What is Universalism?
Universalism is a view of spirituality that is inclusive and open-minded, rather than narrow and dogmatic. It is the opposite of fundamentalism. Fundamentalism, in all its various forms, teaches that only one religious tradition, book, creed, church or organization is infallibly true and all others are false, and that some people will be permanently condemned by God to hell because they chose the wrong religion. Universalism, on the other hand, teaches that God’s essential nature is Love, that all religions contain both truth and error, that the only commandment that really matters is to love other people as oneself, and that all souls will eventually be saved and perfected as part of God’s unfailing plan. The word Universalism has mainly been used historically to refer to a universalist view of Christianity, because it was in the context of the Christian faith that Universalism was most fully developed into a comprehensive spiritual worldview. Only during the past few decades has this
As many candid and truth-seeking minds are often proposing this question at the present day, it has been deemed proper to answer it as briefly as may consist with perspicuity, and in a form that shall combine the advantages of being cheap and convenient for distribution. In order to understand the subject, it should be observed, that the Word Universalism is used in two senses; first, as the name of a single distinctive doctrine; and secondly, as the common appellation of a whole system of faith. These different uses of the word must be kept in mind, in order to avoid misapprehensions, into which the learned sometimes carelessly fall. I will endeavor to make it clear. First, UNIVERSALISM, in its simple and proper theological sense, is the doctrine of universal salvation; or in other words, of the final holiness and happiness of all mankind, to be effected by the grace of God, through the ministry of his Son, Jesus Christ. This is well known to be no novel doctrine in the world. It is a
