Traditionally, Unitarians taught not only that all human beings have inherent worth and dignity, but also that the way to “affirm and promote” our own inherent worth and dignity is not by postulating it but by searching the soul for it, cultivating it, refining it, purifying it, identifying and casting off all the dross, and then modeling worthy and dignified behavior — to each other and to outsiders. That’s a very different message than “I’m all right, Jack” or “Follow your bliss”, which seems to originate more from the late 20th-century self-esteem movement gone haywire than from anything inherent in our own religious tradition.

As our denominational ancestor John Winthrop preached to the congregation that would eventually become First Church in Salem (Unitarian),

We must entertain each other in brotherly affection. We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of others’ necessities. We must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience and liberality. We must delight in each other; make others’ conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. … For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely … in this work we have undertaken, … we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.

That’s always been the Unitarian way to affirm our own worth and promote it in others. It’s done through humility and constant effort, not through smugness and easy self-congratulation.

With love,

Rabbi Brian