In each congregation now you will find both, including those who manage to hold both positions simultaneously, as well as other concepts of ultimate reality. These all have in common the idea that values are more important than belief, optimism about the nature of human kind, and valuing the use of reason. It has been said that Unitarians can tolerate anything except intolerance. They were the first denomination to ordain women and gays to ministry, and to perform gay weddings. They are not an historic peace church, but they joined Quakers and Mennonites in opposing the war in Vietnam.
Social action is an important part of the life of the church.
The first white man killed in the southern civil rights movement was a Unitarian minister. Unitarians tend to be more alike in their value system across socioeconomic and geographic lines, but differ in beliefs. Other denominations, from Catholic to Baptist, tend to hold the same beliefs across socioeconomic and geographical lines, but have widely differing values. Back to Mac's homepage.