We can no longer focus only on what our community does, because our focus needs to be
a global focus. In the 19th Century, Adin Ballou, the founding minister of Hopedale Unitarian Parish, was convinced that ethical idealism
combined with Christian socialist principles could sustain a utopia community. For a number of reasons, the community as it was developed
failed. During the middle of the 20th Century, Hopedale was at the hub of the industrial age with its textile machine industry. The
Church became the center of the town, much as it is today.
While our world continues to quickly change and is even transforming before
our eyes, we may not know how to cope with it. Our religious and ethical/moral values are challenged daily from the media blitzes
that permeate our television-watching society. So how can we face the challenges to muddle through the ethical, moral and religious,
philosophical, and theological ideals in such a rapidly moving climate?
As people of faith, Unitarian Universalists look to their principles
(see sidebar) to guide them. These principles free them to be their best selves and to be kind, fair, creative, and responsible persons.These principles along with religious exploration provide compelling and vivid experiences of the power of Unitarian Universalism,
and helps people develop life-enhancing relationships with themselves, others, the world, our earth, and the universe.
Unitarian Universalist
religious education gives adults, youth, and children opportunities to develop their core values of purpose and choice so that they
can create their own religious philosophy/theology.
As inheritors of JEWISH and CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS, we honor the values of courage andcontinuity. Our relationship with WORLD RELIGIONS fosters understanding of similarities and differences, respect and tolerance.
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Adults |
Grades 6, 7 & 8
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Nursery Pre-K to Grade 1 Grades 2 - 5 |
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As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm and promote:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity and compassion in
human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
A free and responsible search
for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which
we are a part.
The web of relationships in life is varied and complex, and can be likened to the image of a spiral. Our most central relationship
is with SELF —our core identity. From that core identity, we move to relationships with FAMILY — parents, siblings, extended family
members. With them, we nurture and support the values of love and sharing. Our relationship with people beyond our family is seen
in the friends and acquaintances in our PEER groups, our life in a COMMUNITY. Here we seek a sense of belonging, as well as the values
of freedom and responsibility.
Equally important in our growth are relationships beyond individuals —relationships with institutions
and ideologies, networks and systems, history and time.
Our relationships expand to include all HUMANITY and deepen our values of justice,
liberation, and cooperation. Our relationship to the EARTH honors the interdependent web of existence and promotes our values of appreciationand stewardship. Our evolving relationship to the UNIVERSE engages our curiosity and imagination. This bond embraces wonder, mystery,and reverence.