What does individualism mean for our congregation and for the UU community? Join the 4th Principle Dialogue Group as we continue our discussion on this big, timely topic. We’ll discuss three essays from national UU leaders, plus a sermon from Rev. Jon Luopa.

“From iChurch to Beloved Community: Ecclesiology and Justice”, by Rev. Fredric J. Muir, 2012, an influential lecture on lay UUs’ “trinity of errors”: individualism, exceptionalism, and allergy to authority. According to Muir, how has our individualism stymied the leaders’ programs? How do we UUs see ourselves as exceptional? Whose authority are we allergic to? This influential lecture generated a lot of conversation in December, and there’s plenty more to talk about.

“Unitarian Universalism's two truths”, by Rev. James Ishmael Ford, 2012, about the “middle way between the two poles of our precious individuality and our intimate connection”.

“The power of we”, by Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, 2019, about how “mission and covenant are an antidote to individualism”.

"What Holds Us Together?” by Rev. Jon Luopa, 10 September 2023, about our shared UU heritage, which we hold in tension with the particularity of the individual congregant. Starts at 22:30.

Coming up

On January 25 we’ll discuss Martin Luther King, Jr., especially how his vision compares to anti-racism today. We’ll consider his Ware Lecture to UUs from 1966, Don’t Sleep Through the Revolution, plus other sources.

February: topics TBD

March: We’ll discuss The Lost Histories of Liberalism by Helena Rosenblatt. It’s available in the bookstore, and it’s worth a read even if you don’t attend our dialogue. Nineteenth-century Unitarianism is part of the story



The 4th Principle Dialogue Group promotes the “free and responsible search for truth and meaning,” pursuing the congregational goal of Connected Community. We get to know each other and connect to each other through meaningful, open-hearted dialogue. Drop-ins welcome. Homework not required. See more in UU Connect.