Unitarian Christianity

On May 5, 1819, in Baltimore, William Ellery Channing delivered an address entitled "Unitarian Christianity." This speech helped to define the movement that in 1825 created the American Unitarian Association. It was not Channing's purpose to launch a new denomination. His defense of what was then the Unitarian approach to religion was made in response to vicious attacks on Unitarianism by Calvinists and Trinitarians. The word "Unitarian" had been used as a term of contempt, as the word "heretic" is still used in some circles. Channing's speech, as well as other writings, helped to make the name one that Unitarians could adopt for themselves and take pride in.


By the standards of 1819 Channing's religious views were quite radical, although they were the dominant views of the clergy in parts of New England. His emphasis on the goodness of God, the use of reason in understanding the Bible, the centrality of Jesus' moral message, and the tolerance of religious differences among Christians were also characteristic of many leaders of the young American Republic.


By the standards of today's Unitarian Universalism, Channing's theology will sound quite conservative at points. I won't list the conservative features; you will be able to pick them out yourself.