1、1To: Professor HuangTitle: UnitarianismName: 陈琪 Class: English 093Number: 09425503Date: March 25th, 2012Unitarianism1. DefinitionUnitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons
2、 coexisting consubstantially as one in being. Thus, Unitarians adhere to strict monotheism, and maintain that Jesus was a great man and a prophet of God, but not God himself.2. HistoryUnitarianism, both as a theology and as a denominational family of churches, was defined and developed in four count
3、ries: Poland, Transylvania, England and America. Although there were common beliefs among Unitarians in each of these regions, they initially grew independently from each other. Only later did they influence one another and accumulate more similarities.This section relates to Unitarian churches and
4、organizations today which are still specifically Christian within or outside Unitarian-Universalism, which embraces non-Christian religions.3. Beliefs1) One God and the oneness or unity of God.2) The life and teachings of Jesus Christ constitute the exemplar model for living ones own life.3) Reason,
5、 rational thought, science, and philosophy coexist with faith in God.4) Humans have the ability to exercise free will in a responsible, constructive and ethical manner with the assistance of religion.5) Human nature in its present condition is neither inherently corrupt nor depraved (see original Si
6、n), but capable of both good and evil, as God intended.6) No religion can claim an absolute monopoly on the Holy Spirit or theological truth.7) Though the authors of the Bible were inspired by God, they were humans and therefore subject to human error.8) Traditional doctrines that (they believe) mal
7、ign Gods 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 are rejected.24. Worship Worship within the Unitarian tradition accommodates a wide range of underst
8、andings of God, while the focus of the service may be simply the celebration of life itself. Each Unitarian congregation is at liberty to devise its own form of worship, though commonly, Unitarian services lack liturgy and ritual, while containing readings from many sources, which may include sermon
9、s, prayers, hymns and songs.5. InfluenceUnitarians have liberal views of God, Jesus, the world and purpose of life as revealed through reason, scholarship, science, philosophy, scripture and other prophets and religions. They believe that reason and belief are complementary and that religion and sci
10、ence can co-exist and guide them in their understanding of nature and God. They also do not enforce belief in creeds or dogmatic formulas. Although there is flexibility in the nuances of belief or basic truths for the individual Unitarian Christian, general principles of faith have been recognized a
11、s a way to bind the group in some commonality. Adherents generally accept religious pluralism and find value in all teachings, but remain committed to their core belief in Christs teachings. Unitarians generally value a secular society in which government is kept separate from religious affairs. Mos
12、t contemporary Unitarian Christians believe that ones personal moral convictions guide ones political activities, and that a secular society is the most viable, just and fair.However, Unitarian Christians reject the doctrine of some Christian denominations that God chooses to redeem or save only those certain individuals that accept the creeds of, or affiliate with, a specific church or religion, from a common ruin or corruption of the mass of humanity. They believe that righteous acts are necessary for redemption in addition to faith.
