A Discourse of the Transient and Permanent in Christianity

E235153

A Discourse of the Transient and Permanent in Christianity is an 1841 sermon by Unitarian minister Theodore Parker that controversially argued for distinguishing enduring moral and spiritual truths from historically conditioned doctrines and institutions within Christianity.

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All labels observed (1)

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf religious discourse
sermon
aim to distinguish enduring elements of Christianity from temporary historical forms
associatedWithPerson Theodore Parker
author Theodore Parker
century 19th century
controversial yes
coreClaim Christianity contains eternal spiritual truths distinct from temporary forms and institutions
religious institutions and doctrines may change while underlying moral truths remain
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
dateOfComposition 1841
field Christian studies
religious philosophy
theology
genre sermon
theological essay
historicalContext 19th-century Protestant theological debates
antebellum United States
influencedBy Unitarian theology
historical-critical approaches to the Bible
liberal Protestant thought
language English
mainTopic Christianity
religious reform
theology
medium oral sermon later published in print
notableFor controversial critique of traditional Christian doctrines
early expression of liberal Protestant theology in the United States
influence on American religious liberalism
philosophicalOrientationOfAuthor religious liberal
philosophicalTheme distinction between transient and permanent elements in religion
placeInAuthorCareer early major statement of Theodore Parker's theological views
positionOnDoctrine argues that some Christian doctrines are historically conditioned and transient
positionOnMorality affirms permanence of moral and spiritual truths in Christianity
reaction provoked strong opposition from more orthodox clergy
religiousMovementContext Unitarianism
surface form: American Unitarian movement
religiousOrientationOfAuthor Unitarian minister
religiousPerspective Unitarian Christian
liberal Christian
religiousTradition Unitarianism
subjectOfStudy history of American theology
history of Unitarianism
liberal Protestantism
theologicalTheme enduring moral and spiritual truths
historically conditioned doctrines and institutions
year 1841

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Instruction
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Input
Subject: A Discourse of the Transient and Permanent in Christianity
Description of subject: A Discourse of the Transient and Permanent in Christianity is an 1841 sermon by Unitarian minister Theodore Parker that controversially argued for distinguishing enduring moral and spiritual truths from historically conditioned doctrines and institutions within Christianity.

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Theodore Parker notableWork A Discourse of the Transient and Permanent in Christianity