A Welcoming Faith Tradition:
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion not governed by creed or doctrine. The Universalist Church of America was founded in 1793, and the American Unitarian Association was founded in 1825. In 1961, the two merged to form the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Unitarian Universalists are people of many backgrounds and beliefs, focusing on issues relating to love, justice, and peace.
Members of the Unitarian Universalism religion represent many walks of life: atheist and agnostic, Buddhist, Christian, Earth-centered, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, etc. The Six Shared Values unite the members together.
Interdependence: Recognizing the interconnectedness of all things and our place in the world
Pluralism: Acknowledging that all people are sacred beings with diverse cultures, experiences, and theologies
Justice: Working to create welcoming and thriving communities where everyone feels included
Transformation: Adapting to a changing world and growing spiritually and ethically
Generosity: Cultivating a spirit of gratitude and hope
Equity: Recognizing that all people have inherent worth and dignity and deserve to be treated with respect, justice, and impartiality
Unitarian Universalism is a living tradition, drawing from sources as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience. The basis of these Six Shared Values is rooted in the following 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
Unitarian Universalism welcomes you on your journey of faith.
For more information on the UUA, visit: http://www.uua.org/.
The UUA is organized into five regions. Prairie Lakes UU Fellowship belongs to the MidAmerica Region. For more information on the MidAmerica Region, visit: https://www.midamericauua.org/.