What We Believe

Morristown Unitarian Fellowship

M U F L I N K S

What We Believe

With its historical roots in the Jewish and Christian traditions, Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion -- that is, a religion that keeps an open mind 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, and that in the end religious authority lies not in a book or person or institution, but in ourselves. We are a "non-creedal" religion: we do not ask anyone to subscribe to a creed.

We value the theological and spiritual diversity among us--whether Liberal Christian, Agnostic, Nature-centered, Jewish, Humanist, Buddhist, or utterly beyond categorization. All such perspectives, when shared in a manner of respect and humility, can further us on our pilgrimage of truth and meaning.

Unitarian Universalism, having grown from liberal Protestant roots, has a rich history and still-evolving traditions. Our roots in North America go back to the independent, self-governing churches of colonial New England that covenanted to help one another in times of need. In Europe, our heritage reaches back to religious and social reformers in England, Poland and Transylvania. Our most enduring symbol is the flaming chalice.

Our congregations are self-governing. Authority and responsibility are vested in the membership of the congregation. Each Unitarian Universalist congregation is involved in many kinds of programs. Worship is held regularly, the insights of the past and the present are shared with those who will create the future, service to the community is undertaken, and friendships are made. A visitor to our UU congregation will find events and activities such as church school (called "religious education" or RE), lectures and forums, support groups, poetry festivals, craft fairs, movie nights, family events, adult education classes, and study groups.

We welcome all who share our purposes and our Unitarian Universalist principles, without regard to age, class, color, differences in physical or mental ability, gender, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious background, or sexual orientation.

Excerpts from "We Are Unitarian Universalists," pamphlet #3047
Copyright © Unitarian Universalist Association, 1995