The Essential Faith of the Universal Church; Deduced from the Sacred Records

"The Essential Faith of the Universal Church; Deduced from the Sacred Records" by Harriet Martineau is a theological treatise written in the early 19th century. This work presents an exploration of Christian Unitarianism, advocating for the essential truths of the faith as revealed through the Scriptures. Martineau primarily addresses the commonalities between different branches of Christianity, inviting dialogue and understanding among Roman Catholics, Jews, and Muslims regarding the nature of God and the teachings of Christ. At the start of the treatise, Martineau sets a conciliatory tone, encouraging fellow Christians, especially Catholics, to delve into an investigation of the Gospel and its origins. She emphasizes the shared beliefs concerning the divine nature, the moral governance of God, and the purifying grace found in the gospel message. The opening portion outlines how early converts, particularly Jews, adopted Christianity without sacrificing their belief in the strict unity of God, thus framing the discussion around the historical and theological foundations upon which Christian Unitarianism stands. As Martineau prepares to address the essential doctrines, she establishes the tone of unity in purpose and hope for a shared understanding among believers. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Harriet Martineau was an English social theorist. She wrote from a sociological, holistic, religious and feminine angle, translated works by Auguste Comte, and, rarely for a woman writer at the time, earned enough to support herself. The young Princess Victoria enjoyed her work and invited her to her 1838 coronation. Martineau advised "a focus on all [society's] aspects, including key political, religious, and social institutions". She applied thorough analysis to women's status under men. The novelist Margaret Oliphant called her "a born lecturer and politician... less distinctively affected by her sex than perhaps any other, male or female, of her generation."