Edwin Burdette Backus (1888–1955) was an American Unitarian minister and humanist.
Americans are nationals and citizens of the United States of America. Although nationals and citizens make up the majority of Americans, some dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents, may also claim American nationality. The United States is home to people of many different ethnic origins. As a result, American culture and law does not equate nationality with race or ethnicity, but with citizenship and permanent allegiance.
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement named for its belief that the God in Christianity is one person, as opposed to the Trinity which in many other branches of Christianity defines God as three persons in one being: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Unitarian Christians, therefore, believe that Jesus was inspired by God in his moral teachings, and he is a savior, but he was not a deity or God incarnate. Unitarianism does not constitute one single Christian denomination, but rather refers to a collection of both extant and extinct Christian groups, whether historically related to each other or not, which share a common theological concept of the oneness nature of God.
Humanism is a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidence over acceptance of dogma or superstition. The meaning of the term humanism has fluctuated according to the successive intellectual movements which have identified with it. The term was coined by theologian Friedrich Niethammer at the beginning of the 19th century to refer to a system of education based on the study of classical literature. Generally, however, humanism refers to a perspective that affirms some notion of human freedom and progress. It views humans as solely responsible for the promotion and development of individuals and emphasizes a concern for man in relation to the world.
This man goes by the name Burdette Backus, or E. Burdette Backus.
The following is by Edd Doerr from his preface to "Timely and Timeless: The Wisdom of E. Burdette Backus" Edd Doerr, Editor, Humanist Press, Amherst, New York, 1988, pp. ix-x.
"Edwin Burdette Backus was born in Blanchester, Ohio, on December 27, 1888. His father, WIlson Marvin Backus, was a leading Universalist minister. His mother, Estelle Campbell Backus, also a Universalist minister, died before Burdette was a year old.
Backus received his A.B. degree from the University of Michigan in 1909 and his B.A. from Meadville Theological Seminary in 1912. He pursued post-graduate studies at Oxford, Harvard, the University of California, and universities in Berlin and Jena, Germany, and was awarded a D.D. degree in 1940 by Meadville. After serving as minister of Unitarian congregations in Lawrence, Kansas; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Des Moines, Iowa (1935-38); as well as the Chicago Humanist Society, he was called to the pulpit of All Souls Unitarian Church in Indianapolis in 1938. There he served until the end of 1953. He died on July 7, 1955, at the age of 66."
Burdette Backus was the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles from 1920 to 1932.
He was one of the original signatories of the Humanist Manifesto (1933).
Religious humanism is an integration of humanist ethical philosophy with congregational but non-theistic rituals and community activity which center on human needs, interests, and abilities. Self-described religious humanists differ from secular humanists mainly in that they regard the humanist life stance as their religion and organise using a congregational model. Religious humanism is a classic example of a nontheistic religion.
Backus is a middle English surname deriving from the Old English bacan "to bake" and hus "house." It is believed to originate in Cumberland and Durham. Notable people with the surname include:
A Humanist Manifesto, also known as Humanist Manifesto I to distinguish it from later Humanist Manifestos in the series, was written in 1933 primarily by Raymond Bragg and published with 34 signers. Unlike the later manifestos, this first talks of a new religion and refers to humanism as a religious movement meant to transcend and replace previous, deity-based systems. Nevertheless, it is careful not to express a creed or dogma. The document outlines fifteen affirmations on cosmology, biological and cultural evolution, human nature, epistemology, ethics, religion, self-fulfillment, and the quest for freedom and social justice. This latter, stated in article fourteen, proved to be the most controversial, even among humanists, in its opposition to "acquisitive and profit-motivated society" and its demand for an egalitarian world community based on voluntary mutual cooperation. The document's release was reported by the mainstream media on May 1, simultaneous with its publication in the May/June 1933 issue of the New Humanist.
Humanism and Its Aspirations is the most recent of the Humanist Manifestos, published in 2003 by the American Humanist Association (AHA). The newest one is much shorter, listing six primary beliefs, which echo themes from its predecessors:
William Schulz is a Unitarian Universalist minister who is most known for his role as the Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, the U.S. division of Amnesty International, from March 1994 to 2006. He is a prominent spokesperson, activist, and author focusing primarily on the issue of Human Rights and United States' Government role in promoting or disregarding them. In addition to his many public appearances, he has been affiliated with numerous non-profit organizations and universities.
Raymond Bennett Bragg (1902–1979) was an American Unitarian minister who played a key role in the writing of the Humanist Manifesto and eventually signing Humanist Manifesto. Raymond Bragg was born in Massachusetts and attended Bates College and Brown University. In 1927, he earned a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Chicago and a B.D. from Meadville Theological School and was ordained at the Unitarian Church of All Souls in Evanston, Illinois where he was pastor until 1930. From 1930-1935 he served as the Secretary of the Western Unitarian Conference. During these years he was also the editor of The New Humanist, and was one of the signers of the Humanist Manifesto, which helped give rise to a new humanist movement within Unitarianism. He served as pastor of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis from 1935–1947. He was the Executive Director of the Unitarian Service Committee from 1947-1952, and then became the pastor of All Souls Unitarian Church, Kansas City, Missouri, where he remained until his retirement in 1973. During this time, he chaired the Kansas City's Civil Liberties Union, worked on the local and state levels to improve mental health services, and was an assistant professor of philosophy at the Kansas City Art Institute. Upon his retirement, he was elected Minister Emeritus by the Kansas City congregation.
Edwin Henry Wilson was an American Unitarian leader and humanist who helped draft the Humanist Manifesto.
The Meadville Lombard Theological School is a Unitarian Universalist seminary in Chicago, Illinois.
The Reverend Robert Lester Mondale was an American Unitarian minister and Humanist. He was the only person to sign each of the three Humanist Manifestos of 1933, 1973, and 2003.
Clinton Lee Scott (1887–1985) was an American Universalist minister. In Peoria, which is in Illinois. He signed the Humanist Manifesto I in 1933 and Humanist Manifesto II in 1973. He died in 1985.
Edward Backus may refer to:
Rev. Dr. Jacob Frank Schulman (1927–2006) was a U.S. Unitarian Universalist minister, theologian, and author of several books. He held numerous degrees, including a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma, an S.T.B. from Harvard Divinity School, a D.Phil., M.A., and Minister Emeritus Scholar from Oxford University, and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School.
Starr King School for the Ministry is an American Unitarian Universalist (UU) and multireligious seminary in Berkeley, California, and is a member of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) and is affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley. The seminary was formed in 1904 to educate leaders for the growing number of progressive religious communities in the western part of the country. An emphasis on the practical skills of religious leadership and personalized study characterized the school’s transformation-based educational philosophy from the beginning. Today, it educates Unitarian Universalist ministers, religious educators, and spiritual activists, as well as progressive religious leaders from a variety of traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, earth-centered traditions, and others. It is dedicated to providing student-centered, multi-religious, counter-oppressive graduate and professional education that cultivates multi-religious life and learning, and creates just and sustainable communities.
Dana McLean Greeley was a Unitarian minister, the last president of the American Unitarian Association and, upon its merger with the Universalist Church in America, was the founding president of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
The Rev. William G. Sinkford (1946–) serves as the senior minister for the First Unitarian Church in Portland, Oregon. He is more widely known for being the seventh president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA), a position he held from 2001 to 2009. His installation as UUA president made him the first African American to lead that organization.
Arthur Powell Davies was the minister of All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, D.C. from 1943 until his death in 1957. A prolific author of theological books and sermon collections, he came to national prominence in the U.S. through his liberal activism advocating civil rights for African-Americans and women and ethical stands against post-war nuclear proliferation and the methods employed by the American government during the era of McCarthyism.
First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles is an independent congregation affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Since its founding in 1877 the church has been a leader in social justice activism for the Unitarian Universalist faith, and for the city of Los Angeles. Its embrace of progressive causes and sometimes radical politics have earned it a reputation as both a place of controversy and a beacon of justice. Its affiliated organization, Urban Partners Los Angeles, provides numerous programs in the neighborhood around the church.
Since his ordination in 1962, Spencer Lavan has served as a Unitarian Universalist minister mostly by teaching in higher education. He taught "Religions of Islam and India" and was a dean to undergraduates at Tufts University (1969-79). He organized and chaired the Department of Medical Humanities at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine (1982-88). Finally, he served as President and Dean of the Meadville/Lombard Theological School at the University of Chicago (1988-96). From 1984-88 he was editor of the Journal of Medical Humanities and Bio-Ethics. He served as a co-editor for the Dictionary of Unitarian Universalist Biography. He was the author of several books on religious subjects, a former president of the Unitarian Universalist Historical Society, and a founder of Collegium: Liberal Religious Studies.
Lewis Allen McGee was a Unitarian minister and activist, who held a vision of multiracial spiritual community. He was among the first African American ministers of the Unitarian church and was active in the Civil Rights Movement.
