Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalism (otherwise referred to as UUism[1] or UU)[7][8][9] is a liberal religious movement[1] characterized by a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning".[10][11] Unitarian Universalists assert no creed,[2] but instead are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth.[1][3][12] Unitarian Universalists do not have an official, unified corpus of sacred texts[2] but rather draw inspiration and guidance from the six sources: personal experience, prophetic utterances, world religions, Jewish and Christian teachings, humanist teachings, and spiritual teachings.[4] Unitarian Universalist congregations include many atheists, agnostics, deists, and theists; there are churches, fellowships, congregations, and societies around the world.[1][12]
This article is about the liberal religious movement. For the Christian theology which includes a central belief in the unitary nature of God, see Unitarianism. For the Christian theology that includes a central belief in universal reconciliation, see Christian universalism. For other uses of Unitarianism, see Unitarian. For Universalism as a general philosophy, see Universalism.Unitarian Universalism
UUism[1]
Mix of Protestant, Liberal, Progressive, and Pluralist[1][2][3]
Officially none;[2] religious principles and moral teachings are drawn from the Six Sources[4]
Members of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America via consolidation[2][5]
May 1961[5]
1,048 worldwide
148,232 members of Unitarian Universalist Association congregations in the United States; 800,000 identify as Unitarian Universalist worldwide (including the U.S.).[6]
The roots of Unitarian Universalism can be traced back to Protestantism[2][13] and liberal Christianity;[1][2] more specifically, it can be traced to Unitarianism and Christian Universalism.[2] Unitarian Universalists state that from these traditions comes a deep regard for intellectual freedom and inclusive love.[3][12] Congregations and members seek inspiration and derive insight from all major world religions.[1][12][14] The beliefs of individual Unitarian Universalists range widely; they can include, but are not limited to, religious humanism,[1][2][12][15] Judaism,[4] Christianity,[4] Islam,[16] Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Taoism, syncretism,[1] neopaganism,[1][12] atheism,[1] agnosticism,[1] New Age,[1][12] omnism, pantheism, panentheism, pandeism, deism, and teachings of the Baháʼí Faith.[17]
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) was formed in 1961 through the consolidation of the American Unitarian Association, established in 1825, and the Universalist Church of America,[5] established in 1793.[2] The UUA is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts; and serves churches mostly in the United States. A group of thirty Philippine congregations is represented as a sole member within the UUA. The Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) became an independent body in 2002.[18] The UUA and CUC were two of the seventeen members of the now defunct International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (1995–2021).[19]
Beliefs and practices[edit]
Diversity of beliefs and scriptures[edit]
Unitarian Universalism is a religion marked by freedom, reason, and acceptance.[54] As such, Unitarian Universalists practice a non-creedal religion that does not require one to believe in any particular belief or doctrine.[55] Rather than sharing common beliefs, Unitarian Universalists are united by a common history, the affirmation of each person's individual spiritual quest, and a covenant to uphold the community's shared spiritual values. As such, Unitarian Universalists vary greatly in their beliefs, and Unitarian Universalist congregations are often defined by a plurality of beliefs.[56]
Unitarian Universalists are encouraged to engage in their own unique spiritual journey and to follow their conscience in what beliefs to hold. Unitarian Universalism is seen as compatible with other spiritual paths, and individual Unitarian Universalists are encouraged to engage in their own spiritual journey, whatever the path. Unitarian Universalists are not required to renounce previous faith traditions to join a Unitarian Universalist congregation. As a result, individual practitioners may simultaneously identify as Unitarian Universalists, as well as other faith traditions.[56]
Although Unitarian Universalism draws its roots from Christian sources, contemporary Unitarian Universalists in North America view their religion as multifaith and drawing on a variety of sources, both religious and secular. Unitarian Universalism encourages its members to draw on the world's religions as well as the words and deeds of prophetic people as inspiration for their spiritual journeys.[57] Although members are cautioned to be aware of possible cultural appropriation of traditions that do not belong to them, Unitarian Universalists are encouraged to find wisdom in a diverse spectrum of religions, customs, and cultures from around the world.[58]
Sources[edit]
Part of the covenant among Unitarian Universalist congregations in North America is a list of six sources that contemporary Unitarian Universalism draws from. Although the list, first adopted in 1984 and revised in 1995 and 2018, is not meant to be exhaustive, it lists some major influences on modern Unitarian Universalist practice, including:
Asia
Africa
Australia and New Zealand
North America
Europe
Worldwide
Number of members[edit]
As of 2020, the UUA had 1,027 Unitarian Universalist member congregations in the United States[132] and some congegrations outside the US.[133] In 2011, it had two congregations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, 19 in Canada, six in other countries, plus 28 multi-denominational member congregations: 17 in Massachusetts, four in Illinois, three in New Hampshire, two in Vermont, and one each in Maine and Washington, D.C. Seven of the ten U.S. states with the most congregations are also among the most populous states; the state with the most congregations and members is Massachusetts; Vermont is No. 1 relative to its total population.[134] As of December 2023 there are 42 Unitarian Universalist congregations and emerging groups in Canada affiliated with the CUC.[135]
In 1956, Sam Wells wrote, "Unitarians and Universalists are considering merger which would have total U.S. membership of 160000 (500000 in the world)".[136] In 1965 Conkin wrote, "In 1961, at the time of the merger, membership [in the United States] was 104,821 in 651 congregations, and the joint membership soared to its historically highest level in the mid-1960s (an estimated 259000) before falling sharply back in the 1970s ...".[137] According to the 2008 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations claimed 214,738 members in 2002.[138]
In the United States, the American Religious Identification Survey reported 629000 members describing themselves as Unitarian Universalist in 2001, an increase from 502000 reported in a similar survey in 1990.[139] The highest concentrations are in New England and around Seattle, Washington.[140]
The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted in 2007 by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and featuring a sample size of over 35000, puts the proportion of American adults identifying as Unitarian Universalist at 0.3%.[141]
The 2001 Canadian census done by Statistics Canada put Canadian Unitarians at 17,480,[142] and the September 2007 membership statistics from the CUC show they had at that time 5,150 official members.[143] In 2015, the CUC reported 3,804 members.[144]
