Beliefs & Values

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Famous Unitarians and Universalists

For the past 450 years, Unitarians and Universalists have made their mark on the world, not by voicing their religion, but by living their principles and sharing their gifts.  Here are just a few of hundreds of women and men whose names you may recognize, but never knew they were Unitarians and Universalists.

Our Liberal Religion: Questions and Answers

What do we mean by liberal religion?

We’re talking theology here, not politics. Most churches require adherents to follow a set of religious beliefs. We do not. More than anything else, Unitarian Universalist (UU) churches stand for the right of individuals to form their own theological beliefs. 

We put less emphasis on formal beliefs and more on practical living. Our interest is in deeds, not creeds. What we have in common are our seven UU Principles, and the desire for a church community where we are accepted regardless of what we believe.

Are UUs Christians?

Some are; some are not. Many of us have been raised in either the Christian or Jewish tradition. Still others come from Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism. Some are doubters or non-believers who practice the oldest of religions: communing with nature’s wind, water, and earth. Our tradition draws its content from many Sources.

Acceptance is important to us–we like to learn from each other, knowing that none of us has all the answers. We believe we do not need to think alike to love alike. All with an open mind and caring heart are welcome. 

What do UUs believe about God?

Some UUs are non-theists and do not find language about God useful or relevant to them. The faith of other UUs in God may be profound, though among these, too, talk of God may be restrained. Why? To avoid confusion over the wide-ranging use of the word God.

Many UUs are more apt to speak of “reverence for life” (in the words of Albert Schweitzer, a Unitarian), the spirit of love or truth, the holy, or the gracious. Many also prefer such language because it is inclusive; it is used with integrity by both theist and non-theist members.

Whatever our theological persuasion, UUs generally agree that the fruits of religious belief and spiritual inquiry matter more than beliefs about religion–even about God. So we usually speak more of the fruits: gratitude for blessings, worthy aspirations, the renewal of hope, the interconnectedness of all living things, and service on behalf of justice.  For more info, see What Do We Believe?

What about women?

Our church, and our national and international organizations (the Canadian Unitarian Council and the Unitarian Universalist Association) have taken strong, progressive positions favouring full participation of women in our denomination.  A slight majority of UU ministers in North America are female. 

What about sexual minorities?

UU churches are open to people of any sexual orientation.  Our church is a Welcoming Congregation, which means we make a special invitation to our gay and lesbian people to participate fully in our community. 

Are we active in the community?

Our congregation actively supports many social action initiatives, both at home and abroad.  In addition, many of our members are leaders in organizations concerned about affordable housing, human rights, environmental stewardship and other important causes.

Why this invitation?

It occurs to us that many people don’t know there are established theologically liberal churches that encourage individual views of spirituality.  We are here, and we invite you to join us on Sunday mornings.  Please visit.