Editing Unitarian Universalism (section)

==Worship and practices==
{{more citations needed section|date=June 2011}}

===Diversity of practices===
The Unitarian belief that reason, and not creed, defines the search for truth, and the Universalist belief that God embraces all people equally has led to the current Unitarian Universalist belief that truth and spiritual meaning can be found in all faiths. This is reflected in the wide array of spiritual practices found among Unitarian Universalists today. Many Unitarian Universalist congregations include Buddhist-style meditation groups, Jewish [[Passover Seder|Seder]], [[Yom Kippur]] and Passover dinners, ''[[iftaar]]'' meals (marking the breaking of Ramadan fast for Muslims), and Christmas Eve/[[Winter Solstice#Observances|Winter Solstice]] services. Children's and youth's religious education classes teach about the divinity of the world and the sanctity of world religions. One of its more popular curricula, Neighboring Faiths (formerly Church Across the Street), takes middle and high school participants to visit the places of worship of many faith traditions including a [[Hindu]] temple, a [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] or [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] synagogue, and a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] church.

There is great variety among Unitarian Universalist congregations, with some favoring particular religious beliefs or forms of worship over others, with many more home to an eclectic mix of beliefs. Regardless of their orientation, most congregations are fairly open to differing beliefs, though not always with various faith traditions represented to the same degree.

===Diversity of congregations===
There is a wide variety in how congregations conceive of themselves, calling themselves "churches", "societies", "fellowships", "congregations", or eschew the use of any particular descriptor. Many use the name "Unitarian Universalist", (and a few "Universalist Unitarian"), having gradually adopted this formulation since consolidation in 1961. Others use names that reflect their historic roots by keeping the historical designation "Unitarian" or "Universalist" (e.g. "[[First Unitarian Church (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)|First Unitarian Church]]"). A few congregations use neither (e.g. [[Unity Temple]]). For some congregations, the name can be a clue to their theological orientation. For others, avoidance of the word "church" indicates a desire to distance itself from traditional Christian theology. Sometimes the use of another term may simply indicate a congregation's lay-led or relatively new status. However, some Unitarian Universalist congregations have grown to appreciate alternative terms such as ''fellowship'' and retained them even though they have grown much larger or lost features sometimes associated with their use (such as, in the case of fellowships, a traditionally lay-led worship model).<ref>See for examples: [http://www.uufellowship.org Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Westchester] and [http://www.uuathensga.org/ Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens].</ref>

Also of note is that there are many more people who identify as Unitarian Universalist on surveys than those who attend Unitarian Universalist congregations (by a factor of four in a recent survey),<ref>{{cite web |title=Largest religious groups in the United States of America |website=Adherents.com |url=http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820080454/http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html |archive-date=2018-08-20 }}</ref> reflecting those who have never joined (and lapsed members) but nonetheless consider themselves part of the Unitarian Universalist movement.

===Elevator speeches===
In 2004, ''UU World'' magazine asked for contributions of "[[Elevator pitch|elevator speeches]]" explaining Unitarian Universalism.<ref>''UU World Magazine''. Unitarian Universalist Association. July/August 2004. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110428061740/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4071/is_200407/ai_n9458199/]</ref> These are short speeches that could be made in the course of an elevator ride to those who knew nothing of the religion. Here are examples of the speeches submitted:

{{Blockquote | In Unitarian Universalist congregations, we gather in community to support our individual spiritual journeys. We trust that openness to one another's experiences will enhance our understanding of our own links with the divine, with our history, and with one another. | Jonalu Johnstone, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma<ref name=affirmations>{{cite web
| url = http://www.uuworld.org/2003/06/affirmations.html
| title = Affirmations: Elevator speeches
| access-date = 2007-02-24
| work = uuaworld.org
| publisher = [[Unitarian Universalist Association]]}}
</ref>}}

{{Blockquote | Most Unitarian Universalists believe that nobody has a monopoly on all truth, or ultimate proof of the truth of everything in any one belief. Therefore, one's own truth is unprovable, as is that of others. Consequently, we should respect the beliefs of others, as well as their right to hold those beliefs. Conversely, we expect that others should respect our right to our own beliefs. Several UU's then, would likely hold as many different beliefs. Other beliefs they may hold in common are a respect for others, for nature, and for common decency, leading to a particular caring for the poor, the weak and the downtrodden. As a result, issues of justice, including social justice are held in common among most. | Gene Douglas, Harrah, Oklahoma<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uuduluth.org/newsletters/nov06news.html |title=Dear Ones |access-date=2007-02-24 |author=Karen Johnson Gustafson |date=November 2006 |work=Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth Newsletter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929140837/http://www.uuduluth.org/newsletters/nov06news.html |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>}}

{{Blockquote | It's a blessing each of us was born; It matters what we do with our lives; What each of us knows about God is a piece of the truth; We don't have to do it alone.

|Laila Ibrahim, Berkeley, California<ref name="affirmations"/>}}