Question regarding Unitarianism

[Gaius1981]

Hello everyone,

I've considered myself a Deist for a long time, and am currently researching Unitarianism, as it appears to be the most rational interpretation of Christianity. What initially sparked my interest, was the fact that John Adams and John Quincy Adams were Unitarians, and that Thomas Jefferson most likely was one as well. Here's some of the most common Unitarian beliefs:

• The belief in One God and the oneness or unity of God.

• The life and teachings of Jesus Christ is the exemplar model for living one's own life.

• That reason, rational thought, science, and philosophy coexist with faith in God.

• That man has the ability to exercise free will in a responsible, constructive and ethical manner with the assistance of religion.

• The belief that human nature in its present condition is neither inherently corrupt nor depraved (see Original Sin), but capable of both good and evil, as God intended.

• The conviction that no religion can claim an absolute monopoly on the Holy Spirit or theological truth.

• The belief that, though the authors of the Bible were inspired by God, they were humans and therefore subject to human error.

• The rejection of traditional doctrines that they believe malign God's character or veil the true nature and mission of Jesus Christ, such as the doctrines of predestination, eternal damnation, and the vicarious sacrifice or satisfaction theory of the Atonement.

As a Norwegian I don't have particularly good insight into the influence of the various religion denominations in the U.S., though judging by my research so far, it appears that the majority of those who subscribe to this denomination are liberals. My questions are: what is the general opinion of Unitarianism among American conservatives, and are there many Unitarians in the liberty movement?

 

[angelatc]

I am familiar with it, but it's virtually unknown in mainstream America to be honest.

 

[zach]

From what I've researched about Unitarianism, they seem to have the best method of belief system for those who allow others to believe how they want without turning into a "my beliefs are truer than yours" mentality. I'm sure it is in the minority of religious groups in the USA, but from a possible conservative point of view, it might be too liberal because it is open for "different pathways to God" and people of the non-straight orientation are welcome to worship also without the stigma of being part of the "lost sinners." I can't and wouldn't speak of this viewpoint for any conservatives here, nor could I speak of personal experience from going to a Unitarian Universalist church, but if there was an UU group in my area, then I would attend church there in order to find some sort of connection with others based on this same belief system.

 

[PaulaGem]

From what I've researched about Unitarianism, they seem to have the best method of belief system for those who allow others to believe how they want without turning into a "my beliefs are truer than yours" mentality. I'm sure it is in the minority of religious groups in the USA, but from a possible conservative point of view, it might be too liberal because it is open for "different pathways to God" and people of the non-straight orientation are welcome to worship also without the stigma of being part of the "lost sinners." I can't and wouldn't speak of this viewpoint for any conservatives here, nor could I speak of personal experience from going to a Unitarian Universalist church, but if there was an UU group in my area, then I would attend church there in order to find some sort of connection with others based on this same belief system.

I checked into their doctrines and their belief system is similar to mine. If you are interested in this sort of an understanding of Christianity I definitely suggest reading some books by Elaine Pagels.

 

[tonesforjonesbones]

John Adams was most certainly NOT a unitarian! Neither was Jefferson..that is "court historian" stuff. John Adam's father was a minister and John was to go to seminary but went into law...Jefferson was probably the least religious of all the founders....but he was still pretty darn religious. Please stop reading revisionist history. What would be the agenda of those who put this propaganda out about the founders not being Christians? tones

 

[Gaius1981]

John Adams was most certainly NOT a unitarian! Neither was Jefferson..that is "court historian" stuff. John Adam's father was a minister and John was to go to seminary but went into law...Jefferson was probably the least religious of all the founders....but he was still pretty darn religious. Please stop reading revisionist history. What would be the agenda of those who put this propaganda out about the founders not being Christians? tones

It's certainly up for debate when it comes to Jefferson — one can only speculate. It's unlikely that he believed in miracles/divine intervention however, or the divinity of Jesus, as he made his revised version of the Bible (The Jefferson Bible) purely secular, cutting out all the magic occurrences like the virgin birth and the resurrection. The matter is very clear when it comes to John Adams, however, judging by the numerous sources I've read about him. This appears to be the most common view on Adams:

Adams was raised a Congregationalist, but ultimately rejected many fundamental doctrines of conventional Christianity, such as the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, becoming a Unitarian. In his youth, Adams' father urged him to become a minister, but Adams refused, considering the practice of law to be a more noble calling. Although he once referred to himself as a "church going animal," Adams' view of religion overall was rather ambivalent: He recognized the abuses, large and small, that religious belief lends itself to, but he also believed that religion could be a force for good in individual lives and in society at large. His extensive reading (especially in the classics), led him to believe that this view applied not only to Christianity, but to all religions.

Adams was aware of (and wary of) the risks, such as persecution of minorities and the temptation to wage holy wars, that an established religion poses. Nonetheless, he believed that religion, by uniting and morally guiding the people, had a role in public life.

The most influential Deist thinker of that time was Thomas Paine—I strongly recommend his "Age of Reason". Here's a couple of interesting speeches on Jefferson and religion, held at Monticello:

YouTube - Jefferson, the Deist
YouTube - Was Jefferson a Unitarian?

 

[Keith and stuff]

I used to be a Deist but am now a Quaker. I'm not conservative, but from what I understand, most Unitarians are either very liberal or statist. I've never even heard of a pro-freedom Unitarian except for that short period of time when Mark Edge of Free Talk Live was a Unitarian.

 

[Objectivist]

Too bad for you Jesus Christ never put pen to parchment.

 

[james1906]

The Unitarians come across to me as nonreligious people who want a religion to belong to. The denomination is very liberal. My high school gf and her family are Unitarians. Think of the Green Party in a religious setting.

 

[nate895]

Hello everyone,

I've considered myself a Deist for a long time, and am currently researching Unitarianism, as it appears to be the most rational interpretation of Christianity. What initially sparked my interest, was the fact that John Adams and John Quincy Adams were Unitarians, and that Thomas Jefferson most likely was one as well. Here's some of the most common Unitarian beliefs:

• The belief in One God and the oneness or unity of God.

• The life and teachings of Jesus Christ is the exemplar model for living one's own life.

• That reason, rational thought, science, and philosophy coexist with faith in God.

• That man has the ability to exercise free will in a responsible, constructive and ethical manner with the assistance of religion.

• The belief that human nature in its present condition is neither inherently corrupt nor depraved (see Original Sin), but capable of both good and evil, as God intended.

• The conviction that no religion can claim an absolute monopoly on the Holy Spirit or theological truth.

• The belief that, though the authors of the Bible were inspired by God, they were humans and therefore subject to human error.

• The rejection of traditional doctrines that they believe malign God's character or veil the true nature and mission of Jesus Christ, such as the doctrines of predestination, eternal damnation, and the vicarious sacrifice or satisfaction theory of the Atonement.

As a Norwegian I don't have particularly good insight into the influence of the various religion denominations in the U.S., though judging by my research so far, it appears that the majority of those who subscribe to this denomination are liberals. My questions are: what is the general opinion of Unitarianism among American conservatives, and are there many Unitarians in the liberty movement?

First of all, as an orthodox Christian (not in the sectarian sense, but in the sense of orthodoxy), do not confuse Unitarianism with Christianity at all. It is a pernicious heresy that has bred secularism and atheism. I even know someone who is an atheist and a member of a Unitarian church. I suppose that answers your first question. As for their political leanings, they are mostly statists and always have been. In fact, one of the founders of modern statist indoctrination centers (AKA public schools), Horace Mann, was a Unitarian.

Orthodox Christianity is the only sure defender of liberty, if that is what you are looking for in a religion. All other religions and philosophies are either statist, or have no real defense of liberty besides arbitrary assertions of morality or what is in the public interest.

 

[BenIsForRon]

Orthodox Christianity is the only sure defender of liberty.

Wow, I'm glad you came into this thread with your infinite wisdom to clear all that up for us. It's good to know I can only be free if I follow your religion!

 

[Anti Federalist]

I used to be a Deist but am now a Quaker. I'm not conservative, but from what I understand, most Unitarians are either very liberal or statist. I've never even heard of a pro-freedom Unitarian except for that short period of time when Mark Edge of Free Talk Live was a Unitarian.

One of the last strongholds of Unitarianism is New England.

Yes, it is very "liberal" and very conformist, in a statist way.

 

[PaulaGem]

I feel a need to elaborate -

The theology of the Unitarians as stated on the internet is similar to my theology.

Would I be comfortable in a Unitarian church? Who knows?

The personality of a church congregation, even within a particular orthodox Christian denomination, is determined by the personalities and beliefs of the members and leadership of the church.

I would suggest reading up on the "official doctrine" on the internet, and if that is palatable to you, go to a couple and see if you like the people.

 

[acptulsa]

LOL at those who deny that Unitarianism is a sect of Christianity; they seem to have forgotten that Catholics once denied that Protestants were Christians. And a double lol at anyone who says in one breath that evangelicals are the true defenders of liberty, and uses the word 'heretics' in another.

Is not a sin performed in God's name two sins in one?

God's world view is unquestionably bigger than yours. Learn to turn the other cheek already.

 

[Pod]

Hello everyone,

I've considered myself a Deist for a long time, and am currently researching Unitarianism, as it appears to be the most rational interpretation of Christianity.

From what you wrote after this it can hardly be considered a form of Christianity anymore.

 

[acptulsa]

From what you wrote after this it can hardly be considered a form of Christianity anymore.

The root word of Christianity is neither Trinity, Creation, Literalism, Holy Land Intervention, Old Catholic Mythology, Intolerance nor Dante's Inferno.

The root word of Christianity is Christ. Pure and simple.

I'm not a Unitarian, but I can sure tolerate them. I am not holier than they...

 

[Pod]

LOL at those who deny that Unitarianism is a sect of Christianity; they seem to have forgotten that Catholics once denied that Protestants were Christians.

Learn your facts. Protestants were not denied being Christian. They were denied being orthodox, but were instead thought of as a Christian heresy. In fact that is stil the official position of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

[Pod]

The root word of Christianity is neither Trinity, Creation, Literalism, Holy Land Intervention, Old Catholic Mythology, Intolerance nor Dante's Inferno.

The root word of Christianity is Christ. Pure and simple.

Crist is greek for messiah. You can`t belive in the Messiah, but at the same time claim all religions are equivalent.

 

[acptulsa]

Crist is greek for messiah. You can`t belive in the Messiah, but at the same time claim all religions are equivalent.

Who made that claim?

What you can't do is believe that a human parent is capable of meeting and loving each of his or her individual children on their own terms, yet the omniscient God is not capable of it. Or, if you can, you're better at mental gymnastics than I.

 

[PaulaGem]

The root word of Christianity is neither Trinity, Creation, Literalism, Holy Land Intervention, Old Catholic Mythology, Intolerance nor Dante's Inferno.

The root word of Christianity is Christ. Pure and simple.

I'm not a Unitarian, but I can sure tolerate them. I am not holier than they...

The word "Christ" etymologically does not refer to a specific person either.

That is another Roman myth.