| How did Unitarian Universalism move beyond exclusively-Christian theology? |
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The flourishing of New England culture in the 1800’s involved many of our ancestors. The Transcendentalists were a group of well-known thinkers including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, the Alcotts, and more. These friends would gather for salon-type conversations about issues of the day. They had access to writings from Hinduism and Buddhism, which they published for the first time in English in our country, in their Transcendentalist journal, The Dial. When they learned about the tenets of Hinduism and Buddhism, they came to realize that there was much to honor in these perspectives. They formed the “Free Religious Association” to learn more about the religions of the world. These Transcendentalists helped to open the door within Unitarianism to beliefs that were outside of Christianity. Today, you’ll find people with a variety of personal theologies and spiritual practices in our congregation. What binds us together is our rich history within American religion, the seven principles and purposes of our association, and our willingness to transform ourselves and the world for the better. Unitarian Universalists search for truth along many paths. Instead of centering our religion on specific beliefs, we gather around shared moral values that include the inherent worth and dignity of every person. |
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