Makes sense in a Shakespearian way, SisterShaman. "A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet." "To thine ownself be true." "Much to do about nothing." In the words of the lost hitchhiker who met a man who told him that he was going the wrong way, "The world is round, right?" To which he replied, "Yes." "Then don't worry I will get there."

Michelle-

"Someone correct me if I am wrong, is Unitarian a Christian sect?"

I attend a Unitarian Church and it is by no means Christian. Christians are welcome and several times a year there may be talk that relate to Christianity and sometimes some of the songs are christian in origin but there will be as many talks based on Pagen religions, Jewish holidays will be discussed, Buddhist traditions, etc. and many topics are "secular" but deal with moral, ethical and family issues. For example I posted a topic about a "third place" here once- that was from my church. My-sister in law goes to a different UU (Unitarian Univesalist Church) in a nother sate and it is the same and I attended another one eslewhere. etc. Usually these churches will listen to their congregants- e.g. if more Christian talks were requested their would probably be more but they are all careful to be inclusive... many mixed faith couples attend- eg. jewish and christian, etc. and in many UU's the majority of attendants are agnostic- humanism is very popular, etc. The intent behind the church was to create a sense of community, discussion and spirituality without embracing one single major religion.

"Sigh...why can't we all enjoy each other beliefs and realize we are all on different paths to the same place."

I do enjoy many religions and I respect everyones beliefs. I feel as long as you are doing your best to be as kind as possible you are on a great path and your beliefs must be valuable...

But (I'm afraid there's always a but) I don't like it when others try to tell me that their way is the only way- but who does like that? I am the same with any issue- I will not enjoy someone telling me, "I'm right, you're wrong and you will suffer for your wrong ideas (e.g go to hell, etc.).

I just thought these facts were interesting.

Eljay- I guess I don't understand how the man could have existed before his ancesters existed? But I suppose most Gods are allowed a lot of lattitude.... they can exist and not exist..

is the point to do with the "Trinity"? E.g. God existed before people therefore Jesus is just one part of God so Jesus always existed?

Am I even close?

anoasis,

I don't believe Jesus shared any DNA with Mary, she was simply a vessel for the baby Jesus to develop in. Joseph wasn't His father. So Jesus existed long before Mary and Joseph met. If you look in the Old Testament, you see mention of two thrones in heaven, you see that when Malech Yahweh (Angel of the Lord) spoke, it was God who was speaking. (Malech means messenger, but in English is translated as "Angel". What else could Jesus be, but the messenger of the Lord. Not "a", but "the".). Christology is the study of Jesus and a large portion is the study of Jesus in the Old Testament. It's a very interesting subject, I can show you a great free online course if you feel the interest.

Oasis;

Yes - that is pretty much it. Jesus (the man - refered to as the son of Mary) is/was also God. Essentially the "Lord" refered to in the old testament. The world was essentially made by Jesus. He is refered to as "The Word" in the first Chapter of John. He is the one who gave Moses the law. So - the God of the Old Tstament - is the Jesus of the New Testament.
There is one God - who are 3 "persons" (for lack of any word which describes it) God the Father - God the Son and God the holy spirit. This is the trinity of Christianity and Judism.
This is why Jesus - though he walked on this earth long after Abraham - was actually before him, and why - in the truest sense of the religions - Christianity comes before Judism. However they are essentially the same faith. It's just Judism is still awaiting the coming of the son - as they do not believe the man Jesus was God the son incarnate.

Thanks for explaining Eljay and Spider.

I actually studied the Bible as literature in college and I read Kings James' version a few times as a child....

but you could study that book for a really long time and still have questions...

which is why a simple girl like me prefers to stick to the "golden rule".... I understand it all the time!!

~~~~~~~

Thanks spider, please post the link. I will look at it... and others might have an interest as well.

Hope you are feeling well. You continue to be in my prayers.

anoasis,

Thank you, I have been much better lately. I have gotten into a regimen of eatting better food, taking vitamins and getting more veggies. I feel a lot better. Not really feeling better today, but that's because a friend woke me up early this morning and asked me to take her to the hospital. Lack of sleep and food tends to make me grumpy.

You can take Christology and other courses on the Bible from the following online institute.
http://www.blbi.org/

Eating more veggies is always an excellent plan... I need to do that too... sometimes I'm too lazy and just eat prepared foods = not that great for me. I'm glad your taking good care of yourself.

Hope your friend is ok as well...

Unitarianism:

is the belief in the single personality of God, in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God). It is the philosophy upon which the modern Unitarian movement was based, and, according to its proponents, is the original form of Christianity. Unitarian Christians believe in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, as found in the New Testament and other early Christian writings, and hold him up as an exemplar. Adhering to strict monotheism, they maintain that Jesus was a great man and a prophet of God, perhaps even a supernatural being, but not God himself. Unitarians believe in the moral authority, but not necessarily the divinity, of Jesus. They do not pray to Jesus, but to God directly. Their theology is thus distinguishable from the theology of Catholic, Orthodox, mainline Protestant, and other Christian denominations, who hold the Trinity doctrine as a core belief.

Some Evangelicals hold a "unitarian" theology in that they see God as a single person, and are thus antitrinitarian, but because they perceive Jesus to be God himself do not fall into the general theology discussed here, which sees Jesus as subordinate to God and a finite being. Instead see: Sabellianism, Oneness theology, Oneness Pentecostalism, Monarchianism, Binitarianism.

Unitarians sum up their faith as "the religion of Jesus, not a religion about Jesus." Historically, they have encouraged non-dogmatic views of God, Jesus, the world and purpose of life as revealed through reason, scholarship, science, philosophy, scripture and other prophets and religions. They believe that reason and belief are complementary and that religion and science can co-exist and guide them in their understanding of nature and God. They also do not enforce belief in creeds or dogmatic formulas. Although there is flexibility in the nuances of belief or basic truths for the individual Unitarian Christian, general principles of faith have been recognized as a way to bind the group in some commonality. Adherents generally accept religious pluralism and find value in all teachings, but remain committed to their core belief in Christ's teachings. Liberal Unitarians value a secular society in which government stays out of religious affairs.

Unitarians are not to be confused with members of the Unity Church.

John 5:20-23 The Father loveth the Son, and....hath committed all judgement unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.

Unitarianism claims to be a form of Christianity, but at the same time denies the historic doctrines of the Christian Church. (the Trinity, Deity of Christ, Virgin Birth, etc.

Also it should be noted that this view of scriptures is the same view held by reformed Judaism, Christian Science, Unity and a jost of other non-Christian cults, all of whom are content to utilize the Scriptures, but in a mannner NEVER intended by the authors.

Feral Cat Lady

Unitairian Universalists DO NOT equal "Unitarian Christians", SOME Unitarian Christians do identify themselves with Unitarian Universalist Churches because Unitarain Universalist Churches accept people of ALL faiths.

www.uua.org/visitors/beliefswithin/index.shtml

"Beliefs Within Our Faith

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion that encompasses many faith traditions. Unitarian Universalists include people who identify as Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and others. As there is no official Unitarian Universalist creed, Unitarian Universalists are free to search for truth on many paths.
To quote the Rev. Marta Flanagan, "We uphold the free search for truth. We will not be bound by a statement of belief. We do not ask anyone to subscribe to a creed. We say ours is a non-creedal religion. Ours is a free faith."

Although we uphold shared principles, individual Unitarian Universalists have varied beliefs about everything from scripture to rituals to God.

Last updated on Thursday, March 1, 2007."

As I said, Christians are welcome at my church but my church is not a christian church.