Editing Unitarian Universalism (section)

===Puritan roots and Congregationalist background===
{{Main|Calvinism|Congregational church|Pilgrim Fathers|Puritanism}}
{{Further|Congregationalism in the United States|History of Christianity in the United States}}
{{Puritans}}

Unitarian Universalism was formed from the consolidation in 1961 of two historically separate Christian denominations, the Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association,<ref name="harvard1"/> both [[History of Christianity in the United States|based in the United States]]; the new organization formed in this merger was the Unitarian Universalist Association.<ref>Unitarian Universalist Association: [http://www.uua.org/uuarelations/18383.shtml How we Began] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001015013/https://www.uua.org/uuarelations/18383.shtml |date=2016-10-01 }}</ref> At the time of the North American consolidation, Unitarians and Universalists diverged beyond their roots in liberal Christian theology. They draw from a variety of religious traditions. Individuals may or may not self-identify as Christians or subscribe to Christian beliefs.<ref name="surveys">John Dart, ed. [http://www.uua.org/news/011205.html Surveys: 'UUism' unique Churchgoers from elsewhere] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122075528/http://www.uua.org/news/011205.html |date=2008-11-22 }}. ''Christian Century''</ref> Unitarian Universalist congregations and fellowships tend to retain some Christian traditions, such as Sunday worship with a sermon and the singing of hymns. The extent to which the elements of any particular faith tradition are incorporated into personal spiritual practice is a matter of individual choice for congregants, in keeping with a creedless, non-dogmatic approach to spirituality and faith development.<ref>Daniel McKanan, "Unitarianism, Universalism, and Unitarian Universalism", ''Religion Compass'' 7/1 (2013), 15.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=UUA: Welcome Primer|url=http://www.uua.org/documents/skinner/welcome_primer.pdf|publisher=Unitarian Universalist Association, Skinner House Books|access-date=4 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805190426/http://www.uua.org/documents/skinner/welcome_primer.pdf|archive-date=2009-08-05}}</ref>

New England Unitarians evolved from the [[Pilgrim Fathers]]' [[Congregationalism in the United States|Congregational Christianity]], which was based on a literal reading of the [[Bible]]. Liberalizing Unitarians rejected the [[Trinitarianism|Trinitarian]] belief in the tri-personal godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/Spirit. Instead, they asserted a unitary notion of God. In addition, they rejected the doctrine of [[original sin]], moving away from the [[Calvinism]] of the [[Congregationalists]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|title=UUA: History|url=http://www.uua.org/beliefs/history/index.shtml|publisher=Unitarian Universalist Association|access-date=23 March 2013}}</ref>

New England [[Universalists]] rejected the [[Puritan]] forefathers' emphasis on the select few, the [[Election in Christianity|Elect]], who were supposed to be saved from eternal damnation by a just God. Instead Universalists asserted that [[Universal salvation|all people will eventually be reconciled]] with God.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>