Q & A for Newcomers

Are UUs Christian?
Some are and some are not. This is a personal decision, based on one’s own life experience.

Do UUs believe in God?
Some do and some don’t. Some UUs are “theists,” meaning that they believe in a God who is active in their lives in this world. Others are more “deist” in viewpoint, meaning that they believe in a God who started the Universe running, then leaving us to take care of the creation. Others are “a-theistic,” meaning that they believe no God exists. Many of these are religious humanists, who assert that the human values incorporated in our Principles are enough focus for a religion. Others are “agnostic,” meaning that they honestly declare that they “don’t know” and are still trying to figure it all out.

Is Unitarian Universalism really a religion?
Yes, Unitarian Universalism can be termed a “religion”, and UUs can be called “religious.” Yet UUs don’t assert a specific “religious doctrine” that must be accepted. Rather, we encourage our people in their own development of religious meaning, purpose, and language.

So, do some UUs have different beliefs than others?
They certainly do. Found in today's churches are humanism, agnosticism, atheism, theism, liberal Christianity, Buddhism, neo-paganism, and earth spiritualism. These beliefs are not mutually exclusive--it's possible to hold more than one. While we are bound by a set of common principles, we leave it to the individual to decide what particular beliefs support those principles.

What variety of things to UUs believe?
As UUs develop in their own understanding of themselves and their world, many will find inspiration in other traditions. Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Islam, Sufism, and Earth Centered religions are just a few of the inspiring wisdom traditions we draw from. (See “Our Sources” on Principles and Values Page).

What is a typical Sunday church service like?
Our typical service follows a familiar worship pattern: readings, meditation and prayer, hymns, a message or sermon, choir anthems, children’s choir, organ, and other special music. Each Sunday the children join the adults for about twenty minutes before going to their programs. The exception to this is the first Sunday of the month, when the children are all together for their own worship service downstairs.

What should I expect when I visit? 
Come about ten minutes early, about 10:20 a.m. You will find people there to greet you warmly and to inform you about our Fellowship. If you are coming with children, our Religious Education greeter will take the family to see the classrooms. We will ask for your address so that we can follow-up by sending you our informative Newsletter for a few months.

What do children learn and study in Religious Education?
The goal of our religious education program is to provide children and youth with knowledge and experiences that will help them make informed choices about their religious life as they approach adulthood. Major goals are to teach respect for oneself and for others, appreciation of the teachings of world religious traditions, concern for social justice, and respect for our planet earth. Our Whole Lives, an excellent recently published curriculum of sexuality education, is taught at the middle school level, and units for other age groups, including adults, will be available in coming years.

Other Questions?
See also FAQ page.

If you have further questions, please come for a visit, or you can call us at 360-659-6621, or email the Office.