Unitarian Universalism

Short description: Non-creedal liberal religious movement

Unitarian Universalism

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From left to right, top to bottom:

* UU meeting house in Augusta, ME.
* Mosaic rendition of the flaming chalice, which is the tradition’s most widely used symbol, in Pensacola, FL
* Pluralist display of religious symbols at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, MA
* Meditative labyrinth at a congregation in Massachusetts

Abbreviation| UUism[1]
Classification| Inclusivist Liberal religion (Unitarian, Universalist)[1][2]
Scripture| officially none[2]
Theology| Egalitarian[3][4][5] (including Liberal Christian,[6] Liberal Pluralist,[7] Liberationist,[8] Omnist,[9][10][11] and Syncretic[12])
Founder| Members of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America via consolidation[2][13]
Origin| May 1961[13]
Number of followers| ≈1.7 million identify with Unitarian Universalism in the U.S.A. (2024);[14] 152,958 members and religious education enrollees (≈9% of American UUs) in the UUA (2024)[15]

Template:Unitarian Universalist sidebar Unitarian Universalism (UUism or UU) is a liberal religious tradition characterized by its commitment to theological diversity, inclusivity, and social justice. Unitarian Universalists do not adhere to a single creed or doctrine. Instead, they are unified by shared covenants across congregations based on foundational values and principles centered on love and pluralistic worship.

The beliefs of individual Unitarian Universalists range widely and are often contextual to the congregation. The development of Unitarian Universalism can be traced back to Radical Protestantism and Restorationism through the Unitarian and Christian Universalist traditions.[1][2] Contemporary Unitarian Universalists may draw upon diverse theological and philosophical thought, including agnosticism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, New Age, neopaganism, nontheism, religious humanism, Sikhism, Taoism, and teachings of the Baháʼí Faith, among others.

Worship can take place in churches, fellowships, congregations, and societies. Unitarian Universalists maintain a deep regard for intellectual freedom and inclusive love. Congregations and members seek inspiration and derive insight from all major world religions and therefore do not have an official, unified corpus of sacred texts. There are, however, texts unique to its tradition that are commonly appreciated by professed Unitarian Universalists, such as A Chosen Faith by John A. Buehrens and Forrest Church, which has been called "the classic introductory text on Unitarian Universalism," and The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide.[16][17]

The modern 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,[13] established in 1793. 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. The UUA and CUC were two of the seventeen members of the now defunct International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (1995–2021). In 2024, 0.5% of American adults, or approximately 1.7 million people, were estimated to identify with Unitarian Universalism (not limited to the UUA denomination) according to the Public Religion Research Institute's Census of American Religion.[18]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Puritan roots and Congregationalist background
* 1.2 Universalism
* 1.3 Unitarianism
* 1.3.1 Great Britain
* 1.3.2 United States
* 1.4 Integration, 1825–1961
* 2 Beliefs and practices
* 2.1 Diversity of beliefs and scriptures
* 2.2 Humanism and beliefs about divinity
* 2.3 Covenant
* 2.4 Principles
* 2.5 Justice
* 3 Worship and practices
* 3.1 Diversity of practices
* 3.2 Diversity of congregations
* 3.3 Elevator speeches
* 4 Worship and ritual
* 4.1 Symbols
* 4.2 Services of worship
* 5 Politics
* 5.1 Historical politics of Unitarians and Universalists
* 5.2 Politics of Unitarian Universalists
* 6 Controversies
* 6.1 External
* 6.1.1 Lack of formal creed
* 6.1.2 Confusion with other groups
* 6.1.3 Boy Scouts of America
* 6.2 Internal
* 6.2.1 Language of reverence
* 6.2.2 Borrowing from other religions
* 6.3 Racism
* 7 Organizations
* 7.1 Asia
* 7.2 Africa
* 7.3 Australia and New Zealand
* 7.4 North America
* 7.5 Europe
* 7.6 Worldwide
* 8 Number of members
* 9 Notable members
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 Further reading
* 13 External links

## History

### Puritan roots and Congregationalist background

Main articles: Religion:Calvinism, Congregational church, Pilgrim Fathers, and Puritanism

Template:Puritans

Unitarian Universalism was formed from the consolidation in 1961 of two historically separate Christian denominations, the Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association,[13] both based in the United States; the new organization formed in this merger was the Unitarian Universalist Association.[19] At the time of the North American consolidation, Unitarians and Universalists diverged beyond their roots in liberal Christian theology. They draw from a variety of religious traditions. Individuals may or may not self-identify as Christians or subscribe to Christian beliefs.[20] Unitarian Universalist congregations and fellowships tend to retain some Christian traditions, such as Sunday worship with a sermon and the singing of hymns. The extent to which the elements of any particular faith tradition are incorporated into personal spiritual practice is a matter of individual choice for congregants, in keeping with a creedless, non-dogmatic approach to spirituality and faith development.[21][22]

New England Unitarians evolved from the Pilgrim Fathers' Congregational Christianity, which was based on a literal reading of the Bible. Liberalizing Unitarians rejected the Trinitarian belief in the tri-personal godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/Spirit. Instead, they asserted a unitary notion of God. In addition, they rejected the doctrine of original sin, moving away from the Calvinism of the Congregationalists.[23]

New England Universalists rejected the Puritan forefathers' emphasis on the select few, the Elect, who were supposed to be saved from eternal damnation by a just God. Instead Universalists asserted that all people will eventually be reconciled with God.[23]

### Universalism

Main articles: Philosophy:Universalism and Christian universalism

Universalists claim a long history, beginning with several Church Fathers, though some modern scholars question whether these church fathers taught the defining doctrine of Universalism (universal salvation).[24][25][26]

This core doctrine asserts that through Christ every single human soul shall be saved, leading to the "restitution of all things" (apocatastasis). In 1793, Universalism emerged as a distinct denomination of Christianity in the United States, eventually called the Universalist Church of America.[27] Early American advocates of universal salvation such as Elhanan Winchester, Hosea Ballou and John Murray taught that all souls would achieve salvation, sometimes after a period resembling purgatory.[28] Christian Universalism denies the doctrine of everlasting damnation, and proclaims belief in an entirely loving God who will ultimately redeem all human beings.[29][30]

### Unitarianism

Main article: Religion:Unitarianism

According to Spanish physician, Michael Servetus, he studied the Bible and concluded that the concept of the Trinity, as traditionally conceived, was not biblical. His books On the Errors of the Trinity and Christianismi Restitutio caused much uproar. Servetus was eventually arrested, convicted of heresy, and burned at the stake in Geneva in 1553.[31]

#### Great Britain

Influenced by the Socinian doctrine of the Polish Brethren, the Unitarian minister Samuel Clarke (1675–1729) revised the Book of Common Prayer, removing the Trinitarian Nicene Creed and references to Jesus as God.[32] Theophilus Lindsey also revised the Book of Common Prayer to allow a more tolerant, free Unitarian interpretation. Neither cleric was charged under the Blasphemy Act 1697 that made it an "offense for any person, educated in or having made profession of the Christian religion, by writing, preaching, teaching or advised speaking, to deny the Holy Trinity". The Act of Toleration (1689) gave relief to English Dissenters, but excluded Unitarians. The efforts of Clarke and Lindsey met with substantial criticism from the more conservative clergy and laity of the Church of England. In response, in 1774, Lindsey applied for registration of the Essex House as a "Dissenting place of worship" with the assistance of barrister John Lee.[33] On the Sunday following the registration—April 17, 1774—the first true Unitarian congregation discreetly convened in the provisional Essex Street Chapel. In attendance were Lee, Joseph Priestley and the agent of the Massachusetts Colony, Benjamin Franklin.[34] Priestley also founded a reform congregation, but, after his home was burned down in the Priestley Riots, fled with his wife to America, where he became a leading figure in the founding of the church on American soil.[35]

Once laity and clergy relaxed their vehement opposition to the Doctrine of the Trinity Act 1813, which finally allowed for protections of dissenting religions, the British and Foreign Unitarian Association was founded in 1825. It has its headquarters in Essex Hall, successor to Lindsey's Essex House.[36] Two that have been significant in national life are the Cross Street Chapel in Manchester and,[37] Newington Green Unitarian Church in north London.[38] Unitarian congregations in Britain meet under the auspices of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. There are 170 communities of Unitarians across Britain.[39] The Chief Officer of the British Unitarians was Liz Slade as of 2024.[40]

#### United States

In the United States, the Unitarian movement began primarily in the Congregational parish churches of New England, which were part of the state church of Massachusetts.[41] These churches, whose buildings may still be seen in many New England town squares, trace their roots to the division of the Puritan colonies into parishes for the administration of their religious needs.[42] In the late 18th century, conflict grew within some of these churches between Unitarian and Trinitarian factions. In 1805, Unitarians gained key faculty positions at Harvard. In 1819 William Ellery Channing preached the ordination sermon for Jared Sparks in Baltimore, outlining the Unitarian position. The American Unitarian Association was founded as a separate denomination in 1825.[43] By coincidence and unknown to both parties, the AUA was formed on the same day—May 26, 1825—as the British and Foreign Unitarian Association.[44]

In the 19th century, under the influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson (who had been a Unitarian minister)[45] and other transcendentalists, Unitarianism began its long journey from liberal Protestantism to its more pluralist form.[46]

### Integration, 1825–1961

After the schism in the Congregational Churches resulting in the foundation (1825) of the American Unitarian Association, some of those churches remained within the Congregational fold and became member congregations of the Congregational organization (later the United Church of Christ), while others voted to become Unitarian. Some of the latter eventually became part of the Unitarian Universalist Association (formed in 1961) during a consolidation of the Unitarian and Universalist churches. Universalist churches in contrast followed a different path, having begun as independent congregations beyond the bounds of the established Puritan churches entirely. The UUA and the United Church of Christ cooperate jointly on social justice initiatives such as the Sexuality Education Advocacy Training project.[47]

In 1961, the American Unitarian Association (AUA) was consolidated with the Universalist Church of America (UCA), thus forming the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).[48] In the same year, the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) formed.[49] The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) was given corporate status in May 1961 under special acts of legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New York.[50]

In 1998, the Canadian Unitarian Council and Unitarian Universalist Association dissolved their financial accord, although they continue to cooperate.[49] The CUC had come into being at Meadville Lombard Theological School in 1961. However the continual decline of denominational churches and the almost complete failure of the Universalist movement in Canada had caused the formation of the Council to prompt a plan to merge with the UUA. Opposition to Liberal religious freedom relaxed, so that by 2002 it was agreed to increase autonomy and funding. The amalgamation proved troublesome for the Canadians, a small minority largely ignored, with only 45 congregations and 5,200 members—the Americans were insensitive to cultural differences.[51]

## Beliefs and practices

See also: Religion:Inclusivism and Religious liberalism

### Diversity of beliefs and scriptures

According to the Unitarian Universalist Association, Unitarian Universalism is a religion marked by freedom, reason, and acceptance.[52] As such, Unitarian Universalists practice a non-creedal religion that does not require one to believe in any particular belief or doctrine.[53] 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 a plurality of beliefs often defines Unitarian Universalist congregations.[54]

Unitarian Universalists are encouraged to engage in their own unique spiritual journey and to follow their conscience in their beliefs. 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 and other faith traditions.[54]

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.[55] 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.[56]

A Chosen Faith by John A. Buehrens and Forrest Church and The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide are unique texts to Unitarian Universalism that are commonly appreciated by followers (although they are not considered official sacred text, since such a recognition is against Unitarian Universalist principles).[57][58] The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide is produced by the UUA and is a comprehensive introduction to Unitarian Universalism (especially as practiced in the UUA), featuring contributions from a variety of UU writers and being periodically edited by the incumbent UUA president. The Pocket Guide is in its 7th edition as of 2025, and was edited by Sofía Betancourt, who is the 10th President of the UUA.[59]

### Humanism and beliefs about divinity

Although the predecessors of Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism and Universalism, find their origin in unorthodox beliefs about the nature of the Christian God, modern Unitarian Universalists hold a variety of views about the nature and existence of deity. Most Unitarian Universalist congregations take no formal stance on whether or not a god or gods exist but leave it up to individual members to decide for themselves what they believe. Unitarian Universalists may be atheists, agnostics, and theists.[60] Among those Unitarian Universalists who use language of divinity, both monotheism and polytheism are common, and Unitarian Universalists hold a variety of beliefs about the nature of the divine.[61][62]

The diversity of beliefs about divinity in Unitarian Universalism can be accounted for because of the influence of religious humanism on the movement in the late nineteenth century. Although Unitarian Universalists believe that anyone can be a Humanist, regardless of their position on the use of the language of divinity, the rise of religious humanism within Unitarian Universalism enables members to be able to further question the existence and nature of the divine through its encouragement towards reason.[63] Fifteen of the thirty-four signers of Humanist Manifesto I were Unitarians and one was a Universalist. Unitarian Universalists were also a significant presence among the signers of Humanist Manifestos II and III.[64]

Today, the majority of Unitarian Universalists in North America identify as Humanists. Although Humanism is seen as an evolving philosophy where the limits of science and reason are recognized, its tenets continue to play a large role in the thought of Unitarian Universalist congregations. Unitarian Universalist Humanists hold that the naturalism of their Humanism encourages individuals to recognize the awe, beauty, and wonder of the natural world and recognize the interdependence between humans and other beings.[63][64][65]

### Covenant

In the absence of shared beliefs, Unitarian Universalists often see their religion as a covenantal (as opposed to a creedal) one. Unitarian Universalists see covenants as the promises that bind congregations, communities, and individuals together in a community. In Unitarian Universalism, covenants are mutual promises among individuals and communities about how they will behave and engage with each other. Covenants help create trust and care among Unitarian Universalists and in their congregations.[66]

Rather than creating things people have to do, covenants in Unitarian Universalist communities create freedom by helping members know what to expect from each other. In the words of Unitarian Universalist minister Alice Blair Wesley:

> ...authentic human freedom is of necessity, lawful freedom, and because we receive the possibility of freedom as a gift of the way things are, an authentic covenant is: a glad promise to live freely together, insofar as we are able, in accordance with the laws of reality that make our freedom possible. This is true whether the agreement is between just two, as in a union of marriage, or whether the agreement is among millions, as in a free nation, or whether the agreement is among members who gather to be a free congregation.[67]

The use of covenants in the Unitarian Universalist community dates back to 1646 and the creation of the Cambridge Platform by the Congregational churches of colonial New England, some of whom would later become Unitarians, predecessors of modern Unitarian Universalists. The Platform was the first formal declaration of the principles of church order and governance in colonial North America.[68] Today, many Unitarian Universalist congregations create their own covenants, often called covenants of right relations, to lay out the principles of their congregations formally.[66]

### Principles

In the United States, members of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) covenanted together via the seven Principles and Purposes, formerly a part of Article II of the UUA bylaws. These Principles and Purposes were statements of shared values that Unitarian Universalist congregations agreed to uphold:

>   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.[69]

These principles, first adopted in 1960 and later revised in 1984 and 1985, proved so popular that many Unitarian Universalists came to see them as a wisdom source in and of themselves and a guide for participation in Unitarian Universalist congregations.[69][70]

In June, 2024, the UUA's General Assembly voted to replace the 7 principles in Article II of the UUA bylaws with a new covenant of 7 values. The central value is love. The other 6 are: interdependence, equity, transformation, pluralism, generosity, and justice.[71]

In Canada, members of the Canadian Unitarian Council affirm the seven principles along with an eighth principle: "Individual and communal action that accountably dismantles racism and systemic barriers to full inclusion in ourselves and our institutions."[72]

In the Philippines, where Unitarian Universalism is much more theistically oriented, member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines affirm the seven principles, but with the addition of their own first principle: "There is God. God is love."[73]

### Justice

Unitarian Universalism believes that actions taken to make the world a better place are more important than what a person actually believes, as espoused by a common slogan in Unitarian Universalist congregations, "Deeds, not creeds." They hold that belief divorced from action does not change the world and that good intentions often lead to a worse situation in the long term. Unitarian Universalist thinkers have long recognized the need to bring belief and action together and encourage their members to go into the larger world and improve it.[74][75]

Because of this importance of action, Unitarian Universalists have long been involved in social, economic, and environmental justice movements, both through organizations created by Unitarian Universalists and through local, regional, national, and international grassroots organizing. Many Unitarian Universalists see this work as inseparable from their Unitarian Universalist faith and see their participation in justice movements as a deeply important part of their religious faith.[74][76]

Historically, the Unitarian Universalist Association's predecessor movements, Unitarianism and Universalism, saw members involved in abolitionism, women's suffrage, pacifism, temperance, and prison reform.[74] Today, Unitarian Universalists are deeply involved in causes such as racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement,[77] LGBTQ movements,[78] feminism and women's rights,[79] immigration justice,[80] reproductive rights,[81] climate justice,[82] and economic inequality.[83]

## Worship and practices

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### Diversity of practices

The Unitarian belief that reason, and not creed, defines the search for truth, and the Universalist belief that God embraces all people equally has led to the current Unitarian Universalist belief that truth and spiritual meaning can be found in all faiths. This is reflected in the wide array of spiritual practices found among Unitarian Universalists today. Many Unitarian Universalist congregations include Buddhist-style meditation groups, Jewish Seder, Yom Kippur and Passover dinners, iftaar meals (marking the breaking of Ramadan fast for Muslims), and Christmas Eve/Winter Solstice services. Children's and youth's religious education classes teach about the divinity of the world and the sanctity of world religions. One of its more popular curricula, Neighboring Faiths (formerly Church Across the Street), takes middle and high school participants to visit the places of worship of many faith traditions including a Hindu temple, a Reform or Orthodox synagogue, and a Catholic church.

There is great variety among Unitarian Universalist congregations, with some favoring particular religious beliefs or forms of worship over others, with many more home to an eclectic mix of beliefs. Regardless of their orientation, most congregations are fairly open to differing beliefs, though not always with various faith traditions represented to the same degree.

### Diversity of congregations

There is a wide variety in how congregations conceive of themselves, calling themselves "churches", "societies", "fellowships", "congregations", or eschew the use of any particular descriptor. Many use the name "Unitarian Universalist", (and a few "Universalist Unitarian"), having gradually adopted this formulation since consolidation in 1961. Others use names that reflect their historic roots by keeping the historical designation "Unitarian" or "Universalist" (e.g. "First Unitarian Church"). A few congregations use neither (e.g. Unity Temple). For some congregations, the name can be a clue to their theological orientation. For others, avoidance of the word "church" indicates a desire to distance itself from traditional Christian theology. Sometimes the use of another term may simply indicate a congregation's lay-led or relatively new status. However, some Unitarian Universalist congregations have grown to appreciate alternative terms such as fellowship and retained them even though they have grown much larger or lost features sometimes associated with their use (such as, in the case of fellowships, a traditionally lay-led worship model).[84]

Also of note is that there are many more people who identify as Unitarian Universalist on surveys than those who attend Unitarian Universalist congregations (by a factor of four in a recent survey),[85] reflecting those who have never joined (and lapsed members) but nonetheless consider themselves part of the Unitarian Universalist movement.

### Elevator speeches

In 2004, UU World magazine asked for contributions of "elevator speeches" explaining Unitarian Universalism.[86] These are short speeches that could be made in the course of an elevator ride to those who knew nothing of the religion. Here are examples of the speeches submitted:

> In Unitarian Universalist congregations, we gather in community to support our individual spiritual journeys. We trust that openness to one another's experiences will enhance our understanding of our own links with the divine, with our history, and with one another.

— Jonalu Johnstone, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma[87]

> Most Unitarian Universalists believe that nobody has a monopoly on all truth, or ultimate proof of the truth of everything in any one belief. Therefore, one's own truth is unprovable, as is that of others. Consequently, we should respect the beliefs of others, as well as their right to hold those beliefs. Conversely, we expect that others should respect our right to our own beliefs. Several UU's then, would likely hold as many different beliefs. Other beliefs they may hold in common are a respect for others, for nature, and for common decency, leading to a particular caring for the poor, the weak and the downtrodden. As a result, issues of justice, including social justice are held in common among most.

— Gene Douglas, Harrah, Oklahoma[88]

> It's a blessing each of us was born; It matters what we do with our lives; What each of us knows about God is a piece of the truth; We don't have to do it alone.

— Laila Ibrahim, Berkeley, California[87]

## Worship and ritual

As in theology, Unitarian Universalist worship and ritual are often a combination of elements derived from other faith traditions alongside original practices and symbols. In form, church services might be difficult to distinguish from those of a Protestant church, but they vary widely among congregations.[48]

### Symbols

The most common symbol of Unitarian Universalism is the flaming chalice, often framed by two overlapping rings that many interpret as representing Unitarianism and Universalism (the symbol has no official interpretation). The chalice itself has long been a symbol of liberal religion, and indeed liberal Christianity (the Disciples of Christ also use a chalice as their denomination symbol[89]). The flaming chalice was initially the logo of the Unitarian Service Committee during the Second World War. It was created by Austrian artist Hans Deutsch. The holy oil burning in it is a symbol of helpfulness and sacrifice.[90]

Nevertheless, other interpretations have been suggested, such as the chalice used by the followers of Czech Jan Hus, which was supposedly reverential of Eastern Orthodox traditions; although Hus's early National Church was intrinsically an evangelical Protestant. In some agnostic historiographies the flaming chalice displayed a vague resemblance to a cross in some stylized representations, relying on the sepulchral traditions of the Hospitallers.[91] Many Unitarian Universalist congregations light a chalice at the beginning of worship services. Other symbols include an off-center cross within a circle (a Universalist symbol associated with the Humiliati movement in the 1950s, a group of reformist, liturgically minded clergy seeking to revive Universalism).

Other symbols include a pair of open hands releasing a dove.[92]

### Services of worship

The Unitarian Meeting House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin

Religious services are usually held on Sundays and most closely resemble the form and format of Protestant worship in the Reformed tradition.[48] Services at a vast majority of congregations follow a structure that focuses on a sermon or presentation by a minister, a lay leader of the congregation, or an invited speaker.[93] Sermons may cover a wide range of topics. Since Unitarian Universalists do not recognize a particular text or set of texts as primary or inherently superior, inspiration can be found in many different religious or cultural texts as well as the personal experiences of the minister.

The service also includes hymn-singing, accompanied by organ, piano, or other available instruments, and possibly led by a song leader or choir. The most recent worship songbook published by the denomination, Singing the Journey[94] contains 75 songs and is a supplement to the older Singing the Living Tradition which contains readings as well.[95] Hymns typically sung in Unitarian Universalist services come from a variety of sources—traditional hymn tunes with new or adapted lyrics, spirituals, folk songs from various cultures, or original compositions by Unitarian Universalist musicians are just a few. Instrumental music is also a common feature of the typical worship service, including preludes, offertory music, postludes, or music for contemplation.

Pastoral elements of the service may include a time for sharing Joys and Sorrows/Concerns, where individuals in the congregation are invited to light a candle or say a few words about important events in their personal lives. Many also include a time of meditation or prayer, led by the minister or service leader, both spoken and silent. Responsive readings and stories for children are also typical. Many congregations also allow for a time at the end of the service, called "talk back", where members of the congregation can respond to the sermon with their own insights and questions, or even disagree with the viewpoint expressed by the minister or invited speaker.

Many Unitarian Universalist congregations no longer observe the Christian sacraments of baptism, communion, or confirmation, at least in their traditional forms or under their traditional names. Congregations that continue these practices under their more traditional names are often federated churches or members of the Council of Christian Churches within the Unitarian Universalist Association (CCCUUA), or may have active chapters associated with the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship or similar covenant groups.[96] "Child dedications" often replace more traditional infant baptisms (such "dedications" are sometimes practiced even in "orthodox" Christian communities that do not baptize infants for theological reasons). Annual celebrations of Water Communion and Flower Communion may replace or supplement Christian-style communion (though many pluralist and Christian-oriented congregations may celebrate or otherwise make provisions for communion on Christian holy days).[97] Confirmation may be replaced by a "Coming of Age" program, in which teenagers explore their individual religious identity, often developing their own credo. After they have completed exploring their spiritual beliefs, they write a speech about it which they then personally deliver to the congregation.

Services can vary widely between congregations, and can incorporate dancing, contemporary music and poetry, readings taken from secular fiction or original works by congregants.[98]

## Politics

### Historical politics of Unitarians and Universalists

Main articles: Religion:Unitarianism and Universalist Church of America

In the 19th century, Unitarians and Universalists were active in abolitionism, the women's movement, the temperance movement, and other social reform movements. The second women's rights convention was held at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, New York. Additionally, four Presidents of the United States were Unitarians: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Millard Fillmore, and William Howard Taft.[99]

### Politics of Unitarian Universalists

See also: Social:Christian left, Liberalism in the United States, and Progressivism in the United States

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* Alembert
* Arnold
* Aron
* Barante
* Bastiat
* Bentham
* Berlin
* Beveridge
* Bobbio
* Brentano
* Bright
* Broglie
* Burke
* Čapek
* Cassirer
* Chicherin
* Chu
* Chydenius
* Cobden
* Collingdood
* Condorcet
* Constant
* Croce
* Cuoco
* Dahrendorf
* Decy
* Dewey
* Dickens
* Diderot
* Dongsun
* Dunoyer
* Dworkin
* Emerson
* Eötvös
* Flach
* Friedman
* Galbraith
* Garrison
* George
* Gladstone
* Gobetti
* Gomes
* Gray
* Green
* Gu
* Guizot
* Hayek
* Herbert
* Hobbes
* Hobhouse
* Hobson
* Holbach
* Hu
* Humboldt
* Jefferson
* Jubani
* Kant
* Kelsen
* Kemal
* Keynes
* Korais
* Korwin-Mikke
* Kymplcka
* Lamartine
* Larra
* Lecky
* Li
* Locke
* Lufti
* Macaulay
* Madariaga
* Madison
* Martineau
* Masani
* Michelet
* Mill (father)
* Mill (son)
* Milton
* Mises
* Molteno
* Mommsen
* Money
* Montalembert
* Montesquieu
* Mora
* Mouffe
* Naoroji
* Naumann
* Nozick
* Nussbaum
* Ohlin
* Ortega
* Paine
* Paton
* Popper
* Price
* Priestley
* Prieto
* Quesnay
* Qin
* Ramírez
* Rathenau
* Rawls
* Raz
* Renan
* Renouvier
* Ricardo
* Röpke
* Rorthy
* Rosmini
* Rosselli
* Rousseau
* Ruggiero
* Sarmiento
* Say
* Sen
* Earl of Shaftesbury
* Shklar
* Sidney
* Sieyès
* Şinasi
* Sismondi
* Smith
* Soto Polar
* Spencer
* Spinoza
* Staël
* Sumner
* Tahtawi
* Tao
* Thierry
* Thorbecke
* Thoreau
* Tocqueville
* Tracy
* Troeltsch
* Turgot
* Villemain
* Voltaire
* Ward
* Weber
* Wollstonecraft
* Zambrano

Organizations

* Africa Liberal Network
* Alliance of Liberals
and Democrats for Europe
* Alliance of Liberals
and Democrats for Europe Party
* Arab Liberal Federation
* Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
* European Democratic Party
* European Liberal Youth
* European Party for Individual Liberty
* International Alliance of Libertarian Parties
* International Federation of Liberal Youth
* Liberal International
* Liberal Network for Latin America
* Liberal parties
* Liberal South East European Network

Regional variants

* Europe
* Latin America
* Albania
* Armenia
* Australia
* Austria
* Belgium
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Bulgaria
* Canada
* China
* Chile
* Colombia
* Croatia
* Cuba
* Cyprus
* Czech lands
* Denmark
* Ecuador
* Egypt
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Honduras
* Hong Kong
* Hungary
* Iceland
* India
* Iran
* Israel
* Italy
* Japan
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Macedonia
* Mexico
* Moldova
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* New Zealand
* Nicaragua
* Nigeria
* Norway
* Panama
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Philippines
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Senegal
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* South Africa
* South Korea
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Taiwan
* Thailand
* Tunisia
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* United States
* Classical
* Modern
* Uruguay
* Venezuela
* Zimbabwe

Related topics

* Bias in academia
* Bias in the media

*   *

* v
* t
* e

A Unitarian assembly in Louisville, Kentucky[100]

Historically, Unitarian Universalists have often been active in political causes, notably the civil rights movement,[101] the LGBT rights movement,[102] the social justice movement, and the feminist movement. Susan B. Anthony, a Unitarian and Quaker, was extremely influential in the women's suffrage movement. Unitarian Universalists and Quakers still share many principles. It is therefore common to see Unitarian Universalists and Quakers working together. The Unitarian Universalist tradition has included some prominent Christian socialists, such as the American Unitarian minister John Haynes Holmes and the labor leader and Universalist Sarah Bagley.[103] Holmes was also among the founders of both the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909 and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), chairing the latter for a time. James J. Reeb, a minister at All Souls Church, Unitarian, in Washington, D.C., and a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was clubbed in Selma, Alabama on March 8, 1965, and died two days later of massive head trauma. Two weeks after his death, Viola Liuzzo, a Unitarian Universalist civil rights activist, was murdered by white supremacists after her participation in the protest march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The Selma to Montgomery marches for voting rights are best known for Bloody Sunday, which refers to March 7, 1965, the most violent of the three marches. The past head of the Unitarian Universalist Association 2001–2009, William G. Sinkford, is African-American, making Unitarian Universalism one of the first traditionally white denominations to be headed by a member of a racial minority.[104]

While political liberals and progressives make up a clear majority of U.S. Unitarian Universalists (particularly in the UUA),[105] Unitarian Universalism aspires to diversity, and officially welcomes congregants regardless of their political views. Politically conservative Unitarian Universalists point out that neither theological liberalism nor the Seven Principles or Shared Values of Unitarian Universalism require decidedly left-leaning politics. There have been calls from groups such as the Fifth Principle Project for more tolerance and understanding of political differences within the UUA in order to avoid alienating politically centrist-leaning or moderate conservative Unitarian Universalists.[106] The former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen is an example of a conservative-leaning Unitarian Universalist.[107] Due to its covenantal commitment to liberal democratic principles and pluralism, however, Unitarian Universalism is generally considered to exclude authoritarian and far-right political ideologies, such as Christian nationalism.[108][109][110]

Ibram X. Kendi presenting his new book How to Be an Antiracist at Unitarian Universalist Church located in Montclair, New Jersey, on August 14, 2019

Several congregations have undertaken a series of organizational, procedural and practical steps to become acknowledged as a "Welcoming Congregation": a congregation which has taken specific steps to welcome and integrate gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender (LGBT) members. Unitarian Universalist ministers perform same-sex unions and now same-sex marriages where legal (and sometimes when not, as a form of civil protest). On June 29, 1984, the Unitarian Universalists became the first major church "to approve religious blessings on homosexual unions."[111] Unitarian Universalists have been in the forefront of the work to make same-sex marriages legal in their local states and provinces, as well as on the national level. Gay men, bisexuals, and lesbians are also regularly ordained as ministers, and a number of gay, bisexual, and lesbian ministers have, themselves, now become legally married to their partners. In May 2004, Arlington Street Church, in Boston, Massachusetts, was the site of the first state-sanctioned same-sex marriage in the United States. The official stance of the UUA is for the legalization of same-sex marriage—"Siding with Love". In 2004 UU minister Debra Haffner of The Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing published An Open Letter on Religious Leaders on Marriage Equality to affirm same-sex marriage from a multi-faith perspective. In December 2009, Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the bill to legalize same-sex marriage for the District of Columbia in All Souls Church.

Unitarian Universalists for Polyamory Awareness engages Unitarian Universalist ministers and other leaders to educate them on polyamory.[112] At the 2015 UUA General Assembly, the Association's non-discrimination rule was amended to include the category of "family and relationship structures";[113] the UUA has yet to take specific follow-up action on this, however.

Many congregations are heavily involved in projects and efforts aimed at supporting environmental causes and sustainability. These are often termed "seventh principle" activities because of the seventh principle quoted above.

## Controversies

### External

#### Lack of formal creed

In May 2004, Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn ended the tax-exempt status of the Red River Unitarian Universalist Church in Denison, Texas, because it was not a religious organization that has just one system of belief.[114] The church's board president said he was shocked by the Comptroller's decision "because the Unitarian church in the United States has a very long history."[114]

A 1997 ruling by the Texas Supreme Court stated that the Texas Comptroller cannot deny tax-exempt status to a religious group because it has multiple belief systems.[114]

A week later, the Comptroller's general counsel informed the Red River Unitarian Universalist Church that he had reviewed their application for tax exemption and had determined that it "is an organization created for religious purposes" and would be granted the tax exemption.[115][116]

#### Confusion with other groups

There are separate movements and organizations who hold to classical Unitarian or Christian universalist Christian theology and neither belong to the Unitarian Universalist Association nor consider themselves Unitarian Universalists. The American Unitarian Conference and the Christian Universalist Association are the two most significant organizations representing these theological beliefs today. Christians who hold these beliefs tend to consider themselves the true Unitarians or Universalists and heirs of the theological legacy of the original American Unitarian Association or Universalist Church of America, and they do not wish to be confused with Unitarian Universalists. The Unity Church is another denomination that is often confused with Unitarian Universalism.[117]

#### Boy Scouts of America

Main articles: Social:Boy Scouts of America membership controversies and Religious emblems programs (Boy Scouts of America)

In 1992, the UUA published statements opposing the BSA's policies of discriminating against homosexuals, atheists, and agnostics; and in 1993, the UUA updated the curriculum guidance of its "Religion in Life" emblems program for young people in scouting to include criticism of the BSA policies.[118] On account of the published criticism, in 1998 the BSA withdrew its recognition of UUA's Religion in Life emblem program. Subsequently, the UUA removed the objectionable material from the program curriculum and the BSA renewed recognition of the Religion in Life program. Later, the UUA issued internal, supplemental material to emblems-program workbooks that included general statements critical of discrimination on bases of sexual orientation or personal religious viewpoint. When the BSA learned of those (internal) statements it again withdrew recognition of the UUA Religion in Life emblems program.[119]

In 2004, the Unitarian Universalist Scouters Organization (UUSO), a group not affiliated with the UUA, established their "Living Your Religion" emblems program for UU-BSA scouts.[120] Without the knowledge or approval of the UUA, the program was approved by the BSA Religious Relationships committee in 2005. Upon being notified of the UUSO program the UUA issued a statement (March 16, 2005) clarifying that UUSO was not an affiliate organization of the UUA and asserting that, contrary to reports otherwise, UU congregations were still awarding the UUA Religion in Life emblem to their youth members in BSA Scouts—whose emblems then were worn on the Scouts' uniforms without complaint from the BSA. Further, the statement made clear that the UUA still maintained its criticism of both the BSA's ongoing discrimination against gay Scouts and gay Scout leaders and the BSA requirement of a religious litmus test for membership.[121][122]

Later events made these issues moot: In 2013, BSA opened its membership to gay youth, followed by opening membership to gay adults in 2015, which policy changes resolved the main UUA objection to supporting BSA. The UUSO dissolved in 2015 and by 2016, via a memorandum of understanding, the UUA religious emblems program was again formally recognized by BSA.[123]

### Internal

#### Language of reverence

During the presidency of William Sinkford, debate roiled the Unitarian Universalist (U.U.) movement over his call to return to, or to re-create, an authentic Unitarian Universalist "language of reverence."[124] Sinkford suggested that as Unitarian Universalists abandoned traditional religious language they would relinquish, to others, religion's words of power. These other religionists would proceed to dictate their meanings of religious words and language, including scripture, in the public sphere. He advocated that Unitarian Universalists should regain their proper seat at the interfaith table by making this language their own. In response, others saw his idea as an effort to return Unitarian Universalist congregations to more orthodox Christian worship patterns. Indeed, some were concerned that it might be a call to oppose the growing influence among UUs of humanism and atheism, the adherents of which would be made unwelcome within the community. Sinkford denied such motives, citing the words of Unitarian Universalist humanists as examples of what he meant by "language of reverence".[125]

The growth of humanism among Unitarian Universalists stemmed in part from the congregational commitment to reach a universal audience while educating U.U. folk in biblical literacy, many of whom were born into families that eschewed or minimized religious or moral catechisms. (In addition to humanists, these people comprehend atheists and theists, agnostics, skeptics and seekers, non-member affiliates, the religion-alienated and others among the larger UU congregation.) The debate saw the publication of a book by the UUA Beacon Press, written by former UUA President John Buehrens[126] and titled Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for skeptics, seekers, and religious liberals.[127] Meant to serve as a kind of handbook to be read alongside the Bible, it provides interpretative strategies from a liberal religious perspective for the reader to engage in conversation about the Bible—what it says and what it means today. Positive engagement is intended rather than to relinquish all public conversation to others over interpretation of the Bible. Another important work by Buehrens, with Forrest Church, is A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism,[128] in which the authors present the many sources of the Unitarian Universalist faith.

#### Borrowing from other religions

The "borrowing" of religious rituals from other faith traditions by Unitarian Universalists was discussed at the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly in 2001 during a seminar titled "Cultural Appropriation: Reckless Borrowing or Appropriate Cultural Sharing" by the Religious Education Dept, UUA.[129][130] Of particular discussion was the borrowing of rituals and practices that are sacred to specific tribes or using spiritual practices without real context.

### Racism

Internal controversy over the hiring of the UUA's Southern Region Lead (a white man from outside the region was hired rather than a Latina woman who resided within the region) led to resignations and apologies in 2017. UUA President Peter Morales, the denomination's first Latino president, resigned amid criticism of his failure to address the diversity controversies.[131][132] The three co-presidents who took over commissioned a "racism audit" to address white supremacy within the denomination.[133] In April 2018, The Washington Post reported that the UUA "in the past year has been asked to help resolve 15 congregational conflicts involving religious professionals of color".[134]

## Organizations

### Asia

* Philippines: Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines
* India: The Indian Council of Unitarian Churches, which includes the Khasi Unitarian Union
* Indonesia: Unitarian Christian Church of Indonesia (also known as Jemaat Allah Global Indonesia)

### Africa

* South Africa: Unitarian Church of South Africa

### Australia and New Zealand

* Australia and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association (ANZUUA) is a Unitarian Universalist organization which serves as the organizing body for Unitarian and Universalist congregations in Australia and New Zealand.

### North America

* Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) is the national body for Unitarian Universalist congregations in Canada. They were a member of the UUA up until July 2002.
* Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice (CUSJ) is a Canadian Unitarian Universalist social justice organization that is an associate member of the CUC.
* Canadian Unitarian Universalist Women's Association (CUUWA) is a Canadian Unitarian Universalist women's rights organization that is an associate member of the CUC.
* North American Unitarian Association (NAUA) is a North American group unaffiliated with the UUA.
* Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is the largest association of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist congregations in the world, and the most well-known. It operates mainly within the United States including the territory of Puerto Rico.[135] A few Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist congregations in other countries, such as San Miguel de Allende (Mexico), Auckland (New Zealand),[136] and a few others are also members of the UUA. As of 2020, the UUA represents 1,078 member congregations that collectively include more than 152000 members.[137]
* Promise the Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Promise the Children's mission is to help Unitarian Universalists advocate for and with children and youth. Promise the Children is also an Independent Affiliate of the UUA
* Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) is a term used within the UUA and CUC. YRUU was an organization at the North American continental level primarily run by youth, ranging in age from 14 to 20, with mentoring adult partners. The North American continental organization of YRUU ended in 2008, but the term is still used by certain active youth groups and conferences at the congregational and regional/district levels. It was created in 1981 and 1982, at two conferences, Common Ground 1 and 2. Common Ground was called to form a UUA-controlled replacement for Liberal Religious Youth (LRY), the Unitarian Universalist youth organization that preceded YRUU. LRY was dissolved by the UUA, and its assets absorbed by it.
* Unitarian Universalist Buddhist Fellowship (UUBF), is an association of Unitarian Universalists who define themselves as Buddhists. Formed in the early 1990s, UUBF exists to facilitate dialogue among UU Buddhists and other UUs interested in Buddhism and its practices. It is open to all Unitarian Universalists who are Buddhists of any tradition or who are interested in learning more about Buddhism. The UUBF publishes a newsletter, the UU Sangha, and posts back issues in an archive on its website. The website also has a list of UU Buddhist and meditation groups and contact information. Instructions for joining the UUBF Listserv are there also. Each year there is a UUBF booth in the exhibit hall at UUA General Assembly. Every other year, in odd years, the UUBF holds a Convocation.[138]
* Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) exists to serve Unitarian Universalists remote from any physical congregation, and is the largest congregation by membership in the UUA[139]
* Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) is an association of Unitarian Universalists who define themselves as Pagans or Neopagans.
* Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship (UUCF) is an association of Unitarian Universalists who define themselves as Christians.
* Unitarian Universalists for Polyamory Awareness is an association of Unitarian Universalists who support officially recognizing polyamory as a valid lifestyle.
* Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is a nonsectarian organization devoted to promoting human rights and social justice worldwide.
* Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry (UUAM) is a diverse group of Unitarian Universalists who aim to broaden the circle of compassion to animals.[140]

### Europe

* European Unitarian Universalists (EUU) is a network connecting Unitarian Universalists and English-speaking Unitarian Universalist fellowships in Europe.
* Czech Republic: Náboženská společnost českých unitářů (Religious Society of Czech Unitarians)
* Denmark: Unitarisk Kirkesamfund
* Finland: Unitarian Universalist Society of Finland
* Germany: Unitarier - Religionsgemeinschaft freien Glaubens
* Hungary: Unitarian Church of Transylvania
* Netherlands: Vrijzinnige Geloofsgemeenschap NPB
* Romania: Unitarian Church of Transylvania
* Spain: Unitarian Universalist Society of Spain

### Worldwide

* International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) represents Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist churches worldwide. The UUA and CUC are both members of this organization.

## Number of members

As of 2020, the UUA had 1,027 Unitarian Universalist member congregations in the United States[141] and some congregations outside the US.[142] 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.[143] As of December 2023 there are 42 Unitarian Universalist congregations and emerging groups in Canada affiliated with the CUC.[144]

In 1956, Sam Wells wrote, "Unitarians and Universalists are considering merger which would have total U.S. membership of 160000 (500000 in the world)".[145] 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 ...".[146] According to the 2008 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations claimed 214,738 members in 2002.[147]

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.[148] The highest concentrations are in New England and around Seattle, Washington.[149]

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%.[150]

The 2001 Canadian census done by Statistics Canada put Canadian Unitarians at 17,480,[151] and the September 2007 membership statistics from the CUC show they had at that time 5,150 official members.[152] In 2015, the CUC reported 3,804 members.[153]

## Notable members

## See also

* List of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist churches
* New religious movement
* Postchristianity
* United and uniting churches
* United Church of Christ

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Casebolt, James; Niekro, Tiffany (March 2005). "Some UUs Are More U than U: Theological Self-Descriptors Chosen by Unitarian Universalists". Review of Religious Research (Cham, Switzerland: Springer Verlag) 46 (3): 235–242. doi:10.2307/3512553. ISSN 2211-4866.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Willsky-Ciollo, Lydia (2015). "Epilogue: Seeking Authority in Contemporary Unitarian Universalism". American Unitarianism and the Protestant Dilemma: The Conundrum of Biblical Authority. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books. pp. 241–245. ISBN 978-0-7391-8892-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=Ox1BCwAAQBAJpg.
3. ↑ "Congregations and Communities". https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening/congregations-communities. "...our polity can reflect our theological desire to model an egalitarian and just way of living. It is a challenge we are called to meet; our very commitment to Unitarian Universalism makes this struggle, this dance, inherent."
4. ↑ Beyer, Catherine (October 19, 2017). "A Look at the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism". https://www.learnreligions.com/seven-principles-of-unitarian-universalism-95786. "Unitarian Universalist's egalitarian outlook lends itself to the promotion of democratic organization."
5. ↑ Raisor, Paul (2010-02-02). "Can Unitarian Universalism change?". https://www.uuworld.org/articles/can-uu-change.
6. ↑ "Who Are the UU Christians?". https://www.uuchristian.com/who-are-the-uu-christians.
7. ↑ Hoop, Katrina C. (Spring 2012). "Being a Community of Individuals: Collective Identity and Rhetorical Strategies in a Unitarian Universalist Church". International Review of Modern Sociology (International Journals) 38 (1): 105–130. ISSN 0973-2047.
8. ↑ "Liberalism and Liberation Theology". https://www.uua.org/lifespan/curricula/wholeness/workshop8/alternate-activity-1.
9. ↑ Andrews, Yvonne L.. "What is Omnism?". https://www.firstchurchlancasterma.org/services/sunday-may-26-2024.
10. ↑ Patrick, Lydia. "Omnism". https://wordsofwisdom.uucg.org/omnism.
11. ↑ Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks. "What do UUs Believe?". https://www.uuff.org/beliefs.
12. ↑ Gregg, Carl (September 11, 2013). "Celebrating Mixed Religion: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Syncretism". Englewood, CO. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/carlgregg/2015/09/celebrating-mixed-religion-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-syncretism.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Harvard Divinity School Library: Significant Events in the Consolidation of the Unitarian and Universalist Churches
14. ↑ "2024 PRRI Census of American Religion" (in en-US). PRRI. 2025-05-05. https://prri.org/spotlight/2024-prri-census-of-american-religion/.
15. ↑ "UUA Membership Statistics, 1961–2024". http://www.uua.org/directory/data/demographics/uua-statistics.
16. ↑ UUA, inSpirit. "An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism" (in en). https://uuabookstore.org/products/a-chosen-faith?_pos=1&_psq=a+chosen+faith&_ss=e&_v=1.0.
17. ↑ UUA.org, Skinner House. "Skinner House Books" (in en). https://www.uua.org/publications/skinnerhouse.
18. ↑ "2024 PRRI Census of American Religion" (in en-US). PRRI. 2025-05-05. https://prri.org/spotlight/2024-prri-census-of-american-religion/.
19. ↑ Unitarian Universalist Association: How we Began
20. ↑ John Dart, ed. Surveys: 'UUism' unique Churchgoers from elsewhere . Christian Century
21. ↑ Daniel McKanan, "Unitarianism, Universalism, and Unitarian Universalism", Religion Compass 7/1 (2013), 15.
22. ↑ "UUA: Welcome Primer". Unitarian Universalist Association, Skinner House Books. http://www.uua.org/documents/skinner/welcome_primer.pdf.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "UUA: History". Unitarian Universalist Association. http://www.uua.org/beliefs/history/index.shtml.
24. ↑ Westminster Origen Handbook
25. ↑ Ludlow, Morwenna. (2000). "Universal Salvation: Eschatology in the thought of Gregory of Nyssa and Karl Rahner". New York; Oxford University Press.
26. ↑ Stone, Darwell. (1903). Outline of Christian Dogma. New York: Longmans, Green & Co. p. 341.
27. ↑ "History of Unitarian Universalism". October 9, 2014. https://www.uua.org/beliefs/who-we-are/history.
28. ↑ William Latta McCalla (1825). Discussion of universalism. p. 105. "THIRD UNIVERSALIST ARGUMENT. As it is a fact that many Universalists advocate a sort of purgatory, a concise notice will be taken of those texts which are erroneously thought to countenance that doctrine."
29. ↑ "Church Lays Corner Stone In New Hampshire". 21 July 2012. https://100yearsagotoday.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/church-lays-corner-stone-in-new-hampshire/.
30. ↑ "Google Sites". https://sites.google.com/site/growinguuism/uu-history.
31. ↑ "Michael Servetus Institute; Times that Servetus lived". Miguelservet.org. http://www.miguelservet.org/servetus/biography.htm.
32. ↑ "Chris Fisher, A Brief History of Unitarian Christianity, retrieved July 18, 2008". Americanunitarian.org. http://www.americanunitarian.org/fisherhistory.htm.
33. ↑ Rowe, Mortimer. "1959_StoryEssexHall.pdf". London: Lindsey Press.
34. ↑ Rowe, Mortimer (1959). "The History of Essex Hall". Chapter 2 – Lindsey's Chapel. Lindsey Press. http://www.unitarian.org.uk/support/doc-EssexHall2.shtml. "... in the early months of 1774 a little group of persons – Lindsey and his chiefpledged supporters – turned the corner out of the Strand into Essex Street and stood looking at a building near the top of the street, a building which alone kept alive the proud name 'Essex House'"
35. ↑ Silverman, Sharon Hernes (September 24, 2011). "Joseph Priestley". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4277&&PageID=443569&level=4&css=L4&mode=2. "...eleven homes and two chapels in Birmingham were destroyed ... on April 8, 1794, Joseph and Mary Priestley set sail for America ... his 1796 lectures on "Evidences of Revelation" led to the formation of the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia"
36. ↑ Rowe, Mortimer (1959). "The Story of Essex Hall". Lindsey Press. https://www.unitarian.org.uk/sites/default/files/1959_StoryEssexHall.pdf.
37. ↑ "Theology of Unitarianism". http://cross-street-chapel.org.uk/about/unitarian/members-theology/.
38. ↑ "Newington Green Chapel under threat after 300 years?". 2016-10-25. http://cross-street-chapel.org.uk/about/unitarian/members-theology/.
39. ↑ "Community Without Creed". https://www.unitarian.org.uk/pages/unitarianism-explained.
40. ↑ "Staff | Unitarians". https://www.unitarian.org.uk/pages/staff.
41. ↑ Paul Erasmus Lauer, Church and state in New England (Johns Hopkins Press, 1892) p. 105. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
42. ↑ Bob Sampson, Seventy-three Years In the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Nashua, July 16, 2006 . Retrieved July 18, 2008.
43. ↑ Fisher, Chris (September 1, 2004). "A Brief History of Unitarian Christianity". The 19th Century. American Unitarian Conference. http://americanunitarian.org/fisherhistory.htm. "Many churches that were Congregationalist split off and became Unitarian. In 1825, the movement grew large enough that an organization, the American Unitarian Association, was formed"
44. ↑ Rowe, Ch. 3: "Thus was brought to birth, triumphantly, in 1825, The British And Foreign Unitarian Association. By a happy coincidence, in those days of slow posts, no transatlantic telegraph, telephone or wireless, our American cousins, in complete ignorance as to the details of what was afoot, though moving toward a similar goal, founded the American Unitarian Association on precisely the same day—May 26, 1825."
45. ↑ Ralph Waldo Emerson . Harvardsquarelibrary.org. Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
46. ↑ Engaging our theological diversity. The Commission on Appraisal of the Unitarian Universalist Association. May 2005. ISBN 978-1-55896-497-6. http://www.uua.org/documents/coa/engagingourtheodiversity.pdf.
47. ↑ "Comprehensive Sexuality Education". Social Justice » Reproductive Justice. Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. August 23, 2011. http://www.uua.org/reproductive/education/index.shtml. "The Unitarian Universalist Association has long been an advocate of age-appropriate, medically accurate, comprehensive sexuality education"
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Sias, John, 100 Questions that Non-Unitarians Ask About Unitarian Universalism, UU Nashua, http://www.uunashua.org/100q/100questions.pdf
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Accord History, CA: CUC, http://www.cuc.ca/governance/archival/History.htm, retrieved 2010-09-29
50. ↑ "Bylaws and rules". Governance and Management. Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. http://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/bylaws. "Unitarian Universalist Association was given corporate status in May 1961 under special acts of legislature of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New York."
51. ↑ Harris, pp. 90–92.
52. ↑ Bray Mcnatt, Rosemary (3 June 2019). "Our Faith". The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide (6th ed.). Boston: Skinner House (published 2019-05-03). pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-1-55896-826-4.
53. ↑ "Beliefs & Principle". https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe.
54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 Bray Mcnatt, Rosemary (3 June 2019). "Our Faith". The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide (6th ed.). Boston: Skinner House (published 2019-05-03). pp. 3–4. ISBN 978-1-55896-826-4.
55. ↑ "Unitarian Universalism Develops". Harvard University. 2020. https://pluralism.org/unitarian-universalism-develops.
56. ↑ James, Jacqui (2001). "Reckless Borrowing or Appropriate Cultural Sharing?". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/multiculturalism/introduction/misappropriation/reckless-borrowing.
57. ↑ UUA, inSpirit. "An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism" (in en). https://uuabookstore.org/products/a-chosen-faith?_pos=1&_psq=a+chosen+faith&_ss=e&_v=1.0.
58. ↑ Editors of UUA.org. "Skinner House Books" (in en). https://www.uua.org/publications/skinnerhouse.
59. ↑ UUA.org. "Skinner House Books" (in en). https://www.uua.org/publications/skinnerhouse.
60. ↑ "Existence of a Higher Power in Unitarian Universalism". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/higher-power.
61. ↑ Rasor, Paul, ed. "Unitarian Universalist Views of God". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/higher-power/views.
62. ↑ Beckett, John (2019-10-24). "Why Unitarian Polytheism Is Not An Oxymoron and Other Issues With Religious Institutions". Ancient Oaks: Musings of a Pagan, Druid, and Unitarian Universalist. Patheos. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2019/10/why-unitarian-polytheism-is-not-an-oxymoron.html.
63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Willcox, Kris (2017-02-15). "Humanism at 100: Across a century of change, Humanism has continued to evolve". UUWorld. Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uuworld.org/articles/humanism-100.
64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 Saxon, John L. Thank God for Humanism (PDF) (Speech). Worship Service. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
65. ↑ Schulz, William F. (2003-11-01). "Our humanist legacy: Seventy years of religious humanism". UUWorld. Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uuworld.org/articles/unitarian-universalisms-humanist-legacy.
66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 UUA Congregational Life (2019-04-23). "A Comprehensive Guide to Congregational Covenants". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/leaderlab/congregational-covenants.
67. ↑ "Unitarian Universalist Views of God". The Minns Lectures. 2001. pp. 5–6. http://minnslectures.org/archive/wesley/Lecture4.pdf.
68. ↑ "Congregational Polity 101". Harvard Square Library. https://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/congregational-polity/congregational-polity-101/.
69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 "The Seven Principles". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles.
70. ↑ Ross, Warren R. (November–December 2000). "Shared values: How the UUA's Principles and Purposes were shaped and how they've shaped Unitarian Universalism". UUWorld. Unitarian Universalist Association. http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/3643.shtml.
71. ↑ "Unitarian Universalists Adopt New Language on Core Religious Values". June 2024. https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/new-language-core-values.
72. ↑ Ng, Vyda (2021-11-28). "Shared values: CUC Approves 8th Principle on Dismantling Racism and Systemic Barriers to Full Inclusion". Canadian Unitarian Council. https://cuc.ca/cuc-approves-8th-principle/.
73. ↑ Santos-Lyons, Joseph (2020-03-01). "A new generation of UU leaders in the Philippines". UUWorld. Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uuworld.org/articles/new-leaders-philippines.
74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 74.2 "Social Justice". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/leaderlab/learning-center/governance/polity/47013.shtml.
75. ↑ Gregg, Carl (2020-03-01). "Deeds Not Creeds, Behavior Is Believable". Carl Gregg: Pluralism, Pragmatism, Progressivism. Patheos. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/carlgregg/2014/11/behavior-is-believable/.
76. ↑ "Justice & Inclusion". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/justice.
77. ↑ "Black Lives Matter and Building a Movement for Racial Justice". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/multiculturalism/racial-justice/black-lives-matter.
78. ↑ "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Justice". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/lgbtq.
79. ↑ "Women's Rights: Action of Immediate Witness". Unitarian Universalist Association. 2003-07-01. https://www.uua.org/action/statements/women’s-rights.
80. ↑ "Immigrant Justice". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/immigration.
81. ↑ "Reproductive Justice". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/reproductive.
82. ↑ "Climate & Environmental Justice". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/environment.
83. ↑ "Economic Justice". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uua.org/economic.
84. ↑ See for examples: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Westchester and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens.
85. ↑ "Largest religious groups in the United States of America". http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html.
86. ↑ UU World Magazine. Unitarian Universalist Association. July/August 2004. [1]
87. ↑ 87.0 87.1 "Affirmations: Elevator speeches". uuaworld.org. Unitarian Universalist Association. http://www.uuworld.org/2003/06/affirmations.html.
88. ↑ Karen Johnson Gustafson (November 2006). "Dear Ones". Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth Newsletter. http://www.uuduluth.org/newsletters/nov06news.html.
89. ↑ "The Chalice". Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). http://www.disciples.org/AboutTheDisciples/TheChalice/tabid/70/Default.aspx.
90. ↑ Adapted from the pamphlet "The Flaming Chalice" by Daniel D. Hotchkiss. "The History of the Flaming Chalice". Unitarian Universalist Association. http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/chalice.html.
91. ↑ Harris, Mark W.. "The A to Z of Unitarian Universalism". London: Scarecrow Press.
92. ↑ Steve Bridenbaugh. "UU Chalices and Clip Art". Unitarian Universalist Association. http://archive.uua.org/CONG/chalices/.
93. ↑ Commission on Common Worship (1983). "Common Worship: How and Why; The contribution of Von Ogden Vogt". Leading Congregations in Worship: A Guide. Unitarian Universalist Association. http://www.uua.org/worshipweb/commonworship/vogt.html.
94. ↑ Singing the Journey. Unitarian Universalist Association. 2005. ISBN 1-55896-499-1.
95. ↑ Singing the Living Tradition. Beacon Press. 1993. ISBN 1-55896-260-3.
96. ↑ "Christians 2004". http://www.liveoakuu.org/christian04.htm.
97. ↑ Jan K. Nielsen (October 6, 2002). "Who is My Neighbor? A Homily for World Wide Communion Sunday". http://www.westhartforduu.org/sermons/my_neighbor.html.
98. ↑ Leo Rosten, ed (1975). Religions of America: Ferment and Faith in an Age of Crisis: A New Guide and Almanac. New York: Simon and Schuster. pp. 268–269. ISBN 0-671-21970-7. OCLC 1093360.
99. ↑ "The Religious Affiliations of U.S. Presidents". The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. January 15, 2009. http://www.pewforum.org/The-Religious-Affiliations-of-US-Presidents.aspx.
100. ↑ "First Unitarian Church of Louisville". Firstulou.org. http://www.firstulou.org/.
101. ↑ Smith, Amanda, Unitarian Universalist Church Has Rich Civil Rights History
102. ↑ UUA "Unitarian Universalist Policy and LGBTQ Issues"
103. ↑ Mckanan, Daniel (January 18, 2010). "The religious left: an old tradition for a new day". https://www.uuworld.org/articles/religious-left. "The Rev. John Haynes Holmes, a Unitarian, built the Community Church of New York into a hub of civil liberties and antiracist activism, and introduced the American public to Gandhian nonviolence...American socialism was also born during the abolitionist era, partly at Hopedale and other utopian communities, and partly through the pioneering journalism of Universalist Sarah Bagley, who launched the Lowell Offering as a voice for female mill workers in Massachusetts’s first factory town."
104. ↑ Maxwell, Bill; 11 April 2008; "Leading the Unitarian Universalist Association, a faith without a creed"; St. Petersburg Times
105. ↑ Lipka, Michael (February 23, 2016). "U.S. religious groups and their political leanings". https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2016/02/23/u-s-religious-groups-and-their-political-leanings.
106. ↑ Casper, Frank (August 15, 2023). "Why The UUA is Doomed to Fail in Its Goals, by David Cycleback". https://fifthprincipleproject.org/2023/08/15/why-the-uua-is-doomed-to-fail-in-its-goals-by-david-cycleback. "A complaint about the recent years’ narrowing of UU’s politics is that it excludes political moderates and conservatives who would embrace the UU’s Principles. There is no political litmus test to be a UU, and there is no reason that many moderates and conservatives who believe in 'the inherent worth and dignity of every person' can’t belong to a UU or other religiously liberal church. UU Minister Rev. Sean Neil-Baron [sic] put it 'We are a liberal religion not a religion for liberals,' and there used to be an active group for conservative UUs."
107. ↑ Kuttler, Hillel (1997-01-26). "Cohen new Pentagon chief". The Jerusalem Post. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/64129080.html?dids=64129080:64129080&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+26,+1997&author=HILLEL+KUTTLER&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=Cohen+new+Pentagon+chief&pqatl=google.
108. ↑ McDonagh, Rose (September 30, 2011). "Unitarians are far from wishy-washy". https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2011/sep/30/unitarian-faith-social-activism. "...Unitarian Universalists are known for their history of vociferous support for controversial causes including immigrant rights, access to abortion, LGBT equality and environmental protection. Broad principles of reason, compassion and valuing all people, rather than claims about ultimate truth, are given as the driving force for political action."
109. ↑ SWL Organizing Strategy Team. "Responding to Far Right/White Christian Nationalist Threats". https://sidewithlove.org/responding-to-threats. "UU congregations are increasingly being targeted by right-wing hate, all of our congregations should be prepared to respond to threats with skill and courage while also remaining grounded in our values."
110. ↑ Horan, Ashley (2025). "A Living Tradition to Meet the Moment". in Sofía Betancourt. The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Skinner House Books. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-55896-967-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=AmQQ0QEACAAJ. Retrieved December 16, 2025. "The landscape in which I write in early 2025, during the first one hundred days of a second Trump administration that is actively eviscerating the administrative state and attempting a fascist coup on behalf of white Christian nationalism, is fundamentally different from the one that Unitarian Universalists navigated fifty, ten, or even five years ago–both within our faith and in broader society. The current moment is rife with both existential challenges and liberatory opportunities that demand we ask ourselves, yet again: which aspects of our faith are so essential that without them, we would no longer be Unitarian Universalists?"
111. ↑ "Unitarians Endorse Homosexual Marriages", UPI, The New York Times, 29 June 1984.
112. ↑ "UUPA". http://uupa.org/.
113. ↑ "Unitarian Universalist Association: Rule II, Section C-2.3.: Non-discrimination". http://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/bylaws/ruleii/section-c-23-non-discrimination.
114. ↑ 114.0 114.1 114.2 Dyer, R.A. (May 18, 2004). "Unitarian group denied tax status". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 1B, 4B.
115. ↑ Root, Jay (May 25, 2004). "Unitarians given tax exemption". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 1D, 8D.
116. ↑ "News Release From Carole Keeton Strayhorn". Window.state.tx.us. May 24, 2004. http://www.window.state.tx.us/news/40524church.html.
117. ↑ See "Why the American Unitarian Conference Had to Be Formed" and "What Is the Difference between Christian Universalism and Unitarian Universalism?"
118. ↑ Gustav Niebuhr (1999-05-22). "The Boy Scouts, a Battle and the Meaning of Faith". New York Times. http://archive.uua.org/news/scouts/faith.html.
119. ↑ Isaacson, Eric Alan (2007). "Traditional Values, or a New Tradition of Prejudice? The Boy Scouts of America vs. the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations". George Mason University Civil Rights Law Journal 17 (1). http://works.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=eric_isaacson. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
120. ↑ "Unitarian Universalist Scouters Organization". March 5, 2006. http://www.uuscouters.org/.
121. ↑ "UUA and the Scouts: Statement from the Unitarian Universalist Association". Unitarian Universalist Association. March 16, 2005. http://archive.uua.org/news/scouts/050316_statement.html.
122. ↑ "Religious Emblems Programs Available to Members of the Boy Scouts of America". Boy Scouts of America. http://www.scouting.org/awards/religious/awards/index.html.
123. ↑ "UUA Memorandum of Understanding". March 24, 2016. https://www.uua.org/children/scouting/memorandum-understanding.
124. ↑ Gibbons, Kendyl L.R. (2006-07-31). "Human reverence: The language of reverence is the language of humanity". UU World: Liberal religion and life. https://www.uuworld.org/articles/need-language-reverence.
125. ↑ Higgins, Richard (May 17, 2003). "Religion Journal; A Heated Debate Flares in Unitarian Universalism". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/17/nyregion/religion-journal-a-heated-debate-flares-in-unitarian-universalism.html?pagewanted=all.
126. ↑ Buehrens, John A.. "Past Unitarian Universalist Association President John A. Buehrens on why even humanists should read the Bible". Beliefnet.com. http://www.beliefnet.com/story/132/story_13272_1.html.
127. ↑ Buehrens, John A. (2004). Understanding the Bible: An introduction for skeptics, seekers, and religious liberals. Beacon Press. ISBN 0-8070-1053-7.
128. ↑ Buehrens, John A.; Forrester Church, F. (1998). A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism. Beacon Press. ISBN 0-8070-1617-9. https://archive.org/details/chosenfaithintro00bueh_0.
129. ↑ "Cultural Appropriation: Reckless Borrowing or Appropriate Cultural Sharing" Reported for the Web by Dwight Ernest, July 24, 2001, Unitarian Universalist Association
130. ↑ "When Worship Becomes Cultural Misappropriation", September 15, 2007, UU Interconnections
131. ↑ Banks, Adelle (31 March 2017). "Unitarian Universalist president resigns amid diversity controversy". Religion News Service. https://religionnews.com/2017/03/31/unitarian-universalist-president-resigns-amid-diversity-controversy/.
132. ↑ McArdle, Elaine (27 March 2017). "Critics see white supremacy in UUA hiring practices". Unitarian Universalist Association. https://www.uuworld.org/articles/critics-challenge-uua-hiring-practices.
133. ↑ Gjelten, Tom (24 June 2017). "Unitarian Universalists Denounce White Supremacy, Make Leadership Changes". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2017/06/24/534248664/unitarian-universalists-denounce-white-supremacy-make-leadership-changes.
134. ↑ Boorstein, Michelle (17 April 2018). "What happens when a church dedicated to fighting white supremacy is accused of it". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/04/17/what-happens-when-a-church-dedicated-to-fighting-white-supremacy-is-accused-of-it/.
135. ↑ Congregation Unitarian Universalist . Uupuertorico.org. Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
136. ↑ "Welcome!". Unitarian.org.nz. http://www.unitarian.org.nz/auckland/.
137. ↑ "UUA Membership Statistics, 1961–2020". Unitarian Universalist Association. 2021. https://www.uua.org/data/demographics/uua-statistics.
138. ↑ Ford, James Ishmael (21 May 2007). "What is Unitarian Universalist Buddhism?" (in en). UU World Magazine. https://www.uuworld.org/articles/what-unitarian-universalist-buddhism.
139. ↑ Sofía Betancourt, ed (2025). The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Skinner House Books. p. iv. ISBN 978-1-55896-967-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=AmQQ0QEACAAJ. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
140. ↑ "Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry". https://uuam.org/wp/.
141. ↑ "UUA Membership Statistics, 1961-2020" (in en). https://www.uua.org/data/demographics/uua-statistics.
142. ↑ "Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist (U/U) Global Headquarters and Churches". http://www.uua.org/international/affiliates/global-hqs-churches.
143. ↑ Walton, Christopher L.; Todd, Kathy (2011). "Unitarian Universalist congregations by state". weekly web magazine. Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/186525.shtml. "Map includes 1,018 UUA member congregations in the United States using data collected by the UUA through February 2011, but does not include the Church of the Larger Fellowship which is headquartered in Mass. but serves a geographically dispersed community. The map does include multidenominational congregations affiliated with the UUA"
144. ↑ "Find a Congregation" (in en-US). https://cuc.ca/unitarian-universalism/find-a-congregation/, https://cuc.ca/unitarian-universalism/find-a-congregation/.
145. ↑ Wells, Sam, ed (1957). The World's Great Religions. 3 Glories of Christiandom. New York: Time Inc.. p. 205.
146. ↑ Conkin, Paul K. (1997). American Originals: Homemade Varieties of Christianity. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press. p. 95. ISBN 0-8078-4649-X. https://archive.org/details/americanoriginal00conk/page/95.
147. ↑ Lindner, Eileen W., ed (2008). Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches 2008. Nashville: Abingdon Press. p. 381.
148. ↑ "The Graduate Center, CUNY". Gc.cuny.edu. http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_briefs/aris/key_findings.htm.
149. ↑ "Unitarians as a percentage of all residents". Glenmary Research Center. Religious Congregations and Membership in the United States, 2000. http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/pics/geo200/religion/unitarian.gif.
150. ↑ "U.S. Religious Landscape Survey". Religions.pewforum.org. http://religions.pewforum.org/affiliations.
151. ↑ 97F0022XCB2001002 . 2.statcan.ca (2010-03-09). Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
152. ↑ "Membership – The More it Changes, the More it Stays the Same". http://cuc.ca/archive/whos_who/Admin/phil/InfoTopics2008February.pdf.
153. ↑ "Archived copy". http://cuc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/The-Canadian-Unitarian-Spring-2016.pdf.

## Further reading

* A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism (Revised ed.). Boston: Beacon Press. 1998. ISBN 0-8070-1617-9. https://archive.org/details/chosenfaithintro00bueh_0.
* A House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-First Century (Revised ed.). Boston: Beacon Press. 2011. ISBN 978-0-8070-0150-9. https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780807077382. 184 pages.
* Bumbaugh, David E. (2000). Unitarian Universalism: A Narrative History. Chicago: Meadville Lombard Press. ISBN 0-9702-479-0-7. https://archive.org/details/unitarianunivers0000bumb.
* Grigg, Richard (2004). To Re-Enchant the World: A Philosophy of Unitarian Universalism. Bloomington, IN: Xlibris. ISBN 1-4134-6691-5. https://archive.org/details/toreenchantworld0000rich.
* Guest, Avery Pete (2014–2015). "Universalism as Liberal Religion and the 1845 Antislavery Protest". Journal of Unitarian Universalist History (Cambridge, Mass.: Unitarian Universalist Historical Society) 38: 127–53.
* The Journal of Unitarian Universalist Studies. Includes links to past volumes and past journals.
* The Journal of Unitarian Universalist Studies' old Web site. Includes links not on the new one.
* A Documentary History of Unitarian Universalism. 1: From the Beginning to 1899. Boston: Skinner House Books. 2017. ISBN 978-1-55896-789-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=3FBUDwAAQBAJ.
* A Documentary History of Unitarian Universalism. 2: From 1900 to the Present. Boston: Skinner House Books. 2017. ISBN 978-1-55896-791-5. https://archive.org/details/documentaryhisto0002unse_u8q5.
* Parke, David B., ed (1957). The Epic of Unitarianism: Original Writings from the History of Liberal Religion. Boston: Starr King Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=9V7M7m8KitUC.
* Scott, Clinton Lee (1957). The Universalist Church of America: A Short History. Boston: Universalist Historical Society. OCLC 3387571. https://archive.org/details/universalistchur00scot.
* Tapp, Robert B. (1973). Religion Among the Unitarian Universalists: Converts in the Stepfathers' House. New York: Seminar Press. ISBN 0-12-914650-1. https://archive.org/details/religionamonguni0000tapp.

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* Lingayatism
* Nath
* Balinese
* Shaktism
* Smartism
* Śrauta
* Sant Mat
* Ayyavazhi
* Neo-Hinduism

|

Buddhism|

* Theravada
* Mahayana
* Chan/Zen
* Amidism
* Nichiren
* Vajrayana
* Tibetan
* Neo-Buddhism

Others|

* Jainism
* Digambara
* Śvētāmbara
* Sikhism

Mazdan|

* Zoroastrianism

Indo-European|

* Armenian
* Baltic
* Celtic
* Druidry
* Germanic
* Hellenism
* Italo-Roman
* Romanian
* Slavic
* Yazidis
* Ossetian
* Kalash

Uralic|

* Estonian
* Finnish
* Hungarian
* Mari
* Mordvin
* Sámi
* Udmurt

Altaic|

* Turko-Mongolic
* Tengrism
* Burkhanism
* Vattisen Yaly
* Tungusic
* Manchu
* Evenki

Chinese|

* Confucianism
* Taoism
* Folk Taoism
* Yao Taoism
* Nuo
* Salvationist
* Xiantiandao
* Yiguandao
* Luoism

Tibeto-
Burmese|

* Bon
* Burmese
* Benzhuism
* Bimoism
* Bathouism
* Bongthingism
* Donyi-Polo
* Heraka
* Kiratism
* Qiang
* Sanamahism

Korean|

* Sindoism
* Cheondoism
* Jeungsanism

Japanese|

* Shinto
* Tenrikyo
* Ryukyuan

Tai and Miao|

* Ahom
* Hmongism
* Mo
* Satsana Phi

Austroasiatic|

* Vietnamese
* Caodaism
* Đạo Mẫu
* Hoahaoism
* Sarnaism

Austronesian|

* Batak Parmalim
* Dayak
* Kaharingan
* Momolianism
* Javanese Kejawèn
* Karo Pemena
* Malaysian
* Philippine Dayawism
* Tagalog
* Polynesian
* Hawaiian
* Māori
* Sumbese Marapu
* Sundanese Wiwitan

African|

| Traditional|

* Akan
* Akamba
* Baluba
* Bantu
* Kongo
* Zulu
* Berber
* Guanche church
* Bushongo
* Dinka
* Efik
* Fon and Ewe
* Igbo
* Ik
* Lotuko
* Lozi
* Lugbara
* Maasai
* Mbuti
* San
* Serer
* Tumbuka
* Urhobo
* Waaq
* Yoruba
* Ifá

|

Diasporic|

* Candomblé
* Bantu
* Jejé
* Ketu
* Comfa
* Convince
* Espiritismo
* Kumina
* Obeah
* Palo
* Quimbanda
* Santería
* Tambor de Mina
* Trinidad Orisha
* Umbanda
* Vodou
* Voodoo
* Winti

Native
American|

* Abenaki
* Anishinaabe
* Blackfoot
* Californian
* Miwok
* Ohlone
* Pomo
* Cherokee
* Chilote
* Choctaw
* Creek
* Guarani
* Haida
* Ho-Chunk
* Hopi
* Iroquois
* Seneca
* Wyandot
* Longhouse Religion
* Jivaroan
* Kwakwakaʼwakw
* Lakota
* Lenape
* Mapuche
* Mesoamerican
* Aztec
* Maya
* Purépecha
* Midewiwin
* Muisca
* Native American Church
* Navajo
* Nuu-chah-nulth
* Pawnee
* Tsimshian
* Ute
* Zuni

Other ethnic|

* Aboriginal Australian
* Circassian
* Dravidian
* Inuit
* Papuan
* Siberian

Recent|

* Adi Dharm/Brahmoism
* Anthroposophy
* Discordianism
* Eckankar
* Falun Gong
* Fourth Way
* Goddess
* Japanese
* Jediism
* Modekngei
* Neopaganism
* Reconstructionism
* Wicca
* Neoshamanism
* New Acropolis
* New Age
* New Thought
* Rajneesh
* Satanism
* Spiritualism
* Subud
* Tensegrity
* Thelema
* Theosophy
* Neo-Theosophy
* Agni Yoga
* Transcendental Meditation
* UFO religion
* Raëlism
* Scientology
* Unitarian Universalism
* White Brotherhood

Note: 1 The main source: Eliade, Mircea, ed (1987). The Encyclopedia of Religion. New York: MacMillan.

Historical religions

* Prehistoric
* Paleolithic
* Harappan
* Egyptian
* Atenism
* Mesopotamian
* Sumerian
* Babylonian
* Semitic
* Canaanite
* Yahwism
* Arabian
* Somali
* Hurrian
* Urartu
* Etruscan
* Basque
* Georgian
* Vainakh
* Proto-Indo-European
* Proto-Indo-Iranian
* Vedic
* Mazdaism
* Hittite
* Armenian
* Paleo-Balkan
* Albanian
* Illyrian
* Thracian
* Dacian
* Greek
* Mysteries
* Orphism
* Gnosticism
* Hermeticism
* Greco-Buddhism
* Roman
* Imperial cult
* Gallo-Roman
* Mithraism
* Manichaeism
* Mazdakism
* Scythian
* Germanic
* Anglo-Saxon
* Continental
* Frankish
* Norse
* Celtic
* Baltic
* Slavic
* Finnish
* Hungarian
* Ainu
* Melanesian
* Micronesian
* Nauruan
* Cook Islands
* Rapa Nui
* Tongan
* Inca
* Olmec
* Zapotec
* Fuegian
* Selk'nam
* Guanche
* Swahili
* Jamaican Maroon

Topics

| Aspects|

* Apostasy / Disaffiliation
* Behaviour
* Beliefs
* Clergy
* Conversion
* Deities
* Entheogens
* Ethnic religion
* Denomination
* Faith
* Fire
* Folk religion
* God
* Meditation
* Monasticism
* monk
* nun
* Mysticism
* Mythology
* Nature
* Ordination
* Orthodoxy
* Orthopraxy
* Prayer
* Prophecy
* Religious experience
* Ritual
* liturgy
* sacrifice
* Spirituality
* Supernatural
* Symbols
* Truth
* Water
* Worship

|

Theism|

* Animism
* Deism
* Dualism
* Henotheism
* Monotheism
* Nontheism
* Panentheism
* Pantheism
* Polytheism
* Transtheism

Religious
studies|

* Anthropology
* Cognitive science
* Comparative
* Development
* Evolutionary origin
* Evolutionary psychology
* History
* Philosophy
* Neurotheology
* Psychology
* Sociology
* Theology
* Theories
* Women

Religion and
society

* Agriculture
* Business
* Clergy
* monasticism
* ordination
* Conversion
* evangelism
* missionary
* proselytism
* Disability
* Education
* Fanaticism
* Freedom
* pluralism
* syncretism
* toleration
* universalism
* Fundamentalism
* Growth
* Happiness
* Homosexuality
* Minorities
* National church
* National religiosity levels
* Religiocentrism
* Political science
* Populations
* Schism
* Science
* State
* Theocracy
* Vegetarianism
* Video games
* Violence
* persecution
* terrorism
* war
* Wealth

Secularism and
irreligion

* Antireligion
* Deism
* Agnosticism
* Atheism
* Criticism
* LaVeyan Satanism
* Deconstruction
* Humanistic Judaism
* Irreligion by country
* Objectivism
* Secular humanism
* Secular theology
* Secularization
* Separation of church and state
* Unaffiliated

Overviews
and lists

* Index
* Outline
* Timeline
* Abrahamic prophets
* Deification
* Deities
* Founders
* Mass gatherings
* New religious movements
* Organizations
* Religions and spiritual traditions
* Scholars

* Category
* Portal

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