Jesus, Prophet of Islam - The Islamic Bulletin

Later Unitarians in Christianity 189

The greatness of Socianus lies in the fact that he produced a
theology which was at once logical and yet based on the Bible. It
was therefore very difficult for his opponents to dismiss his writ­
ings, For instance, when, in 1680, the Reverend George Ashwell
found that the books of Socianus were becoming very popular
among his students, he decided to write a book refuting the Socian
religion. His assessment of Socianus is interesting, since it cornes
from the pen of an enemy:

So great was the author and patronof this sect in whom

all the qualities, which excite the admiration and attract

the regard of men, were united; so that he charmed, as

it were, by a kind of fascination all with whom he con­

versed, and left on the mind of all a strong impression

of admiration and love. He so excelled in the loftiness

of ms genius and the suavity of his disposition, such

was the strength of his reasoning and the force of his

eloquence, 50 signal were the virtues which he displayed

in the sight of all, which he possessed in an extraordi­

nary degree; so great were his natural endowments and

so exemplary was his life that he appeared to captivate

the affection of mankind.

Then, after saying all this, Ashwell coneludes that Socianus was
the 'devil's great noose or snare'! :u;
Todaymany Christians do notshare the same contradictory feel­
ings about Socianus as the Reverend Ashwell. There is a dominant
feeling of sympathy for Socianism and a sense of disquiet about
the brutal way in which it was suppressed - and along with this
there is a definite reaetion against Trinitarianism. Many thinking
Christians now agree with Socianus and are unable to accept the
alleged divinity of Jesus and all that this mistaken belief implies.

John Biddle (1615-1662)

John Biddle, the Father of Unitarianism in England, was born in

1615. He was a brilliant student and was described as a man who
      "outran his instructors and became tutor to himself.' 'Z7 He went to
      Oxford University in 1634, and was awarded a B.A. in 1638 and an
      M.A. in 1641. After Ieaving Oxford he was appointed as a teacher