Religion that: 1) honors the individual's need to make up one's own mind in choosing and formulating one's personal convictions; 2) involves neither dogmatism nor authoritarianism; 3) does not require the affirmation of supernaturalism; and in a principled manner, 4) draws for inspiration from whatever sources that the individual carefully judges to be of value.¹

Interpersonally, liberal religion: 1) refrains from imposing established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian positions or dogmas on its participants or on others; 2) welcomes the exploration of various traditions; 3) encourages the consideration of new ideas; and, within the context of peaceful interaction, 4) tolerates the different ideas and behavior of others.²

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Notes

¹Such sources can include, but are not limited to: mythology; historical and religious traditions; humanism, philosophy and science. Cf., "liberal," The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000. www.bartleby.com/61/. [June 24, 2005.]

²Unitarian Universalism is but one manifestation of liberal religion. Cf. Ibid. See UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM.