Unitarians — a comparison of the doctrine of 17 current religions
Prepared by and presented by Rex Bennett
An overview of the beliefs of the Unitarians
- Unitarians:
- Atonement — Man, as a race, has never fallen, thus there is no atonement or restoration needed or necessary. The majority of this faith believe in evolution, meaning our development was from lower life forms.
- Baptism — They do not baptize. Members are admitted by the following covenant: “In the love of truth and spirit of Jesus we unite for the worship of God and the service of man.” Converts can also sign a statement of ethical purpose.
- Did Christ organize a church while on earth? — Christ did not organize a church. He did have followers and was a great moral, ethical, spiritual, and religious teacher.
- Ecclesiastical authority — There is no ecclesiastical authority. The ministers and board of trustees govern the church. Ministers are appointed and many of the clergy are recruited from other churches.
- God — God is a spirit. There is no materiality or tranquility. He is not transcendent but is eminent. This church is anti-Trinitarian. Opinions range from the Fatherhood of God to agonistic humanism, emphasizing human values.
- Heaven and Hell — Heaven and hell are myths that have come to us from primitive lore of all people. The terms denote the evil conditions to be overcome, and the good conditions to be attained.
- Holy Bible — The Bible is a religious book of the history of man. It is man made and not inspired. It is to be interpreted by the conscience and reason of man. It cannot be taken literally. Any book having scriptural value can be called scripture.
- Holy Ghost — They do not believe in the Holy Ghost. Bible references to the Holy Spirit cannot be taken literally.
- Holy Trinity — They do not believe in the concept of Trinity. This would be contrary to the unity of things, as we understand them. Christ was a great moral teacher only.
- Is membership in a church needed for salvation? — No. Churches are merely for the betterment of man both spiritually and personally. Church do not and cannot save a person.
- Life after death — There is no knowledge of life after death. Many believe in the continuance of personality after death.
- Marriage — Marriage is for this life only and there is no such relationship after death, to our knowledge.
- Miracles — They do not believe in miracles. The Biblical miracles cannot be taken literally. They are simply legends. Natural laws cannot be broken.
- Future status of non-believers in Christ — There is nothing to be ‘saved from’, as there is no hell. Therefore, there is no condemnation. We will all be saved by our character.
- Pre-existence of man — There was and is no pre-existence of man. Mankind began here on earth.
- Purpose of life — The purpose is to be discovered. There is not an ultimate purpose which we have no knowledge of, but to higher values in human experience.
- Resurrection — There will be no literal resurrection, but we may have identity of some form.
- Revelation — They do not believe in revelation. God does not ‘reveal things’ to man. Man becomes knowledgeable by his own discoveries and experiences.
- Sacrament — A symbol of love manifested in fellowship. It is administered seldom and only upon the request of the individual.
- Satan — They do not believe in Satan as mentioned in the Bible. He is a fictitious character that represents evil.
- Second Coming of Christ — There will be no second coming of Christ. He was a great moral teacher and died as other men do. He will not come back.
- Vicarious work for the dead — Man is powerless to help those who are dead.
- Virgin birth, immaculate conception — Jesus Christ was not the literal son of God in the supernatural sense. We are all sons of God in the same sense as Christ.
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