Three Prophets of Religious Liberalism: Channing, Emerson, Parker

by Conrad Edick Wright

Book Overview

Three landmark addresses in the history of American Unitarianism in one convenient volume. Edited by one of the leading UU historians. William Ellery Channing's "Unitarian Christianity," Ralph Waldo... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558962867
• ISBN13: 9781558962866
• Release Date: May 1986
• Publisher: Skinner House Books
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Very Inspiring!!

This book presents three very famous sermons/essays in the history of religious liberalism or liberal Christianity if you prefer; a very good, detailed introduction sets the stage. I found the book to be very inspiring. The introduction by Conrad Wright is over 40 pages long, but well worth reading before diving into the sermons/essays that follow. Mr. Wright provides much useful context and some explanation of the sermons/essays themselves here. I may be no expert, but I am not a neophyte in the area either, and I found the introduction very beneficial. Please don't skip past it. The first essay/sermon was written and presented by William Ellery Channing for an ordination ceremony for a new minister in Baltimore in 1819. Dr. Channing was a major figure in the Unitarian movement around this time. This sermon/essay is sometimes named "Unitarian Christianity" and sometimes called simply the "Baltimore Sermon". In it, Dr. Channing describes many of the doctrinal areas where Unitarians and "Orthodox" (here meaning most Protestants of the day) Christians differ, while presenting his view on why the Unitarian viewpoint makes the most sense. The One God versus the Triune God being one of those areas (from which the Unitarians get there name originally), but by no means the only one. He was VERY convincing. The writing style is a bit "old fashioned" in a few spots making it a challenge, but overall it is pretty clear. I must say that Dr. Channing was very good at laying out a logical argument to make his point which I really appreciate, and something I have not seen often enough in religious writing; most seem to appeal to/focus on emotion or feeling, and there is nothing wrong with that, but I prefer a logical, step by step approach. Following Dr. Channing is the (Harvard) Divinity School Address of 1838 by Ralph Waldo Emerson. To be honest, I have never been a fan of Emerson's writing, and this did not change my mind. HOWEVER, I did find many points made here to be enlightening to me personally, so I am glad that I read it. My problem is his writing style. It is just hard to get through. Sorry, but that is how I feel. It is sometimes poetic, but often too cryptic, at least for me. The last in "the Transient and the Permanent in Christianity" by Theodore Parker written and delivered in 1841 for another ordination. My reaction to it is simply, WOW!! This is a great piece of writing. I wish it would be published widely today for all people to consider and ponder. It is meant for a Christian audience or at least one from a Christian based culture, but it might have appeal to others as well. The writing style is very easy to follow and very logically laid out, but there is still plenty here for people who prefer an approach that appeals to the emotions as well. It is nearly 40 pages long, but I was able to sail right through it. This sermon/essay by Parker got him into a lot of trouble when he gave it and then published it. This is explained in the in

Three landmark speeches

"Three Prophets of Religious Liberalism: Channing -- Emerson -- Parker" is a powerful collection of speeches. The book also contains a substantial introduction by Conrad Wright. The three historic pieces contained in the book are as follows: William Ellery Channing's "Unitarian Christianity" (delivered in 1819), Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Divinity School Address" (1838), and Theodore Parker's "The Transient and Permanent in Christianity" (1841). In his introduction, Wright notes that all three orations caused "widespread controversy." Indeed, all these decades later, I think that these men still have some bold ideas.These speeches reflect conflicts that are still active in United States Christianity. Channing warns against the practice of selectively reading certain parts of the Judeo-Christian Bible in a literal way. He warns, "The ambitious continue to find doctrines in the Bible, which favor their love of dominion." Emerson looks forward to a new revelation, complementary to the Bible, to emerge in the Western world. Parker warns against turning the Judeo-Christian Bible into a sort of "idol."These speeches are fascinating to read, and the ideas expressed in them remain relevant. This is an excellent book for those with an interest in U.S. religious history, or for those who want to hear voices that express an alternative to the soul-killing doctrines of the "religious right."