Unitarians foster family feeling

Author: Thomas Brant and Joseph Bergan

The Unitarian Universalists of Middlebury (UUM) is one of the smallest religious organizations on campus - just four students.

"We meet once a month on Sunday nights and make dinner," said Mia Monnier '10, a member of the UUM. The organization is small, but there is an intense familial feel.

"As soon as you go, you feel very welcome," said Monnier. "We have a thing called 'check-in' at the dinners - we go around the table and share what's happening in our lives - you get to know people really quickly."

Besides the Sunday dinners the group takes a Winter Term retreat to come together and share their creeds.

Unlike other religions, Unitarian Universalism has no singular defining principal.

"We used to be aligned with Christianity but we've moved away from that," said Monnier. "It's a liberal religion without a creed."

Unitarian Universalist Sunday School aims to teach many religious, ethical and moral traditions to children until they reach their "coming of age." This celebration, much like a Jewish Bar Mitzvah or a Christian confirmation, centers around the youth of the congregation where you profess your faith. In Unitarian Universalism, you can profess whatever faith you have constructed out of what you have learned throughout your studies, travels and experiences.

"There are wide variety of different beliefs," said Monnier. "The church is about unifying feelings rather than creeds or beliefs."

In a religion where so much is based on personal conviction, there is an open door for the beliefs of its followers.

"A lot of Unitarian Universalists don't believe in God," said Monnier, "but there are many that do."

Although a small organization, the Universalists pride themselves on their sense of community.