Misplaced Pages

#668331

45-710: The original initiative for its establishment was contained in a resolution of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (British Unitarians) in 1987. This led to the establishment of the Advocates for the Establishment of an International Organization of Unitarians (AEIOU), which worked towards creating the council. However, the General Assembly resolution provided no funding. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) became particularly interested in

90-403: A local Council and usually also a Unitarian minister. Religious Humanism Religious humanism or ethical humanism is an integration of humanist philosophy with congregational rites and community activity that center on human needs, interests, and abilities. Religious humanists set themselves apart from secular humanists by characterizing the nontheistic humanist life stance as

135-418: A mark on public life, with historically significant members of the congregation or ministers. Either of these types may have a Misplaced Pages article. The General Assembly counts about 182 churches as members, including: Some Unitarian church buildings are now used for other purposes: Other church buildings have gone, but their congregations moved or merged with neighbours: The following place articles mention

180-473: A need for a period of reorganization, and that at this time they are unable to maintain the level of activity needed to be full Council members, be it moved that membership of these groups be suspended. This action is taken with regret and the ICUU looks forward to welcoming Poland back into membership at the earliest possible date. Churches and religious associations which have expressed their will to become members of

225-486: A new religion that would strip away the accumulated unscientific dogmas of traditional religions while retaining and elevating the ethical message at the heart of all religions. Adler believed that traditional religions would ultimately prove to be incompatible with a scientific worldview. He felt that the vital aspects of religion should not be allowed to fall by the wayside. Religions provided vital functions in encouraging good works. And religions taught important truths about

270-491: A non-supernatural "religion" and structuring their organization around a congregational model. In the 21st century, religious humanists commonly unite under the umbrella of Ethical Culture or Ethical Humanism. This phenomenon is primarily centered in the United States. While a British Ethical movement was notably active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it had gradually distanced itself from its "religious" aspects by

315-585: A theistic or supernatural belief component, First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis , where Dietrich first used the term, has now rebranded the movement as "Congregational Humanism." The humanist movement first emerged in the UK as a religious "ethical movement" in the 19th century, with the South Place Religious Society in London being the largest "ethical church". The remaining UK ethical societies merged in

360-764: A very long time. Groups like the Free Religious Association (FRA) which was formed in 1867 and other less radical groups mainly consisting of extreme forms of early American Protestants such as the Unitarians and Quakers had existed from the first landings of the Europeans in the Western Hemisphere . In 1915, a Positivist defined the term "humanism" in a magazine for the British Ethical Societies. Another Unitarian Minister John H. Dietrich read

405-660: Is the name of Norway's humanist association, but it is fully a part of the broader international humanist community, and uses both "humanetikk" and "humanisme" in describing its philosophy. In Sweden, the Human-Ethical Association rebranded as Humanisterna in 1999, dropping the congregational model as the British had done in the 1960s. Belgium is broadly divided between its Flemish Community ( Flanders ) and French-speaking community ( Wallonia ). In French Belgium, as in France,

450-531: The English Presbyterians , who were reluctant to become Dissenters . However, by the late 18th century, the influx of General Baptist congregations to the denomination established a direct lineage to this radical milieu—although by now, much of the heretical culture stigma no longer existed. Until the passing of the Unitarian Relief Act in 1813, it was a criminal offence to deny the doctrine of

495-570: The French Revolution by Jacques Hébert , Pierre Gaspard Chaumette and their supporters. In 1793 during the French Revolution , the cathedral Notre Dame de Paris was turned into a Temple to Reason and for a time Lady Liberty replaced the Virgin Mary on several altars. In the 1850s, Auguste Comte , the Father of Sociology, founded Positivism , a "religion of humanity" . Auguste Comte

SECTION 10

#1732852234669

540-626: The Unitarian Christian Association and the Unitarian Earth Spirit Network . The national structure of British Unitarians is headed by an elected president, who holds office for one year. This officer is the figurehead leader of the organisation. Day-to-day administration is in the hands of an Executive Committee, which is led by a Convenor, assisted by an Honorary Treasurer, a General Secretary (sometimes called Chief Officer), and other Executive Committee members. At

585-1078: The United Kingdom and Ireland . It was formed in 1928, with denominational roots going back to the Great Ejection of 1662. Its headquarters is Essex Hall in central London , on the site of the first avowedly Unitarian chapel in England, set up in 1774. The GAUFCC brought together various strands and traditions besides Unitarianism , including English Presbyterianism , General Baptist , Methodism , Liberal Christianity , Christian Universalism , Religious Humanism , and Unitarian Universalism . Unitarians are now an open-faith community celebrating diverse beliefs; some of its members would describe themselves as Buddhists, Pagans, or Jewish, while many others are humanists, agnostics, or atheists. Christopher Hill states that ideas such as anti-Trinitarianism , which scholars trace back to ancient times, were an integral part of "the lower-class heretical culture which burst into

630-826: The 1890s to become the Union of Ethical Societies, which was founded and presided over by Stanton Coit . Ethical societies in the United Kingdom had their heyday in the late 19th century and early 20th century, with hundreds still attending weekly Sunday services at the West London Ethical Society (now part of Humanists UK) and South Place Ethical Society (now Conway Hall) in London in the 1950s. But they did not persist in this form for much longer than that. As time went on, Coit believed it would be advantageous for humanists to consciously organise in church-like structures, and even to think of themselves as congregations as they did in

675-472: The 1960s. Instead, it emphasized humanism less as a religious identity and more as a practical label describing rational and non-religious perspectives on morality and ethics . Ethical Culture and religious humanist groups first formed in the United States from Unitarian ministers who, not believing in God, sought to build a secular religion influenced by the thinking of French philosopher Auguste Comte . In

720-497: The Church Universal; at the other are those who wish to move beyond Christianity . The congregations of GAUFCC contain members who hold diverse opinions. Indeed, Unitarians are able to embrace and gain insights from the great world religions, philosophies, arts and modern sciences. The Unitarian Church does not follow one particular set of rules; owing to this, most Protestant denominations and Catholic dioceses do not recognise

765-617: The Council may be admitted as "Provisional Members" for a period of time (generally two or four years), until the Council decides that they have shown their organizational stability, affinity with the ICUU principles and commitment to deserve becoming Full Members of the Council. Provisional Members are invited to Council meetings through a delegate but cannot vote. According to the Bylaws of the ICUU, Emerging Groups are "applicants that are deemed to be reasonable prospects for membership, but do not fulfil

810-610: The Ethical Union consciously moved away from the congregational model, becoming Conway Hall Ethical Society and the British Humanist Association (BHA) respectively. The BHA later became Humanists UK in the 2010s. In 2013, the Sunday Assembly movement was founded in London as a "godless congregation" which was described in some places as "church for atheists", filling the niche vacated by other humanist groups. In

855-550: The National Conference of Unitarian, Liberal Christian, Free Christian, Presbyterian and other Non-Subscribing or Kindred Congregations—"a triumph, one might say, of Victorian verbosity. But the length of the name reflected the breadth of Martineau's vision". Thus, from 1881 to the establishment of the GAUFCC, the denomination consisted of "two overlapping circles, one labelled 'Unitarian' and eager for organisation and propaganda,

900-672: The Scandinavian countries, the popular Danish philosopher Harald Høffding 's positivist work Etik influenced the development of humanist societies, which in Sweden and Norway styled themselves as "human-ethical associations", alike the Ethical Humanists in America and formerly in Britain. In modern times, the religious humanist/secular humanist distinction has fallen away; Norway, Human-Etisk Forbund

945-611: The Trinity. By 1825 a new body, the British and Foreign Unitarian Association , itself an amalgamation of three previous societies, was set up to co-ordinate denominational activities. However, there was a setback in 1837 when "the Presbyterian / Unitarian members were forced to withdraw from the General Body of Protestant Ministers which, for over a century, had represented the joint interests of

SECTION 20

#1732852234669

990-450: The US, in order to be more appealing to people from a Christian background. But there was a difference of opinion within the movement as to how explicitly to project or emphasise that Ethical Culture was atheistic. Following Coit's tenure, much of his attempts to make humanism more "congregational" were swiftly reversed, and the trend went the other way. Both Conway Hall and the societies that made up

1035-784: The UUA hoped that they would join a world council instead. The UUA thus became willing to provide funding for the council's establishment. As a result, the council was finally established at a meeting in Essex, Massachusetts , United States on 23–26 March 1995. The Preamble to the Constitution of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists reads: We, the member groups of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, affirming our belief in religious community based on: declare our purposes to be: Polish Unitarians have reported

1080-500: The baptisms or marriages it performs. The official name is used on formal occasions, but in general use the organisation refers to itself and its members simply as Unitarian; the website URL is unitarian.org.uk, and the BBC religion page reflects this. The denomination supports same sex marriage. Many churches are architecturally significant and are listed buildings , often in the style known as Dissenting Gothic . Other churches have made

1125-637: The conditions of either Provisional membership or Full Membership" . These groups may be designated as Emerging Groups by the Executive Committee upon its sole discretion. Emerging Groups may be invited as observers to General Meetings. The current list of Emerging Groups after the last meeting of the Executive Committee (London, 22–25 November 2008) is as follows: Organizations with beliefs and purposes closely akin to those of ICUU but which by nature of their constitution are not eligible for full membership or which do not wish to become full members now or in

1170-551: The establishment of a council when it had to deal with an increasing number of applications for membership from congregations outside North America . It had already granted membership to congregations in Adelaide , Auckland , the Philippines and Pakistan , and congregations in Sydney , Russia and Spain had applied for membership. Rather than admit congregations from all over the world,

1215-534: The ethical goals of religion without beliefs and rites resting upon superstition." Some of the US-based self-described Religious Humanist organizations currently active include: Many larger religious bodies include significant numbers of members and clergy who identify as being of humanist persuasion. These groups include Seeking to clarify that the word "religious" in Religious Humanism is not intended to imply

1260-538: The first manifesto described a new " religion ", and referred to humanism as a religious movement meant to transcend and replace previous, deity-based religions. However, it is careful not to outline a creed or dogma . The document outlines a fifteen-point belief system, which, in addition to a secular outlook, opposes "acquisitive and profit-motivated society" and outlines a worldwide egalitarian society based on voluntary mutual cooperation. Bragg and eleven signatories were Unitarian ministers. The Fellowship of Humanity

1305-482: The foreseeable future, may become Associates of the ICUU. The application must be approved by the ICUU Council Meeting. General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches ( GAUFCC or colloquially British Unitarians ) is the umbrella organisation for Unitarian , Free Christians , and other liberal religious congregations in

1350-583: The free-for-all discussions of the English Revolution ". After the restoration of the Stuart monarchy and the resulting Act of Uniformity 1662 , about 2,000 ministers left the established Church of England (the Great Ejection ). Following the Act of Toleration 1689 , many of these ministers preached in non-conforming congregations. The modern Unitarian denomination's origins lay within this group of Protestants,

1395-403: The humanitarian aspects of their religion), and secular humanism (often simply "humanism", a non-religious approach to life), but confusion inevitably arises. Another such term is Secular Buddhism , which refers to an atheistic practice of Buddhist rituals. Some experts on humanism, including Andrew Copson , argue that there have been deliberate attempts to "muddy the conceptual water... of

International Council of Unitarians and Universalists - Misplaced Pages Continue

1440-555: The late 20th century the Humanist movement came into conflict only with conservative Christian groups in the United States . " Secular humanism " has become the most popular form of organized Humanism . However, the American Humanist Association notes that it largely emerged from Ethical Culture, Unitarianism and Universalism. The Cult of Reason ( French : Culte de la Raison ) was an atheist philosophy devised during

1485-634: The magazine and adopted the term to describe his own religion. Dietrich is considered by some to be the "Father of Religious Humanism" (Olds 1996) particularly for his sermons while serving the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis , which has since been considered the "birthplace of Congregational Humanism." In 1929 Charles Francis Potter founded the First Humanist Society of New York whose advisory board included Julian Huxley , John Dewey , Albert Einstein and Thomas Mann . Potter

1530-469: The old established nonconformist groups in and around London". Around this time Presbyterian / Unitarian opinion was once again divided about how far the denomination should be associated with the label 'Unitarian'. James Martineau , a Presbyterian minister formerly based in Liverpool , pleaded for a 'warmer' religion than the 'critical, cold and untrusting' Unitarianism of his day. In 1881 he helped to found

1575-599: The open in the 16th century". The cornerstones of this culture were anti-clericalism (opposition to the power of the Church) and a strong emphasis on biblical study, but there were specific heretical doctrines that had "an uncanny persistence". In addition to anti-Trinitarianism, there was a rejection of predestination and an embrace of millenarianism , mortalism , and hermeticism . Such ideas became "commonplace to 17th century Baptists, Levellers , Diggers , Seekers , … early Quakers and other radical groupings which took part in

1620-401: The other rejecting labels and treasuring comprehensiveness. Each side had its own college, its own newspaper and its own hymn book". By 1928 these two "overlapping circles" had been reconciled in the same organisation: the GAUFCC. Over time the organisation has come to embrace a wider theological and philosophical diversity. "At one extreme are the 'Free Christians' who wish to remain part of

1665-692: The presence of their Unitarian churches: The British Unitarians are a member of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists and of the European Liberal Protestant Network . The Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland maintains an Accord with the GAUFCC. In addition to the approximately 170 congregations that are affiliated with the General Assembly, there are also groups within it. Some of these represent interests (history, music, international development, etc.), while others are of religious beliefs, most notably

1710-606: The regional level, British Unitarianism is grouped into Districts. There are currently 13 Districts in England, two in Wales, and one in Scotland. Each District has a similar structure to that at national level, with a President and a District Executive Committee. Some Districts appoint a District Minister. Local congregations vary in size, structure, and practice, but there is a requirement for each congregation to have some form of established and formal leadership. In most cases this will include

1755-671: The secular movement is more concerned with national political organising and manifests nationally as the Centre d'Action Laïque . In Flemish Belgium, the group deMens.nu (Humanity Now) brings together local humanist associations who engage in a broader range of activities, including community-based work. As with Humanists UK in the UK, deMens.nu grew from the union of local liberal or freethought associations. People writing about religious humanism are careful to distinguish religious humanism from Jewish humanism (nonreligious Jews who are humanists), Christian humanism (religious Christians asserting

1800-416: The sense of playing a defining role in people's lives and addressing issues of ultimate concern. Some Ethical Societies have subsequently added a degree of ritual as a means of marking special times or providing a tangible reminder of humanistic ideals. Before the term "humanism" was ever coined or even thought of being integrated into religion it had existed in America in at least an ideological sense for

1845-412: The world, albeit these truths were expressed through metaphors that were not always suited to modern understandings of the world. For example, monotheistic religions were based on a metaphor of an authoritarian monarchy, whereas democratic relationships were now understood to be the ideal. Initially, Ethical Culture involved little in the way of ceremony and ritual. Rather, Ethical Culture was religious in

International Council of Unitarians and Universalists - Misplaced Pages Continue

1890-503: Was a minister from the Unitarian tradition and in 1930 he and his wife, Clara Cook Potter, published Humanism: A New Religion . Throughout the 1930s Potter was a well known advocate of women's rights, access to birth control, "civil divorce laws", and an end to capital punishment. The first Humanist Manifesto was written in 1933 primarily by Raymond Bragg and was published with thirty-four signatories. Unlike its subsequent revisions ,

1935-399: Was a student and secretary for Claude Henri de Rouvroy, Comte de Saint-Simon , the Father of French Socialism. Auguste Comte coined the term "altruism". The BBC notes "While atheism is merely the absence of belief, humanism is a positive attitude to the world, centered on human experience, thought, and hopes." One of the earliest forerunners of contemporary chartered humanist organizations

1980-681: Was founded in 1935 by Reverend A. D. Faupel as one of a handful of "humanist churches" seeded in the early 20th century as part of the American Religious Humanism movement. It was the only such organization of that era to survive into the 21st century and is the first and oldest affiliate of the American Humanist Association . In 1961 Webster's Third New International Dictionary defined religious humanism as "A modern American movement composed chiefly of non-theistic humanists and humanist churches and dedicated to achieving

2025-510: Was the Humanistic Religious Association formed in 1853 in London. This early group was democratically organized, with male and female members participating in the election of the leadership and promoted knowledge of the sciences, philosophy, and the arts. The Ethical Culture movement was founded in 1876. The movement's founder, Felix Adler , a former member of the Free Religious Association , conceived of Ethical Culture as

#668331