Learning from Others

One of the lovely things about being a Unitarian is that we can respect the spiritual and religious journeys of members of many religious traditions, and also receive inspiration from them. Because of the undogmatic nature of Unitarianism, we believe that all human beings are spiritual beings; and all are able to have a relationship with the Divine Other, which some may call God, some Allah, some Brahma, some Lord, some Spirit of Life, some Ultimate Reality - the list goes on.

The changing nature of the beliefs and values of Unitarians, particularly over the last half century or so,  has been detailed in Vernon Marshall's book The Larger View: Unitarians and World Religions, which I commend to you as a fascinating read. In it he writes: "modern Unitarianism in Britain is a movement that is based on principles, rather than on theology. It acknowledges its origins in liberal Christianity, and respects them, but now affirms the right of its individual members to find their own religious position."

Of course this includes finding inspiration from the writings and teachings of other religious traditions, both Christian and non-Christian. Many people within our movement today are attracted to (among others) Buddhism, Taoism, Paganism and Sufism. I find particular inspiration from Quaker writings and wisdom, from Taoism, and from the poetry of Hafiz and Rumi.

This interest is not just confined to private study; readings in Unitarian worship services will often include something from another religious tradition, because the worship leader finds that it is the most appropriate way of saying what they want to say. And other elements from many different religious traditions have crept into Unitarian worship - meditation, the use of some Pagan rituals, Dances of Universal Peace, Taizé chanting and so on.

This has added immeasurably to the richness and variety of Unitarian worship. And Unitarians are also much involved in inter-faith work: the World Congress of Faiths and the International Association for Religious Freedom both have prominent Unitarian members, and many congregations and ministers are involved in inter-faith work at a local level, working with adherents of other religions to foster compassion and tolerance where they are.

It is my firm belief that learning about and engaging with other religious traditions is an important part of the practice of compassion, so that we may understand others' spiritual and religious practices, rather than fearing them. This will have the dual effect of deepening our own Unitarian faith and practice, and also of enabling us to stand up for inter-religious tolerance, compassion and understanding, in our conflicted world.