Are Unitarians Christians?

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I am a Unitarian Universalist. Please allow me to clarify. Unitarians are not, as a group, necessarity Christian. The focus is on a personal and responsible search for religious truth taking lessons from all of the world’s religions, while trying to live your life as a morally upright person. Many Unitarians have a belief in God, but some don’t. Because of Unitarian views on social justice, ministering to the poor and questioning authority, however, I would feel comfortable saying that Unitarianism is not a religion about Jesus, but is maybe a religion OF Jesus in that it requires its members to hold themselves to the highest moral ground while questioning authority and loving your neighbor all at the same time. You won’t find a Unitarian around who would show any kind of disrespect at all toward any religion, and I am happy to supply this information to the board. God bless!!
 
they aren’t even a religion IMO, more a social club. From what I gather by talking to them, you believe what you believe. We’re all going to heaven anyways! Or not! Or maybe?
 
It’s worse than elvise said - In addition to using the baptisimal forumula, you must have the theological knowledge to clearly differentiate between
  • three distinct persons in one Being, and
  • three distinct persons in one Purpose
So the real question is, Are Unitarians a Cult?
elvisman said:
To be a Christian one must be baptized. For one to be validly baptized, it must be done using the Trinitarian formula:
"In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".
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NE_Catholic said:
they aren’t even a religion IMO, more a social club. From what I gather by talking to them, you believe what you believe. We’re all going to heaven anyways! Or not! Or maybe?
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Well, while there is a social component to attending church, most Unitarians would tell you that it is certainly a religion. The services include hymns, doxologies, sermons and prayer. Yes…we pray. Prayer is structured in such a way that people of differing faiths could stand side by side in church, pray together and feel totally comfortable with it.

The only requirement is that you agree to make a well thought and responsible search for personal religious truth. If that means you decide you want to convert to Catholicism, most Unitarians would welcome your departure and even celebrate it. Some people discover other faiths, others remain Unitarians. In the end, it gives people solace, encourages spiritual thought and does good works in the world.

Glad to help clarify!
 
Feedmysheep said:
If you haven’t read about the shooter in Tennessee, here’s the link:
foxnews.com/story/0,2933,392081,00.html

My question is this- the guy allegedly hated Christians. Are Unitarians even Christian?
  1. They deny the Trinity
  2. They deny the divinity of Christ
Does this make them even nominal Christians?

On the surface, I understand that a person who’s going to open fire in a group of children putting on a play isn’t concerned with the finer nuances of theology, and he’s not really the topic of this thread.

But even wikipedia bills Unitarians as Christians.

Am I missing something here?
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The Wikipedia article was probably written by Unitarians - just as those on Mormonism are often written by Mormons. Don’t ever trust Wikipedia.

Any group which denies the Deity of Christ, as do the Unitarians, as well as the Trinity, would be classified as a pseudochristian group (a cult). They are listed in Walter Martin’s classic work, “The Kingdom of the Cults” as a cultic organization.
 
Anglican_Gal said:
The Wikipedia article was probably written by Unitarians - just as those on Mormonism are often written by Mormons. Don’t ever trust Wikipedia.

Any group which denies the Deity of Christ, as do the Unitarians, as well as the Trinity, would be classified as a pseudochristian group (a cult). They are listed in Walter Martin’s classic work, “The Kingdom of the Cults” as a cultic organization.
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Martin was an evangelical preacher, who, from what I read, was very conservative and opinionated as well. He was hardly unbiased.

Unitarian Universalists are not a “pseudoschristian group.” We also are not a cult.

We are a religion, a proudly liberal religion, where the multiple beliefs and faiths found on this planet can be incorporated into a person’s spiritual life as that person deems fit.

While I think Jesus had some good teachings, I am not a Christian. Never claimed to be and, truthfully, would find it difficult to become one since I don’t believe in the divinity of Christ.

But I am a Unitarian Universalist. I believe in the inherent worth of all people. I also believe that spouting words isn’t enough. We need actions to make the world a better place for everyone.

It can be a simple as helping a neighbor, or as overt as marching against bigotry and small mindedness, as we did last weekend in Ogden, Utah, and in which I was privileged to take part.

As a Universalist, I also believe in universal salvation. What I do for others I do because it is the right thing to do, not because I desire eternal bliss or fear eternal punishment.

Unitarian Universalism won’t appeal to all people because we have no dogma, no creed. We don’t tell people what to believe, but do expect them to learn, grow and discover their own spiritual path.

It is not a religion for those who prefer to have their lives directed by others or by set dogmas.

Sorry for the lengthy post, but you got me on my soap box. 😉

Seeker
 
Thanks for the info. At least I have a little insite when I pass the bruu building on my way home.

I think…no I know…I’ll stick with the RCC. 🙂

Pax†
 
My aunt and uncle are members of their local UU “church” and we have had many debates (mostly friendly) concerning their beliefs. As a very sad side note, they were both reared in strong Catholic families.

They both still believe in God, but believe that He does Not concern Himself with the everyday lives of people. Once God created all things, He stopped being a force in the world.🤷

Where our talks go from debate to arguments (and for this I beg God to forgive my anger in these arguments) is their belief concerning MURDERING pre-born children (abortion).

One the one hand, they are TOTALLY AGAINST the death penalty but yet are FULLY active in their local planned parenthood killing mill.:mad: They believe that these children who are Murdered will not have to suffer through a lifetime of abuse and poverty and injustice (my aunt is a social worker who has seen the darker side of humanity).

Are they Christian?..it is impossible for me to believe they are.

Doing great works, supporting worthy social causes to better mankind is what Jesus calls us all to do, and granted, the UU does these things. But THEY take credit for doing good works Apart from God. We can do ALL things with God, to do them apart from God is just pride of self.

I still have great love for my aunt and uncle though.👍
 
cath2lic4ever said:
No! You need to be a CATHOLIC to be a christian. 😃
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that is not true and nobody who professes the Catholic faith should make such an error.

no Unitarians are not Christian, any more than other fringe groups which are offshoots of Christianity, like Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, who have eschewed essential elements of Christian belief in the Apostles Creed, name correct understanding of the One Trinitarian God.
 
They believe that these children who are Murdered will not have to suffer through a lifetime of abuse and poverty and injustice (my aunt is a social worker who has seen the darker side of humanity).
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Do they have kids? With that attitude why have children at al? Nobody can say how a child is going to be raised. Think of all the past leaders who rose from the ashes of abuse, poverty, and injustice that went on to be great leaders. So that statement does not hold water with me.

Disclaimer 😉 : Since this is typed I’ll let you know that I’m not pointing a finger or “shouting” angrily. Just making a statement. I know you love your aunt and uncle. Teach them by example and pray that they return home. Pax†
 
Catholicfireman…they have 2 kids and 5 grandchildren.

My aunt made the statement to me once that if abortion was legal when she had her first pregnacy, she would have aborted her son.:eek: because she was still in college at the time.

I love her, but she has a twisted and warped outlook on life.
 
seeker57 said:
Martin was an evangelical preacher, who, from what I read, was very conservative and opinionated as well. He was hardly unbiased.

Unitarian Universalists are not a “pseudoschristian group.” We also are not a cult.

We are a religion, a proudly liberal religion, where the multiple beliefs and faiths found on this planet can be incorporated into a person’s spiritual life as that person deems fit.

While I think Jesus had some good teachings, I am not a Christian. Never claimed to be and, truthfully, would find it difficult to become one since I don’t believe in the divinity of Christ.

But I am a Unitarian Universalist. I believe in the inherent worth of all people. I also believe that spouting words isn’t enough. We need actions to make the world a better place for everyone.

It can be a simple as helping a neighbor, or as overt as marching against bigotry and small mindedness, as we did last weekend in Ogden, Utah, and in which I was privileged to take part.

As a Universalist, I also believe in universal salvation. What I do for others I do because it is the right thing to do, not because I desire eternal bliss or fear eternal punishment.

Unitarian Universalism won’t appeal to all people because we have no dogma, no creed. We don’t tell people what to believe, but do expect them to learn, grow and discover their own spiritual path.

It is not a religion for those who prefer to have their lives directed by others or by set dogmas.

Sorry for the lengthy post, but you got me on my soap box. 😉

Seeker
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Walter Martin, besides being an evangelical, was a fine scholar. He based his writings on doctrine, comparing groups to core Christian doctrines shared by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, the Eastern Church and Protestants. The Unitarians deny two of the core doctrines of Christianity - the Deity of Christ and the Trinity. Therefore, they are certainly not Christian.

Unitartians likewise believe in a universalist form of salvation, denying that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation. This is way out of the realm of Christianity.

A cult means a group gathered around a certain leader or set of beliefs, as is Unitarianism. A pseudochristian group is one which claims to be Christian, but by definition cannot be Christian because the doctrines they hold reject core Christian doctrines. Unitarians fall into this category.

I am sure that if you converted to Catholicism, you would need rebaptism, since your sect denies the Trinity.
 
MaryandJoseph said:
Catholicfireman…they have 2 kids and 5 grandchildren.

My aunt made the statement to me once that if abortion was legal when she had her first pregnacy, she would have aborted her son.:eek: because she was still in college at the time.

I love her, but she has a twisted and warped outlook on life.
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You gotta wonder what people are thinking sometimes…:confused:

God Bless.
 
Anglican_Gal said:
Walter Martin, besides being an evangelical, was a fine scholar. He based his writings on doctrine, comparing groups to core Christian doctrines shared by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, the Eastern Church and Protestants. The Unitarians deny two of the core doctrines of Christianity - the Deity of Christ and the Trinity. Therefore, they are certainly not Christian.

Unitartians likewise believe in a universalist form of salvation, denying that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation. This is way out of the realm of Christianity.

A cult means a group gathered around a certain leader or set of beliefs, as is Unitarianism. A pseudochristian group is one which claims to be Christian, but by definition cannot be Christian because the doctrines they hold reject core Christian doctrines. Unitarians fall into this category.

I am sure that if you converted to Catholicism, you would need rebaptism, since your sect denies the Trinity.
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Well, you are right. I am not a Christian. I am a Unitarian.

But you are also wrong, I cannot be rebaptized. I was not baptized a Unitarian. We don’t baptize. We have a dedication of children at our congregation, but it is aimed more at the parents than the children.

You also fail to understand your misconception regarding we Unitarians being pseudo-Christian. While Unitarian Universalism had its roots in Christianity, most of our congregations claim no direct connection to Christianity.

It would be like me saying Christians are pseudo-Jews, because Christianity has it roots in the Jewish faith and Christians have adopted ideas that do not mesh with Jewish teaching.

As for being a cult, using your definition, Catholicism could be considered a cult.
A cult means a group gathered around a certain leader or set of beliefs
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Certainly Catholics are a group who gather around a leader, the pope, and a set of beliefs, the catechism/magisterium.

Regarding universalism, you are correct. We, by definition, don’t believe subjugation to any dogma is necessary for salvation.

Seeker
 
Hi Seeker,

in your opinion, approximately when did the Unitarians stop being Christian?
 
All the Unitarians I know are atheists or agnostics. 🤷
So, I would say they are not christians.
My understanding of the definition of a christian was always ‘A person who professes to believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God, and died for our sins.’ It didn’t necessarily mean you DID anything about that fact, it didn’t mean you were a nice person, or read the Bible, it was just a statement of what you believed.
 
seeker57 said:
Well, you are right. I am not a Christian. I am a Unitarian.

No argument.

But you are also wrong, I cannot be rebaptized. I was not baptized a Unitarian. We don’t baptize. We have a dedication of children at our congregation, but it is aimed more at the parents than the children.

I had no idea the Unitarians don’t even baptize now - I guess they really have jumped the proverbial fence into a “religion,” and disassociated themselves totally from Christianity. Of course, you know that Unitariansism came out of Christianity.

You also fail to understand your misconception regarding we Unitarians being pseudo-Christian. While Unitarian Universalism had its roots in Christianity, most of our congregations claim no direct connection to Christianity.

Some do, and in fact I recently read an article about a female Unitarian pastor who was motivated to steer her congreation in a less secular direction toward a more Christian-like relgious experience.

It would be like me saying Christians are pseudo-Jews, because Christianity has it roots in the Jewish faith and Christians have adopted ideas that do not mesh with Jewish teaching.

Christians don’t claim to be Jewish; Unitarians/Universalists have identified themselves as Christian historically - although it seems that some make no pretense of being Christian.

As for being a cult, using your definition, Catholicism could be considered a cult.

That’s a silly red herring, and I won’t fall for it.

Certainly Catholics are a group who gather around a leader, the pope, and a set of beliefs, the catechism/magisterium.

And Anglicans have a central heirarchy, as do Eastern Orthodox. If you read the Early Fathers of the Church, such central authority was traditionally within the Church structure - in other words, it is part of Christianity on a biblical/traditional level.

Since the Roman Churches holds to all the historic creeds of Christianity, and the ecumenical councils, how can you call it a cult? If the Pope suddenly said that Catholics must worship Mother Earth and dance around in a Krishna temple - well, then, that would be cultic.

Regarding universalism, you are correct. We, by definition, don’t believe subjugation to any dogma is necessary for salvation.

**Universalism is the teaching that all people will finally be saved by God regardless of belief. No one will endure an eternal punishment in hell. In my view, it’s kind of an anything goes religious system. For more information, see:

rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/unitari.htm**

and

mb-soft.com/believe/txc/universa.htm
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I hope this is helpful.
 
rwillenborg said:
All the Unitarians I know are atheists or agnostics. 🤷
So, I would say they are not christians.
My understanding of the definition of a christian was always ‘A person who professes to believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God, and died for our sins.’ It didn’t necessarily mean you DID anything about that fact, it didn’t mean you were a nice person, or read the Bible, it was just a statement of what you believed.
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absolutely

T
 
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