Unitarianism

From Neoredemptive

Strictly speaking, rejection of the doctrine of the trinity, asserting instead that God is ontologically singular in his personhood. Unitarianism is heresy, although it is not often called that because of the popularity of some of its adherents and its sympathizers (Tommy Tenney, T. D. Jakes).

Contermporary Theological Unitarianism

Theological unitarians agree that there is only one God and that He is truly disclosed in scripture, but misunderstand or reject the trinitarian content and implications thereof.

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Theological unitarianism was well on its way out in American popular theology when it was resuscitated by Oneness pentecostalism. Oneness teachers will generally insist that they are not "unitarians" because unitarians deny that Jesus was God; while it is true that a historic expression of unitarianism (see below) did so, we are here using the term in its theologically descriptive sense, not its historically nominative sense, so it is simply factually incorrect to assert that oneness doctrine is not unitarian in character.

Buzz words: calling the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit "three manifestations" or "three expressions" instead of "three persons" (which amounts to calling the Godhead a functional trinity rather than an ontological one - see modalism).

Historic Unitarianism

A particular version of unitarianism grew out of the theological academy in the 18th century. This movement was bound up with several other heresies, asserting (among other things) the non-divinity of Jesus Christ.

Modern Unitarian Universalism

Unitarian universalism, at least in its present popular form, is not actually unitarian in any proper sense of the word. UU churches mostly renounce doctrinal confessions, while proper unitarianism rests upon a monotheistic confession.

There are some UU leaders and churches who are trying to push for a restoration of the primacy of The One True God and Jesus Christ within their denomination, but they are the exception and not the rule.