The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) grew out of a consolidation, in 1961, of two religious denominations: the Universalists, organized in 1793, and the Unitarians, organized in 1825. Unitarian Universalist origins are in Europe and the Protestant Reformation. Contemporary Unitarian Universalism took root and flourished in New England in 1750-1800 as a liberal spinoff from the Congregational Church.

The Historical Unitarians and Universalists originated in part as a protest against two Calvinist doctrines: total depravity (Original Sin)and Predestination (the doctrine of the elect- the belief that God has determined whether you will go to Heaven even before you were born).

The Unitarians, while recognizing the reality of evil, did not believe that any person was born in a state of total corruption from which they could be rescued solely at the whim of an arbitrary God. They believed that all people had the potential for good or evil depending upon both the life they they chose to live and upon the social environment in which they were born and raised.

The Unitarians were Christians who believed that people should interpret the Bible in the light of human reason. Although Jesus and the Bible were central to their faith, they regarded Jesus as more of a moral and ethical teacher than a supernatural being. They did not believe in the divinity of Jesus, that he was the son of God but not the same as God. The term "Unitarian" originally meant "non-trinitarian" a belief in one unified God rather than a three part entity.

The term Universalism originally meant that every person could be saved (universal salvation) as opposed to the salvation of a few whom God would select to save. Although Christian, the Universalists did not believe a loving God would condemn people to an eternity of hell. They believed that the souls of all dead people would eventually be reconciled to this loving God, although it would take a longer time for some to get to heaven than others.

Thoroughout the 19th and into the early 20th centuries, Unitarianism and Universalism were liberal Christian alternatives to the more harsh and dogmatic forms of Christianity at that time. During the 20th century, both religions began to move away from their Christian origin toward a religion based upon individual freedom of belief. The Universalists retained their Christian identity longer than the Unitarians.

In today's congregation, it's common to find a variety of beliefs: humanist, agnostic, theist, atheist, liberal Christian, Wiccan, etc. Over the past decade, feminist theology has made an impact-UU hymn books are gender inclusive, and half of UU seminary students are women.

The term Unitarian affirms that we believe there is a unity of all life,"the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." The term Universalism indicates universality of religion itself. Unitarian Universalists affirm that you can find wisdom in all the world's religions.

The difference between Unitarians and Universalists historically was less theological than class and cultural. Unitarians originally attracted white collar people: professionals, educators, cultural leaders, etc. The Universalist congregations were comprised mostly of blue collar working class people such as farmers and fishermen.

By the middle of the 20th century, the distinctions had blurred, making a merger both feasible and financially necessary for the survival of the two religions. This merger took place in 1961 resulting in the present Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).