William Ellery Channing

William Ellery Channing ( born April 7, 1780 in Newport, Rhode Iceland, USA, † October 2, 1842 in Bennington, Vermont) was an American clergyman and writer. He became known as the "apostle of Unitarianism ." Channing was known for his impassioned sermons and public speeches. He embodied the liberal theology of his time. Channing's religious attitudes and thoughts influenced Transcendentalism in New England, although he was not a member of this movement.

Life

He first studied theology in Newport and graduated from Harvard in 1798. He then worked as a tutor in Richmond. The radicalism of the French Revolution troubled him during this period as well as the orthodox American Calvinism. The Calvinist doctrine of predestination and eternal damnation he refused. His religious worldview was shaped by a conciliatory God.

1803 Channing preacher of the Federal Street Church ( Boston), where he remained for the rest of his life. He was regarded as a recognized spokesman of Unitarianism, since he had held the ordination sermon for Jared Sparks in Baltimore in 1819. Under the title " The Unitarian Christianity," he summed up in this speech the essential beliefs of the Unitarians together: the rejection of the Trinity, the belief in the good in people, and the need to interpret the Bible according to reason. In another famous speech, " Likeness to God ", Channing explained some years later that man has the potential to be ethically perfect so far that he could be like God. The established Calvinism gave him an action before heresy.

In his later years Channing preached against slavery, but never explicitly called for its abolition. Although he always took moderate positions, he retired with his oratorical talent and his great influence on the religious and social life in New England, the reluctance of some conservatives to. The erupted within the Unitarian Church factional dispute, the Ralph Waldo Emerson and George Ripley prompting to lay down their spiritual office or to go the distance to the church, could not be settled by Channing. Channing was known beyond the borders of New England's addition. In Europe, his influence spread not only in England and France, but also by Bunsen in Germany.

Two of his nephews were prominent transcendentalists: William Ellery Channing known (1818-1901), commonly known as Ellery Channing, the son of his brother Walter Channing was ( 1786-1876 ). William Henry Channing was the son of his brother, Francis Dana Channing.

Selected Works

• The Christian Examiner of Remarks on the Character and Writings of Milton Jahn, 1826
• Analysis of the character of Napoleon Bonaparte, 1827-1828, was in Leipzig by Karl Heinrich Hermes under the title of Napoleon, his character and his time published in 1831.
• Essay on the Character and Writings of Fe'nelon, 1829
• The works. With an introduction. New and compl. ed, rearranged to Which is added the perfect life, Boston: American Unitarian Assoc, 1899 (V, 1060 S. ). .