Unitarian Universalism (Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements) - Softcover

Zondervan; Gomes, Alan W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0310488915 ISBN 13: 9780310488910

Verlag: Study Resources, 1998

Inhaltsangabe

Fast, informed answers to the challenges of false religions -- This is an age when countless groups and movements, new and old, mark the religious landscape in our culture. As a result, many people are confused or uncertain in their search for spiritual truth and meaning. Because few people have the time or opportunity to research these movements fully, the Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements series provides essential information and insights for their spiritual journeys. The second wave of books in this series addresses a broad range of spiritual beliefs, from non-Trinitarian Christian sects to witchcraft and neo-paganism to classic non-Christian religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. All books but the summary volume, Truth and Error, contain five sections: -A concise introduction to the group being surveyed -An overview of the group’s theology — in its own words -Tips for witnessing effectively to members of the group -A bibliography with sources for further study -A comparison chart that shows the essential differences between biblical Christianity and the group -- Truth and Error, the last book in the series, consists of parallel doctrinal charts compiled from all the other volumes. Three distinctives make this series especially useful to readers: -Information is carefully distilled to bring out truly essential points, rather than requiring readers to sift their way through a sea of secondary details. -Information is presented in a clear, easy-to-follow outline form with “menu bar” running heads. This format greatly assists the reader in quickly locating topics and details of interest. -Each book meets the needs and skill levels of both nontechnical and technical readers, providing an elementary level of refutation and progressing to a more advanced level using arguments based on the biblical text. The writers of these volumes are well qualified to present clear and reliable information and help readers to discern truth from falsehood.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Alan W. Gomes (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is associate professor of historical theology and chairman of the department of theology at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.

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Unitarian UniversalismCopyright 1998 by Alan W. GomesRequests for information should be addressed to:Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataGomes, Alan W., 1955 --Unitarian Universalism / Alan W. Gomes.p. cm. --- (Zondervan guide to cults and religious movements)Includes bibliographical references.ISBN 0-310-48891-5 (softcover)1. Unitarian Universalist churches --- Controversial literature. 2. UnitarianUniversalist Association --- Controversial literature. I. Title. II. Series: Zondervanguide to cults and religious movements.BX9847.G58 1998289.1 --- dc21 97-33441CIPAll Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: NewInternational Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, or transmitted in any form or by any means---electronic, mechanical, photocopy,recording, or any other---except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the priorpermission of the publisher.Interior design by Art JacobsPrinted in the United States of America98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 /?DP/ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1To my wife, Diane:Encourager, fellow traveler on the wayPart I:IntroductionI. What the Unitarian Universalist Association Is(UUA)?A. The Unitarian Universalist Association is an association of fellowships,churches, or societies1 that subscribe to certain broad principles and purposesand affiliate themselves organizationally with the UUA denomination,headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.B. The names Unitarian and Universalist reflect the historical roots of thedenomination.1. Unitariana. The Unitarians are so named because they denied the Trinity.b. The Unitarian movement with which we are concerned arose duringthe sixteenth-century Reformation.c. It spread from continental Europe (particularly Poland) to Englandand then to America.2. Universalista. The term Universalist refers to the salvation of all human beings.b. The Universalists opposed the doctrine of eternal punishment,teaching instead that God would save each and every human being.c. In the eighteenth century, Universalist teachings spread from Englandto America.3. Merger of the Two Groupsa. In America the Unitarians and Universalists developed cordial relationships,due to their similar beliefs and attitudes.b. The two groups merged officially in 1961, forming the UnitarianUniversalist Association (UUA).c. Members of the Unitarian Universalist Association are often simplycalled 'Unitarians.'4. The Unitarian Universalists should not be confused with the UnitySchool of Christianity or the Unification Church.C. The UUA is pluralistic, meaning that the group tolerates and even encourageswithin its ranks a wide diversity of belief.1. For example, the UUA embraces theists, Neo-pagans, liberal 'Christians,'4 religious humanists, atheists, and more.2. Because of this wide variation in belief, a simple statement of UUAtheology and practice is not possible. Nevertheless, this book presentsand critiques the main forms of belief and practice found in today'sUUA. See especially Part II, Section I.B.II. The Problem of Analyzing UUA BeliefsA. Factors Contributing to the Problem of Ascertaining UUA Beliefs1. The pluralism of the UUA makes it difficult to define their beliefs.a. Some UUs favor a particular faith stance (e.g., liberal 'Christianity'),though not to the exclusion of other faith stances. Other UUsmix and match different belief systems into one of their own.b. UUA pluralism makes classification and exposition of UU beliefchallenging. (See Part II, Section I.B.)2. Because the Unitarian Universalists are noncreedal---even anticreedal---one cannot point to a specific statement of faith or systematictheology that speaks for the entire group.B. Procedure Followed in this Book for Analyzing UUA Beliefs1. This book identifies the unity within the diversity of UUA beliefs.a. As one peruses UU writings, certain principles and beliefs oftenemerge, which can---at least generally---be taken as normativerepresentations of current UUA belief and practice.b. I have consulted the most prominent and influential UUA authors.Because UU belief is a moving target, I have emphasized their mostrecent writings offered by their primary spokespersons (e.g., theirpresident, denominational officials, influential clergy et al.).Unitarian Universalism * PART I: INTRODUCTIONc. I have paid close attention to UU works published by official UUApresses (e.g., Beacon Press, Skinner Books, the UUA itself).d. Wherever possible, I have relied on UUs' own self-descriptions andanalyses of their beliefs.2. Even though positive UU belief is quite diverse, one finds considerableunanimity in their denial of historic Christian orthodoxy.a. Although UUs frequently disagree among themselves as to whatthey do believe, there is little doubt about what they do not profess.UUs completely reject the historic, biblical Christian teachingon such issues as the unique deity of Jesus Christ, his literal bodilyresurrection, his role as the only Savior, atonement (satisfactionof God's wrath) through his blood, and other orthodoxChristian doctrines.b. In their denials one often finds similar arguments. Thus, eventhough there is wide latitude in their beliefs, their argumentsagainst historic, biblical Christianity are much less diverse.III. Historical BackgroundA. General Observations1. The UUA traces its roots to the radical wing of the Reformation, whichconsidered itself the true heirs of New Testament Christianity.92. Although never viewed as genuinely Christian by its orthodox foes,the UUA has seen itself as such until this century. Generally speaking,today's UUA does not claim Christian allegiance even though individualUUs and certain UU congregations do.3. Historian Earl Morse Wilbur pointed out that as Unitarianism spreadfrom Poland and Transylvania through Germany and Holland to Englandand America, the various manifestations of Unitarianism allclaimed Christian allegiance.4. George Marshall notes that around the time of the Revolutionary War,'Unitarianism emerged first and most conspicuously from the CalvinisticFirst Parishes of the Congregational order, whereas Universalismemerged from the Methodist and Baptist churches.'B. Early Unitarianism in Continental Europe1. Michael Servetus (1511--1553)a. Many UUs consider Michael Servetus, a Spanish physician, thefounder of their movement.b. Among his most influential---and highly controversial---writingswere his De Trinitatis erroribus libri vii of 1531 (On the Errors ofthe Trinity in Seven Books) and his Christianismi Restitutio of1546 (The Reconstitution of Christianity).c. After escaping from the Catholics, Servetus made his way toGeneva to propagate his views, in spite of being warned sternly byCalvin not to set foot there.d. After a trial lasting some three months, he was burned alive atChampel on October 27, 1553.e. Servetus's execution generated sympathy for his cause and raisedhim to the stature of a martyr for his anti-Trinitarian faith.2. Faustus Socinus (1539--1604), Socinianism, and the 'Minor ReformedChurch' in Polanda. The anti-Trinitarian party grew and was organized under the ableleadership of Faustus Socinus, an Italian who migrated to Poland.b. Socinus became the de facto leader of the so-called PolishBrethren, known officially as the Minor Reformed Church.c.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Study Resources
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1998
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0310488915
• ISBN 13: 9780310488910
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 96
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: gpsr@libri.de; gpsr@libri.de; ; Europaallee 1; Bad Hersfeld; 36244; Deutschland