Product Description
The purpose of this book is to provide a simple method for more easily understanding, explaining, and sharing with others some of the beliefs of the liberal religious tradition of Unitarian Universalism. Featuring color photographs and illustrations, it is appropriate for adults as well as teenagers and older children. ... Read more

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Unitarian Universalists in Social Justice Work
"To minister is to serve."So begins the opening chapter of 'Sacred Service in Civic Space,' an historical account of the leadership provided by Unitarian Universalists in most of the social justice movements in American history.Parker describes who, how and why Unitarian Universalists have unrelentingly worked to humanize the criminal justice system, develop health and mental health services, end the nuclear arms race and work for peace and against war, abolish slavery and protect and legislate civil rights for minorities and all others disenfranchised or oppressed.While tracing the major social justice movements in U.S. history, she spotlights religious liberals who provided leadership in those movements, and she describes the theological tenets which served to motivate liberal religious clergy and laypersons to work tirelessly for social justice.Unitarian Universalists, she states, have always understood social justice work to be an expression of their liberal faith.

This book is especially recommended to persons interested in the history of religion in the United States and the history of liberal religious involvement in the work for social justice in civil rights, peace, healthcare reform and criminal justice in the United States. ... Read more

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The book provides a complete overview of Unitarian and Universalist history all over the world. While the emphasis is on North America, many listings provide an adequate background for the development of the Unitarian faith in Europe as far back as the 16th century. Other parts of the world are included as well with biograpihcal, theological and geographical listings. Most of the book consists of alphabetical listings of all major leaders of the movements, many famous person associated with the movement, important events and histories of institutions. ... Read more

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an indispensable reference
Rev. Mark Harris's "Historical Dictionary" is an indispensable reference for anyone interested in the history of Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists.

Rev. Harris is a parish minister serving one of America's oldest congregations, the First Parish of Watertown, Massachusetts, which traces its history to 1630.He also is a diligent and careful historical scholar.

His book is organized alphabetically, comprising biographical entries for notable Unitarians and Universalists, as well entries for important organizations and institutions that have played a role in the denominations' historical development.

It opens with an entry on the Rev. Francis Ellingwood Abbot, who served the Dover, New Hampshire, Society of Unitarian Christians - until New Hampshire's courts ruled him insufficiently "Christian."John and Abigail Adams are here too.So is John Quincy Adams.

Rev. Abner Kneeland is here too, who served as a Universalist minister before he was prosecuted by the State of Massachusetts, convicted, and imprisoned - for blasphemy.

All round, I think this is the best reference in print for quick references on Unitarian and Universalist biography.

Critical institutions, organizations, and events are covered too.The entry on Harvard College, for example, describes the controversy surrounding the Henry Ware's appointment to the Hollister Divinity Chair in 1805, which divided Congregationalism and contributed to the formation of the Unitarian denomination.

Eric Alan Isaacson


Postscript on the softcover edition:Though I thought Mark Harris's book a bargain even at the original hardcover price, I'm pleased to note that a considerably less expensive softcover edition was published in July 2009, under the title The A to Z of Unitarian Universalism (A to Z Guides) ... Read more

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UNITARIAN CHRISTIANITY


By
William Ellery Channing
Delivered at the Ordination of Rev. Jared Sparks
in The First Independent Church of Baltimore on
May 5, 1819.
... Read more

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Redefining Unitarian Universalism ... Read more

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A MUST-READ for all UUs!!!
Never a truer word written!The message of this author is simple, yet bold and courageous.

As a 4th-generation Unitarian (Universalist) myself, I never had the luxury of having a starry-eyed vision of the denomination.Many people who first encounter the faith as adults are victim to just that.Their almost palpable joy and relief at finding religious liberalism and embodied within a faith so different than the one in which they may have been raised -- one with which they may have strongly disagreed, one they may have felt completely disillusioned with, one they may callously have been abused by -- seems to blind them to reality.

There is no perfect faith, there is no perfect religion, and there is no perfect denomination - not even Unitarian Universalism.

Any institution created by and/or entrusted to human beings will be subject to the laws of human nature.That includes Unitarian Universalism.The denomination would have been (and still will be) well served to keep its feet firmly planted on the ground, remaining ever vigilant about its institutional introspection and mindfulness.

This book, written by an outsider (a non-UU), has had the courage to tell difficult truths simply and with clarity.Had Unitarian Universalism been the beneficiary of its wisdom much earlier (and had chosen to actively embraced it), there very likely would have been a 5th generation of UUs in my family. Sadly for the denomination, they did not ...and so there is not.

While it's too late for my family, it's not too late for those who are currently proud to call themselves UU and find the faith and it's fellowshipping deeply enriching to their lives and their spiritual journeys.But, heeding the wake-up call of this book and choosing to ardently foment substantial major change within the faith is needed to ensure that the future of the faith -- those children raised in the bosom of UU religious liberalism - will remain committed to the denomination.

I was once one of those children, yet that chance was squandered. Now an adult, Unitarian Universalism is a denomination with which I have strong disagreements, feel completely disillusioned with, and was callously abused by.Durall's book has touched upon some aspects of the discontent felt by other former UU children like me who now consider ourselves "recovering UUs." ... Read more

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Unknown Binding: 62 pages Publisher: Lilac Mountain Books; 1st edition (2002) Language: English ISBN-10: 0970984510 ISBN-13: 978-0970984517 ... Read more

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Chapters: Unitarian Universalism, Mennonite, Molokan, Harmony Society, Church of the Brethren, Amish, Religious Society of Friends, Schwarzenau Brethren, Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement, Bruderhof Communities, Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, Schwenkfelder Church, Old Order Mennonite, Mennonite Disaster Service, the Brethren Church, River Brethren, List of Pacifist Faiths, Jus Gladii. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 216. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: The various Amish (pronounced , ) or Amish Mennonite church fellowships are Christian religious denominations that form a very traditional subgrouping of Mennonite churches. The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt modern convenience. The history of the Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann. Those who followed Ammann became known as Amish. These followers were originally from three main places: the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, the Alsace of France, and the Palatinate of Germany. In the early 18th century, many Amish and Mennonites emigrated to Pennsylvania for a variety of reasons. Today, the most traditional descendants of the Amish continue to speak Pennsylvania German, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch. However, a dialect of Swiss German predominates in some Old Order Amish communities, especially in the American state of Indiana. Over the years, the Amish churches have divided many times over doctrinal disputes. The 'Old Order' Amish, a conservative faction that withdrew from fellowship with the wider body of Amish in the 1860s, are those that have most emphasized traditional practices and beliefs. There are as many as eight different subgroups of Amish with most belonging, in their ord...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=19346935 ... Read more

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Chapters: Universalist Church of America, List of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist Churches, Young People's Christian Union. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 27. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Universalism refers to religious, theological, and philosophical concepts with universal ("applying to all") application or applicability. It is a term used to identify particular doctrines considering all people in their formation. In religion and theology, "universalism" is a principle that asserts that all people are under the consideration and Love of God, and that theological concepts (doctrines) which conform to this concept are in fact more in accord with the divine concepts. A church or community that calls itself Universalist may emphasize the universal principles of most religions and accept other religions in an inclusive manner, believing in a universal reconciliation between humanity and the divine. For example Abrahamic religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam still claim a universal value of their doctrine and moral principles because they feel they are inclusive. A belief in one common truth is also another important tenet. The living truth is seen as more far-reaching than national, cultural, or religious boundaries. In Christianity, Universalism refers to the belief that all humans can be saved through Jesus Christ and eventually come to harmony in God's kingdom. A related doctrine, apokatastasis, is the belief that all mortal beings will be reconciled to God, including Satan and his fallen angels. Universalism was a widely held but controversial view among theologians in Early Christianity: In the first five or six centuries of Christianity, there were six known theological schools, of which four (Alexandria, Antioch, Caesarea, and Edessa) were un...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=31902 ... Read more