The Unitarians' forerunners were the 17th-century Dissenters, who maintained that there was no scriptural authority for the Trinity, affirming with Jesus (Mark 12:29-31) that God was one. Modern Unitarians extend this unity to the common ground occupied by other great religions that respect the dignity and worth of all people.
They do not rely on a fixed creed; instead, they hold freedom, reason and tolerance as central to their being. They value the spiritual guidance of other religions, though they subject their teachings to the tests of reason and conscience, as do many orthodox Christians in having doubts about, for example, the Resurrection and the virgin birth.
Unitarians believe that the divinity (or Holy Spirit), supremely evident in Jesus, is latent in all mankind, irrespective of creed or culture. God is variously interpreted - critics say there are as many definitions as there are Unitarians - but all would assent to God being a spirit or presence within, as well as without, us. Under these guiding principles, a Unitarian is responsible for developing his or her own theology, and sharing with others the spiritual journey.
Their philosophy is reflected in their varied forms of worship. Material for meditation is not exclusively biblical; it may be based on the writings of other religions, on literature, or poetry, or on the thoughts of Unitarian ministers and philosophers. Anyone attending rites of passage will find that the minister or lay-leader will involve them in a personalised service. Marriages are solemnised between couples of differing religions and cultures, and between divorcees, provided that their views accord with a Unitarian outlook.
Unitarianism is distinctive as a grassroots movement not dependent on orthodox hierarchies. This obtains in the ways that chapels organise themselves in Britain and America, and in the communities worldwide, now loosely linked by a number of international associations. This international presence and inclusiveness make the movement well placed to promote inter-faith activities, especially in times of religious intolerance and strife.
British Unitarians are aware of the dangers of fundamentalist stances, whether in the US south or the Islamic world. Attitudes in Britain can be inflexible, too; for example, both the Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams have recently been accused of heresy.
The more extreme and dangerous fundamentalist groups depend on the exclusive character of their beliefs; they need to have enemies. Unitarians believe that being ready to scrutinise what other religions and cultures have to offer shows a healthier state of mind, and is more conducive to peace in times when bigotry and intolerance beget violence. Accordingly, they have played a part in the peace movements in Northern Ireland and other parts of the world.
There is a need for churches to come together in Britain. Since 1989, Unitarians have been excluded from the trinitarian organisation Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, though as Alan Ruston, president of the Unitarians' general assembly, has pointed out, it is happy to have Unitarians involved in its social, development, peace and women's rights work. "Being outside the (orthodox) Christian orbit is a challenge and an opportunity in the multi-religious society of the 21st century, where Christianity will just be one option among many for those seeking a spiritual approach to living."
In the current crises, Unitarianism still offers a place for the meeting of inquiring minds in the interests of religious and social harmony.
· Dennis Crompton is a member of the Manchester district association of Unitarian churches