In a Nutshell . . .

Although opinions of individual Unitarian Universalists range from traditional Christian to atheist, beliefs of middle-of-the-road Unitarian Universalists include:

GOD -- An indefinable and unnamable essence that is higher than humankind but also a part of all that exists.  Unitarian Universalists reject portrayals of God as a manlike super being.

HELL -- It does not exist.  A loving God would not punish humankind in that way.

SATAN -- Most do not believe in a personal Satan.  But evil exists in individuals and in governing systems, and the church should work to alleviate it.

HEAVEN -- No one knows what happens when we die.  People should focus on the here and now.  Heaven is not a piece of real estate somewhere in the sky.

BIBLE-- The Bible is the only sacred Scripture used as a basic teaching tool in Unitarian Universalist seminaries.  But the Bible is not seen as infallible, and other sacred books related to Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and other faiths are also taken as containing valuable religious truths.

JESUS -- No finer moral or ethical example exists.  But most Unitarian Universalists do not see him as divine or as the only way to reach God.  In the view of most members, Jesus was not the son of God any more than all men and women are sons and daughters of God.

ORIGINAL SIN -- Unitarian Universalists strongly oppose the view of humanity's basic depravity, or "original sin," as taught by many Christians, based on the account of Adam and Eve's fall from grace in Genesis, the first book of the Bible.  But all people do wrong and must try to make up for it by attempting to correct the wrongdoing.

VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST -- A myth that has meaning for many but is basically a folk legend for which there has never been theological consensus.

BODILY RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST  -- Not accepted by most Unitarian Universalists, who focus on the way Jesus lived rather than biblical accounts of his death and resurrection.

SOURCE:  Interviews with the Rev. Suzanne Meyer, pastor of First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans, and the Rev. Craig Roshaven, pastor of First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church of Forth Worth.  (This article was prepared for use by the NYTimes News Service © 1994 Fort Worth Star-Telegram.)