Our Unitarian Universalist Principles

(For historical information about the UU Principles, click here)
There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations 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.

Our Unitarian Universalist Sources

Unitarian Universalism 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.

These principles and sources of faith are the backbone of our religious community.

UU Principles & Sources for Children

Kids learn the seven Unitarian Universalist principles and purposes, our agreement for how we will treat one another in community, by describing them as a “rainbow” of values. The first letter of each principle stands for the first letter of the corresponding color of the seven colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

• Respect the importance and value of each person
• Offer fair and kind treatment to everyone
• Yes to spiritual growth and learning together
• Grow by exploring ideas and finding your own truth
• Believe in your ideals and voice your vote
• Insist on justice, freedom and peace for all
• Value our responsibility in the web of life

Unitarian Universalists find inspiration from six sources. The stories and lessons we offer in religious education are drawn from these foundations of our faith:

• the sense of wonder we all share.
• women and men long ago and today — people whose lives remind us to be kind and fair.
• the ethical and spiritual wisdom of the world’s religious.
• Christian and Jewish teachings which tell us to love all others as we love ourselves.
• the use of reason and the discoveries of science.
• the harmony of nature and the sacred circle of life.