Unitarian Universalism.
Unitarian Universalism (commonly referred to as UU) was formed from the merger in 1961 of the Universalist Church of America (UCA), a liberal American protestant church and the American Unitarian Association (AUA), a Unitarian congregation association. Today, UU is essentially characterized by its plurality and syncretism that looks forward to go beyond its religious and cultural roots. Unitarian Universalism is theologically liberalist and supports a “free and responsible search for truth and meaning[1]“. Without sharing a creed, Unitarian Universalists are united by their need of spiritual growth. As every religious community, UU has guidelines for daily life as well as restricted behaviors. These provoke some controversies from the church/state.
Unitarian Universalists draw their practices from a variety of traditions, often turning to various forms of prayer, meditation, or yoga. Unitarian Universalists believe that divine can be found in all people and in many faiths. In different surveys, American Unitarian Universalists most often identified themselves as humanists, while others identified themselves as earth-centered, agnostic, theistic, atheistic, Buddhist, Christian, or pagan. This diversity of views is considered as powerful in the UU movement. The emphasis remains on the individual search for meaning among its members rather than adherence to any particular doctrine. As far as the clergy and the UU leadership are concerned, “ministers” usually lead congregations and worship services but they have no priestly or sacramental function. In terms of ritual, congregations typically meet on Sunday mornings, and they celebrate versions of Protestant Christian, American, and other holidays as part of a liturgical year. Unitarian Universalism draws its moral inspiration from several sources, including most prominently the Jewish-Christian tradition and the ethical teachings of the world’s religions. Unitarian Universalists hope to realize their ideal society, one in which principles of justice, freedom, compassion, tolerance, and equity spread to all corners of both human society and the natural environment. Unitarian Universalism has always been at the forefront of movements for gender equality; today that emphasis embraces sexual equality as well. Unitarian Universalism is one of the few religions to unequivocally support gay clergy and gay marriages.
There are external and internal controversies. On the external plan, this large diversity Unitarian Universalism is so proud of has given place to controversies, namely if UU was really a religion or if it simply was a hotchpotch of beliefs. The fact they do not share a creed is also a source of criticism, namely that UU is without religious content. On the internal plan, Unitarian Universalists do not agree with each other whether they should return to a traditional religious language or not. Some say they should create an authentic UU “language of reverence” while others consider this as being an attempt to return to more orthodox Christian worship patterns.
Unitarian Universalism’s main characteristic, that is to say its plurality and the individual search for meaning among its members rather than adherence to any particular doctrine, is its best advantage but also its worst disadvantage. This movement raises the possibility for different kinds of religion to coexist in a same congregation.
Sources:
http://www.unitarianuniversalism.tv/
http://www.hds.harvard.edu/library/bms/merger_timeline_1900s.html
http://unitarian-universalist.wetpaint.com/
[1] The 4th principle of Unitarian Universalism – http://www.uua.org/beliefs/principles/
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