Our Beliefs

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Unitarian Universalists
We believe in ...

... the freedom of religious expression, without fear of censure or reprisal.

... the toleration of religious ideas. Religions in every age possess intrinsic merit and have value for those who have learned the art of listening.

... the authority of reason and conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, or a document, or an official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual.

... the never-ending search for Truth, with a mind and heart truly free and open to the revelations that appear.

... the unity of experience, with no conflict between faith and knowledge, religion and the world, the sacred and the secular, since all have their source in the same reality.

... the worth and dignity of every human being. All people on earth have an equal claim to life, liberty, and justice - and no idea, ideal or philosophy is superior to a single human life.

... the ethical application of religion. Good works are the natural product of a good faith, the evidence of an inner grace that finds completion in social and community involvement.

... the motive force of love, which seeks the welfare of others, never to hurt or destroy.

... the necessity of the democratic process. Records are open to scrutiny, elections open to members, ideas to criticism.

... the importance of a religious community. The validation of experience requires the confirmation of peers.

Eliot Chapel
Credos

From John Robinson, Minister Emeritus ...

Eliot Chapel is a free congregation. Among other things, that means that what is most important is not the minister's belief, but the beliefs of the congregation. To this end, in the fall of 1990 I wrote to members of the congregation asking if they would be willing to present a short personal "credo" as part of the Sunday services. I was hoping that, of the group to which I wrote, five or six would respond positively, and their credos would be heard once a month through that church year. To my delight, only two people turned down the opportunity.

These credos were presented as the beliefs of each presenter at that moment. In some sense, then, they are "yesterday's news." Such is the nature of our free tradition that no one is held to yesterday's belief. We hope that we grow in wisdom, understanding and belief.

NOTE: The sharing of Credos was a tradition at Eliot from 1990 to 1999. (In 2002 the sharing of a personal credo in the Sunday service was replaced by Sunday Morning Welcomes.) Here are a few of those who have shared their beliefs:

Art Wirth Jack Tartar
Joe Tanaka Kim Funcik
Pam Triplett Barb Finch
Sue Videen Jennifer MacKenzie
Larry Kehler Bob Boyd
Eddie Dillon Flo Reaves
Elisa Voss Ann Raible-Nicholson
George Johns Bruce MacKenzie
Margie Freivogel Bob Howard
Jim Buchanan John Lewis
Steven Bain