From heresy to liberty The political trajectory of Unitarian theology and its contemporary relevance

Majesty, Gilbert Timothy and Jura, Demsy and Kolibu, Dirk Roy (2025) From heresy to liberty The political trajectory of Unitarian theology and its contemporary relevance. KAMASEAN: Jurnal Teologi Kristen, 6 (2). pp. 116-135. ISSN 2722-8800

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Abstract

This study analyzes the political trajectory of Unitarian theology from heresy to liberty and its contemporary relevance. Employing a qualitative descriptive analysis method, the findings reveal: The Origin and Development of Unitarianism, tracing its roots from early anti-Trinitarian thought (such as Arianism) to its crystallization during the Reformation through figures like Michael Servetus, and its evolution into a liberal movement in America. The Theological and Political Conflict with Trinitarianism is multidimensional; the rejection of the Trinity was perceived as a challenge to both ecclesiastical and state authority, inciting persecution and influencing political stability. Religious Freedom in the Modern Era demonstrates a paradigm shift: from a persecuted minority, Unitarianism became an architect of religious freedom thought and the separation of church and state, particularly within the Enlightenment and American constitutional contexts. The Socio-Political Implications of its doctrine are significant, fostering democracy, pluralism, social justice, and rational education. The response of the Orthodox or Catholic Church consistently rejects Unitarianism as a modern form of Arianism that threatens orthodoxy and social order. The study concludes that Unitarianism’s journey is not merely a theological evolution but a dynamic reflection of the dialectic among religious belief, political power, and civil liberty in Western history, while also offering a critical lens for understanding challenges to religious freedom in states with institutionalized theological orthodoxy.

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