FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION of TERRE HAUTE
Celebrating our 50th anniversary this year.

Home | Visitors | Members | UU Beliefs | Program and Events | Sermons | Religious Education Groups | Our Building | Newsletter | About Us | Links

 

UU BELIEFS AND PRINCIPLES

Unitarianism Universalism is a liberal religion born of the Jewish and Christian traditions.  We keep our minds open to the religious questions people have struggled with in all times and places.

We believe that personal experience, conscience, and reason should be the final authorities in religion.  In the end religious authority lies not in a book, person, or institution, but in ourselves. We put religious insights to the test of our hearts and minds.

We uphold the free speech for truth.  We will not be bound by a statement of belief.  We do not ask anyone to subscribe to a creed.  We say ours is a non-creedal religion. Ours is a free faith. 

We believe that religious wisdom is ever changing.  Human understanding of life and death, the world and its mysteries, is never final.  Revelation is continuous.  We celebrate unfolding truths known to teachers, prophets, and sages throughout the ages.

We affirm the worth of all women and men.  We believe people should be encouraged to think for themselves.  We know people differ in their opinions and lifestyles, and we believe these differences generally should be honored.

We seek to act as moral force in the world, believing that ethical living is the supreme supreme witness of religion.  The here and now and effect our actions will have on future generations deeply concerns us.  We know that our relationships with one another, with diverse peoples, races, and nations, should be governed by justice, equity, and compassion..

UUA PRINCIPLES

We, the members congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:

  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 congregation;
  4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
  5. he 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 existence of which we are a part.

The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:

  • Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
  • Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
  • Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
  • Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
  • Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
  • Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.

First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Terre Haute Indiana Liberal Religion Church

Hit Counter - last updated 03/26/2005