Embracing good,the Supreme example,Trinity,Unity (Jesus Christ, punishment, Earth)

[God is love]

I read Unitarians don't have a creed however they believe in the goodness of humanity. They say they embrace everything or anything good.

That sounds like the thirteenth article of faith of the church of Jesus Christ of latterday saints. "...If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

They also have the eleventh article of faith that says "We claim the priviledge of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience and allow all men the same priviledge, let them worship how, where or what they may."

Also Unitarians don't have a definite concept of God or goodness however they think of Jesus as a Jewish prophet that was divinely inspired and a Supreme example.

I gather from this that although Unitarians don't have a definite concept of goodness, they think Jesus was a Supreme example of goodness. I guess because He was divinely inspired. I surmised this because the word divine is defined in the dictionary as supremely good. I read that Unitarians believe Jesus shows our divine potential.

I agree!!!
"For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."
John 13:15
"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of the DIVINE NATURE..."
2 Peter 1:3-4

Part 2 "Trinity, Adam's sin and Salvation" to follow
It pertains to the split from the Congregationalist beliefs based on Calvin

1.The Trinity
2. Adam's sin
3. Salvation, predestined or not

[God is love]

I read Unitarians split from the Congregational church over the Congregationalist' beliefs based on Calvinist tradition that:

1. The Trinity is three gods as one person

2. People are punished for Adam's sin and not their own.

3. God predestines who He will save. God's descision has nothing to do with being good or doing good.

Universalists believe the opposite of Calvinitss and I do too.

I believe as the Universalists, the opposite of calvinists.

The Trinity is not 3 gods as one person.
Matthew 3:16-17 proves this
"And JESUS when He was baptized WENT UP straightway OUT OF WATER and the heavens were opened unto Him and He saw the SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING like a dove and LIGHTING UPON Him and a VOICE FROM HEAVEN saying "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.""
Jesus was in the water, the Spirit of God was descending upon Him and a voice from heaven was declaring that Jesus was His son.

1. These beings were seperate in space or in other words in seperate areas at the same moment in time. The Father was speaking from heaven while the son was comming up out of the water and the Spirit of God was descending from heaven.

2. The Father said this is my son. He didn't say this is myself.
Logic would say if the Father is saying Jesus is His son then Jesus' Father is the voice speaking. They are Father and son. If the voice in heaven is God then Jesus is the son of God.

How are they One???

"I and the Father are one" John 10:30
Since a Father and son can't be the same person or share the same body, there has to be another kind of oneness.
A modern day apostle of the Lord, Bruce R McConkie, {now deceased** explained
"Though each person in the Godhead is seperate and distinct from each of the others, yet they are one God, meaning that they are united as one in the attributes of perfection. For instance each has truth, justice, mercy, charity, etc. Accordingly they all think, act, speak alike. Each of these three, seperate and distinct individuals can be in only one place at a time but each has power and influence that is everywhere present. Their oneness is the same unity that should exist among disciples."
In Romans 12:4-5
"For as we have many members in one body { arms, legs,eyes, etc ** and all members have not the same office {function** so we being many are one body in Christ..."
In Corinthians 12:5-29
"For as the body is one and hath many members and all members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ."
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles..."
"And if the ear shall say because I am not the eye. I am not of the body, is it not of the body?"

By virtue of reason they are three seperate personages and they are one in unity.

As regarding Adam's sin

I also believe as the Unitarians that people are not punished for Adam's sin.

I believe the 2nd article of faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of latterday saints.
"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgressions."

I also believe that people are not predestined to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:3-4
"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. Who will have ALL men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth."
"Doctrines and Covenants" 76:41-42 of the Church of Jesus Christ of latterday saints
"That He came into the world even Jesus to be crucified for the world and to bear the sins of the world and to sanctify the world and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness. That through Him ALL might be saved."

Unitarians believe in universal salvation. Everyone is saved, no matter what, because God is all loving and wouldn't punish anyone in hell.

Mark 16:16
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..."
3 Nephi 11:33 {Another Testement of Jesus Christ**
"And whoso believeth in me and is baptized the same shall be saved and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God."
Doctrines and Covenants 138:2-4
"And reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the son of God for the redemption of the world and the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the son in the comming of the redeemer into the world that through His atonement and by obedience to the principles of the gospel, mankind might be saved."
Mosiah 4:6-8
"If ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God and His matchless power and His wisdom and His patience and His long suffering towards the children of men and also the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world that thereby salvation might come to him that should put their trust in the Lord and should be deligent in keeping His commandments and continue in the faith. I say that this is the man who receiveth salvation through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for ALL mankind."
Alma 11:37 {Another Testement of Jesus Christ**
"I say unto you you again that He cannot save them in their sins... He hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of Heaven therefore ye cannot be saved in your sins."
2 Nephi 10:24
"Wherefore my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God...and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved."
2 Nephi 25:23 {Another Testement of Jesus Christ**
"Be reconciled to God, for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
Ephesians 2:8
"For by grace are ye saved throygh faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God."

Doctrines and Covenants 137:10
And I also beheld that ALL CHILDREN WHO DIE before they arrive at the years of accountability {8 years** ARE SAVED in the Celestial kingdom of Heaven."

There is Justice and Mercy
Justice has laws
Jesus has Mercy

When laws are disregarded Justice requires compensation. or punishment. Jesus with His mercy choose to be punished to compensate for the sins of humanity. Since Mercy does not rob Justice, Jesus did what the law required be done and that was to be crucified for the sins committed by humanity. He was punished so that we didn't have to be punished or seperated from God. The atonement doesn't give a liscence to sin rather an opportunity to be forgiven if we repent,{ cease to repeat the sin**. He gives us a chance to get it right, to improve. That's a merciful Jesus.

Doctrines and Covenants 131:6
It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorence."
Acts 17:30
"And the time of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent."
That way they can avail themselves of this opportunity. We have the opportunity to be forgiven if we repent.

Part 3 "the importance of Unity" to follow

[God is love]

Again, I recognize that unity must be important to Unitarians because it is in the root word of the word Unitarian. As mentioned before, I also think that may have something to do with the Unitarians who wanted this website to bring relgeons with good together. Perhapps it was to bring peace amongst those that are not one heart and one mind.

"And the eye can not say unto the hand, I have no need of thee...'
"That there should be no schism in the body but that the members should have the same care one for another."
"Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular.'
1 Corinthians 12:21

UNITY

"There is neither Jew nor Greek... for ye are all one in Christ Jesus"
Galations 3:28
"That ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
Philippians 2:2
"that ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel."
Philippians 1:27
"FInally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous."
1 Peter 3:8
"And He commanded them that there should be no more contention, but that they should look forward... having one faith and one baptism, having their their hearts knit together in UNITY and love, one towards another."
Mosiah 18:21 {Another Testement of Jesus Christ**
"Finally brethren... be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
2 Corinthians 13:11
"Endeavoring to keep the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Ephesians 4:3
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell togethet in UNITY."
Psalms 133:1

Part 4 "Henry David Thoreau and Emerson start Trancendentalist movement" to follow

[God is love]

I read that Henry David thoreau and emerson were Universalits. They started the Trancendentalist movement. They believe God dwells in the soul of every human being.

They believe human beings should find truth within themselves and Gos should be understood through reason.

They also believed it was necessary to recognize truth and beauty in God's creatures, nature.

I believe the third member of the Godhead dwells in us as written in 2 Corinthians 6:16
"For ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said "I will DWELL in them".
John 4:12
"If we love one another, God DWELLETH in us and His love is perfected in us."
Helaman 4:24
"The Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples."

The Holy Spirit and Truth

The Holy Spirit is Truth
1 John 5:6
The Holy Spirit beareth witness of Truth
That is how we know truth.

I recognize the truth and beauty in God's nature.
The Taoists also appreciate the beauty of nature.

Part 5 "The Unity church" to follow
that will be the concluding piece

[God is love]

I don't know if this has anything to do with the Unitarians however i found this church amonst others in either the phone boof or on the internet in my search for truths.

The Unity church believes as the Unitarian and christian denominations that Jesus is a great example and we should practice what Jesus preached.

They believe the bible is a text. Each year they read Matthew Chapters 5,6 and 7

They believe the Holy Spirit is the activity of God, moving through the minds and hearts of people.
That sounds good

They believe we are God's hands and feet.
That's true

Unity began as a prayer movement.
Jesus prayed.

They believe the purpose of prayer is to help us feel God, experience God. They believe a form of prayer is to set aside some time to be in conscious communion with Him.
That sounds really good to me.

The Unity church believes the phrase in the Lord's example of prayer, "Lead us not into temptation",affirms God's loving protection.
I understand from this that we should ask God for protection so that we aren't led into temptation or we can resist being led.

Their intention to be at church is to feel closer to God and to have something to practice. They say practice is the "Advanced Course".

They say there are many paths that lead to God and yet Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life" in John 14:16 which is in the book, that they say is their text book, the bible. The same book they read each year.
Puzzling

They believe Jesus the Christ is the son of God and divine. He is the great example and we should practice what He lived.

I'm in complete agreement with that, obviously.

The Unity church believes the soul existed before this life,they believe in pre existence.
I've heard that before, Betty Eadie spoke of it in her book "Embraced by the Light" that I mentioned in the post "Life After Death, Medical Records" that I posted in Comparative Religeon.

The Unity church also believes the soul exists after this life on earth.
I believe in a pre and post existence too.

This concludes what I wanted to share with you. Thank you for the invite and welcome into this room Thank you for providing the hospitable atmoshere to share this with you.

[jamaesi]

Well. I'm rather confused. Are you trying to show similiarities to your religion (which I am guessing is LDS) or convert us?


I have just one thing to nitpick. In your last post you mentioned the Unity church and about Jesus- many UUs believe things about Jesus, but not all believe him to be the son of G-d.

[Ciscokid]

Originally Posted by jamaesi

Well. I'm rather confused. Are you trying to show similiarities to your religion (which I am guessing is LDS) or convert us?


I have just one thing to nitpick. In your last post you mentioned the Unity church and about Jesus- many UUs believe things about Jesus, but not all believe him to be the son of G-d.

Actually I think the majority do not but I could be wrong.

[jazzalta]

Originally Posted by God is love

They say there are many paths that lead to God and yet Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life" in John 14:16 which is in the book, that they say is their text book, the bible. The same book they read each year.
Puzzling

But it is not the ONLY book they read or study. From their website, "We also respect the sacred literature of other religions." They seek to find the truth everywhere, thus universally.

[soma]

The microcosm cannot grasp the macrocosm because it is too vast. The image that our unit minds can grasp is another unit being who serves as a model for spiritual life. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus is pointing the way to the macrocosmic mind and is the tangential point between the macrocosm and the microcosm. By using Jesus as a personal model and a focal point, we can attain Christ consciousness. It is the perfect consciousness for the human model because it has attained all of the possibilities in the human state. In it all potential is actualized on this earthly plane so it becomes the prototype of being for the Christ conscious mind. It admits and supports the idea that there are varied upward paths to pure consciousness, and the diversity in different world faiths diminishes as one approaches Christ consciousness. Evolution and all spiritual paths lead to pure consciousness.

http://thinkunity.com

[jamaesi]

Actually I think the majority do not but I could be wrong.

From uua.org

What about Jesus?

Classically, Unitarian Universalist Christians have understood Jesus as a savior because he was a God-filled human being, not a supernatural being. He was, and still is for many UUs, an exemplar, one who has shown the way of redemptive love, in whose spirit anyone may live generously and abundantly. Among us, Jesus' very human life and teaching have been understood as products of, and in line with, the great Jewish tradition of prophets and teachers. He neither broke with that tradition nor superseded it.

Many of us honor Jesus, and many of us honor other master teachers of past or present generations, like Moses or the Buddha. As a result, mixed-tradition families may find common ground in the UU fellowship without compromising other loyalties.

Of course, trying to a get a majourity on UUs is about as easy as herding cats.

But it is not the ONLY book they read or study. From their website, "We also respect the sacred literature of other religions." They seek to find the truth everywhere, thus universally.

On my desk I have a Bible, a Qur'an, and a copy of the Tao. They seem to reside in peace together, I wish all their followers could do the same.