unitäre

Unitäre is a term found in German-language sources used to denote adherents of Unitarianism, a Christian theological movement that emphasizes the oneness of God and typically rejects the doctrine of the Trinity. In common German usage the preferred noun is Unitarier; Unitäre appears in older writings or more specialized scholarly contexts. The word unitär also exists as a mathematical adjective meaning unitary, so care is needed to distinguish theological use from technical terms.

Historically, Unitarianism emerged during the Reformation-era debates in Central Europe. In Transylvania (now part of Romania), figures associated with Unitarian theology promoted a non-Trinitarian monotheism and encouraged freedom of conscience, culminating in the 16th century with a relatively tolerant religious environment and institutional recognition. Ferenc Dávid and other leaders helped establish formal Unitarian groups that persisted alongside other Christian communities. Over subsequent centuries, Unitarian presence spread to neighboring regions and integrated into local religious and cultural life, giving rise to national or regional Unitarian churches in parts of Hungary and Romania. In the German-speaking world, Unitarians have remained a minority tradition, often recognized more as a scholarly or historical current within Christian heterodoxy rather than as a large contemporary denomination. In the United States, Unitarianism evolved into Unitarian Universalism, a distinct liberal religious movement that broadened its theological scope beyond strict Unitarian Christology.

Beliefs associated with Unitarians commonly include a focus on the oneness of God, rejection of the Trinity, and an emphasis on reason, individual conscience, and religious tolerance. Attitudes toward Jesus range from viewing him as a revered human teacher to a central, divinely inspired figure, with various communities interpreting scripture through critical or liberal lenses.