Origins of Unitarianism
- When Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire in the 4 th century, Arius of Alexandria’s views of Christ, specifically that he was not divine, were condemned as heresy. Many Unitarians hold similar beliefs, and trace their theology all the way back to Arius, and “the Arian heresy.”
- People who did not believe in the Trinity were punished for their beliefs, including Michael Servetus who was burned at the stake in 1553 by John Calvin for his work called, “De Trinitatis Erroribus libri septem,” or “On the Errors of the Trinity.”
- 1568 is a pivotal year in Transylvania (in modern day Romania ): After a debate in Gyueleferhervar: Francis (or Ferencz) David wins and preaches at Kolozsvar from boulder and city converts to Unitarianism. The edict of Toleration is issued from the Diet of Torda allowing Transylvanians to choose which Christian religion they practice.
- Unitarian beliefs denying the divinity of Jesus crop up all over Europe.
- In North America, 1794, Joseph Priestly and his sons helped start a Unitarian church in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, as well as raising money for the Universalists.
Origins of Universalism
- Universalists arose in response to the Calvinist idea that humanity was inherently depraved. Arminian beliefs common in early Universalist theology were that man had the capacity for both good and evil. Universalists believed that eventually all are allowed into heaven.
- John Murray formed the first North American Universalist church in Gloucester, MA in 1779.
Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Origins
- In 1961, the American Unitarian Association, and the Universalist Church of America merged to form the Unitarian Universalist Association.
- There are over 1000 UU congregations in North America and about 250 Unitarian and Universalist congregations around the world.
Polity
- UU Congregations are members of the UUA, but unlike many other churches with a “top down” structure, UU congregations are self-governing.
- Authority and responsibility are vested in the membership of the congregation, which decides how to conduct business and calls its own ministers.
Principles and Purposes
- The Principles and Purposes are a covenant between all congregations of the UUA.
- They are a living document that is augmented and modified through our governing processes that usually take place during General Assemblies.
For more information see:
Revised by SGS October 2006
