Deutsche Unitarier Religionsgemeinschaft
Encyclopedia
Deutsche Unitarier Religionsgemeinschaft ("German Unitarian Religious Community") was founded in 1876 in Germany
's Rheinhessen
region under the name Religionsgemeinschaft Freier Protestanten ("Religious Community of Free Protestants").
In 1911 their newspaper
took on the subtitle "Deutsch-Unitarische Blätter" ("German Unitarian Gazette") because leader Rudolf Walbaum wanted to connect to American Unitarians
. By 1977, the group was led by former Nazis Herbert Böhme and Friedrich Ehrlicher. In 1989, an extremely rightist group led by Sigrid Hunke left and founded "Bund Deutscher Unitarier, Religionsgemeinschaft europäischen Geistes".
The current name, Deutsche Unitarier Religionsgemeinschaft, was adopted in 1950.
, but there is recognition of the merit of other faith traditions.
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's Rheinhessen
Rheinhessen
Rhenish Hesse refers to the part of the former Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt located west of the Rhine river and now part of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is a hilly countryside largely devoted to vineyards, therefore it is also called the "land of the thousand hills." Its larger towns include:...
region under the name Religionsgemeinschaft Freier Protestanten ("Religious Community of Free Protestants").
In 1911 their newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
took on the subtitle "Deutsch-Unitarische Blätter" ("German Unitarian Gazette") because leader Rudolf Walbaum wanted to connect to American Unitarians
American Unitarian Association
The American Unitarian Association was a religious denomination in the United States and Canada, formed by associated Unitarian congregations in 1825. In 1961, it merged with the Universalist Church of America to form the Unitarian Universalist Association.According to Mortimer Rowe, the Secretary...
. By 1977, the group was led by former Nazis Herbert Böhme and Friedrich Ehrlicher. In 1989, an extremely rightist group led by Sigrid Hunke left and founded "Bund Deutscher Unitarier, Religionsgemeinschaft europäischen Geistes".
The current name, Deutsche Unitarier Religionsgemeinschaft, was adopted in 1950.
Theology
Most members lean towards scientific and philosophical humanismHumanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
, but there is recognition of the merit of other faith traditions.
Organization
Congregations are lay-led. It is the only Unitarian group in Germany to belong to the ICUUInternational Council of Unitarians and Universalists
The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists is an umbrella organization founded in 1995 bringing together many Unitarians, Universalists and Unitarian Universalists.The size of the member organizations varies widely...
.