Unitarian Universalist

In 1961, one of the older religions in the United States - the Univeralist Church of America, founded in 1793 - merged with the American Unitarian Association, founded in 1825, to form the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). This is a liberal religion, emphasizing rationality and personal liberty in choosing what one believes. Members of this faith do not share one specific set of beliefs, but instead have a sense of community created by their mutual quest for spiritual development.

Despite not sharing a belief system in the form of a creed, members of the UUA do share a belief in the Seven Principles. These core beliefs include such elements as promoting justice, equality, and compassion for all people; encouraging a search for meaning that is both responsible and guided by personal freedoms; and respect for the fact that all people are part of an interconnected network and have a shared existence. The practice of members of the UUA is based on what they identify as the Six Sources. These include the teachings of the world's religions, teachings of Christianity and Judaism that encourage people to return God's love for man through their own love of their fellow man; and the teachings of earth-centered belief systems that recognize the concept of the circle of life and the need for harmony with nature. Ultimately, through the use of reason and logic - combined with a sense of respect and dedication to everything in the natural world, including one's fellow man - Unitarian Universalists forge a connection with one another and with the world around them.