If you've made it to this part of our webpage you are probably exploring Unitarian Universalism as a possible religious path for yourself or your family. With that in mind, I write here about what makes UUCF a unique and invaluable religious home, probably like no other you've experienced.
Unitarian Universalism has two powerful historic forces running through it. First is its powerful history of social action. For over 400 years Unitarian Universalists have been the leaders in the battle against injustice, oppression, and exclusionary practices based on everything from the color of a person's skin to one's gender to one's sexual orientation to one's religious convictions. Wherever such judgmental and exclusive practices have shown themselves, Unitarian Universalists have pushed back against them in the name of unconditional love and radical inclusivity. Thus, throughout our history and especially today, everyone has been welcome to join us in their own personal searches for truth and meaning, regardless of race, regardless of gender, regardless of sexual orientation, regardless of socioeconomic status, age, ability, or religious conviction.
The second powerful historic force running through Unitarian Universalism is our commitment to religious freedom, or put otherwise, theological inclusivity. Coming from two separate liberal religious streams that themselves have suffered religious persecution, Unitarian Universalism is based on covenant, rather than creed. That is, we make no one pass a creedal test; ascribe to a predetermined set of beliefs, in order to become a Unitarian Universalist. This is because we recognize that each person must "work out his own salvation" according to his or her own conscience. Otherwise, we find ourselves participating in the types of injustice, oppression, and exclusionary practices against which we have long fought. The flip side of this is that we are based on covenant. That is, we have a covenant to support one another in our individual searches for truth and meaning wherever those searches may lead, as long as those searches are ethically sound. So you will find a variety of belief systems at work in our congregation, from Jewish and Buddhist to Christian and Hindu.
Here at UUCF these two powerful historic forces have become increasingly co-mingled. That is, we are increasingly embodying the realization that in this age of globalization, where religious belief systems will inevitably interact (and sometimes clash - witness 9/11), social action and theological inclusivity are increasingly becoming intermingled. That is, for social action to be meaningful in today's world it must both recognize and work with the fact that the ways in which various religious belief systems encounter one another is a critical component in healing this bruised and hurting world. It is here that Unitarian Universalism holds a unique place among the various world religions.
As Unitarian Universalists we believe each of the world's religious traditions and philosophies speak certain truths to us from their own vantage point. Thus, we see each of the world's religions and philosophies as valuable, though different. None have the corner on truth with a capital T. Rather, they all contribute an indispensable piece to the cosmic puzzle in which all of us strive to find meaning and purpose in life. It is our calling as Unitarian Universalists to uphold this vision for ourselves and for the world, a vision, we believe, that is indispensable to humankind's future.
I'm speaking here of an Interspiritual vision. Because Unitarian Universalism believes all of the world's religious traditions and philosophies to be valuable, we are in a unique position genuinely to bring these religious traditions and philosophies together in an integral and meaningful way. Only a religious tradition that is all inclusive as we are can hold Islam's emphasis on justice, Christianity's emphasis on unconditional love, Judaism's emphasis on loving-kindness, Buddhism's emphasis on compassion, and Hinduism's emphasis on the Divine essence within a single faith. Indeed, the living tradition that is Unitarian Universalism is a rare experience that is capable of shaping, from all the world's religions, a constructive and affirmative Interspiritual vision upon which the future of the planet increasingly depends. There simply is no other way forward, except through arrogance and denial, which will inevitably lead to greater atrocities than those we have witnessed in recent years.
At the same time there is even greater value in our Interspiritual vision than this. There is the benefit of one's own personal transformation motivated by an appreciation for the combined virtues of each tradition. What greater end could there be for the religious individual than to strive to integrate within oneself the highest virtues each of these great traditions has realized? Where else can one find a religious tradition that exposes one to all of them, and challenges one to realize within him or herself the best within them? Where else do we hear of Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, Jesus, Rumi, Moses, Mohamed, the Buddha, Gandhi, Teresa of Avila, Aurobindo, Emily Dickenson, Spinoza, Socrates, and Cicero spoken of with equal validity from the same pulpit? Ours is truly an Interspiritual vision.
It is for this reason that as a Unitarian Universalist I have learned to incorporate different viewpoints and spiritual practices of the world's religions within my own life. I understand the way the different world religions envision God. I understand the ethical demands each tradition upholds. I understand the road to salvation each tradition professes. And, I practice the different spiritual methodologies of a number of these different religious traditions, from meditation to prayer to chanting. Indeed, genuinely engaging these different spiritual methodologies has enriched my religious life beyond my imaginings! The joy of walking these many paths at once is here for your enrichment, too. Come join us, and bring with you your own piece of the cosmic puzzle!
Namaste,
Rev. Riegel
