why is there such division and hostility between Trinitarians, Unitarians and whoever is in between?

Question

both claim the other is heretical.

Answer 1

There seems little evidence that unitarians have ever been hostile to trinitarians. Nontrinitarians have merely hoped to share bible truth.

By contrast, Trinitarians have a long history of murdering unitarians; to this day Trinitarian religionists train their adherents to reflexively dismiss unitarians with ad hominem insults such as "cultist" and "heretic".


The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses is the largest group of nontrinitarian (or "unitarian" with a lower-case "u") Christians in history. Jehovah's Witnesses do not claim that "heretic" is a useful or accurate label to apply to each and every Trinitarian.

Even though a typical Jehovah's Witness is quite capable of exposing the absurdity and incompatibility of trinitarianism with bible truth, Jehovah's Witnesses generally do not go from door to door with the specific goal of refuting trinitarianism. Instead, Jehovah's Witnesses work to discuss the "good news of the Kingdom" of God by Christ.

The preaching work should be an obvious activity of any professed Christian, so it seems rather remarkable that only nontrinitarians have any real program for public ministry by all active adherents.
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
...(Matthew 10:7,11,14) As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’ ...Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving... Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust off your feet.

Yet, perhaps it is unsurprising that trinitarians do not wish to compare their ideas with the bible. After all, the shaky foundations of trinitarianism rest on dubious misapplications of perhaps ten bible verses. By contrast, entire passages and important bible concepts literally require Jesus the Son to be a separate person from God the Father. Who created Jesus? To whom did Jesus pray? Who resurrected Jesus? At whose right hand does Jesus sit?


Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their worship is a restoration of biblical Christianity, as practiced by the apostles and first century Christians. They recognize Christ himself (and the apostles to a much lesser extent) as the "foundation" of true Christian worship. Of course, the bible teaches that God Himself is the "builder".

(Isaiah 28:16) Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: “Here I am laying as a foundation in Zion a stone, a tried stone, the precious corner of a sure foundation.

(Acts 4:10-11) Jesus Christ the Nazarene... This is ‘the stone that was treated by you builders as of no account that has become the head of the corner.’

(Revelation 21:14) The wall of the city also had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

(Hebrews 11:10) the city having real foundations, the builder and maker of which city is God.


Really, it is the bible rather than any human tradition, catechism, or post-biblical writing which can reveal the truth about Jesus Christ.

Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians; they teach that Christ was and is divine and of the same nature as God. What does the bible teach about Jesus?

Jehovah's Witnesses understand the bible to teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe!

Jehovah's Witnesses love and respect and honor Christ. However, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Scriptures quite plainly demonstrate that Jesus and the Almighty are separate distinct persons, and the Almighty created Jesus as His firstborn son.

(Colossians 1:15) the firstborn of all creation

(Mark 10:18) Jesus said to him: 'Why do you call me good? Nobody is good, except one, God.

(Revelation 3:14) the Amen says, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation by God

(Philippians 2:5-6) Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God's form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God

(John 8:42) Neither have I come of my own initiative at all, but that One sent me forth

(John 12:49) I have not spoken out of my own impulse, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a commandment as to what to tell and what to speak

(John 14:28) I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am

(1 Corinthians 15:28) But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him

(Matthew 20:23) this sitting down at my right hand and at my left is not mine to give, but it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father

(1 Corinthians 11:3) I want you to know that the head of every man is the Christ; ...in turn the head of the Christ is God

(John 20:17) I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.

(Deuteronomy 6:4) Jehovah our God is one Jehovah

(1 Corinthians 8:4-6) There is no God but one. For even though there are those who are called "gods," whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many "gods" and many "lords," there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him


Thanks again for an opportunity to share what the bible actually says about the distinct persons of Jesus Christ the Son and Jehovah God the Father!

Learn more!
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_05.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050422/
http://watchtower.org/e/20020515/
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_04.htm

Answer 2

Actually the Unitarians have no conflicts with anyone. Google that or do a Yahoo search, go to the Unitarian Universalist web site. Look at their doctrine. Nada, nothing, no issues, no arguments, no sniveling, no dissension and no conflicts with any other religion. No interest in killing anyone over which end to crack the egg and they are probably the religion most interested in tolerance and social justice. These dudes are really laid back.
By the way, a study of the scores of academic entrance test scores indicates that youth taking these tests who belong to the Unitarian church score the highest of any religious group. I haven't seen the data for atheists.
I don't think that there is anything in between; I;ve never heard of twinitarians.

Answer 3

First off, if we can agree that by Trinitarians, you mean mainstream christianity, which believes in the triune of God the Father, son, and Holy Spirit. Unitarianism is not limited by this understanding of God. The issue of the trinity is not really THE division between Unitarians and mainstream christianity. It is a fundamental difference, and any who deny that Christ is God is at odds with christianity. But the difference is deeper.

Unitarians believe that there are many paths to God/salvation, whereas christians believe that only thru christ can one be saved. Unitarians look to be able to encompass many other faiths. By this, I mean that they may view your personal god as really the same god Jews believe in, and the same as the god any faith who is monotheistic believes in. There is only one god, and they don't believe in the trinity, but they do believe god may be known by many different names/incarnations, etc.

Many christians believe that in the end times, one thing that will happen is that the world will ascribe to one world religion, which will be led by Satan's false prophet. There is some concern that Universal Unitarianism seems to fit the early stage ideas of this one world faith.

Christianity is somewhat a balancing act between grace and holiness, as we believe that God's love is reflected thru these two concepts. He is holy, and hates sin, and wants us to also hate sin. As such, christians should strive to do good, to love others and reject sin. We can't do it, and believe that only God can do it for us, which is why Jesus died for us.

At the same time, we are to show grace toward others. We should strive to forgive (which does not mean we forget), and move forward, not holding on to bitterness and anger. We should encourage others, too, and help our brothers and sisters in christ toward these same ends. Not that we should not show grace to non-christians, but we should not sit in judgment, which is a trap many fall into.

My impression of unitarianism is that it is a faith that has swung far to the side of grace, without the balance of holiness. What does it stand for? All go to heaven. If everyone goes to heaven, and no one changes, what would heaven be? Without accountability, any faith becomes mediocre. Without grace, any faith becomes a bludgeon. This is why balance is critical.

I don't feel hostility toward/from Unitarians. I have recently participated in a ministry with my church, working with people in a unitarian church, serving God's people by supplying food and warm clothing/blankets. There was only joyful service, no hostility at all.

Answer 4

There is no hostility between Unitarians and anyone else.

Answer 5

Between unity and trinity there will always be dual [sic].

Answer 6

Christians have persecuted each other since Christ.

Answer 7

religion.

Answer 8

.... Bitarians?