Andrews Norton
Encyclopedia
Andrews Norton was an American
preacher and theologian. Along with William Ellery Channing
, he was the leader of mainstream Unitarianism
of the early and middle 19th century.
In his early career, Norton helped to establish liberal Unitarianism, and stridently opposed harshly conservative Calvinism
and Trinitarianism. Nevertheless, later in life, he became the chief conservative Unitarian opponent of Transcendentalism
. As a vocal and well-published theologian, he earned from some the joking title of "the Unitarian Pope
".
He was born in Hingham
, Massachusetts
, son of Samuel Norton. Norton graduated from Harvard University
in 1804 and continued as a graduate student and lecturer there and at Bowdoin College
. In 1819, Harvard made him Dexter Professor of Sacred Literature, a position he held until 1830; he also served as Harvard College Librarian from 1813 to 1821.
Norton engaged in vigorous debates with George Ripley in 1836 and Ralph Waldo Emerson
in 1838 (over Emerson's Divinity School Address
). He opposed himself to the rise of Transcendentalism
and insisted on the truth of some of the Biblical
miracle
s, while rejecting "most of those in the Old Testament, and a few in the new", including rejecting the virgin birth. In rejecting the virgin birth he went beyond William Ellery Channing
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
preacher and theologian. Along with William Ellery Channing
William Ellery Channing
Dr. William Ellery Channing was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and, along with Andrews Norton, one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. He was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker...
, he was the leader of mainstream Unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
of the early and middle 19th century.
In his early career, Norton helped to establish liberal Unitarianism, and stridently opposed harshly conservative Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
and Trinitarianism. Nevertheless, later in life, he became the chief conservative Unitarian opponent of Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the 1830s and 1840s in the New England region of the United States as a protest against the general state of culture and society, and in particular, the state of intellectualism at Harvard University and the doctrine of the Unitarian...
. As a vocal and well-published theologian, he earned from some the joking title of "the Unitarian Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
".
He was born in Hingham
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, son of Samuel Norton. Norton graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1804 and continued as a graduate student and lecturer there and at Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
. In 1819, Harvard made him Dexter Professor of Sacred Literature, a position he held until 1830; he also served as Harvard College Librarian from 1813 to 1821.
Norton engaged in vigorous debates with George Ripley in 1836 and Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
in 1838 (over Emerson's Divinity School Address
Divinity School Address
The Divinity School Address is the common name for the speech Ralph Waldo Emerson gave to the graduating class of Harvard Divinity School on July 15, 1838. At that time, Harvard was the center of academic Unitarian thought. In this address, Emerson made comments that were radical for their time...
). He opposed himself to the rise of Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the 1830s and 1840s in the New England region of the United States as a protest against the general state of culture and society, and in particular, the state of intellectualism at Harvard University and the doctrine of the Unitarian...
and insisted on the truth of some of the Biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s, while rejecting "most of those in the Old Testament, and a few in the new", including rejecting the virgin birth. In rejecting the virgin birth he went beyond William Ellery Channing
William Ellery Channing
Dr. William Ellery Channing was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and, along with Andrews Norton, one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. He was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker...
.
External links
- Norton page from early-20th-century Cambridge History of English and American Literature
- Norton capsule biography from The Unitarians and the Universalists by David Robinson
- Guide to Andrews Norton correspondence with Joanna Baillie at Houghton Library, Harvard University