Does anyone here believe in Universalism?
By marciadotcom
@marciadotcom (20)
United States
February 11, 2007 12:33pm CST
I'm wondering if anyone here believes in Universalism: the notion that God will save every person at the end of the world? It is what I am leaning towards. It makes a lot of sense and there is biblical support. I am learning more about it, so starting a debate is going to be hard (since I don't know everything about it). I'm just thinking about all the different types of religions. Religion is really a man made thing and a cultural thing. For example, if you were raised your whole life from a little kid as a Buddhist, that is what you would know best and what you probably would believe. The same thing with Christianity or any other religion. I'm wondering if anyone here believes in Universalism or has more resources for me to look at. I have a few books already.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@umavarma1 (926)
• India
11 Feb 07
Universalism refers to any concept or doctrine that applies to all persons and/or all things for all times and in all situations.Universalism refers to the idea that energy and matter are evolved from cosmic consciousness. Thus, all created beings are of one universal family. This is an expansion of humanism to include everything as family, based on the fundamental truth that the universe is a thought projection from the Supreme.In Christianity, Universalism refers to the belief that all humans will be saved from eternal damnation or annihilation in hell. A related doctrine, apokatastasis, is the belief that all mortal beings will be reconciled to God, including Satan and his fallen angels. Universalism was a fairly commonly held view among theologians in early Christianity. The two major theologians opposing it were Tertullian and Augustine. In the first five or six centuries of Christianity there were six known theological schools, of which four (Alexandria, Antioch, Cesarea, and Edessa or Nisibis) were universalist, one (Ephesus) accepted conditional immortality, and one (Carthage or Rome) taught the endless punishment of the lost.[1] In later centuries, universalism has become very much a minority position in the major branches of Christianity, though it has a long history of prominent adherents.Hindu Universalism denotes the ideology that all religions are true and therefore worthy of toleration and respect. It was articulated by Gandhi.
@steerpyke (396)
•
11 Feb 07
I like the Hindu application of universalism, that even a religion of one person is as valid as the next. Maybe we are all takiing different paths to the same goal, we are all looking for the same answers and its just because we appear to be walking different paths that we feel the need to create religions and churches. if we all accepted that all paths lead to the same ultimate goal then maybe we would find the world a more tolerant place.
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
16 Jan 21
@kenroyhunter86 I don't think so. I think that's just an interpretation that you take from 'tradition' (which is why you can't "quote the Scriptural-passage that states this").
I have a different interpretation---sheep & goats (Matthew 25, starrting at verse 31). Sheep are accepted into the verdant meadow; goats are shut out (they say there's "weeping and gnashing of teeth" out there, but that's just a rumor ... it's like 'flushing the toilet'---sure, it goes to the sewer first; but it filters through the cleaning process and is reborn).
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
16 Jan 21
First, get it out of your head that we need to be "saved." "Salvation" isn't a universal idea---not in the 'rescuing us from hellfire'-idea.
Jesus' words on the cross weren't 'I've saved you all,' but "It Is Complete." That was the meaning of the word that gets translated "Saved"---Whole, Complete, Fulfilled.
When I was reading some of the writings I was led-to when researching Nichiren Buddhism, I read that 'all religions are forms of Buddhism (literally "following-after The Awakened One" (or really 'following-after those who achieve Enlightenment by following-after The Awakened One').
In this library, we make available to the public in searchable form the following English-language translations of works essential to the study of Nichiren Buddhism.
@kiwimac (323)
• New Zealand
12 Feb 07
Zoroastrians are universalists. We believe that all humanity will come into Ahura Mazda's presence eventually. But please note, we do not consider humanity 'fallen' or inherently sinful so we do not consider ourselves needing to be 'saved.'
@grinjaguar (571)
• Philippines
11 Feb 07
I believe in Universalism. I have no reference though but I reflect or think things a lot of time. Religion is not just about knowing but experiencing as well. All of your answers are just there with you all time, all you need is to discover and recognize.
