About Unitarian Universalism

Ours is a liberal religion that accepts people of many faiths. Rather than try to enforce conformity of beliefs, we pledge to create caring communities that give people the freedom to search for spiritual truth in their own way.

Unitarian Universalism is a worldwide religious movement dating back more than 400 years to independent thinkers in eastern Europe. While based in Judeo-Christian tradition, it has evolved in recent years to include other influences such as humanism, Buddhism, and Earth-centered spirituality. We invite you to take a moment to view a brief video about Unitarian Universalism.

Today, the hallmark of UU congregations is the mutual agreement among members to conduct their lives by certain principles that transcend all creeds. We call these the Seven Faith Principles.

Our Seven Faith Principles

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:
  • The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
  •  Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
  • Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
  • A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
  • The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
  • The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
  • Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

UU History

Unitarian Universalist Origins: Our Historic Faith
A pamphlet by Mark W. Harris

Unitarians and Universalists have always been heretics. We are heretics because we want to choose our faith, not because we desire to be rebellious. “Heresy” in Greek means “choice.” During the first three centuries of the Christian church, believers could choose from a variety of tenets about Jesus. Among these was a belief that Jesus was an entity sent by God on a divine mission. Thus the word “Unitarian” developed, meaning the oneness of God. Another religious choice in the first three centuries of the Common Era (CE) was universal salvation. This was the belief that no person would be condemned by God to eternal damnation in a fiery pit. Thus a Universalist believed that all people will be saved. Christianity lost its element of choice in 325 CE when the Nicene Creed established the Trinity as dogma. For centuries thereafter, people who professed Unitarian or Universalist beliefs were persecuted. 

Read the full article at http://www.uua.org/beliefs/history/151249.shtml.

Famous UUs

From philosophers to scientists, artists to architects, social reformers to politicians, people from around the world have found their spiritual home in Unitarian Universalism. Learn more: The Dictionary of Unitarian Universalist Biography.

UUs in San Diego

Learn about the history of UUs in San Diego.
"I am still a work in progress. I still have moments when I wonder about God or Goddess. I still have moments when I ask myself, "Just what do you believe?" You know something? I am still searching. I believe that we are here for a brief time and that we need to help each other in the search for our own personal truths. I believe that I must keep my mind open to a variety of beliefs as I continue to examine and reexamine my own. Finally, I believe that I have found a haven in this church that supports me in my search."
~ Dan Heiserman, First UU Church of San Diego