The second U word in the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship explains the group’s sixth (out of seven) basic principles.  “Universalism” has the “goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.”

Unlike some traditional religions, UUs’ ethical responsibility is not to guide a particular faith group into Heaven, but to contribute to bringing all of humanity into a “beloved community on earth.”

This goal is extravagant in its hopefulness and improbable in its prospects, since the world, as it is now, seems replete with aggression and injustice.

Nevertheless, UU holds a vision of peace achieved by peaceful means, liberty by liberatory means, and justice by just means.

Of course, we won’t succeed in our lifetimes, but we will improve ourselves and improve the world by trying.

UUs are united, within their congregations and with other groups who share their values, in making the world a better place and in doing something more than just talk about it.

Indeed, UUers see their Fellowship as a school for their spirit—a place where they can ask what it means to be here, what they can do to help heal the world, what makes life meaningful.

SUUF congregants want to know: how can I make a difference?; how can I expand my sense of community to all people?; how can my sense of Justice extend beyond “just us”?  They try to live out Mohandas Gandhi’s advice “to be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Any of us can do this at any time, internally or externally, in small or large ways.  Remarkably, as we do our bit for peace, liberty, and justice for all people, we find our own lives becoming enriched.

[SUUF Member Paul Friedman continues to provide weekly articles for publication in the Red Rock News. This article – or a variation thereof – appeared in the Feb 17, 2023 issue]