{"id":7685,"date":"2016-02-01T13:43:32","date_gmt":"2016-02-01T18:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dorjegurung.com\/blog\/?p=7685"},"modified":"2026-03-13T22:16:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T22:16:51","slug":"uu-keeping-the-faith-in-humanity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/2016\/02\/uu-keeping-the-faith-in-humanity\/","title":{"rendered":"UU: Keeping the Faith…in Humanity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The following meme I produced and shared on Instagram and elsewhere a while ago sums up one of the main issues I have with pretty much every religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A photo posted by Dorje Gurung (@dorje_sdooing)<\/a> on

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The Unitarian Universalist stands out in its openness and inclusiveness and for its lack of dogmatism and narrow faith that other organised religions display, especially the monotheistic ones.<\/p>\n\n\n

[bctt tweet=”The Unitarian Universalist stands out in its openness and inclusiveness.” username=”Dorje_sDooing”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My first introduction to them was more than a decade ago, some time in 2001-03, when I was working at UWC-USA<\/a> in New Mexico. A friend had asked if I would be interested in accompanying her to their Sunday gathering in Santa Fe saying that they welcome anyone and everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having been born a Tibetan-Buddhist, in a Hindu kingdom at the time, and having been educated by the Jesuits, luckily, I developed not only a healthy appreciation for all religions<\/a> but also a curiosity for — and an openness to learning about — others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, as a student at the United World College<\/a> of the Adriatic in Italy, when a friend invited me to attend their Christian Fellowship meeting, I went. In New Mexico itself,  I took part in Muslim celebrations and activities including praying together with them.  As a matter of fact, one of the reasons I travel the world<\/a> as much as I did and still do is for such opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So naturally, I accompanied her. But, it wasn’t until recently, more than a decade later, that I would come across Unitarian Universalists again, and, through a college friend, learn considerably more about them this past weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, to begin with, are the principles Unitarian Universalists adhere to, taken from The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\nWe, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n