Final answer:
Unitarians endorsed the concept of free will and the possibility of salvation through good works, as opposed to the ideas of original sin, the deity of Christ, or predestination. This was a movement that valued human reason and inherently questioned traditional doctrines, promoting the belief that humans could aspire to be like God.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unitarians endorsed the concept of free will and salvation through good works.
Unitarianism was a movement that emerged as a distinct religious group during the Second Great Awakening in New England, particularly centered in Boston. Contrary to other religious teachings of the time, such as Calvinism which espoused the doctrine of predestination, the Unitarian movement stressed the importance of human reason and rational thought. It advocated strong monotheism, recognizing the oneness of God and viewing Jesus not as divine but as a highly esteemed man.
Dr. William Ellery Channing, a pivotal figure in Unitarianism, delivered sermons such as "Unitarian Christianity" in 1819 and "Likeness to God" in 1828, emphasizing a belief in human goodness and the potential for humans to become more like God. Unitarians believed that salvation was accessible to all and that a loving God would embrace all of humanity.
They also felt that theological ideology should accord with human cognitive capacities and reason, as Channing expressed, "my rational nature is from God." Therefore, they discarded the concept of original sin and the deity of Christ, distinct from other contemporary Christian beliefs.