Unitarianism

Unitarianism, in general, the form of Christianity that denies the doctrines of the Trinity, maintaining that God exists in one person only. From the middle of the 2nd century to the end of the 3rd century a succession of eminent Christian teachers, Monarchians, maintained the undivided unity of God. Modern Unitarianism, however, traces its history to more recent sources.

At the time of the Reformation, theologians all over Europe began questioning the doctrine of the Trinity. Unitarian belief, however, was tolerated only in Poland and the principality of Transylvania.

Unitarian refugees, primarily from Italy, found a welcome in Poland and from 1548 to 1574 were strong enough to found a separate Church, which flourished until the mid-17th century. In Transylvania, the Unitarians persisted separately from the Reformation.

In England, in 1548, a priest named John Ashton was accused of Arianism—in effect, of denying the equal divinity of the three elements of the Trinity. Ashton escaped only by recantation; during the next half century a few suffered martyrdom on similar charges. During the reign of King James I of England, Socinianism, named after the Italian-Polish Unitarian leader, Faustus Socinus, exercised considerable influence. Thereafter, the Unitarians (with the exception of a society formed in London by John Biddle, which did not survive its founder) had no organized existence. After the passing of the Toleration Act in 1689, however, people were allowed to adopt Unitarian opinions. In 1813 the Unitarians were legally classed with other dissenters.

After 1740, Arian views, often arising in reaction to the Calvinism of American Protestantism, spread widely among the New England clergy in the American colonies. In 1796 King's Chapel in Boston officially adopted Unitarianism and left the Episcopal Church. By imperceptible degrees many of the New England churches became Unitarian, but not until 1815 did the name begin to be much used. Thereafter, 120 Congregational churches in New England adopted Unitarian principles. Most important in shaping American Unitarianism during the 19th century was the Transcendentalist Movement. Many Unitarians were also influenced by Universalism.

The American Unitarian Association was formed in 1825; a national conference was added in 1865. Local churches retained their independence, in accordance with Congregational polity.

Unitarians are generally agreed in rejecting the entire orthodox Christian outlook. They deny the doctrines of the Trinity, the vicarious atonement, the deity of Jesus Christ, original sin and everlasting punishment, regarding them as both unscriptural and irrational. They celebrate the Eucharist, not as a sacrament, but as a commemoration of Jesus' death and as an expression of spiritual communion with him. They adhere to the rite of infant baptism, although a few Unitarian Baptist churches restrict baptism to adults.