A Personal A to Z of Unitarianism
by Matthew Smith
Many inquirers ask "What do Unitarians believe?" This is a difficult question to answer since we reject creeds and are not bound to accept a common set of theological beliefs as a condition of membership. We gather together as separate souls, each on an individual spiritual quest but keenly aware of the strength and nurture that derives from sharing in celebration and fellowship with other seekers. In describing our liberal religious stance each Unitarian will have his or her own perspective and emphases. The attitudes, values and practices I have selected here are inevitably a personal choice.
A is for Acceptance - You are welcome among us regardless of your faith or doubts, gender or sexual orientation, age, race, disability, class, or the size of your bank balance. We ask merely that you come with an open mind and heart.
B is for Beliefs - which you are encouraged to work out for yourself. Beliefs should be open to change in the light of developing understanding. Unitarians are not "free to believe anything they like" but rather anything they can.
C is for Community - Few of us, hermits and ascetics aside, can flourish in isolation. Congregational life is one of the best settings for discovering friendship and mutual support, building a sense of community and fostering growth of the spirit. Unitarian congregations are self-governing according to democratic principles. Members usually have the final say in major decisions affecting the life of their community.
D is for Deeds not creeds - Beliefs should be judged by their consequences rather than by how far they conform to orthodox or 'trendy' thinking. "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). A worthwhile faith gives you strength to accept your responsibility to further the common good.
E is for Education - which Unitarians value highly. Religious education is understood to be a lifelong process of learning - for adults as much as for children. Unitarian congregations offer you courses and programmes which will help you to discover and develop your unique identity as a religious person.
F is for Freedom - This means freedom from religious dogmatism but also, perhaps more importantly, freedom to think for yourself and to find and follow your own true way.
G is for God - Seen by some as an All-Powerful Being, as Pure Spirit, as the Force of Nature, as the Spirit within All, or as a human expression of All that is Good and Beautiful. He/She/It is the focus of worship and reverence for most - but by no means all - Unitarians.
H is for Holism - This means working out a balance between mind and heart, intellect and intuition, reason and emotion, left brain and right brain, body and soul, in order to get closer to your full potential as a human being.
I is for Interfaith - No single faith tradition possesses the whole truth. Unitarians have always taken the view that there is much to be gained from contact with people of other faiths - through encounter, dialogue and even shared worship. Unitarians are active supporters of interfaith activity at all levels - locally, nationally and internationally.
J is for Jesus - Traditionally, Unitarians have valued the teachings of Jesus over the teachings about Jesus. While some see his life and teachings as the supreme model of humanity, reflecting a special relationship with God, all would agree he was essentially and simply a man.
K is for Knowledge - drawn from many sources. Inspiration and understanding come not exclusively from the Jewish-Christian Bible but also from other writings both sacred and secular, science, the arts - and from the everyday experiences of your own life journey.
L is for Love - embracing our care and concern for family, friends, neighbours and the wider world. Jesus' call to love our enemies disturbs and challenges us. M is for Mystery - Unitarians believe there is no necessary conflict between science and religion; each discipline strives for an understanding of what is true. New discoveries show the Universe to be more wonderful and mysterious than previous generations could ever have imagined. The grandeur of the cosmos should evoke a sense of aw and reverence in every human heart.
N is for Nature - As human beings we are sustained by the natural elements - earth, air, fire and water - and through an interdependent relationship with other species. Increasingly, Unitarians find ways to celebrate out connectedness to the earth and accept a sacred duty to care for it and for its myriad creatures.
O is for Openness - In a fragmented and competitive society, marked by personal insecurity, it is easy to become defensive and only think about 'Number One'. By contrast, spiritual growth requires honesty with oneself and a willingness to be open to others.
P is for Prayer - Some Unitarians prefer to speak of sharing a time of thought or meditation. When Unitarians pray together there is diversity as each person finds what meaning they can from the words and the silence. A sense of unity can also be realised through sharing this time together as a community.
Q is for Questioning - Unitarians believe it is right to ask difficult, even unsettling, questions rather than opting for comfortable answers. In this way a realistic faith can be built, little by little, on rocks rather than sand.
R is for Reason - Every person has difficult decisions to make through their lives. Unitarians emphasise the exercise of reason as an important - thought not the only - means of distinguishing what is right and true.
S is for Spirit - Life may become barren unless we can sense something akin to the divine Spirit within ourselves, in other people and in Nature. There is much evidence today of armchair spirituality, divorced from human encounter; responding to the Spirit involves reaching out to others as well as looking within.
T is for Tolerance - Tolerance is one of the traditional watchwords of our movement. Unitarians maintain it is neither necessary nor desirable that members of a church community should hold identical beliefs. Many of the world's worst conflicts might be resolved if the benefits of pluralism were recognised and acted upon.
U is for Unity - Religion at its worst is about reaching a bogus kind of unity by compelling people to conform; but unity need have nothing to do with uniformity. Our Unitarian forebears faced persecution for professing the essential Unity of God, in rejection of the requirement to believe in the Holy Trinity. Today Unitarians also point to scientific discoveries proving the underlying Unity within the Universe.
V is for Vision - "Where there is no vision the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). This is another way of saying that communities must foster a shared hope for the future. Churches can find a key role as nurturers of hope in 'postmodern' societies where apathy, cynicism and despair can take root. The revised Object of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is "to promote a free and inquiring religion through the worship of God and the celebration of life; the service of humanity and respect for all creation; and the upholding of the liberal Christian tradition". Our Object statement commits the Assembly to "affirm the liberal religious heritage and learn from the spiritual, cultural and intellectual insights of all humanity".
W is for Worship - Worship is at the heart of Unitarian congregational life. The root of the word 'worship' is the Anglo-Saxon word for 'worth'. For Unitarians worship is, not least, about celebration of true worth - celebrating that which each person finds to be of ultimate value in life.
X is for Experience - Of course, this word doesn't begin with 'X' but it is too important to omit! My dictionary defines 'experience' as "wisdom derived in the course of life". Unitarians are happy to give this kind of practical religion its due. Personal experience is a precious spiritual resource.
Y is for Yearning - Many people turn to religion for consolation and peace of mind. This is right and proper but it does not give the whole picture. Religion should equally be about a kind of divine discontent. Unitarians draw inspiration from the Hebrew prophets, such as Amos and Micah, who railed against injustice and yearned for the establishment of a more just society. Increased awareness and sensitivity to injustice in the world around us become goals to social action.
Z is for Zest - Expressions of religious zeal can make me uneasy. However, I like to think that Unitarians - however old or young - show zest. We are decidedly not fanatics. In the best Unitarian congregations, however, you will find an enthusiasm for Life as something immeasurably precious - well worth celebrating in words, song and silence.
If you find yourself in sympathy with the sentiments expressed here it may be that you too are Unitarian in outlook and would find a spiritual home among us. If you wish you could order an Information pack by clicking here.
Text by Matthew Smith, with help and suggestions from John Simon and members of the GA Information Committee. Originally published September 1996, revised 2002; reproduced 2010.
