An Introduction to Unitarianism

So what is Unitarianism? These paragraphs were devised at the UCCN weekend in February 2008, and should give you a good idea of what we're all about.

• From its roots in Nonconformist Christianity, Unitarianism has evolved into an inclusive, open-minded, spiritual community. Our principles are grounded in freedom, reason and tolerance. We provide a home in which people are encouraged to follow their own spiritual journeys.

• Unitarians offer people opportunities to pursue their own spiritual paths free from dogma and imposed creeds.

• Unitarians believe there is no one true faith and are open to ideas from different religious traditions.

Famous Unitarians (who have included Erasmus Darwin, Charles Dickens, Joseph Priestley, Benjamin Franklin and Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the worldwide web) have demonstrated that religious belief is not incompatible with scientific and technical endeavour.

Unitarians were prominent in the founding of many local philosophical societies in the 18th and 19th centuries and the Unitarian movement remains committed to promoting a spirit of rational enquiry.

Unitarianism is a non-dogmatic faith, enabling people to find their own spiritual paths. The watchwords of Unitarianism are freedom, reason and tolerance -

• Freedom to think for yourself

• Reason applied to traditional teachings and beliefs

• Tolerance of other points of view

Unitarians believe that religion is a deeply personal matter. Their core belief is that every person must be free to form his or her own religious ideas. They have no set creeds, instead they offer encouragement and help in each individual's search for the meaning and purpose of life.