by Dick Bain, GA.,USA

    Church talk is in the air. The Urantia community is cussing and discussing the possibility of a church¹, a religion, or some sort of religious organization that incorporates the teachings of The Urantia Book. Just as human cloning is controversial in the larger community, so also is this issue divisive in the Urantia community. Regardless of the heat generated by the debate, this may be an idea whose time has arrived. If so, then it is an appropriate time to discuss the form that such a religion or religious organization might take.

    There are many models to consider. Since most people in our culture are familiar with Christianity, it seems natural to look to it first as a model for a religious organization. But traditional Christianity is not the only model in our culture; there are those who march to the beat of a different drummer. Among these are the Friends or Quakers, Unity, and the Unitarian Universalists. Are there ideas of value to us among the forms and contents of religious organizations such as these?

    My most recent experience with religious organizations is with Unitarian Universalism (UU-ism). While it is unlikely to be considered as a paradigm for a potential Urantia church, UU-ism does have features worth considering. And the Unitarian Universalists (UU's) have struggled with many of the problems with which a Urantia church would also have to grapple. What can we learn from their triumphs and failures?

History

    The oldest Unitarian church in existence today was founded in Transylvania about 1560 CE. The movement was founded by those who did not agree with the Trinity concept that the orthodox Christian church insisted they must accept. Several of the early Unitarians lost their lives for such heresy. Michael Servetus was burned at the stake for his ideas regarding the Trinity and baptism. Francis David, the founder of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church, died in prison for his heresy after the death of his sponsor King Sigismund. Unitarianism developed as a formal movement in England about 1700 thanks to the efforts of the scientist, Joseph Priestley, who is best known for discovering oxygen.

    Unitarianism in the US dates from about 1805. The more liberal element of US Unitarianism, closely associated with Transcendentalism, dates from 1838 when Ralph Waldo Emerson challenged the conservatism of the Unitarianism of his day. The American Unitarian Association dates from 1825. The Universalist Church of America was established in the US in 1793.

    The Universalists differentiated themselves from traditional Christianity by proclaiming that salvation is universally available to all people, not just those saved or a small elect. In 1961, the Unitarians and the Universalists merged to form the Unitarian Univ-ersalist Association which has headquarters in Boston.

    The Unitarian Universalist (UU) churches are of the congregational form in the US, and thus have complete autonomy from the national organization in Boston. The congregational form of church government is the only logical choice, given the UU's emphasis on the democratic process within organizations. A Urantia church would undoubtedly embody a similar democratic form.

Theology

   UU-ism is probably known more for what it rejects rather than what it accepts. The majority of UU's do not accept the doctrines of the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, the Atonement, and Original sin. Additionally, many UU's do not accept the idea of a heaven or hell, but there seems to be a sizable minority who believe in some form of reincarnation.

    While UU-ism does not have an official theology, there are a few spiritual concepts that many UU's accept. One is the idea that we all have a spiritual presence of God, the Infinite Mind, or some equivalent within us. This means that we can go within ourselves to find our spiritual resources rather than relying on some ecclesiastical authority. The closest thing to a theology in UU-ism is a statement of principles upon which UU's have achieved consensus². But while there is not a definitive UU theology, there is a strong social gospel.

The Social Gospel

    The emphasis of much of UU teaching and preaching is on improving life on this world rather than hoping for a better place in the afterlife. They have translated this philosophy into action by forming an outreach organization, the UU Service Committee, that participates in service activities around the world.  Many UU's are also strong supporters of groups such as Amnesty International and similar organizations that try to obtain justice for political prisoners and other prisoners of conscience. In addition, many UU congregations have a Social Justice Committee that works in areas such as equal opportunity and sets up programs to help the powerless and abused find social justice in various parts of the world. They are strong