ARTICLE XVIII.
FREE AND RATIONAL CHRISTIANITY

§ 70. Rational Christianity does not mean that we are to make reason the only source of truth. But it means that we are to test every belief by the light of our reason and seek to understand clearly what we think and why we think it (1 John 4:1; 1 Thess. 5:21), as did the first-century Beroeans, who were commended by the author of Acts (Acts 17:10-11).

§ 71. Free Christianity does not mean liberty to believe what we choose, but freedom to seek the truth anywhere, everywhere, and always. It means that we should not only be willing that others should differ from us, but ready to help them to inquire freely, even if their inquiries lead them to believe what we consider erroneous. It means that we are not to judge one another (Matt. 7:1-5; Rom. 14:1-23), nor to submit our own belief to the judgment of any church or human authority (Gal. 1:10-12, 15-17). Unitarians abstain from condemning people who differ from them in the interpretation of Scripture and in points of theology, especially on topics of acknowledged difficulty and obscurity, because they understand the problems and perplexities associated with religious inquiry, which are often attributable to factors such as environment, culture, emotional attachment, possible deficiencies of the mind or reasoning ability, the power of early impressions, respect for religious authorities, and the lack of proper principles of criticism and of important tools with which to tackle such issues. Religion has given birth to innumerable wild and extravagant theories, developed even by good, sincere and conscientious people. Remembering, as Unitarian Christians do, that they have the same weaknesses as others do, they would never dare assume infallibility, nor would they encourage in everyday Christians, who have little time for investigation, the habit of denouncing and condemning other denominations for their beliefs. True Unitarians do not idolize their own viewpoints, shutting their eyes on the virtues, and their ears on the arguments, of imagined opponents. They do not ascribe all excellence to their own group and all saving power to their own beliefs, nor do they offer shelter to the spirit of intolerance in the name of righteousness and justice and trample on people’s rights under the pretense of saving their souls. Zeal for truth is simply a cover for this usurpation of Divine authority, and Unitarians will not encroach on the jurisdiction of God. Charity, forbearance, a delight in the virtues of different sects, a backwardness to censure and condemn—these are virtues that Unitarians admire and recommend; and they would rather join themselves to the church in which these virtues abound than to any other fellowship. Unitarian Christians believe that the best way to demonstrate the rightfulness of these sentiments is to show, in their life and ministry, the value of love, honesty, humility, mildness, liberality, and Christian morals, with a high and delicate sense of duty, with inflexible integrity, and with a habitual devotion to God. If any medicine can eradicate the nasty infection of prejudice, it is the medicine of a pure example.