The Unitarian Church in Providence, RI
I have been looking more and more into the religious/spiritual movement of Unitarian/Universalism. Not sure if you’ve heard much about it. It’s in the category of agnosticism, spirituality, deism, and pantheism as far as being a reasonable, admirable, defensible, humanistic approach to personal growth and community enrichment. I wanted to share a bit about the philosophy (I think that is a decent word to describe this thing – more apt than “religion” or “sect” or something. Perhaps “tradition” or “movement” would be fine, too. To that end, I will quote liberally from the Unitarian Universalist Association website and then I will share a few quotations from prominent (even, famous) U-U thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson.
“We are Unitarian Universalists. We are people of many paths who are brave, curious, and compassionate thinkers and doers.
Every day, people are inundated with information, overwhelmed by demands, and pulled by a culture that seeks to divide us from the web of life. Unitarian Universalism reconnects, bringing people together with meaning and inspiration. We are a house without walls, a congregation without spiritual limits, and a movement that calls you to put more faith in yourself, your community, and your beliefs. We are a faith that honors your mind, your heart, your journey. Simply put, we are a guided path towards a better you and a better world.
“The less government we have, the better: the fewer laws and less confided power.”
Grounded in more than two hundred years of thoughtful, spiritual communities, we are people of many generations, ethnicities, genders and sexualities, and spiritual backgrounds. People engaged in making the world a better place. People focusing on what really matters – love, justice, integrity, and hope.
Unitarian Universalists have different beliefs. but shared values. We are Unitarian Universalists, and at the same time we may also be agnostic, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, humanist, Jewish, Muslim, pagan, atheist, believers in God, and those who just let the great mystery be. The diversity of beliefs you’ll find in a Unitarian Universalist community is one of our strengths – we’re always learning how to see the world from a different perspective.
What unites us are our core principles that uphold seven real-world values:
- Believing in the worthiness of every person.
- Showing compassion and fairness.
- Accepting others for who they are.
- Growing through a personal search for truth.
- Leading with democratic spirit.
- Working for justice.
- And understanding that everything is interconnected.
“What is the hardest task in the world? To think.”
Seven days a week, Unitarian Universalists live these principles by doing. When we gather we worship, reflect and remind ourselves what matters most in life. Whatever our age, we learn to live with more wisdom, more awareness, more gratitude and more soul.
We show our values by showing up to answer the call for social justice. We have a track record of standing on the side of love for civil rights, LGBTQ equality, immigration reform, environmental sustainability, reproductive justice, racial justice, and more.”
And now, Unitarian quotes:
“The great Creator of all things has infinitely diversified the works of his hands, but has at the same time stamped a certain similitude on the features of nature, that demonstrates to us, that the whole is one family of one parent.” ~ Erasmus Darwin
“How glorious, then, is the prospect, the reverse of all the past, which is now opening upon us, and upon the world. Government, we may now expect to see, not only in theory and in books but in actual practice, calculated for the general good, and taking no more upon it than the general good requires, leaving all men the enjoyment of as many of their natural rights as possible, and no more interfering with matters of religion, with men’s notions concerning God, and a future state, than with philosophy, or medicine.” ~ Joseph Priestly
“The greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.” ~ Florence Nightingale
“The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit.”
“We must not have a nuclear war. We must begin to solve international disputes by the application of man’s power of reason in a way that is worthy of the dignity of man.We must solve them by arbitration, negotiation, and the development of international law, the making of international agreements that will do justice to all nations and to all peoples and will benefit all nations and to all people. Now is the time to start.” ~ Linus Pauling
“I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.” ~ Susan B. Anthony
“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.”
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” ~ Charles William Eliot
“There is no way to peace; peace is the way.” ~ Emily Greene Balch
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” ~ Albert Schweitzer
“Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better.” ~ Florence Nightingale
“I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.”
“Forget conventionalisms; forget what the world thinks of you stepping out of your place; think your best thoughts, speak your best words, work your best works, looking to your own conscience for approval.” ~ Susan B. Anthony
Look up more Unitarian quotes, quotations by Unitarian Universalists, and quotes about values such as justice, wisdom, openness, peace, and modesty HERE. It’s a great database of quotations, is free, and you don’t have to deal with advertisements. Enjoy.
