Religious Exploration

We believe that faith is a journey we take together.

Religious exploration takes a lifetime. It happens both within and beyond a congregation’s walls. We support one another as individuals, families, and communities in an ongoing search for truth and meaning. We strive to guide one another—all ages among us—in religious questioning, personal change, and discovering ways to better live in faith.

Transforming Ourselves and Our World

We affirm the inherent worth and dignity of all beings, and we believe each of us is responsible and capable to help change the world for the better. Through continually learning and growing together we encourage and support one another, and our children, to know and express our moral agency. From anti-racism and environmental justice to personal spiritual growth, using many formats for learning, Unitarian Universalist (UU) religious education taps the wisdom of diverse Sources. We help one another find grounding and connection with ethics, faith, spirit, and UU identity. We feed the faith development of everyone involved; teachers are learners, learners are teachers.

Tapestry of Faith is the collection of religious exploration curricula the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) provides online, at no cost, for lifespan faith development in our congregations. Search Tapestry materials by age group, topic, or keyword.

Our Whole Lives is the UUA’s award-winning series of sexuality education curricula for six age groups: grades K-1, grades 4-6, grades 7-9, grades 10-12, young adults (ages 18-35), and adults.

The Beacon Religious Exploration program is pleased to announce the scheduling of Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education for Young People  for 7th and 8th graders in the summer of 2023. Full information can found here.

Volunteering with Beacon’s Religious Exploration Program

Beacon’s RE program is always looking for help. Interested volunteers can print and complete the volunteer form.  Return the form to the Beacon office for review.

Faith Development for All Stages of Life

Beyond curricula, materials from the UUA.org website include discussion guides to contemporary books and films, session plans for small group ministry, and single-session, topical programs that can be used in a variety of contexts such as worship, retreat weekends, youth gatherings, lay leadership conferences, and family life. Explore by age and stage:

What Does UU Religious Exploration Look Like?

Children’s religious exploration programs are typically offered on Sunday mornings. You might find preschoolers singing a song about making new friends, second graders engaging with a story about loss and bereavement, fifth graders talking with a Muslim couple about Islam, or older youth speaking to the congregation about their plan to raise money for a local homeless shelter. Religious exploration programs include more than classes. Programs may incorporate social justice and community service activities, worship opportunities, or creating art to share with the congregation.

Programs for high school youth, when offered, are usually scheduled on afternoons or evenings.