Principles

The Moral Teachings of Jesus Are Our Foundation

We uphold the ethical teachings of Jesus (compassion, justice, humility, forgiveness, and love of neighbor) as a timeless guide for living well.

Reason Is Sacred and the Proper Guide to Truth

Honest inquiry illuminates reality. Faith that fears questions weakens both reason and faith itself.

Conscience Is the Inner Light of Moral Law

Every person possesses an inner moral sense that no authority, religious or secular, has the right to violate.

Compassion Is the Measure of Spiritual Integrity

Morality is judged not by what we claim to believe but by how we treat others, especially the vulnerable.

Inquiry and Honest Doubt Strengthen Faith

We welcome questions and debate. A faith that cannot withstand scrutiny is not worth holding.

Liberty of Conscience Is an Inalienable Right

No institution may compel belief, silence thought, or punish intellectual independence.

Science and Faith Illuminate Different Paths to Understanding

Genuine faith does not contradict reason or evidence. Both serve the pursuit of truth from different angles.

Religion Must Elevate, Never Manipulate Through Fear

We reject theologies rooted in fear, guilt, or coercion. Faith should strengthen dignity, not diminish it.

Moral Progress Is the Responsibility of Every Generation

Every age must refine its understanding of justice and human dignity. The work is ongoing.

Faith Must Serve Liberty, Justice, and Human Flourishing

Our spiritual commitment calls us to defend truth, cultivate virtue, and build a more compassionate society.

Moral Freedom Requires Moral Maturity

Freedom is not license.
It carries the responsibility to reason carefully, act compassionately, and consider the well-being of others.
A mature faith forms character rather than enforcing compliance.

Authority Exists to Serve Moral Development, Not Replace It

Institutions may guide, teach, and preserve wisdom, but they must never substitute for individual conscience or halt moral growth.
Authority persuades by truth and example; it does not command belief.

Tradition Must Be Examined, Not Assumed

Faithfulness requires discernment.
Historical understanding, ethical reflection, and honest inquiry deepen moral clarity rather than threaten it.
We honor tradition by engaging it seriously, not by treating it as unquestionable.

Moral Adulthood Is the Aim of Faith

The purpose of faith is not perpetual dependence, obedience, or submission, but the formation of morally responsible persons capable of reasoned compassion, integrity, and self-governance.

Unity Is Not Unanimity

We do not require identical beliefs, interpretations, or conclusions.
What binds us is a shared commitment to honesty, conscience, humility, and moral seriousness—not agreement enforced by authority.