Do you believe in finding your own spiritual path and meaning to life over the predestined path already established by organized religions?
Members of the first Unitarian Universalist Church, such as IUP student Jay Harter (junior, family and consumer science education), believe in seeking their own spiritual pathways in life.
"It opens up my mind," said Harter, UUC president at IUP. "It exposes me to different ways of thinking and looking at the world."
The UUC is a religious group comprised of people from many different ethnic and religious backgrounds who seek meaning in a more modern way of thought.
The Rev. Joan Sabatino, pastor of the UUC group on campus, explained that the church descended from a protestant tradition, but had never adopted a formal creed or doctrine as its main infrastructure. She said that this allows UUC members to seek their own spirituality freely without doctrinal restrictions.
"Our faith is based more on deeds than creeds," said Sabatino during one of the group's meetings in the HUB Wednesday. "Each person has the right and responsibility to follow their own spiritual path."
Sabatino also explained that the UUC believes in the existence of one loving God, or rather, "a higher power with many different names for it."
"We also believe in something greater and wider than humanity," she said. "Our core is that there is not one true faith, but many."
Sabatino said she became interested in joining the UUC when she was searching for a better way to educate her then two-year-old child with more freedom of perception and interpretation about life.
The UUC, she said, granted her "the freedom and responsibility to find her own spiritual path," just as she preaches at the group's services.
It also gave her the opportunity to preach, something her doctrinal church would not allow women to do. Sarah Fritz (senior, theater) said she joined UUC for political reasons.
"I joined because it allows everyone to think freely and think about the reality around them," she said. "It's very welcoming to the GLBT community."
It's the one place where I've been able to talk about politics [of religion]. No one here can tell you 'that's wrong because the Bible says so.' No one can interpret something as the only truth."
As for Harter, he said the group has two basic principles when associating with people. He said, "the inherent worth and dignity of every person" is greatly valued and each member believes in having a strong "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
"I take these to heart," Harter said. "They are the two things I try to live for."
The UUC meets at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays in the HUB. Services take place at the UUC church located at 285 Twolick Drive, off of East Pike, 10:30 a.m. Sundays.
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