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Posted by KrisI thought about heading this post as "here's a topic. Popular universalism is neither popular nor universal. Talk amongst yourselves." Funny, but untrue... ahh well! : )
Anyway, perhaps everyone already knows this stuff, but darn it I put
a good fifteen minutes into writing this during odd moments at work
so I'M GOING TO POST IT! : )Because sometimes I see people arguing against popular universalism, thinking they are arguing against UR, when really they aren't even percieving what UR really believes. The popular idea of universalism - that everybody is right and everybody gets to heaven and all religions are
equally valid, is very different from UR.
Popular Univeralism: All religions lead to the same God.
Universal Reconciliation: No religion leads to God. Christ is the Way.
Popular Universalism: Everyone's way of looking at the world is of equal validity and value.
Universal Reconciliation: Christ is the [only] Truth. To those who are in him, he reveals the secret of God's purpose for the ages.
Popular Universalism: God forgives and accpets everyone "just as they are." Everybody will go live happily ever after in their version of heaven right after they die.
Universal Reconciliation: Christ is the Life, and the Resurrection. Radical transformation and destruction is necessary for a person to be made perfect and acceptable to God.
Popular Universalism: The Bible, like all religious texts, is a mythological story book containing allegories and expositions of timeless human truths.
Universal Reconciliation: The Bible is the unique record and revelation of the unfolding of God's purpose in history. Its sentances are inspired and breathed by God. (most UR would say "the bible is the Word of God" but I personally avoid using that phrase to name the scriptures, for it is not a scriptural name for the scriptures...)
Popular Universalism: Hell is just an image. It is a metaphor for the suffering a person causes himself. Nobody really goes there "after they die."
Universal Reconciliation: Hell and the Lake of Fire are serious, scary realities. They must not be dismissed, and are an important part of God's plan for saving humanity. (there are some UR's who will affirm that the Lake of Fire is "just" a metaphor. What can I say? I just disagree with these UR's... I believe that in the Lake of Fire, your body and soul are destroyed, and it is a process which continues for ages and ages.)
That's it. I hope the color worked...
-Kris