Good Friday for all
Once again, I can’t get into between the lines, so here’s a blog on the front page.
Today is Good Friday. The Christian commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Now, many of you (that is, the viewers of this site, who happen to be the six of us who write for it) know that I am a “Universalist”: one who believes in the salvation of all humanity regardless of misdeeds on Earth. Okay then, why do I believe in the Savior if all people go to Heaven to begin with?I’ll explain. I think I’ll start writing a periodical column on my Universalist beliefs, somewhat in the manner of Mr. Talib, except that I’ll actually post the rest of my series (unlike Mr. Talib who has posted 1/4 articles on religion ) but I digress.
First, Universalism implies that salvation is, you guessed it, universal. We all go to Heaven, or wherever the afterlife may be. The Bible actually contains many pro-universalist passages, regardless of what my zealot friends would have you believe. “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.I Corinthians 15:22.” This is clear as day. Adam condemned all to “disobedience and sin” as I like to call it, and Jesus will save all.
A huge question when discussing Universalism centers around the whole “what happens to bad people” schpeil. Let me put it this way, and this always gets boos and jeers from the crowd. Life, essentially, is imperfect and filled with routine suffering. It may be that our actual punishment, rather than burning in hell, would be during our life. Mr. Chung has likened this to Buddhism, but that is a dodge. How can someone insist on knowing punishment lay ahead in the afterlife, yet completely disregard the suffering in the “real world”? In essence, Universalism is a happy medium. People will be punished for misdeeds, however, it will be during life, not after it. A quote for us all: “For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all. Romans 11:32″. We are all sinners. We are all disobedient. Will we all go to hell then? Probably not. However, is it possible that humans, who are experience suffering on this world, are paying for their sins in this world? Sounds somewhat possible. Infact, more possible than some other religions.
It would be nice to think that regardless of the bad things we do, we’re all going to be saved in the end. However, I suspect that most people who subscribe to this view are either lazy or ax murderers.
I’m as lazy as the next, and I’m not an ax murderer yet
“People will be punished for misdeeds, however, it will be during life, not after it.”
Mike, given this statement, how do you account for all the people who steal and get away with it? Or is “punishment” broader in scope than legal prosecution?
Legal prosecution may be included in this “punishment”, but it can really mean any sort of “negative” thing that happens to the person. Maybe it’s legal prosecution, maybe its an injury or family tragedy, maybe it’s an overall disappointing life or consistent failures, emotional problems.
Ah, Mr. Jaskot. More of what we have come to expect from you: an entry replete with grammatical errors and jabs at Jin Woo and Tabish. And for the last time, it is spelled “spiel.”
Still.
My main contention with your Universalist belief system concerns the afterlife. If I am understanding you correctly, the afterlife is punishment-free and instead punishments are doled out during one’s lifetime.
I can assure you that if the hardships that men face on this earth are meant to deter them from doing bad deeds, the Universalist God leaves much to be desired. Humans “suffer” through petty tribulations in this life. What is said to occur in the afterlife is beyond the scope of human understanding.
blogs are allowed to have grammatical errors. and they are not jabs and jin and tab, they are references, especially because I’ve discussed these issues with them.
“What is said to occur in the afterlife is beyond the scope of human understanding.”
you are correct. I dont claim to “know”, but u as a thiest are just as guilty
umm…Mike, you just picked some verses out of context. I could do the same to support my views, and so can the “God hates fags” group to support their repugnant views…
I will concede however that there is an univervalist strain in the Bible, but most Biblical scholars just cannot find enough textual evidence to assert universalism. All in all, the orthodox version of Christianity has the most textual, exegetical support from the Bible…
But in the end, whether it be universalism or Calvinism, no Christian theology can even be considered possible if it excludes Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
“But in the end, whether it be universalism or Calvinism, no Christian theology can even be considered possible if it excludes Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”
Your not saying I dont considered Jesus Christ to be my Lord in Savior? I do consider Him to be.
But anyway, I always enjoy having religious debates with you Chung, very fun indeed