A question for logos_x

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Rafael Almeida

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Hi logos,
Could you give some explanation?
What are the universalists opinions about ecleticism, or "all paths lead to God"?
 

logos_x

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Rafael Almeida said:
Hi logos,
Could you give some explanation?
What are the universalists opinions about ecleticism, or "all paths lead to God"?

All paths do not lead to God.
 

logos_x

New member
Christian Universalism is different from Unitarian Universalism. Unlike Unitarian Universalism, Christian Universalism is the belief in universal salvation through Jesus Christ, the incarnate Lord. Christian Universalists are both Christian and Universalist. And we believe that is how Christianity as a whole should be understood. The Christian Universalist belief is that God manifested Himself in human form as a man named Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, who was the perfect moral and spiritual teacher for all mankind, for all time. Jesus Christ came to earth to teach people about the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father, and to encourage us to forgive one another for our sins, as God forgives us. Jesus taught his followers to be merciful, peaceful, charitable, and full of love and compassion for all human beings.

Though we may recognize goodness and value in some other religions besides Christianity, Christian Universalists believe that following the way of Jesus is the best way -- indeed the only way -- of truly walking in the path of God. But it is not any creed, confession, or religious label that saves us; it is the way of Jesus itself, our trust in the Almighty, and our own attempt to live according to the simple yet profound principles taught by Jesus. Some people who call themselves "Christian" but do not have the love of Christ in their heart may actually be less Christian in Jesus' eyes than some people who do not profess Christianity at all, but who practice the way of Christ in their everyday life.

Universal salvation is the main belief that distinguishes the Christian Universalist faith from traditional, fundamentalist forms of Christianity. Universalist Christian believers accept the authority of the Bible, but we disagree with the way most churches and Christians have interpreted certain Biblical passages about hell and salvation. Yes, there is such a thing as hell for some souls after death, but in the original, untranslated text of the Bible there is not a single verse of scripture that teaches that hell is eternal. In fact, there are many verses in the Bible that strongly suggest that every soul God has ever created will someday escape hell and be reconciled to their Creator.

Christian Universalism, therefore, is Biblical Universalism, the belief that the Bible itself teaches the universal reconciliation of all souls to God at the end of time. The Bible says that this will happen because of the power of Jesus Christ to save souls from hell. There is no "point of no return," such as committing an "unpardonable sin" or dying without accepting Christ, that could ever cause a soul to be lost forever. No one is beyond hope, because Jesus Christ has absolute power and as much time as he needs to bring God's goal of universal salvation to fruition. Hell is a redeeming, cleansing, purifying fire that destroys the satanic ego and reforms the human personality in the image of Christ -- not an eternal vindictive torture by an angry and sadistic god.

Popular Bible translations pervert the meaning of important verses about hell. This has been done because of misguided religious tradition, in an attempt to support a pagan concept of eternal torment that was not part of original Biblical Christianity, but came to be accepted by the Roman Catholic Church and also continues to be taught in most Protestant churches. The Bible uses colorful language to describe the punishment of the wicked, but this is within the context of ancient Jewish apocalyptic parables and visionary literature and was never intended to be taken literally. Furthermore, every verse in common versions of the Bible (such as the King James or NIV) that speaks of "eternal" or "everlasting" damnation is a blatant mistranslation of the original Greek or Hebrew, neither of which uses a word referring to eternity in the Bible, but only a limited or unspecified period of time.

According to the Biblical Gospel, as affirmed by Christian Universalism, Christianity is not supposed to be a harsh and pessimistic religion that condemns billions of people to an eternity of pain, just because they didn't happen to profess the correct religious doctrines while they were alive on earth. No, true Christianity is a hopeful and optimistic faith, a faith that announces the good news for all the world -- the positive and uplifting message that through Jesus Christ, all souls can someday be saved! That is the belief of Christian Universalism, and Christian Universalists hope that eventually, all Christians will understand that the universalist interpretation of Christianity is what Jesus intended. Jesus came to earth to tell people about universal salvation, not eternal damnation.
 

Inquisitor

New member
logos_x said:
This has been done because of misguided religious tradition, in an attempt to support a pagan concept of eternal torment that was not part of original Biblical Christianity, but came to be accepted by the Roman Catholic Church and also continues to be taught in most Protestant churches.

Hahaha, nice how you attempt to smear those who disagree w/your position by associating them w/Catholics.
 

logos_x

New member
Inquisitor said:
Just pointing out fallacies wherever I see 'em, and yours was the Guilt By Association fallacy.

Just pointing out erroneous doctrinal postures wherever I see 'em.
It was the RCC that officially declared Universal Salvation a heresy in the sixth century...and later held inquisitions against the believers of RCC declared heresy later on.

Heresy= Middle English heresie, from Old French, from Late Latin haeresis, from Late Greek hairesis, from Greek, a choosing, faction, from haireisthai, to choose, middle voice of hairein, to take.

1.
1. An opinion or a doctrine at variance with established religious beliefs, especially dissension from or denial of Roman Catholic dogma by a professed believer or baptized church member.
2. Adherence to such dissenting opinion or doctrine.
2.
1. A controversial or unorthodox opinion or doctrine, as in politics, philosophy, or science.
2. Adherence to such controversial or unorthodox opinion.
********************************************************************************
Inquisition

n 1: a former tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church (1232-1820) created to discover and suppress heresy [syn: Inquisition] 2: a severe interrogation (often violating the rights or privacy of individuals)

*******************************************************************************

in·quis·i·tor
n.

One who inquires or makes an inquisition, especially a questioner who is excessively rigorous or harsh.

Inquisitor

n 1: a questioner who is excessively harsh [syn: interrogator] 2: an official of the ecclesiastical court of the Inquisition [syn: Inquisitor]
*************************************************************************
her·e·tic
Middle English heretik, from Old French heretique, from Late Latin haereticus, from Greek hairetikos, able to choose, factious, from hairetos, chosen, from haireisthai, to choose. See heresy.

A person who holds controversial opinions, especially one who publicly dissents from the officially accepted dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.

1: a person who holds religious beliefs in conflict with the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church

adj.
Heretical.
*****************************************************************************

So...go ahead and call 'em as you see them...Inquisitor.
 

logos_x

New member
Inquisitor said:
Guilty as charged!

I couldn't help but notice your signature:

It is preposterous that a single monk should be right in his opinion and that the whole of Christianity should be in error a thousand years or more.” -- Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Change "single monk" to messiah, and "christianity" to "priesthood", and one might envision the cheif priests saying essentily the same thing concerning Jesus....

It is preposterous that a single messiah should be right in his opinion and that the whole of the preisthood should be in error a thousand years or more.” -- Caiaphas, high priest who presided over the counsel that condemned Jesus.

...hypothetically speaking, of course
 

Inquisitor

New member
logos_x said:
I couldn't help but notice your signature:

It is preposterous that a single monk should be right in his opinion and that the whole of Christianity should be in error a thousand years or more.” -- Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Change "single monk" to messiah, and "christianity" to "priesthood", and one might envision the cheif priests saying essentily the same thing concerning Jesus....

It is preposterous that a single messiah should be right in his opinion and that the whole of the preisthood should be in error a thousand years or more.” -- Caiaphas, high priest who presided over the counsel that condemned Jesus.

...hypothetically speaking, of course

Christ had visible signs to prove He was the Messiah. Martin Luther was just a dumb, heretical rabble rouser, nothing more. He had no claim of authority to teach the things he taught, and several of his doctrines contradicted historical Christianity.
 

logos_x

New member
Inquisitor said:
Christ had visible signs to prove He was the Messiah. Martin Luther was just a dumb, heretical rabble rouser, nothing more. He had no claim of authority to teach the things he taught, and several of his doctrines contradicted historical Christianity.

rrriight... :rolleyes:
 

SOTK

New member
Inquisitor said:
Christ had visible signs to prove He was the Messiah. Martin Luther was just a dumb, heretical rabble rouser, nothing more. He had no claim of authority to teach the things he taught, and several of his doctrines contradicted historical Christianity.


And your opinion on him really matters, huh? :rolleyes:
 
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