What is a Unitarian Universalist?

What's a Unitarian Universalist?

Unitarian Universalism is a faith tradition that encourages
each individual to develop a personal set of beliefs.
It draws from many different religions in the belief that
no single one has all the answers, and that most have something to teach us.
The ultimate determination of what is sacred for each person
results from their own direct experience.

Our Principles
Unitarian Universalist communities affirm and promote seven Principles,
which we hold as strong values and moral guides.

1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth
in our congregations;
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
within our congregations and in society at large;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are
a part.

Sources of Our Living Tradition
We live out our Principles within a living tradition
of wisdom and spirituality,
drawn from six sources which include:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our
   ethical and spiritual life.
4. Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to
   God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves.
5. 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.
6. 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.

Our Symbol: The Flaming Chalice

A flame within a chalice (a cup with a stem and foot) is a primary symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith tradition. Many of our congregations kindle a flaming chalice in gatherings and worships and feature the chalice symbol prominently.

Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first brought together the chalice and the flame as a Unitarian symbol during his work with the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II. To Deutsch, the image had connotations of sacrifice and love.

To Unitarian Universalists today the flaming chalice is a symbol of hope, the sacred, the quest for truth, the warmth of community, the light of reason, and more.  We light a flaming chalice in worship to create a reverent space for reflection, prayer, meditation, and singing.

Thank you to the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Albuquerque, NM for sharing this graphic of their chapel background.