Vision and Values in a Post-9-11 World

A Curriculum on Civil Liberties, Faith, Patriotism and Values for Unitarian Universalist Congregations

This curriculum is designed to provide U.S.-based Unitarian Universalists (UUs) with an opportunity to reflect historically, ethically and religiously about patriotism, the state of civil liberties in the U.S., and the ongoing impact of September 11th. The curriculum can be tailored to adult education or small group ministry, congregational youth activities, intergenerational or community-wide conversations. As constructed, the curriculum consists of four 2-hour modules. The format assumes that the same adults attend all four sessions, building trust and depth of common analysis over time.

Full Curriculum (pdf)

Openings, Closings, and other Readings

Online Resources for session III

Online Resources for session IV


Liberty is at the core of our Unitarian Universalist faith. Civil liberties are at the heart of our American experiment in democracy. Those civil liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, Amendments I through X to the Constitution of the United States of America, are as fundamental to our practice of democracy as freedom of conscience is to our actions of faith...

The ultimate test of democracy is the will to protect the rights of whomever we deem “the other.” It is what matters most in a nation struggling to realize the promise of liberty and justice for all. It is a matter of conscience and faith.

-From the UUA 2004 Statement of Conscience on Civil Liberties