Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Book on Unitarian Christianity and Universalism?

Anyone know a good book on Unitarian Christianity (as in how it developed and how it works today) and one on the Universalist outlook on religion?
Posted by at
Labels:

10 comments:

  1. SarahFebruary 23, 2010 at 7:24 PM

    The book I'm reading by Ehrman touches on the different views in early Christianity. John's is the only gospel that states Jesus was God; so 3 out of the 4 gospels are unitarian. :) Luke doesn't even think Jesus made an atoning sacrifice of his life for people's sins. The temple curtain rips *before* he dies in Luke!

    But I haven't read any books specifically about the development of Christianity or unitarianism. Maybe someone else will have a suggestion.

    I haven't read any about UU either but I've ordered "A Chosen Faith". It sounded good to me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SarahFebruary 23, 2010 at 7:26 PM

    By the way, have you ever done this quiz? http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx

    It's quite interesting and possibly even helpful! Achelois and I got freakishly similar results. Would be cool to see what you get!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 23, 2010 at 7:56 PM

    A Chosen Faith is a good introduction. And not a book, but this website might be helpful, it lists several books on Unitarian Universalism.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Zu hu raFebruary 23, 2010 at 10:07 PM

    Although there are (a minority of) UUs who consider themselves Christian, I don't think Unitarian Christianity exists today (at least I don't think anyone uses that label). Unitarians and Universalists merged in 1961.

    You can read a little bit of that history on the UUA website. Beacon Press publishes UU books, but I'm not sure of any one in particular to recommend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. LKFebruary 23, 2010 at 10:46 PM

    Thanks everyone.

    Zuhura: I don't mean this as sarcasm, Im asking honestly: then what is the Unitarian church a few blocks away if the Unitarians no longer exist?

    ReplyDelete
  6. LKFebruary 23, 2010 at 11:00 PM

    WWR: LOL I just took it. I'm so doing a post right now!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AcheloisFebruary 24, 2010 at 6:23 AM

    Unitarians do exist in the UK. There are loads in my UU church who are Unitarian Christians and attend the UU church. UUs are quite different in the UK from the US. In the US they are more like Free Thinkers and come from many religions. In the UK, most are primarily Unitarian Christians in that they believe that God's last prophet was Jesus and none came after him. Most also think Jesus had divine qualities but wasn't divine (I believe that too). The Unitarian Church in the US is the UU church whereas in the UK a Unitarian church *maybe* a Unitarian Christian church.

    Although British UUs are also often as tolerant as American UUs and there are Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus who attend our UU church in Scotland, there is still this feeling like the church belongs to the Unitarian Christians :)

    Some books (I know I promised to email you :( Sorry!) that I like (with American UU readership in mind) are:

    * Unitarian Universalism by David E. Bumbaugh
    * A Chosen Faith by John A. Buehrens
    * Life Lines: Holding On (and Letting Go) by
    Forrest Church
    * An Examined Faith: Social Context and Religious Commitment by James Luther Adams

    some interesting links are:

    * (On Unitarian Christianity) - http://www.christianmonotheism.com/
    * (Another on Unitarian Christianity) - http://focusonthekingdom.org/
    * http://www.unitarian.org.uk/index.shtml
    * http://unitarianministries.com/

    Hope this helps. Also hope you are feeling better.

    Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LKFebruary 24, 2010 at 7:40 AM

    Thanks Achelois! Looks like A Chosen Faith is the popular one. Might be on my list. Now Im REALLY curious as to what the Unitarian church is a few blocks away....soooo tempted to go......

    ReplyDelete
  9. Zu hu raFebruary 24, 2010 at 12:39 PM

    I guess my perspective is US-centric. I didn't realize there were still Unitarian Christian churches in the UK.

    LK, where are you? If you're in the US, I would assume the Unitarian church near you is actually a Unitarian Universalist church and not Christian (though as I said there may be members who consider themselves Christian). Unfortunately (in my opinion), many UU communities still use the word "church" in their names which leads people to assume they are Christian although they aren't. At my own UU church a couple of years ago we had a huge debate about removing the word "church" from our name but there weren't quite enough members against it to have it put on the ballot for a vote.

    ReplyDelete
  10. LKFebruary 24, 2010 at 5:02 PM

    Zuhura: Im in the US. I don't know exactly I just know its in a church like building. I've never stopped by to find out.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)