Our Beliefs

“In Unitarian Universalism, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your doubts and hopes, and your expansive heart.”

Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or one belief system. As Unitarian Universalists, we do not have to check our personal background and beliefs at the door. Unitarian Universalists believe more than one thing. We think for ourselves, and come together to reflect on what gives meaning to our lives. We explore other important ideas and questions:

We are united in our broad and inclusive outlook, and in our values, as expressed in our seven principles. We are united in shared experience: our open and stirring worship services, faith development, and rites of passage; our work for social justice; our quest to include the marginalized; our expressions of love and compassion.

Watch this 3 minute video about Unitarian Universalism:

Seven Principles

While each congregation is free to express its beliefs in any way it chooses, there are 7 shared principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote. These principles embody how our national association describes our commonly held beliefs:

Love; Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love.

Interdependence; We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it. We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.

Pluralism; We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology. We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.

Justice; We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive. We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.

Transformation; We adapt to the changing world. We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.

Generosity; We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope. We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.

Equity; We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion. We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.

Many Sources

Direct experiences of transcending mystery and wonder are primary sources of Unitarian Universalist inspiration. These experiences open our hearts, renew our spirits, and transform our lives. We draw upon, and are inspired by, sacred, secular, and scientific understandings that help us make meaning and live into our values. These sources ground us and sustain us in ordinary, difficult, and joyous times. 

Freedom of belief

Congregational freedom and the individual’s right of conscience are central to our Unitarian Universalist heritage. Congregations may establish statements of purpose, covenants, and bonds of union so long as they do not require that members adhere to a particular creed.

Inclusion

Systems of power, privilege, and oppression have traditionally created barriers for persons and groups with particular identities, ages, abilities, and histories. We pledge to replace such barriers with ever-widening circles of solidarity and mutual respect. 

Explore More

Please explore more about our Beliefs & Principles and on the Unitarian Universalist Association website.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is UU a Christian church?

Our seven principles support “the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” Though the founding faiths of both Unitarianism and Universalism are both liberal Christian traditions, this responsible search has led us to an inclusive spirituality that honors and draws from many sources: from the scriptural wisdom of various religions to personal experience to modern day heroes.

We embrace people from all religious backgrounds as well as atheists and agnostics as equal participants in building a Beloved Community.

What do you mean when you talk about the “Beloved Community”?

“Our goal is to create a beloved community. and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.” 

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Unitarian Universalists believe that the Beloved Community is not a place of strict uniformity, but of blessed diversity, and that we are all called to grow together, to share our gifts, and to change the world. UUs join together in Beloved Community to achieve what we cannot achieve alone, forming a collaboration of faith and outreach more powerful than any individual belief system.

What does UU mean?

There are many long books that explain the rich histories behind the separate religious traditions of Unitarianism and Universalism. There is also much written about the 1961 unification of these two faiths. Vastly simplified Unitarian means we originate from one source and Universalist means we are all worthy of love and are on a shared journey into the future we are creating together.

Learn more about the history of UU here

Is UU Humanist? 

Humanism was very important to Unitarians for most of the 20th century and still is today. Humanism espoused belief in human rather than divine action, the value of rational thought, the fundamental goodness of humans, and in the expectation that every human be treated equally and with respect. UUs accept that the sacred work of building an uplifted society is dependent on the engagement of human hearts, minds and hands. Individuals thrive and communities flourish when they are inspired and empowered to work towards (and not just pray for) a shared vision of the future.

What does it mean that UU is progressive and ever-evolving?

Unitarian Universalism is not a faith of sealed revelation.  It is a faith that keeps asking us to revisit the eternal questions that matter most: What is my role in the world and what is our role as a faith community?  

Unitarian Universalist bylaws require that every 15 years the denomination consider again the expression of our fundamental purposes.  Are they still relevant, and do they still express the best of what we wish our faith to be?

You say this church welcomes people who may consider themselves spiritual but not religious. What does that mean?

For the spiritual seeker many things may compel one’s search for meaning and the sacred: the mystery of existence, a hunger for knowledge, an urge to connect to something greater, a desire to serve, a wish for our children develop clear values and a sense of purpose, a respect for nature, a deep appreciation of the profound and miraculous thing called life, human potential, some or all of the above, and more. This is who we are: a community of spiritual seekers- and we invite others who feel the same to join us on this journey regardless of their background or religious beliefs.

So, is UU even a religion?

Yes, it is. Unitarian Universalists have their own sets of rituals and traditions which are practiced in weekly worship services and annual celebrations, though these may vary in form among congregations.  In worship and gatherings we may use words like “divine”, “holy”, “beloved”, “sacred” and “God” to describe that which is difficult to articulate in any other terms. We esteem the wisdom of various sacred texts and prophetic figures, ancient and modern. We hold our shared values as supremely important.

Yet we aspire to be a religion uniquely fit for our time and for the future: one that is both spiritual and rational, enthusiastically inclusive, democratic, future-facing, and able to keep pace with humanity’s religious evolution. Unitarian Universalism espouses a simple and reassuring message:  that working in a diverse and inclusive Beloved Community, humanity can meet any challenge and overcome any obstacle in our quest to bring more peace, friendship and justice into the world.

Have more questions? 

If you’d like to learn even more about UU Princeton or Unitarian Universalism, feel free to: