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The origins of the Unitarian movement were
in 16th-century Europe. Influenced by the Renaissance and
the Protestant Reformation, independent thinkers sought after
each other and founded the Unitarian movement. The first Unitarian
congregations were established in Poland and Transylvania.
Unitarians celebrate the unity and interdependence
of all existence. They pursue an individual search for truth
and meaning in community with like-minded individuals.
Unitarians value both spiritual insight and
rational enquiry. Some have words like God and Goddess in
their vocabulary; others do not. Each explores their place
in the universe in different ways, which is true to their
own conscience and experience.
Each Unitarian is charged with taking individual
and collective responsibility for their lives and for their
planet. The Unitarian sense of connection is demonstrated
by members’ respect for the inherent worth and dignity
of every person and our environment.
Unitarians are called to act with compassion,
generosity and integrity in all human relations. You will
find Unitarians at the forefront of social action –
driven by a commitment to a fair, diverse and sustainable
global community.
* Adapted from Canadian
Unitarian Council
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Unitarian congregations have a covenant to
affirm and promote seven principles. These principles are:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person
- Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual
growth in our congregations
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic
process within our congregations and in society at large
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice
for all
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of
which we are a part
Four of these principles apply directly to
peoples’ responsibility for community health and well-being.
The first principle is "the
inherent worth and dignity of every person." Affirmation
and promotion of every person's worth and dignity requires
continuing effort at all levels of society to nurture the
conditions in which everyone is treated as worthy and in which
their dignity is respected. Such effort is engaged by individual
Unitarians, by groups within our congregations, and by the
Canadian Unitarian Council, the Unitarian Universalist Association
and the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists.
A current example is the support for same-sex marriage in
which Unitarians have been fully engaged.
Our second principle is
"justice, equity and compassion in human relations."
Community health and well-being is as much a concern on the
global scene as it is on the local. A current example of Unitarian
efforts towards international justice, equity and compassion
is seen in support for positive intervention in the horrific
situation in Darfur, Sudan. Most Unitarian congregations have
active Social Action Committees, which usually choose specific
local and global groups on which to focus their efforts.
The sixth of our principles
is "the goal of world community, with peace, liberty
and justice for all." Towards this goal, Unitarians support
international organizations such as the United Nations and
humanitarian/ development agencies such as the Unitarian Service
Committee (USC), which began during the Second World War.
Finally, our seventh principle,
and to many Unitarians the most essential, is "respect
for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are
a part." Vital to community health and well-being is
the health of the environment. Unitarians are strong supporters
of, and involved with, the "greening" of the planet,
to nurture the health and well-being of all creatures.
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To engage the Unitarians in your community, look under
“churches” in the yellow pages, or click here.
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