Unitarian Universalism [Paperback]

Alan W. Gomes (Series Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998 | Series: Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements (Book 5)

Fast, informed answers to the challenges of false religions -- This is an age when countless groups and movements, new and old, mark the religious landscape in our culture. As a result, many people are confused or uncertain in their search for spiritual truth and meaning. Because few people have the time or opportunity to research these movements fully, the Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements series provides essential information and insights for their spiritual journeys. The second wave of books in this series addresses a broad range of spiritual beliefs, from non-Trinitarian Christian sects to witchcraft and neo-paganism to classic non-Christian religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. All books but the summary volume, Truth and Error, contain five sections: -A concise introduction to the group being surveyed -An overview of the group's theology --- in its own words -Tips for witnessing effectively to members of the group -A bibliography with sources for further study -A comparison chart that shows the essential differences between biblical Christianity and the group -- Truth and Error, the last book in the series, consists of parallel doctrinal charts compiled from all the other volumes. Three distinctives make this series especially useful to readers: -Information is carefully distilled to bring out truly essential points, rather than requiring readers to sift their way through a sea of secondary details. -Information is presented in a clear, easy-to-follow outline form with 'menu bar' running heads. This format greatly assists the reader in quickly locating topics and details of interest. -Each book meets the needs and skill levels of both nontechnical and technical readers, providing an elementary level of refutation and progressing to a more advanced level using arguments based on the biblical text. The writers of these volumes are well qualified to present clear and reliable information and help readers to discern truth from falsehood.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Fast, informed answers to the challenges of false religions This is an age when countless groups and movements, new and old, mark the religious landscape in our culture. As a result, many people are confused or uncertain in their search for spiritual truth and meaning. Because few people have the time or opportunity to research these movements fully, the Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements series provides essential information and insights for their spiritual journeys. The second wave of books in this series addresses a broad range of spiritual beliefs, from non-Trinitarian Christian sects to witchcraft and neo-paganism to classic non-Christian religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. All books but the summary volume, Truth and Error, contain five sections: A concise introduction to the group being surveyed An overview of the group's theology--in its own words Tips for witnessing effectively to members of the group A bibliography with sources for further study A comparison chart that shows the essential differences between biblical Christianity and the group Truth and Error, the last book in the series, consists of parallel doctrinal charts compiled from all the other volumes. Three distinctives make this series especially useful to readers: Information is carefully distilled to bring out truly essential points, rather than requiring readers to sift their way through a sea of secondary details. Information is presented in a clear, easy-to-follow outline form with menu bar running heads. This format greatly assists the reader in quickly locating topics and details of interest. Each book meets the needs and skill levels of both nontechnical and technical readers, providing an elementary level of refutation and progressing to a more advanced level using arguments based on the biblical text. The writers of these volumes are well qualified to present clear and reliable information and help readers to discern truth from falsehood.

From the Author

Alan W. Gomes is general editor to the entire series, Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements, as well as one of the authors. He is associate professor of historical theology at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310488915
• ISBN-13: 978-0310488910
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,042,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Occult > Cults & Demonism
  • #98 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Comparative Religion

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Degrating and misinformed, December 17, 1999

By 

Clint Zehner (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unitarian Universalism (Paperback)

This book (as well as others in this series) shows a lack of understanding and respect for the religious group it is attacking. I have no objection to the author's beliefs, but to degrade the religious affiliations of others so brashly is disrespectful and cruel. I was embarassed to have read this book by the time I was finished. I agree that this series serves as a good tool for members of the critiqued sects or religions: it is a sort of encyclopedia of some of the most extreme views of evangelical Christianity toward their belief. I found that this book was FULL of information, but lacked wisdom and compassion entirely. Are these not virtues celebrated by Christianity? The whole idea behind this series (armament for proseletization) is preposterous to those of us who love other human beings.

(I would like to add as a note that I am NOT a Unitarian Universalist and this is not a cry of defense for my own beliefs. I merely think that Christians should have more tolerance and compassion than to ever write such violently derogatory books!)

53 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Propaganda at its finest, December 15, 1999

By 

"zinnyinca" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unitarian Universalism (Paperback)

Although I deeply respect Christianity and its principles, I have a hard time understaning where fundamentalist Christians are coming from when they try to tear down something that they don't understand such as UUism. So with an open mind I decided to go through this book in hopes of educating myself.Needless to say, I found it to contain nothing more than rhetorical manipulation and propaganda. If Unitarians really were like how he presented them to be, trust me I wouldn't be one myself.As a 20 year old, I came across UU on my own and have been attending a UU fellowship for 4 years. In that time I've never once been asked to make a monetary contribution and no one has ever tried to pressure me to do anything.Furthermore, I'd suggest the author look up the definition of "cult" in the dictionary or at least read some empirical studies on cult psychology. Some elements that real cults have are intimidating and charismatic leaders, the inculcation of dogma (thus suppression of thought), and the requirement of complete loyalty. UU has none of these things while certain denominations of Christianity do. And think of this - have you ever had a UU person come around knocking on your door trying to recuit you to share "the good word?" Please. People come to it and not the other way around. The whole premise and the whole concept of UU as a cult is nonsense, as is this book. And towards the end I only realized that it's pointless to try to understand where fanatics like him are coming from since they don't base arguments on reason anyway.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Deprogramming Guide for UUs ??, May 16, 1999

By 

David O. Pollard "dop4" (Hurst, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unitarian Universalism (Paperback)

It was a bit of a shock to find a book from a supposedly reputable publisher that claims the church I've been attending for the past decade was a cult. However, forwarned is forarmed - so I got a copy of it and took it to the High School Sunday School class I teach - to let them in on what the "traditional" Christian world thinks of them.

While the author claims to have studied UUism, and his outline of it does contain some fairly recent source materials on it - from the arguments he poses against UUism it is clear he doesn't GET what it means to be a participant of a non-credal religion. Or that quoting Bible verses on the authority of the Bible is anything other than totaly irrelevant to Atheists or Neo-Pagans (and circular logic to boot.)

One thing that surprised me as an Earth-centered UU, was the author's most scathing rhetoric was not aimed at Pagans like myself or Atheists - but at UU=Christians! He targets them specificly for their "counterfeit and cultic" practices. Whether this is because familiarity (of shared theological elements) breeds contempt, or it's easier to use the Bible to take potshots at others who revere it is haard to determine.

As I said there is some small utility for UUs to buy this book to see what the Religious Right thinks of them - however, I would expect that it would be extremely ineffective at its reputed purpose - converting UUs to more orthodox forms of Christianity. The most likely response one would get from it would be, "I'm sorry you feel that way about it.", or if they're more blunt, "So What?"