"Introducing the Spirit of UU to You"

Photo by Taylor Smith on Unsplash

Unfortunately, I think most people in America have no idea what Unitarian Universalism is all about and I think this is mostly our fault. Give the propensity for evangelical Christians to proselytize, which is an anathema to UUs, there is great reluctance to promote who we are. The results are obvious. Marketing 101 tells us if you don’t tell people about your product or service, no one will “buy it.” I speak from personal experience.

I grew up Catholic and I was a really intense Catholic. My family was not but I was. On my own, I attended mass many days a week when I was a child and capable of walking to a nearby Catholic Church. As soon as I could, I became an altar boy. I attended a Catholic military high school. I even seriously considered becoming a priest. But my personality as a spiritual explorer, my skeptical nature, and my many voyages around the world as an officer aboard commercial merchant ships caused me to question Catholicism. I had my own Protestant Reformation in my 20’s and became a Lutheran but finally, I realized I just could not believe the doctrines and dogmas of Christianity. I was not happy about this and I felt lost.

I drifted for a few years. Quite unexpectedly, my sister was married in a UU church in Washington DC. After the wedding, I found myself reading the bulletin boards in the church and then speaking with the minister, I was amazed. I had never heard of Unitarian Universalism which to me is an indicator of our poor marketing because I was looking for a spiritual place like this. When I returned to New York, where I was serving as a professor at the United States Merchant Marine Academy part of the year and sailing on commercial ships engaged in worldwide trade the rest of the year, I joined the nearby Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Shelter Rock – which had a different name back then. A few years later, I took a time out in my life and attended the Unitarian Universalist seminary at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley California. There I also attended many of the dozen plus seminaries of the GTU and studied all the world’s major religions. It was fabulous. (What I studied).

When I was ordained in 1994 at a UU church in Arlington Virginia, I returned to my maritime career but always worked part-time as a UU minister except for my years in Washington DC after the attacks on America on September 11 th 2001. Then I was ordered to Washington and served as the Secretary of Transportation’s special assistant in charge of improving transportation security. In 2004 into 2005 I was sent to Iraq to rebuild the country’s transportation including ports, airports and railroads. The bottom line is that although I find Unitarian Universalism far from perfect, it is the only religion I know of in the world that allows me to search and seek spiritual truths and to do so in the company of others and to evolve my beliefs as I grow in experience and wisdom.

So where did this unusual religion come from and what’s it all about? First of all, both the Unitarian and the Universalist movements are more than two hundred years old, and they were very separate denominations until they merged in 1961. As I often tell my students at Nichols College where I currently teach World Religions, religions do not fall out of the sky. They are a product of the environment, the culture and the religions in a particular area. Sometimes a key figure or figures help establish a particular religion, figures like Jesus, the Buddha and Muhammad. Unitarian Universalism is no exception.

To understand how Unitarian Universalism came about, we have to go back to the early part of the 18th century. The 1740s in America were a time historians call “The Great Awakening.” Itinerant ministers around the country, and particularly in New England, began traveling around the colonies preaching hellfire and brimstone. Perhaps the most famous sermon of the period, was given by Jonathan Edwards. It was entitled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” (Not a very uplifting sermon for a Sunday morning.) During the three-hour sermon people could be seen writhing in the aisles.

Over the next several decades some New England congregations tired of this message. They looked around at their world and realized – “hey my life isn’t too bad considering how people in Europe were living during the last few centuries which is why my ancestors came here.”

And so – gradually the Unitarian and the Universalist movements were born. The Unitarian movement specifically grew out of Congregational churches (now called UCC-which became more liberal than its Puritan origins). Unitarians were originally still Christian and they accepted that Jesus was the son of God – but according to them, Jesus was not God – hence the world “Unitarian” as opposed to “Trinitarian.” demographically, Unitarians in the late 18th century and into the 19th tended to be city dwellers – Boston being a central focus. They tended to be well educated, intellectual, and affluent. Harvard Divinity School became largely a Unitarian school. Many of you have heard of the so-called “Transcendental Movement” which is often described as a literary movement.

Actually, the Transcendental Movement, which started in Boston, was a Unitarian movement. Ralph Waldo Emerson was Unitarian minister and part of it. Others included Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller and Louisa May Alcott. There were many more and they were all Unitarians.

The Universalists started from a very different background. Universalists were totally Trinitarian – believing in the father, son and holy spirit. Early Universalists tended to be rural farmers, not well educated and not affluent. Although the Universalists considered themselves entirely Christian – there was a major difference. Universalists did not believe in hell. They believed that God was a loving being who would never condemn his children to hell – there was, they said, “universal salvation” hence their name became “Universalists.” The joke is that Universalists believe God was too loving to condemn his children hell while the Unitarians believed they were too good for God to damn them to a hell.

So – in the early 19th century, both the Unitarians and the Universalists came from very different theological and demographic backgrounds. But as the 19th century moved forward, this gradually began to change. The Universalists became better educated founding what eventually became St. Lawrence College.

Both denominations gradually became very involved in social action and social justice issues. This included the anti-slavery, abolitionist movement and later the women’s movement of the 19th century. The first woman ordained in the United States was Olympia Brown in 1863. She was a Universalist. This was followed by

Celia Burleigh in 1871 who was a Unitarian. Both Unitarians and Universalists were heavily involved in establishing charities in the later part of the 19th century.

Clara Barton, a Universalist, established the Red Cross in 1881. This is but a sampling of the hundreds of Unitarians and Universalists who became very involved in many social action and social justice issues.

As the 19th century came to a close the theology of the Unitarians and the Universalist became more and more liberal – particularly some congregations. It is important to note that each Unitarian Universalist church is unique. There is no central authority dictating what a congregation or, for that matter, a member of a congregation must believe to be a Unitarian Universalist. There is what is called the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston but this is really a coordinating body and a source of resources for the more than 1000 UU congregations around the country. Each church governs itself, hires its own ministers and decides the mission and purpose of the congregation.

During the later part of the 19th century, both the Unitarians and the Universalists fully embraced the rise of science and the role science played in understanding the world around us. Charles Darwin was born and raised a Unitarian – and yes, the Unitarian movement had and has a European history too. Liberal beliefs developed that human beings with the help of science could conquer the problems facing humanity and make the world a better place.

With the dawn of the 20th century, some Unitarian and Universalist congregations in New England retained a liberal Christian outlook but as the century progressed, many congregations around the country became more humanist in nature. Remember what I said earlier. Religions develop and evolve based on their environment and what is happening in the world.

To me, World War I had a profound impact on religion in America. Conservative Christians in America contended out that liberal ideas and all the hopes of making the world a better place were nonsense. “Just look,” they said. “All your science and liberal ideas did nothing but help create the worst war in human history – where millions upon millions of people were killed. This earth is nothing but ‘the workshop of the devil’ and all a person can do is pray for mercy to avoid the fires of hell.” (Interestingly, this was a kind of repeat of history – from the 1740s Great Awakening).

1917 is when the word “fundamentalist” was coined. Two California brothers, Lyman and Milton Stewart, who were very wealthy from oil business investments in California, funded the publication and distribution of “The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth.” These volumes contained essays that helped to define and promote Christian fundamentalism. The same fundamentalism that is around today.

Liberal Christians were at a loss to explain such a horrible event as World War I. Where was God – they wondered? To compound this, science – specifically Astronomy, claimed that when you looked into a clear sky at night you are seeing the entire universe which is nothing but a big clump of stars and nothing much is happening in the universe either. It’s just kind of there. Stars are born and die but new matter is formed and new stars are born. This scientific theory was called “The Steady State Theory” and it claimed the universe was just a steady state. This became the thinking of most scientists including such famous scientists as Einstein.

If this theory were true then there appeared to be no need for some kind of a creation much less a creator God. But actually, this theory is totally wrong. The universe did have a spectacular beginning, and the universe is much more complex then scientists could have ever imagined and there is so much now we understand that points to sacred mysteries. I talk about this a lot in my sermons.

Between World War I, the rise of Fundamentalism and the Steady State theory, liberal Christians including a lot of Unitarians and Universalists focused on humanism – making a difference in the world through social action and social justice work. In my words, “they threw God out of the pulpit.” It’s not that they became atheistic, it’s just that they ignored the topic of God.

In very broad terms, some Unitarian and Universalist congregations, particularly in New England, retained a bit of their Christian outlook. Some west coast congregations began to look to eastern religions and other congregations just focused on humanism – talking about and taking actions to make a difference in the world and ignoring a spiritual focus. This continued for half a century and finally the Unitarians and the Universalists merged in 1961. Then something else happened in the 1970s and 1980s.

I think a lot of Unitarian Universalists found that something was missing in their religious life. Yes – they continued to really engage social action and social justice issues. For decades, and in overwhelming numbers for a small denomination, Unitarian Universalists campaigned for women’s right, civil rights, LGBT rights and much more. But what about church itself? Many UUs found services to be a bit sterile – whitewashed in a way and absent any religious discussion. What I think was missing was a spiritual focus. And so – some, but not all UU churches began seeking spirituality in a new way – not by returning to the Christian past but by engaging much more thought from a spiritual perspective. To be sure, there was resistance to this and there still is in some congregations. As I mentioned, my very first UU church was the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Shelter Rock – a huge and very wealthy congregation on Long Island in the town of Manhasset. When I first joined the congregation, it was very strictly humanist. The “God” word was rarely if ever mentioned. I remember one of the first services I attended, a new minister had just joined the staff. In his first service, he shocked the congregation by wearing a clerical robe instead of a business suit. There was a gasp as he walked up the aisle. Perhaps some folks thought the next thing was a bishop would be coming down the aisle?

Years later, my very first job as a newly ordained minister was as the summer minister with Shelter Rock. By then, the congregation was more open to religious and spiritual discussion but only barely. During my first service, I wore my robe – the one I am wearing now. The blue represents the ocean which has surrounded me

so much of my life. (I even have an anchor on the lapel). I could sense some folks wondered about the robe. I told the congregation that I would only wear a robe when I was conducting a service and not the uniform of corporate America. I guess folks accepted this.

So where are Unitarian Universalists now? Well – it does depend on the congregation and it does depend on the focus of the minister and his or her emphasis in sermons. So, it varies. But I will say, there is one page in the front of the UU hymnal just after the preface that says it all.

We the Member Congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association Covenant to Affirm and Promote:

1. 1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

2. 2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

3. 3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual

growth in our congregations;

4. 4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

5. 5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process

within our congregations and in society at large;

6. 6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice

for all;

7. 7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which

we are a part.

Also listed there is where we get our spiritual beliefs:

 Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the

forces which create and uphold life;

 Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;

 Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;

 Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

 Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;

 Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

If you think about it, what UUs believe and can believe draws from all the world’s religions and philosophies. It is up to the individual to develop their own beliefs which can change with life experiences and hopefully through some study and contemplation.

The bottom line is that today Unitarian Universalism is the most liberal and accepting religion in the world. It is a place that does not “convert” anyone. Everyone brings to a UU congregation who they are and what they believe. I remember many years ago attending a UU church service in Hartford CT. The focus of the service was on native American spirituality and one gentlemen who was part of the service was dressed in Indian garb. After the service, I spoke with him. To my great surprise, I found out he was the Episcopal priest at a nearby church. He told – “yes, I am Christian, but I find a spirituality here I do not find in my own church.” UUs, bring their own religious and spiritual beliefs and hopefully these will evolve with experience and wisdom.

Here in this UU Meeting House, it is my belief that it is my job to offer sermons and advice that challenge everyone to question what they believe is true AND to question what they believe is untrue. As I say, my job is to teach – not preach and I endeavor to do so.

How and what UU ministers bring to their congregation obviously depends a lot on where they themselves are coming from. Some of our ministers have a somewhat Christian focus. Some are agnostic. Some are even atheistic. Some like me aspire to bring a more spiritual focus.

Throughout my life, I have traveled throughout the world and I have studied all the major world religions. I have respect for them all because they are human attempts to reach beyond the limits of our human existence and try to understand the universe and our place in it. But I find all the world’s religions to be human made – sacred perhaps, but human made nonetheless.

That said, I do believe there is an ultimate reality, an ultimate power that is the universe and it is within all things including you and me. In recent times, I have been trying to understand the mysteries of quantum physics. I am beginning to see this ultimate reality within this science. I do not believe in the God of the Bible or the Qur’an because I see this God as being too limited. And I do not think that which people call God is a thing or a being. It is in my view, much more spectacular, much more part and parcel of the universe itself. And – I believe that life in general and my life have meaning and purpose.

So, what is the benefit of engaging your spiritual self? There are many. Human beings exist in three parts, body, mind, and spirit. That which is our body is pretty obvious. Mind refers to personality, careers, family, hobbies and more. Our spiritual side is more elusive. It is a connection with “other” defined in so many

ways by poets, sages and religions throughout human history. To be happy, we must create a balance between these three. It is true that the three are different in each individual and they change throughout our life. But if body, mind and spirit are not engaged and balanced, disharmony, sadness, and depression will be the result. I believe it is my job to help people nurture their spiritual dimension.

In my current journey with the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House here in Chatham, I am, yet again, on a voyage of spiritual discovery – trying to engage that spiritual part of my being. In my years ahead, I will continue to explore deep questions and provide my perspectives with this congregation as I continue to

study, to grow, and to hopefully gain new insights and wisdom.

And one last thing. I have found the people in this congregation to be wonderful compassionate people. An important elements of this congregation is that we are in community together and we help each other through all the challenges, frustrations, and sadness that arise from time to time in all of our lives.

So, I ask those of you who are visiting today and are curious – join us on this voyage. You will find it a voyage of discovery and be part of a loving community. We could use your life experiences, your knowledge, and your wisdom as we continue to explore and grow together.

Reverend Christopher McMahon

UUMH – July 2025