The Unitarian Trinity

We Unitarians often refer to ourselves as "the faith without a creed." This is because we have always insisted that it is not necessary for the members and attenders of our churches and chapels to agree with a particular set of theological beliefs, in order to be accepted as Unitarians. So in the absence of a commonly-held creed, what is it that holds us together as a denomination?

image: all-languages.org.uk

Freedom, reason and tolerance are the underlying principles of Unitarianism, at least in the United Kingdom. They are also three pillars of a good society. A glance at any newspaper can show only too graphically how the lack of these values can lead to suppression, unreason and intolerance. What do Freedom, Reason and Tolerance mean to Unitarians?

If a British Unitarian is asked the question “What do Unitarians believe?” the immediate answer that springs to mind may be “We believe in freedom, reason and tolerance.” I’m not so sure. Our beliefs may be as diverse as ourselves: some of us believe in a personal God; some of us are religious humanists; some of us share beliefs with other world faiths; and so on, and so on.  So what is it that makes us Unitarians? What  binds us together? I would put it another way: I would rather say that freedom, reason and tolerance are the values that underlie Unitarianism, the principles and standards that make the rest possible. As Cliff Reed writes in Unitarian? What's that? “shared values and a shared religious approach are a surer basis for unity than theological propositions.” (10)

So how does this all work out within the context of a Unitarian congregation? What is it that keeps Unitarians coming together in fellowship, Sunday after Sunday, rather than attending another church, or relaxing with our families, or engaging in a touch of retail therapy?

At its best, a Unitarian congregation is a place in which each person can carry on his or her own religious and/or spiritual quest, in the company of others who not only respect, but also wholeheartedly accept, their right to believe what they will, on two conditions. Firstly, that this belief has been sanctioned by the individual's own reason and conscience. And secondly, that this belief does not cause harm to any other living beings. To be a member of such a congregation can be spiritually invigorating, and give a deep sense of belonging.

And yet, it is not an easy way to live. If you want answers, fair and square, set down in black and white with no contradictions, Unitarianism is not the place for you. Some people may find the lack of a creed, a denomination-wide accepted set of beliefs, daunting. Not me – I love the fact that Unitarians do not claim to have all the answers – every Unitarian I’ve ever known has been a spiritual seeker, just like me. We are all on the same journey, supporting each other along the way, and sharing our discoveries and spiritual breakthroughs, in our worship, and in our lives.

What holds us together is that we all have the same attitude to religion and spirituality. All of us believe profoundly in the necessity of personal freedom of religious belief  - the freedom to grow, and to act in accordance with our beliefs, to work out our own answers. We share a devotion to spiritual freedom, and find that the insights of others can enrich our own beliefs. What could be better?

Many members of other faiths find that their bond with others is in scriptural or creedal affirmations. That door is closed to us. Our bond is a belief that people can agree to work together for the deepening of spiritual life, the strengthening of moral character, and the improvement of society without agreeing to a set of theological doctrines. Ours is a fellowship in diversity, a band of pilgrims on the same spiritual seeking path, each having perfect freedom to follow the dictates of our individual reason and conscience to forge a living faith that will help us to follow the best that we know for the greater good of ourselves and the world.