The number of Unitarian Universalists in the world is not impressive: about 200,000 in North America, 80,000 in Eastern Europe, 10,000 in Great Britain, and several thousand more scattered elsewhere in Europe, India, the Philippines, Nigeria, and other places.

The Sedona UU Fellowship has just under 100 members. But, like Quakers and Zen Buddhists, UUs’ influence far exceeds its small numbers.

UUs disproportionately are remarkable social leaders, who act on behalf of harmony and justice based on their faith in human potential.  They respond to conflict with understanding and love, rather than anger or fear.  They nurture hope for an evolving world.

One UU member summarized her faith quite simply: “Unitarian Universalism is a fierce belief in freedom and reverence for the sacred dignity of each individual.

“It is cooperation with the universe that created us, a celebration of life, being in love with goodness and peace, and a sense of humor about absolutes.

“It is faith in people, hope for tomorrow’s child, confidence in a spiritual continuity that spans all time. It looks not to a perfect heaven, but toward a good earth. It is respectful of the past, but not limited to it. It is trust in growing and collaborating with change. It is spiritual responsibility for a moral tomorrow.”

October 4, 2024