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