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From Chris’s response from the Mormon thread
(So I do not take it off topic): As a Unitarian, I am happy that there is a Mormon church. I am sad that they tell me I am not going to heaven. I will not vote for anyone who says "Believe what I believe or face eternal purgatory."
This is a belief I have no knowledge of and it raised a few questions within me.
What is a Unitarian?
Do Unitarians believe in one God?
Do they believe in a Heaven and Hell or an afterlife?
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There will never be enough questions answered to eliminate faith
- Jesus was a prophet of God, possibly supernatural, but not God incarnate. They Jesus lived as an example for how all Christians should live, but refuse to accept Jesus as the "one truth path to salvation." This makes the Unitarian Church strict monotheists -- the polar opposite of Trinitarianism.
- There are both conservative and liberal Unitarians, although I think Unitariasm as a movement has finally shifted completely towards religious pluralism: They have a place in heaven for some from Islam, Judaism, etc.
- Like most liberal Christian movements, the focus is on following the example of the good works of Jesus, but not the messianic aspects of Jesus.
Unitarian Universalists (UUs) believe in complete but responsible freedom of speech, thought, belief, faith, and disposition. They believe that each person is free to search for his or her own personal truth on issues like the existence, nature, and meaning of life, deities, creation, and afterlife. UUs can come from any heritage, have any sexual orientation, and hold beliefs from a variety of cultures or religions.
Concepts about deity are diverse among UUs. Some believe that there is no god (atheism); others believe in many gods (polytheism). Some believe that God is a metaphor for a transcendent reality. Some believe in a female god (goddess), a passive god (Deism), a Christian god, or a god manifested in nature or one which is the "ground of being". Some UUs reject the idea of deities and instead speak of "universal spirit" or "reverence of life". Unitarian Universalists support each person's search for truth and meaning in concepts of deity.
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Immortal
Last edited by Chris_Sanders; December 14th, 2007 at 12:00 AM.
"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."
We do not, however, hold the Bible - or any other account of human experience - to be either an infallible guide or the exclusive source of truth. Much biblical material is mythical or legendary. Not that it should be discarded for that reason! Rather, it should be treasured for what it is. We believe that we should read the Bible as we read other books - with imagination and a critical eye. We also respect the sacred literature of other religions. Contemporary works of science, art, and social commentary are valued as well. We hold, in the words of an old liberal formulation, that "revelation is not sealed." Unitarian Universalists aspire to truth as wide as the world - we look to find truth anywhere, universally.
Do I believe in hell? Not in the literal sense. The Lord created us and loves us all. The rice farmer in Indochina who was raised a buddhist is not doomed for eternity based on accident of birth location.
I believe everyone is judged on their deeds in this world and their ability to emulate the examples set for us by Jesus Christ. I personally believe Christ was a divine being.
Do I believe everything the bible says in a literal sense? Absolutely not. The bible was written by men, not by the Lord himself. I do believe it in the metaphorical sense.
Do I consider myself Christian? Absolutely.
Do I believe in Evolution? I believe in Intelligent Design.
Do I believe it should be taught in school? I would consider it a Philosophy class not a science class. I do wish that students were exposed to more religion/philosophy in school, but it should be an elective and one that gives equal time to all major beliefs.
So how does one end as a Unitarian Universalist you might ask?
Hmm...be baptized Catholic, raised Baptist, attend a Mormon church, have a buddhist friend, have several Hindu friends, and have several aetheist friends. You end up with a deep rooted sense of faith, acceptance, and a bit of skepticism.
So how does one end as a Unitarian Universalist you might ask?
Hmm...be baptized Catholic, raised Baptist, attend a Mormon church, have a buddhist friend, have several Hindu friends, and have several aetheist friends. You end up with a deep rooted sense of faith, acceptance, and a bit of skepticism.
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