our common focus and common values. Humanism is not a particularly complicated idea.
It is not a set of beliefs so much as it is a set of commitments. It means holding concern for this-worldly matters rather than other-worldly matters and being committed to that which improves the human condition in this world….. Whoever you are, wherever you came from, whomever you love, we welcome all who wish to travel this path of spirituailty, justice, compassion, and joy.
Connect with Unitarian Universalists in the United States: in congregations of bold, compassionate people Where to Connect With Us. Our Progressive and Inclusive Beliefs. Breadcrumb Home Our Faith. Our Unitarian Universalist Faith.
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