From: jay@oclc.org (Young Jeff)
Subject: Re: Unitarian Christianity
Organization: OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
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Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 18:53:16 GMT

wells@athena.cs.uga.edu (Scott Wells) writes:
: 
: 	I would like to know if there is anyone on the net who, like
: myself, adheres to good old-fashioned Unitarian Christianity.

Is this different than the joint UU church?  I have attended a local
UU church for the last two Sundays and am very impressed.  Even
as a professed atheist, I feel right at home.

: Admittedly, I usually don't read this group much for fear of flames,
: but I'm ready to put my head out. 

I've been posting for a couple of weeks now, and have discovered
that it is possible to converse with others calmly and rationally
in spite of fundamental differences.  If you can keep an open mind,
it's very stimulating.

: Perhaps I'm feeling brave because,
: for the first time in my life, I've met two real live flesh and blood
: Unitarian Christians, and that makes me feel less alone. (As they say,
: there are three religions in Georgia: Baptist, Methodist and Football
: ;<)=)

For 15 years I assumed my views were unique unto myself.  The world
seems less crazy now though since I have discovered other people who
share so much of my worldview (belief in God not withstanding).
 
: 	By Unitarian Christian I mean those Christians who are
: distinguished by the belief that the traditional theology of the
: Incarnation and the Trinity are "pagan accretations...to the true
: faith" (to use a 19th century phrase) and not the real religion of the
: Lord Jesus. If at this point you wish to flame, e-mail me and save us
: all the bandwidth. If you agree with me, or think you might, also
: e-mail me. 

Maybe it's just the church I attend, but I don't feel it is that
much more Christian than it is Buddist, Hindu, Tao, or nuclear
physics.  They may focus on Christianity a little more, but
I think it is only because they acknowledge we live in a J/C
society and need to know about it to interact with others.
The bit about denying the trinity and the universal salvation
of all mankind is only an artifact of their history.  It was
simply a stepping stone on the way to further questioning.
These are simply my interpretations of course.

: I am particularly interested if any traditional
: Universalists are out there, since I am also Universalist, since
: northeast Georgia is a remaining holdout of traditional Universalism,
: and because Antebellum Georgia Universalism is my master's thesis
: topic. (Universalism, for those of you unfamiliar with the doctrine,
: denies endless torment, and believes - more or less - that the entire
: human race will be "restored to holiness." Most Universalists are
: Unitarian, and vice verce.)

It sounds here like you are talking about the existence of a
slightly less liberal UU.  One that still believes in the Christian
God as a doctrine.  The church I am attending (Ohio) doesn't appear 
to care what you believe metaphysically.  They are open to any and 
all beliefs.

: 	If you are not a member of a Unitarian Universalist
: Association member congregation, well...all the better. Around here,
: all the "UUs" are ethical humanists, neo-pagans and pantheists, though
: I hear it's different in New England.

I don't know about NE, but I am delighted with the Ohio flavor.

: 
: 	To all, may the Peace of God go with you.

Atheists included? ;-)

-- 
Jeff Young

Opinions expressed are mine alone.
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,alt.atheism