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Reconciling Faith and Reason: Universalism as Theological Anomaly in Nineteenth and Twentieth-Century Rural Ontario

In light of the thematic focus of this year’s annual meeting on Boundaries, I will be giving specific attention to the various ways in which the Universalist understanding of Christianity was a theological anomaly in nineteenth and early-twentieth century rural Ontario that was at variance with more conservative formulations of Christianity in neighbouring Christian churches in their local rural communities. This paper is based on my historical research in preparation as the guest speaker for the celebration of the 120 Anniversary of The Unitarian Universalist Church of Olinda located near Leamington, Ontario, in Essex County, on Sunday, 12 November 2000. For the purposes of this paper, I will primarily concentrate on the salient theological challenge posed by the Universalist movement in the latenineteenth and early-twentieth centuries within Canada. Secondarily, I will examine the growth and formation of this “Christian” denomination at the Olinda Universalist Church during this period, with brief attention to its historical transformation into its present-day identity as the Unitarian Universalist Church of Olinda. In summary, this paper will examine the significant theological and historical inroads made by Universalism as a predominately rural movement in Ontario. The characteristic values and theological outlook of Universalism will be analysed with specific attention to the small town and rural context in which this liberal religious orientation took root and thrived. The