The Family Dynamic: Embracing Diversity and Unity

Family is a sacred institution, a microcosm of the encompassing community where love, respect, and spiritual growth are nurtured. UPL upholds and reveres the diverse structures of family seen in society today, shedding the conventional notion of a family unit as solely constituted by a man and a woman.

The traditions honour the family in their own ways. Seicho-No-Ie keeps gratitude to parents and ancestors as a practice. Hindu teaching sees a life in stages, the householder’s among them, each with its own duties. The Talmud holds that peace in the home comes before other observances. Most traditions have classically taught that marriage joins a man and a woman, and some of their communities now teach otherwise. UPL’s own teaching is set out in the pages of this section.

In this section

1. Inclusive Familial StructuresA family may be headed by a same-sex couple or a single parent, or span generations: what makes it a family is commitment, love and shared growth.
2. Marriage as a Spiritual UnionMarriage in UPL is a spiritual union of mutual support and growth: encouraged, never required.
3. Cooperative Growth and SupportWorking on oneself strengthens the family: partners support each other's growth with encouragement, resilience and love.
4. Divorce as a Last ResortUPL works to keep families whole, and accepts divorce as a last resort when it is the most compassionate course.