Many Unitarian Universalists, it’s said, “feel they are too UU to be Christian”. Scotty McLennan isn’t one of them. Thus his 2016 book, Christ for Unitarian Universalists. Not that he’s missionizing: “Rather than proselytize, Christ for UUs seeks to stimulate dialogue about Jesus Christ, whether or not we find him central to our faith life,” its publisher explains. And, as the book’s study guide puts it, McLennan “encourages readers to explore ways in which Christianity can be fully compatible with Unitarian Universalist commitments to reason and doubt.” UUism espouses an ethical, humanistic, service-oriented faith.
The book has several purposes: to present Christ to that increasing number of folks who do not consider themselves Christian; to promote dialogue between them and “believers”; and to acquaint readers with the non-dogmatic way that UUs tend to view Christ. To do this, McLennan, affably and with warmth, poses and responds to a series of provocative questions.
An ordained UU minister—who’s also a lawyer, professor, author—McLennan served lengthily as dean of religious life at Stanford University, and, earlier, as university chaplain at Tufts in Massachusetts [“I’m hired to be a conscience, a moral voice within the institution, and to speak truth to power”].
Christ for Unitarian Universalists: A New Dialogue with Traditional Christianity
By Scotty McLennan
Skinner House Books, 2016
The previous Featured Book, Elie Wiesel’s Night, is now available in the Library.
