Universalism is commonly quite frowned upon within the Christian communities I have been a part of. It usually refers to the idea that whatever one's religious (or even moral) choices, all humans will be saved. From the Christian perspective, this is sometimes even used to emphasise the supreme power and value of Christ's sacrifice and redemption, and plays upon the "all" and "the world" (e.g. For God So Loved The World) such that the redemptive value is so massive as to save everyone.
Today I'd like to offer a slightly different goal to which even atheists or religious fictionalists might be able to adhere (neither of these are my own label). Both groups would describe the contents of the doctrines as "false", while differing as to the utility of conformity to the practices of religion. For the atheist, the whole religious enterprise can be seen as dangerous and harmful to modern humanity - religious fictionalists would say that although strictly speaking false, the practices can be really beneficial. However, if we were to take a step back (as the fictionalists do in part) and ask what are the values that belief in God (in his multiple forms) can MEDIATE? That should not be such a threatening question for any belief system. Christianity has a strong emphasis on mediation: Christ, in particular, mediating God's love. 1 Timothy 2:5 reads:
The Greek preposition "dia" - through - is also very strong in early Christian thought and communicates just how prominent the mediation principle is in antiquity, including Christian antiquity.
Atheists and religious fictionalists - nice ones anyway - still believe in love, patience, kindness, self-control, joy, gentleness, acceptance, inclusivity. These are very biblical ideas - why not see these as the core ideas? Rather than describing the symbols and structure that mediate the core values as "false", they could see them as story, maybe (although with great difficulty for the atheist) as necessary story.
Thus, a new universalist understanding could potentially emerge uniting at least three meta-perspectives (religious literalist, religious fictionalist and atheist): that goodness and love can be wrapped up in God universally.
PSALM 23:6
Today I'd like to offer a slightly different goal to which even atheists or religious fictionalists might be able to adhere (neither of these are my own label). Both groups would describe the contents of the doctrines as "false", while differing as to the utility of conformity to the practices of religion. For the atheist, the whole religious enterprise can be seen as dangerous and harmful to modern humanity - religious fictionalists would say that although strictly speaking false, the practices can be really beneficial. However, if we were to take a step back (as the fictionalists do in part) and ask what are the values that belief in God (in his multiple forms) can MEDIATE? That should not be such a threatening question for any belief system. Christianity has a strong emphasis on mediation: Christ, in particular, mediating God's love. 1 Timothy 2:5 reads:
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.
The Greek preposition "dia" - through - is also very strong in early Christian thought and communicates just how prominent the mediation principle is in antiquity, including Christian antiquity.
Atheists and religious fictionalists - nice ones anyway - still believe in love, patience, kindness, self-control, joy, gentleness, acceptance, inclusivity. These are very biblical ideas - why not see these as the core ideas? Rather than describing the symbols and structure that mediate the core values as "false", they could see them as story, maybe (although with great difficulty for the atheist) as necessary story.
Thus, a new universalist understanding could potentially emerge uniting at least three meta-perspectives (religious literalist, religious fictionalist and atheist): that goodness and love can be wrapped up in God universally.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in GOD's house forever.
PSALM 23:6
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