• U.S.

Religion: Unitarians

1 minute read
TIME

“What the world needs today is not a faith about Jesus Christ, but the faith of Jesus Christ. Let us make plain our fellowship with all those who are seeking to ‘do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God,’ with all who want to humanize the religious beliefs, and democratize the religious institutions, and Christianize the relgious life of our times.”

A fortnight ago some 20 Unitarian ministers, mostly of Boston, issued an address to the Unitarian Churches of America, of which the above sentence was the core. It has been widely quoted by Conservatives and Liberals of all denominations. Say the Conservatives : “You Liberals belong in the Unitarian Church.” Say Liberals: “We are not Unitarians. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

The Unitarians disclaim any desire to “shake the fruit tree” so that some fruit may fall on their side of the theological fence. But they join with Conservatives in a plea that Liberals should be “honest with themselves”, and should not “play with words”.

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com