Unitarian Universalism is a religious tradition with roots in Christianity, but has since taken a strong stance regarding religious freedom in every person’s spiritual formation.

This may be characterized as a non-credal religious tradition, which is a characterization arguably shared with some mainline protestant traditions and other traditions altogether. However, Unitarian Universalism reaches a step further by eliminating a theological centrality (i.e., monotheism, Trinitarianism, etc.). The embodiment of our understanding of religious freedom is found within our 4^th Principle: we promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning for every person.

This Principle, however, receives a lot of misunderstanding and distortion. Ironically, the majority of the people who perpetuate this distortion are Unitarian Universalists. The misinterpretation of this Principle goes something like this: “We as Unitarian Universalists believe in religious freedom, which means that we can believe whatever we want…”

Unfortunately, this fails to understand the true complexity and beauty of this Principle. We do not promote religious freedom, alone; we promote freedom and responsibility in our search for truth and meaning. The religious freedom is met with theological responsibility. But, what is theological responsibility and how does it either hinder or enhance religious freedom?

I delivered a sermon once that attempted to answer this nuanced relationship between freedom and responsibility. I expressed that the freedom component of our 4^th Principle is quite liberating:

“…like a kid in a candy shop we can run for the Skittles, follow it up with a couple Malted Milk Balls, completely avoid the Twizzlers altogether, and finish it off with some terribly time consuming, but ultimately satisfying Gobstoppers. And then to push the metaphor further we must question our level of responsibility as a result of our candy binge and sugar high. What parts of our diet are we not fulfilling to remain healthy individuals?”

While I think these questions of responsibility and healthy theological journeying will be different for every person, I do believe it is central to articulate the importance of finding this balance. As an aspiring minister, I find it to be crucial for religious leaders to cultivate this responsibility of theological formation because the ramifications can be detrimental if we fail to do so. It can be detrimental not only for a religious community, but for a global community.

There are strong correlations between this misunderstanding of religious freedom and responsibility in my faith tradition and within the wider religious pluralism movement. Just as Unitarian Universalists cannot allow someone to advocate a racist or sexist theological ideology because it demeans the inherent worth and dignity of every person (1^st Principle), so must individuals within the interfaith movement be mindful of when religious freedom becomes detrimental to the wellbeing of individuals within a community.

This does not mean we need to go into Saudi Arabia because some feminist doesn’t agree with the hijab. There are definitely instances of cultural subjectivity regarding theological belief and practice. Theology is subjective. I simply mean that it is important to approach freedom with cautiousness and humility. This is what I think we can do more of within my religious community.

Freedom and responsibility are beautiful elements of the religious life. Truly, though, this is a human paradigm. Every person is given a certain amount of freedom in life, some more than others (and at some times in life more than others). However, the greater question is what one might choose to do with this freedom. This is a question of responsibility and every human person has to approach this balance whether regarding one’s civic activism or theological formation.

We are all on intense, winding roads towards greater spiritual truth and meaning in life; there is no better a path to travel, than that road less travelled, that co-journeyed road with people of shared faith or at least shared humanity. Won’t you journey with me?

This photo is the work of William Ross and was accessed via Creative Commons and Flickr in a manner adherent to its Creative Commons license.