About CUUPS
About UUA Paganism
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is an association of liberal religious congregations who covenant together under the UUA Principles and Purposes.
Each UU congregation is autonomous and self-governing. Each year, delegates from each congregation meet at the UU General Assembly where, by democratic ballot, they decide how the Association will be governed. The UUA Principles and Purposes were adopted by vote at the 1984 and 1985 General Assemblies.
UUA member congregations are required to be non-creedal, which means that they may neither restrict nor require specific beliefs. UUs Within one UU congregation, individuals might profess atheism, Humanism, liberal Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, or Paganism. All these beliefs and theologies are modified by an over-arching commitment to Unitarian Universalism.
Paganism in the UUA
In 1995, a Sixth Source was added to the Principles and Purposes of Unitarian Universalism. It states that the living tradition shared by UUs draws from "Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature" For some UUs this may mean a Pagan spirituality. For other UUs it may mean a Humanist, Native American, or other nature-honoring path.
UUs are dedicated to the right of conscience, the personal search for spiritual truth, and freedom from dogmatism. UUs are also dedicated to "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Thus, many UUs who do not embrace Paganism as their personal spiritual truth still understand and accept Paganism as part of the UUA's religious pluralism.
However, human beings being what they are, opinions vary on the inclusion of a Pagan theology within the UUA. Each individual UU congregation has its own personality, and may be either supportive or skeptical. Most congregations are at least tolerant of Paganism as a spiritual expression within Unitarian Universalism. Many congregations have welcomed UU Pagans and have an active Pagan presence among their membership.
For more information . . .
- . . .about the UUA, visit the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations website
- For a list of UU congregations that sponsor CUUPS chapters, visit our Chapter Listings.
