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The American Universalist Association was founded in 1825, based on principles espoused in the sermons of [[William Ellery Channing]], notably an 1819 sermon entitled "Unitarian Christianity."<ref>[http://www.transcendentalists.com/unitarian_christianity.htm Unitarian Christianity], text of Channing's sermon</ref>
The American Universalist Association was founded in 1825, based on principles espoused in the sermons of [[William Ellery Channing]], notably an 1819 sermon entitled "Unitarian Christianity."<ref>[http://www.transcendentalists.com/unitarian_christianity.htm Unitarian Christianity], text of Channing's sermon</ref>
A Unitarian Universalist minister answers the question "Are Unitarian Universalists Christian?" with a forthright "Yes and no."<ref>[http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/uufaq.html Our Unitarian Universalist Faith: Frequently Asked Questions], Alice Blair Wesley</ref> She notes that "At a Unitarian Universalist worship service or meeting, you are likely to find members whose positions on faith may be derived from a variety of religious beliefs: Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, naturist, atheist, or agnostic. Members might tell you that they are religious humanists, liberal Christians, or world religionists."
==Unitarian Universalists and Christianity==
In full, the question "Are Unitarian Universalists Christian?" has been answered:
:Yes and no.
:Yes, some Unitarian Universalists are Christian. Personal encounter with the spirit of Jesus as the Christ richly informs their religious lives.
:No, Unitarian Universalists are not Christian, if by Christian you mean those who think that acceptance of any creedal belief whatsoever is necessary for salvation. Unitarian Universalist Christians are considered heretics by those orthodox Christians who claim none but Christians are "saved." (Fortunately, not all the orthodox make that claim.)
:Yes, Unitarian Universalists are Christian in the sense that both Unitarian and Universalist history are part of Christian history. Our core principles and practices were first articulated and established by liberal Christians.
:Some Unitarian Universalists are not Christian. For though they may acknowledge the Christian history of our faith, Christian stories and symbols are no longer primary for them. They draw their personal faith from many sources: nature, intuition, other cultures, science, civil liberation movements, and so on.
[[Isaac Newton]] and [[Albert Einstein]] are both considered by many to be Unitarians.{{fact}}
[[Isaac Newton]] and [[Albert Einstein]] are both considered by many to be Unitarians.{{fact}}