UUA= Unitarian Universalist Association. Two heresies that work great together. ;>
Unitarians believed that God is One, that the devision into Father, Son and Holy Ghost is artificial, humanity's struggle to define something greater than we can fully comprehend. Harvard University came up with it, and a minister of my acquaintance referred to Harvard as the Scarlet Whore because of it. :> Most of the NorthEast freethinkers of the 1800's were Unitarians, including Clara Barton, the Alcotts, and Emerson.
Universalists believed----that salvation was universal, a gift that only had to be accepted. Yes, this was a heresy at the time.
When they combined, they became something rather different than either parent--a place where individual spiritual growth is prized, there are no pat answers, and the principles that guide us do very little to constrain our spiritual journeys. It specifically includes the democratic principles in its mission statement, and the basic tenets deal with the inherent worth and dignity of human beings, and the obligation to strive for social justice in our lives and in the greater world. The symbols are the Cup and Flame. No longer, technically, a Christian sect, although many members incorporate Christianity in their beliefs.
I'm sure that's more than you ever wanted to know on the subject....
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Unitarians believed that God is One, that the devision into Father, Son and Holy Ghost is artificial, humanity's struggle to define something greater than we can fully comprehend. Harvard University came up with it, and a minister of my acquaintance referred to Harvard as the Scarlet Whore because of it. :> Most of the NorthEast freethinkers of the 1800's were Unitarians, including Clara Barton, the Alcotts, and Emerson.
Universalists believed----that salvation was universal, a gift that only had to be accepted. Yes, this was a heresy at the time.
When they combined, they became something rather different than either parent--a place where individual spiritual growth is prized, there are no pat answers, and the principles that guide us do very little to constrain our spiritual journeys. It specifically includes the democratic principles in its mission statement, and the basic tenets deal with the inherent worth and dignity of human beings, and the obligation to strive for social justice in our lives and in the greater world. The symbols are the Cup and Flame. No longer, technically, a Christian sect, although many members incorporate Christianity in their beliefs.
I'm sure that's more than you ever wanted to know on the subject....