Lessons from the Fall and Rise of China

1
How Do You Say UU in Chinese?
Dr. Jian Li ?? July 5th, 2009 Prepared for the
Community Unitarian Universalist Church of Plano
2
Unitarian Universalism Challenges and
Opportunities

Essence of Unitarian Universalism UU in
Chinese? Faith Without Borders?
3
Many Traditions Three Themes

Sources Jewish and Christian, world religions,
humanism, earth centered traditions, direct
experiences of love, mystery, and wonder Three
Themes 1. Individual worth and dignity 2.
Interdependent web of all beings 3. A free and
responsible search for truth and meaning
4
Why UU In Chinese?

• UU non creedal, embracing world wisdom
  traditions
• Religious revival in China since 1978
• All major religions have been translated into
  Chinese
• Unitarian Universalism is yet to be translated
• UU Hong Kong, uuhk.org

5
Three Strategies in Translating Names from
English to Chinese

1. By meaning 2. By sound 3. By a
combination of meaning and sound
6
Translating UU by Meaning

7
Translating UU by Sound


8
Translating UU by Combining Meaning and Sound


9
Nature of Unitarian Universalism
10
UU???/ ??? Unitarian Universalists Hong Kong
Both (Daoism and UU) share a philosophical view
of seeing the world as a metaphysical reality
with change and dynamism. Furthermore, both also
share their deep respect for living in harmony
with nature, and both recognize the
interdependent web of all existence of which we
are a part.
11
UU???/ ??? Unitarian Universalists Hong Kong
12
Unitarian Universalism and Beyond
UU Faith without borders UU Religion of
gratitude The defining element of our faith
(UU) is gratitude. Judaism is defined by
obedience, Christianity by love, Islam by
submission, Unitarian Universalism by gratitude
- By Galen Guengerich, Theology for a Secular
Age UU message of hope, love and gratitude is
good for the world!