About Unitarian Universalism

Rather than finding meaning and truth in a specific creed or book, we believe that religious faith is uniquely personal and evolves as we each engage our inner search and in our life journey. We trust the religious authority that comes from our experience, our conscience, our selves. We find our quest is enriched and empowered in community, a community that embraces and welcomes all persons.
While Unitarian Universalists hold widely divergent spiritual beliefs, we do share certain fundamental values. These are embodied in the seven principles as stated right on the front page. For some additional expression of some of the ideas we embrace, we have provided some short inspiring Quotes for Unitarian Universalists that will help give a sense of our outlook on life.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We are part of a heritage that goes back uu_banners.jpg hundreds of years to courageous people who struggled for freedom in thought and faith.
Why do we have no religious creed that one must swear to in order to become a member of a congregation? Because we believe that there are many valid ways of understanding the Holy and we leave that for each individual personally to discover and affirm. We organize ourselves around an ethical basis (how we should live out our faith), rather than a theological basis (how we know God). In our congregations, people are free to explore different aspects of the sacred and are challenged to make the world a better place for all by working for justice.
We believe that personal experience, conscience, and reason should be the final authorities in religion. In the end religious authority lies not in a book, person, or institution, but in ourselves.
We believe that religious wisdom is ever changing. Human understanding of life and death, the world and its mysteries, is never final. Revelation is continuous. We celebrate unfolding truths known to teachers, prophets, and sages throughout the ages.
We seek to act as a moral force in the world, believing that ethical living is the supreme witness of religion. The here and now and the effects our actions will have on future generations deeply concern us. We know that our relationships with one another, with diverse peoples, races, and nations, should be governed by justice, equity, and compassion.
One of our denomination's ministers, David O. Rankin, has summarized our beliefs in ten statements which are widely accepted as a succinct expression of our faith:
  1. We believe in the freedom of religious expression. All individuals should be encouraged to develop their own personal theology, and to present openly their religious opinions without fear of censure or reprisal.
  2. We believe in the toleration of religious ideas. All religions, in every age and culture, possess not only an intrinsic merit, but also a potential value for those who have learned the art of listening.
  3. We believe in the authority of reason and conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, or a document, or an official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual.
  4. We believe in the never-ending search for Truth. If the mind and heart are truly free and open, the revelations which appear to the human spirit are infinitely numerous, eternally fruitful, and wondrously exciting.
  5. We believe in the unity of experience. There is no fundamental conflict between faith and knowledge, religion and the world, the sacred and the secular, since they all have their source in the same reality.
  6. We believe in the worth and dignity of each human being. All people on earth have an equal claim to life, liberty and justice-and no idea, ideal or philosophy is superior to a single human life.
  7. We believe in the ethical application of religion. Good works are the natural products of a good faith, the evidence of an inner grace that finds completion in social and community involvement.
  8. We believe in the motive force of love. The governing principle in human relationships is the principle of love, which always seeks the welfare of others and never seeks to hurt or destroy.
  9. We believe in the necessity of the democratic process. Records are open to scrutiny, elections are open to members, and ideas are open to criticism-so that people might govern themselves.
  10. We believe in the importance of a religious community. The validation of experience requires the confirmation of peers, who provide a critical platform along with a network of mutual support.

To help better understand the Unitarian Universalist approach to religion, please see the Seven Principles and Six Sources of the Unitarian Universalist tradition (right on our front page). Our congregation also offers a number of spiritual growth and religious education programs for both children and adults, including recommended reading and study groups.
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