“Unitarian Universalists believe that human beings should be free to choose their beliefs according to the dictates of their own conscience. We believe in original goodness, with the understanding that sin is sometimes chosen because of pain or ignorance… We believe that God is One. We believe that revelation is ever unfolding. We believe that love is more important than doctrine.”
– Marilyn Sewell, author and UU Minister Emerita
faith tradition.
Unitarian Universalism is a faith based on freedom of thought. Together, we seek understanding, strength, community, and the sacred. We encourage questions about life and spirituality and we seek the answers together. We do not have a creed or a set of answers and instructions. Instead, our congregations have a shared covenant to affirm and promote Seven Principles:
First Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Second Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.
Third Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregation.
Fourth Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
Fifth Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and in society at large.
Sixth Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
Seventh Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Our beliefs are drawn from Six 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.
Learn more about the UU faith:
Unitarian Universalist Association
UU World Magazine
Unitarian Universalist Society of Gardner 