FOUNDER
ARIUS (300 AD) – condemned by the early church at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD by Nicean Creed
Continued and spread, reaction to Reformation and revivals
Merged with Univeralists in 1959: Universalists (God too good to damn man)
Unitarianism (man too good to be damned)
Humanism and New Age an outgrowth, similar ideas (dignity of man, relative ethics & morals)
NAME
UNITarians – if there is a God, He is one (not 3 as in the Trinity)
AUTHORITY
Bible one among a number of equally good books (by Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, etc.)
Bible is “myths and legends”
No authority of their own, say “believe anything you want.”
VIEW of GOD
Believe anything you want about God. At best He isn’t a person but a force, at worst He doesn’t exist.
40% of Unitarian pastors don’t believe God exists, therefore no prayer, etc.
VIEW of the TRINITY
UNITarians – if there is a God, He is one (not 3 as in the Trinity)
VIEW of CHRIST
Deny His deity, not Lord and God, not Messiah, just a good man like Buddha
No virgin birth, resurrection, atonement, return; just set a good moral example
Not recognized at a Christian group – any way the same (Christianity not superior)
VIEW of the HOLY SPIRIT
No such thing
VIEW of SIN
Man not sinful, only ‘imperfect,’ education key to man’s problems
Man is not condemned, he is essentially good and can save himself by improvement
Ethics relative – whatever you want to do is OK, no absolute right or wrong
VIEW of SALVATION
Character development, good works, “God helps those who help themselves”
Be own Savior, don’t look to ‘God’ for help
‘Salvation by faith’ = repulsive, offensive, unBiblical, immoral
VIEW of HEAVEN & HELL
No heaven, hell – idea repulsive & unacceptable