Unitarian Universalism Essay

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The History, Theology, and Social Justice Advocacy of
Unitarian Universalism
There is a witticism about Unitarian Universalism that begins, “Do you belong to an organized religion?” To which the congregant replies, “No, I’m a Unitarian Universalist.” As with most jokes, there is an element of truth to the wisecracking punchline. Unitarian Universalism is a non-dogmatic, creedless religion that embraces a diverse theology—including meaningful traditions from a number of faith systems, along with an appreciation of a variety of holy texts. Conversely, Unitarian Universalism also appeals to those who eschew any faith traditions, including secular humanists, atheists, and agnostics. Despite being a religion that welcomes everyone to their table, …show more content…

These two groups merged in 1961 to form the current denomination known as Unitarian Universalism. Fashioned at a point in time where many sought alternatives to organized religion, Unitarian Universalism filled an important role for those who found traditional faith systems bound to outdated doctrines that ignored true spirituality, and which lacked an awareness of social issues. In order to understand the history of Unitarian Universalism, it is necessary to explore both halves of the formative …show more content…

In 1557, Queen Isabella of Transylvania—the only surviving parent of the young King John Sigismund—decreed that all subjects were free to worship according to their own faith. Following her death in 1559, her son issued his own royal proclamation of religious tolerance. The King’s Edict of Toleration sanctioned the right of the people to choose which Christian doctrine to follow, including Unitarianism—a faith which sprang from the King’s court theologian, Frances David, who found no Biblical basis to support the Trinity (Harris 280). The Unitarian church’s stance was that people should follow Jesus, but not worship him—they saw no benefit to the deification of Christ, nor to the rote recitation of religious creeds. David’s belief that “we need not think alike to love alike” (Harris xxi) not only gave rise to the formation of the Unitarian church, but reflects a fundamental tenet of the modern Unitarian Universalist church that continues

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