Religious literacy asks: What are the basic things any religiously competent person should know? In his book Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs To Know — and Doesn’t, Stephen Prothero has a quiz on religious literacy for the average American (see pp. 293 ff.). So I decided to create some quizzes to test your religious literacy when it comes to North American Unitarianism, Universalism, and Unitarian Universalism. Passing scores are pretty low, and I would hope that any Unitarian Universalist kid who grows up in one of our congregations would be abel to pass these quizzes by age 18, and that any Unitarian Universalist adult who serves in a leadership role could pass one of these quizzes as well.

See if you can pass these quizzes without consulting any reference material! Answers posted here.

Universalism religious literacy quiz
Unitarianism religious literacy quiz
Unitarian Universalism religious literacy quiz

Religious literacy quiz: North American Universalists

Part One: Theology

(1) The most important theological document for North American Universalists appeared in 1805. What was its title, and who was its author? [10 points.]

(2) Most late nineteenth century Universalists were Restorationists. Briefly define Restorationism. [10 points.]

(3) Some post-Christian mid-twentieth century Universalists reinterpreted the name “Universalism.” What did “Universalism” originally mean, and how was it reinterpreted in the mid-twentieth century? [10 points.]

Part Two: Institutional history

(4) The first North American Universalist society was organized by Caleb Rich in Oxford, Massachusetts, in 1774. When was the second Universalist congregation organized, and in what city/town? Name two key figures in the founding of this congregation. [10 points.]

(5) A key document for Universalist unity was the Winchester Profession of Faith. When and where did that document originate? [10 points.]

(6) What was the name of the national body of Universalists through the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century? [10 points.]

Part Three: Important Universalists

For each of the following, give one short sentence on their accomplishment(s), and say which half century (e.g., first half of the nineteenth century) they were active:

(7) Judith Sargent Murray [10 points]

(8) Hosea Ballou [10 points]

(9) Olympia Brown [10 points]

(10) P. T. Barnum [10 points]

 

Religious literacy quiz: North American Unitarians

Part One: Theology

(1) A key statement of emerging North American Unitarianism appeared in 1819. What was its title, and who was its author? [10 points.]

(2) After the Civil War, a group of radicals in the Western Unitarian Conference wanted to remove any requirement of theistic belief for ministers, congregations, and individuals. Name one of these radicals. [10 points.]

(3) The greatest Unitarian theologian of the mid-twentieth century was James Luther Adams. Was he a humanist or a theist? [10 points.]

Part Two: Institutional history

(4) The first North American congregation to declare itself Unitarian did so in what year and in what city? Name one key figure who participated in this. [10 points.]

(5) What is the direct institutional link between North American Unitarians, and the older Unitarian tradition in Transylvania? [10 points.]

(6) In what year was the the American Unitarian Association founded? [10 points.]

(7) What was the fellowship movement, and why was it important? [10 points.]

Part Three: Important Unitarians

For each of the following, give one short sentence on their accomplishment(s), and say which half century (e.g., first half of the nineteenth century) they were active:

(8) Theodore Parker [10 points]

(9) Egbert Ethelred Brown [10 points]

(10) Sophia Fahs [10 points]

 

Religious literacy quiz: North American Unitarian Universalists

Part One: Theology

(1) Beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, the “flaming chalice” became a popular (albeit unofficial) symbol of North American Unitarian Universalists. Where did that symbol come from, and what was its original meaning? [10 points.]

(2) Name one key Unitarian Universalist document that received a feminist revision in the 1980s and 1990s. [10 points.]

(3) Unitarian Universalism is a Christian denomination. Circle one:
True.
False.
None of the above.
All of the above.
[10 points.]

Part Two: Institutional history

(4) The Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association combined forces in what year? What is the correct legal term for this action, and why is that important? [10 points.]

(5) In what year were the Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association adopted? [10 points.]

(6) What was the Black Empowerment Controversy? [10 points.]

Part Three: Important Unitarian Universalists

For each of the following, give one short sentence on a major accomplishment, and say which decade this accomplishment happened:

(7) Dana McLean Greeley [10 points]

(8) Sandra M. Caron [10 points]

(9) Robert Fulghum [10 points]

(10) William Sinkford [10 points]