Along with humans’ innate drive for sexual connection, social power, and possessions, theologians maintain that we also crave “knowledge of the right direction—for orientation.”

Like other faiths, Unitarians have offered theological guidance for centuries.  Unlike most others, however, they are committed to refreshing their theology periodically.

Paradoxically, maintaining an open-minded outlook is a long-standing Unitarian tradition.  A 1936 Unitarian statement reads, ”The genius of the Unitarian movement has been its power to adapt the vocabulary and practices of a religion whose roots are sunk deep into the past to new knowledge, new conditions, and new situations.”

Forty years later, in a 1976 speech, Eugene Pickett, the Unitarian president at the time, urged members of this movement to “provide an atmosphere in which those among us of all theological persuasions—the Christians, the humanists, the existentialists—may fully explore and boldly express their worldviews without defensiveness, belligerence, or dogmatism.

“…Ours will never be one world, but many.  Let them be spoken with confidence and vigor.  By rights, ours ought to be the richest theological milieu of any denomination in modern experience.”

Contemporary Unitarians continue to subscribe to Luke’s ancient reminder: “Wisdom has many children” (7:35)

June 16, 2023