Universalism

 Universalism is the theological doctrine that all souls will ultimately be saved. The doctrine of universal salvation found favor among members of various Christian  Churches (see APOCATASTASIS for its treatment anterior to the foundation of the Universalist Church).
 * Universalism **
 * Definition **

 As an application Universalism means different things to different religions but it has enjoyed the greatest popularity as a religious doctrine for Christians, first in Europe and then in America.
 * Background **

Belief in universal salvation is at least as old as Christianity itself and may be associated with early Gnostic  teachers. The first clearly universalist writings date from the Greek church fathers, most notably Clement of Alexandria , his student Origen , and Gregory of Nyssa <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">.

Universalism which was explicit and the center of doctrine emerged out of <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Calvinism <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> in England. An organized universalist movement appeared in the eighteenth century following the leadership of <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">James Relly <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">. His Union (1759) rejected Calvinism and argued that all souls are in union with Christ. Christ's sacrificial punishment and death therefore brought salvation to all, not merely an elect few.

Universalism dates from the late 1700’s in America and was brought to the colonies by the physician <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">George DeBenneville <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> (1703 - 1793) and, to a lesser extent, by the <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">German Baptist Brethren <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">. Early leaders <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Hosea Ballou <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">, <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">John Murray <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> and <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Elhanan Winchester <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> had close contacts with Unitarianism and in 1961 the <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Universalist Church of America <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> and the <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">American Unitarian Association <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> merged to form the <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Unitarian Universalist Association <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">.

Nineteenth century universalism took on the familiar characteristics of an American denomination. It grew steadily in several mid-western and New England states. Twentieth century universalism, now clearly a liberal faith, was largely shaped by the theologian <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Clarence Skinner <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">. A wider conception of universalism was articulated which rejected the deity of Jesus and which sought to explore the "universal" bases of all religions. Accordingly, closer ties were sought with the major world non - Christian and native American religions. Universalists continue to stress such beliefs as the dignity and brotherhood of mankind, tolerance of diversity, and the reasonableness of moral actions.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> Moral Universalism first appeared as a formalized ethical theory amongst the __<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Stoics __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> of ancient Greece (it continues to be a central premise within modern __<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Stoicism __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">, as well). The doctrinal position of the church, called the <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Winchester Profession <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">, was adopted in 1803 by the General Convention. In 1899 a briefer statement of essential principles was accepted. Later, in 1935, the Washington Avowal of Faith was taken as the official statement of principles of American Universalism. These principles are the universal fatherhood of God; the spiritual authority and leadership of Jesus, his son; the trustworthiness of the Bible as containing a revelation from God; the certainty of just retribution for sin; and the final harmony of all souls with God.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Ethical Credo **

Similar to the <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">categorical imperative <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> of <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Immanual Kant <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">, universalism finds that moral actions are tied to the act itself, not regardless of the cultural context, but in respect of the basic ethical standards that exist in all cultures. A Universal morality applies to all people in a secular way without basing its ideology in religious traditions. In their book //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Riding the Waves of Culture //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> Dutch researcher <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Fons Trompenaars <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> and <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Charles Hampden-Turner <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> describe that universalist nations place emphasis on rules, laws and contracts and attempt to apply them equally to all in all situations. The __<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">world court __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">, __<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">human rights __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">,international law, and __<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">crimes against humanity __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> are all new terms that are part of global efforts to bring a universalist, equal, and common moral justice to all peoples.