How it works

Share something that matters to you

Choose a verse, a saying or a teaching that means something to you. Say where it comes from, and write what it means to you in your own voice. How do you live it, or struggle with it? A few honest sentences are enough.

This is how we learn what you care about. We use AI to pick out the themes in your reflection, such as compassion, patience or justice. That means the text of your reflection is processed by an AI service when you post it. The privacy page explains more.

Meet someone from another tradition

We look for members of other traditions whose reflections resemble yours, and tell you what you both wrote about. We only ever suggest people from outside your own tradition. If no one is a real match yet, we say so instead of guessing.

You decide who to say hello to. They decide whether to accept. Until they do, you cannot send anything else.

Have a real conversation

Conversations are private and one-on-one. Talk about what you believe, what you have lived through and what you have in common. Either of you can end the conversation, block the other person or report a problem at any time.

Write down what you share

Once you have both said a few things, either of you can write one sentence that you think you both believe. The other person then says yes or not quite. If they say not quite, write it again until it is true for both of you.

A confirmed sentence goes on the public Common Ground page, with your two traditions and without your names. Either of you can take it back whenever you like.

What the AI does and does not do

The AI makes the introduction. It does not take part in your conversation, and it does not write or choose what goes on the Common Ground page. Your private messages are not sent to any AI service.

Later, we plan to use AI to study the statements members have confirmed, and to show the patterns across traditions. Anything it reports will trace back to members’ own words, and members will be able to challenge it.

How we look after the community

New members’ first reflections get a careful automated check. Anything that raises concern is held for a person to review. Read our guidelines to see what we ask of everyone.

Questions

Do I have to belong to a religion?

No. Humanists, seekers and people still working out what they believe are welcome. Choose the tradition that fits best, or “Other / Spiritual”.

Who can read my conversations?

Only the two of you. If one of you reports a conversation, a moderator can read that conversation to decide what to do. Moderators cannot read it otherwise.

Who can read my reflections?

Signed-in members of Universal Ground. Your email address is never shown to other members.

Do I have to agree with the person I talk to?

Not at all. You will disagree about plenty, and that is fine. The only thing we ask you to write down is what you do share. Trying to convert someone is the one thing that is not welcome.

What if I do not want to talk to someone?

Say no thank you. They will not be able to ask again, and you do not have to explain.