Our Principles and Sources

The 7 Principles:

Unitarian Universalists have diverse and inclusive beliefs. We have no shared creed, but do agree on our Seven Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides:

  1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
  2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
  3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
  4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
  5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
  6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
  7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The 8th Principle:

First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, as a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, has chosen to adopt the 8th Principle to covenant to affirm and promote journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community that by our actions accountably dismantles racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

The 6 Sources:

As UUs, we live out these Principles within a “living tradition” of wisdom and spirituality, drawn from many sources:

  1. 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;
  2. Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
  3. Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
  4. Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
  5. 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;
  6. 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.

Our Symbol: 

The Flaming Chalice

A flame within a chalice (a cup with a stem and foot) represents the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and is a symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith.

At the opening of our worship services, we light a flame inside a chalice. This flaming chalice has become a well-known symbol of our faith. It unites our members in worship and symbolizes the spirit of our work.