Rational Christianity

Rational Christianity – During the last half of the 18th c. this term was associated with a movement among both dissenters and churchmen that opposed a number of doctrines generally held by those who would have termed themselves ‘orthodox’ dissenters (primarily, but not exclusively Calvinists). These doctrines included a belief in the trinity, original sin, absolute sovereignty of God, unconditional election, imputed righteousness, and the propitiatory atonement of Christ. During the eighteenth century, ‘rational dissenters’ were found in nearly all the dissenting denominations and within the Anglican church. Most were Arians, but in the second half of the eighteenth century, many adopted Socinianism. The former position was tolerated within many traditionally ‘orthodox’ congregations, such as the Particular Baptist congregations at Broadmead in Bristol and at St. Andrew’s Street in Cambridge, or the Steps’ Independent Meeting at Tiverton, with each congregation having hearers and, in some cases, members, holding Arian views. Socinianism, however, was considered a more serious breach of orthodoxy, and in most cases, resulted in doctrinal disputes that often led to a division within the congregation.