YRE > What Do We Teach?
What is the philosophy of our religious education program?
We provide experiences which enable our youth to develop their
own religious philosophy and approach to life. We honor the world’s great religions
and, therefore, expose our youth to their basic teachings. We teach the principles
of peace and kindness, the underlying principles of all the world’s
religions, and show how these principles can be practiced in everyday living.
The Unitarian Universalist Association has adopted a statement of beliefs
known as our “Principles and Purposes,” a reminder of our religious
values. We use a simpler version of this statement with our youth, called "UU
Affirmation":
UU Affirmations
- I know that each person is special and valuable.
- I am a very important person.
- I am fair with others. I deserve fair treatment.
- I show respect by listening and sharing.
- I know that everyone has valuable ideas and feelings.
- I choose what
I believe. I let others choose their beliefs.
- It's okay when my beliefs change.
- I cherish that each person is different.
- I know the special connection of all that is.
- I live peacefully with everyone and everything.
What do we teach our children about God?
We expose our youth to the various concepts of God held by the
world’s
major religions, including that of the Judeo-Christian faith. We teach that
there are many meanings for the word “God,” and that Unitarian
Universalists do not adhere to a single definition. We also share that some
members of our church do not believe in any of these concepts of God, and
that each person must decide upon his or her own definition.
What do we teach about Jesus?
We teach that Jesus was a real person who lived during Roman times and
that the Bible is the primary source of informaion about his life. We view
Jesus as one of many great religious teachers who lived throughout history
and taught about love, humility, kindness and many other virtues important
to human living. Most Unitarian Universalists view the life of Jesus as a
metaphor for how people should live. We teach that living such values will
lessen poverty and war and make the world a better place.
What do we teach about prayer?
We teach our youth that prayer and meditation are ways to connect with
the spiritual part of one’s inner self, others and the world. Many
Unitarian Universalists speak of this as “relating to the interdependent
web of existence.
What do we teach about worship and ritual?
We view worship as a way of connecting with one another, celebrating our
values and exploring our spiritual selves. Ritual is a series of regularly
practiced activities within the worship service which are symbolic of worship's
purpose. Some of our rituals include chalice lighting, singing, chanting
and sharing feelings and ideas.
What do we teach our children about Unitarian Universalism?
We teach our young people that Unitarian Universalism offers a way of living
the best lives they possibly can. They can do this through exploration, responsible
choosing, global citizenship and a sense of our spiritual connection with
all that exists.
We believe in acting on these values in daily living, and our youth come
to understand the principles of our faith and to see the relevance of these
principles in their own lives.
What do we teach our children about God?
We expose our youth to the various concepts of God held by the world's
major religions, including that of the Judeo-Christian faith. We teach that
there are many meanings for the word “God,” and that Unitarian
Universalists do not adhere to a single definition. We also share that some
members of our church do not believe in any of these concepts of God, and
that each person must decide upon their own definition.
What do we teach about the Bible?
We teach that the Bible is a collection of stories, written by many people,
which define the beliefs of Jews (Old Testament) and Christians (New Testament.)
Unitarian Universalists generally believe that the Bible is a great work
of both literature and history and that it contains many valuable lessons
about how people should live.
What do we teach our children about Heaven and Hell?
Most Unitarian Universalists do not believe in a literal Heaven, where
the soul goes to be rewarded, nor a Hell, where the soul goes to be punished.
We believe that how we live determines the quality of life for ourselves,
as well as for people around the world. We believe that each person leaves
a legacy of good or bad for those who follow.
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