Unitarianism: Yesterday vs Today
When someone claims that many Founding Fathers were Unitarian. It is typically an egregious proclamation in defense of the Founding Father’s being irreligious/Deists/non-Christians. Why? Why would those who push complete Separation of Church from State use this as an argument? Because of what the Unitarian Church stands for today. Everything. And thus, almost nothing. The Unitarian Church has fallen to the point that all paths and beliefs are true and good as long as they bring about unity.
Today, Unitarians believe in anything and everything, but many believe that Jesus may have been God’s son, but he was not God, that the Bible is symbolic, not a true account, that heaven and hell are symbolic, that sin is not inherent, that no one shall be condemned, but all will be saved, that reincarnation may occur, that karma is real and that other religions are true as well as Christianity. If asked what the foundations, or tenants of the Unitarian faith are, most of them will not be able to answer. Why? Because it is all relative. According to them you may believe what you wish. Their tenants, if they have any, is peace and unity at all cost.
Indeed, to call the Founding Fathers Unitarians would be a great slight to those who claim the Founding Fathers were Christians and were very religious and devout men.
But is todays version of Unitarianism what it was in the proverbial yesterday? No, of course not. In the Founding era, the Unitarian Church was a budding brand spanking new church in America. The Unitarians did not glean their quite radical, self-defeating beliefs until much later.
This is a description of the Unitarian Church of the Founding Era, a church that John Adams, Daniel Webster, John Marshall, John Quincy Adams, Joseph Story, James Kent, Thomas Jefferson, (among others,) all were affiliated with.
“In common with other Christians, they confess that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God; and in one word, they believe all that the writers of the New Testament, particularly the four Evangelists, have stated concerning him.” ~The Theological Dictionary of 1823
“Because the Unitarians reject all human creeds and articles of faith, and strictly adhere to the great Protestant principles, ‘the Bible - the Bible only;’ admitting no standard of Christian truth, nor any rule of Christian practice, but the words of the Lord Jesus and his Apostles...
“Because at the Unitarian Church I hear Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified, preached as the Christ, the son of the Living God...
“Because Unitarians teach the doctrine of ‘the true grace of God’ - His unmerited, unpurchased favor to mankind, - that salvation and eternal life are his free gifts through Jesus Christ which is clearly the doctrine of Scripture...
“Because there the crucified Jesus is exalted, as having attained His high dignity and glory, and His appointment to be the Savior and Judge of the world...
“Because there the necessity of personal righteousness is insisted on, and the spirit of Christ and conformity to His example, made essential to genuine Christianity.”
~ from a Unitarian pamphlet entitled “An Answer to the Question: “Why Do You Attend a Unitarian Church””
If someone comes up and calls out many of the Founding Fathers to be Unitarian, that will be true. But be sure to know, the Unitarians of yesterday were much stronger Christians than the Unitarians of today. This is no attack on the devoutness of the Founding Fathers to the precepts of Christianity! It is a defense! So when you hear them arguing, thank them, for they just proved my point. Yes! They were Unitarians! And as it has been said of the Unitarians of yesterday, “several of the ablest defenders of Christianity against the attacks of infidels have been Unitarians” ~Daniel Rupp
Jared Williams
Today, Unitarians believe in anything and everything, but many believe that Jesus may have been God’s son, but he was not God, that the Bible is symbolic, not a true account, that heaven and hell are symbolic, that sin is not inherent, that no one shall be condemned, but all will be saved, that reincarnation may occur, that karma is real and that other religions are true as well as Christianity. If asked what the foundations, or tenants of the Unitarian faith are, most of them will not be able to answer. Why? Because it is all relative. According to them you may believe what you wish. Their tenants, if they have any, is peace and unity at all cost.
Indeed, to call the Founding Fathers Unitarians would be a great slight to those who claim the Founding Fathers were Christians and were very religious and devout men.
But is todays version of Unitarianism what it was in the proverbial yesterday? No, of course not. In the Founding era, the Unitarian Church was a budding brand spanking new church in America. The Unitarians did not glean their quite radical, self-defeating beliefs until much later.
This is a description of the Unitarian Church of the Founding Era, a church that John Adams, Daniel Webster, John Marshall, John Quincy Adams, Joseph Story, James Kent, Thomas Jefferson, (among others,) all were affiliated with.
“In common with other Christians, they confess that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God; and in one word, they believe all that the writers of the New Testament, particularly the four Evangelists, have stated concerning him.” ~The Theological Dictionary of 1823
“Because the Unitarians reject all human creeds and articles of faith, and strictly adhere to the great Protestant principles, ‘the Bible - the Bible only;’ admitting no standard of Christian truth, nor any rule of Christian practice, but the words of the Lord Jesus and his Apostles...
“Because at the Unitarian Church I hear Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified, preached as the Christ, the son of the Living God...
“Because Unitarians teach the doctrine of ‘the true grace of God’ - His unmerited, unpurchased favor to mankind, - that salvation and eternal life are his free gifts through Jesus Christ which is clearly the doctrine of Scripture...
“Because there the crucified Jesus is exalted, as having attained His high dignity and glory, and His appointment to be the Savior and Judge of the world...
“Because there the necessity of personal righteousness is insisted on, and the spirit of Christ and conformity to His example, made essential to genuine Christianity.”
~ from a Unitarian pamphlet entitled “An Answer to the Question: “Why Do You Attend a Unitarian Church””
If someone comes up and calls out many of the Founding Fathers to be Unitarian, that will be true. But be sure to know, the Unitarians of yesterday were much stronger Christians than the Unitarians of today. This is no attack on the devoutness of the Founding Fathers to the precepts of Christianity! It is a defense! So when you hear them arguing, thank them, for they just proved my point. Yes! They were Unitarians! And as it has been said of the Unitarians of yesterday, “several of the ablest defenders of Christianity against the attacks of infidels have been Unitarians” ~Daniel Rupp
Jared Williams
