Changes

Unitarians emerged primarily within the Congregational churches of New England, in reaction against the excessive emotionalism of the [[First Great Awakening]] (from 1734) and subsequent revivals.  Unitarians were rationalists who distrusted emotionalism and saw revivals as unholy. A sharp division emerged between the liberals and conservatives within Congregationalism; in 1805 the Hollis Professorship of Divinity at Harvard College was filled by Unitarian Henry Ware. The bitter debate that ensued was responsible for a great number of schisms among the New England churches. The most celebrated leader of the new liberal theology was [[William Ellery Channing]], especially for his sermon "Unitarian Christianity" at Baltimore in 1819. The American Unitarian Association was formed in 1825 as an organization of individuals; not till 1865 was a conference of churches formed. The philosophical movement of [[Transcendentalism]], typified by [[Ralph Waldo Emerson]], further liberalized the Unitarian churches, as a result of the influence of Emerson and [[Theodore Parker]]. They vigorously championed the abolition of slavery and many other reforms. Parker brought to the denomination a social consciousness and a political activism that has continued strong through the years.

Unitarians emerged primarily within the Congregational churches of New England, in reaction against the excessive emotionalism of the [[First Great Awakening]] (from 1734) and subsequent revivals.  Unitarians were rationalists who distrusted emotionalism and saw revivals as unholy. A sharp division emerged between the liberals and conservatives within Congregationalism; in 1805 the Hollis Professorship of Divinity at Harvard College was filled by Unitarian Henry Ware. The bitter debate that ensued was responsible for a great number of schisms among the New England churches. The most celebrated leader of the new liberal theology was [[William Ellery Channing]], especially for his sermon "Unitarian Christianity" at Baltimore in 1819. The American Unitarian Association was formed in 1825 as an organization of individuals; not till 1865 was a conference of churches formed. The philosophical movement of [[Transcendentalism]], typified by [[Ralph Waldo Emerson]], further liberalized the Unitarian churches, as a result of the influence of Emerson and [[Theodore Parker]]. They vigorously championed the abolition of slavery and many other reforms. Parker brought to the denomination a social consciousness and a political activism that has continued strong through the years.

Unitarians moved throughout the [[Yankee]] diaspora, and became leading citizens in the upper Midwest.  Many were active against slavery.  Many leading literary and scientific figures have been Unitarians, including Emerson's contemporaries [[Oliver Wendell Holmes]]  (1809–1894), a poet who was the father of the justice;  and Henry W. Longfellow (1807-1882), along with many scholars and educators. Unitarians include four presidents : [[John Adams]], [[John Quincy Adams]], [[Millard Fillmore]], and [[William Howard Taft]].  

Unitarians moved throughout the [[Yankee]] diaspora, and became leading citizens in the upper Midwest.  Many were active against slavery.  Many leading literary and scientific figures have been Unitarians, including Emerson's contemporaries [[Oliver Wendell Holmes]]  (1809–1894), a poet who was the father of the justice;  and Henry W. Longfellow (1807-1882), along with many scholars and educators. Unitarians include four presidents : [[John Adams]], [[John Quincy Adams]], [[Millard Fillmore]], and [[William Howard Taft]].

===Channing===

===Channing===

A major controversy set New England Universalist ministers, led by [[Hosea Ballou]], against the and Restorationists, led by Edward Turner, Paul Dean, and Jacob Wood. It began in 1801 and reached crisis proportions during 1817-24. The Universalists believed there was no punishment after death and the Restorationists held as an article of faith that a purifying punishment followed death.<ref>Peter Hughes, "The Restorationist Controversy: Its Origins and First Phase, 1801-1824." ''Journal of Unitarian Universalist History'' 2000 27: 1-57.</ref>

A major controversy set New England Universalist ministers, led by [[Hosea Ballou]], against the and Restorationists, led by Edward Turner, Paul Dean, and Jacob Wood. It began in 1801 and reached crisis proportions during 1817-24. The Universalists believed there was no punishment after death and the Restorationists held as an article of faith that a purifying punishment followed death.<ref>Peter Hughes, "The Restorationist Controversy: Its Origins and First Phase, 1801-1824." ''Journal of Unitarian Universalist History'' 2000 27: 1-57.</ref>

Social status differentials kept the two groups apart until the 1950s, when they formed  a Council of Liberal Churches as a preliminary step to merger. They merged in 1961.

Social status differentials kept the two groups apart until the 1950s, when they formed  a Council of Liberal Churches as a preliminary step to merger. They merged in 1961. The ''American Unitarian Conference,'' founded in 2000, believes the Unitarian Universalists have departed from the "Unitarian Christianity" of Channing. The splinter group regards itself as a "reborn" version of the American Unitarian Association, which it says "disbanded" in 1961 when it merged with the Universalists.<ref>[http://www.americanunitarian.org/ American Unitarian Conference: Promoting the American Unitarian Tradition]</ref>

==External links==

==External links==