Quote by William Ellery Channing

This compilation gathers the published sermons, essays, and theological writings of William Ellery Channing, who became one of the leading voices of American Unitarianism. Channing gained national attention through his 1819 sermon at the ordination of Jared Sparks, which articulated key Unitarian principles in contrast to orthodox Calvinism and helped define a distinct liberal Christian movement in the United States. His writings address topics including the nature of God, the character of Jesus, human moral capacity, the authority of scripture, and the role of reason in religion. Channing was also an advocate for social reform, and his works include statements on temperance, peace, and the abolition of slavery. The collection reflects the intellectual and religious climate of New England during the period of theological transition known as the Unitarian Controversy, and it preserves the arguments that shaped a significant strand of American religious thought. more