Universalism (religious thought)
Universalism in religious thought encompasses two primary categories: Unitarian Universalism and Trinitarian or Christian Universalism. Unitarian Universalism emerged in the United States in the late 18th century, evolving from Christianity into a belief system that integrates diverse religious traditions. It encourages individual spiritual exploration, emphasizing that no single religion holds superiority and that ethical and spiritual truths can be drawn from multiple faiths. Followers often embrace a fluid understanding of spirituality, guided by personal life experiences and the principle of treating others with compassion, often summarized by the "Golden Rule."
On the other hand, Trinitarian or Christian Universalism is rooted in the belief of a loving and just God, positing that ultimate salvation is intended for all humanity. This perspective has been a part of Christian doctrine since its inception, though it faced challenges during the Middle Ages. A related concept, known as Universal Redemption, suggests that all humanity is saved from the consequences of original sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, though individuals must still adhere to his teachings to achieve personal salvation. Overall, Universalism promotes a vision of inclusivity and shared spiritual values across different traditions.
Universalism (religious thought)
The term universalism has multiple meanings within the context of religious thought; at the broadest level, these meanings can be divided into two distinct categories. The first is Unitarian Universalism, which is an approach to spiritualism that merges elements drawn from various faiths and religious traditions into an individually developed belief system. The second is Trinitarian or Christian Universalism, which has a set of meanings that are unique to Christianity.
Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalism is a faith tradition that evolved primarily from Christianity. In the United States, its history dates back to 1793, when the Universalist Church of America was first established. In 1825, a related movement known as the American Unitarian Association appeared. As both organizations shared a related set of beliefs and principles, they officially unified in 1961 to form the spiritual belief system of Unitarian Universalism.
Unlike most other religions, Unitarian Universalism does not have a single, codified set of dogmatic principles or ritualistic practices. Rather, adherents are encouraged to develop their own individual beliefs, guided by the underlying viewpoint that spirituality is, by its very essence, experienced differently by everyone. As such, Unitarian Universalists believe that no single faith or religion is inherently superior to any other. Furthermore, they also generally hold that valid ethical, reverential, and spiritual elements can be found in multiple religions and faith traditions, and that there is no reason these elements cannot be drawn from different sources and fused together in whatever ways make sense to the individual believer.
For Unitarian Universalists, the quest for spiritual enlightenment is constantly evolving, and is informed and influenced by the individual believer's life experiences. Unitarian Universalists reject traditional religious notions that hold adherents to unchanging, pre-defined beliefs and principles, instead emphasizing that religious and spiritual understanding are fluid and can change over time. This approach is underpinned by a general acceptance of the idea that all religions have value, and that individuals will be guided to lead ethical lives by the successful integration of their spiritual and religious beliefs with their everyday existence.
As such, Unitarian Universalist belief systems may contain elements drawn from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Native American spirituality, and any other religious tradition that is deemed valid and applicable. However, one element that is common to all followers of Unitarian Universalism is an acceptance of the so-called "Golden Rule," which holds that people ought to "love their neighbors as themselves."
Outside of the formalized Unitarian Universalist faith tradition, the belief system is also known as pluralism, and is aligned with a branch of philosophy called secular humanism.
Trinitarian or Christian Universalism
In Christianity, universalist principles derive from a belief in God as an all-loving, omnipotent, just, and wise supreme entity. Furthermore, the standard form of Christian Universalism holds that spiritual salvation is only attainable through reverence of God, as codified by the teachings of Jesus Christ. In addition, it proposes that the ultimate salvation of all human beings is the will of God, and that Christianity is meant for everyone, everywhere, at all times.
Christian Universalism has been a feature of Christianity since its inception, and has remained a fundamental tenet of the religion for most of its history. The lone exception to this underlying principle rose to the forefront of some branches of the Christian Church during the Dark Ages, and remained there until the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. While the idea that salvation was attainable by all was accepted by most major branches of the faith during this period, other denominations posited that only those chosen by God were eligible for entry into Heaven, while all others were fated for eternal torment after death.
A variant form of Christian Universalism, known as Universal Redemption, Universal Salvation from Adamic Death, or the Universal Opportunity for Salvation, is a related concept derived from Christian scripture. According to the Universal Redemption variation of Christian Universalism, all people were delivered from the consequences of the Biblical Adam's original sin by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ when he was put to death by the Romans.
In Christianity, the concept of original sin refers to the inherently tainted nature of the human spiritual condition, which was established when Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden. However, to achieve salvation, a person must believe in and obey the teachings of Jesus Christ during one's mortal lifetime. Those who do will be spared from judgment by God upon death, while those who do not must be individually evaluated by God for entry into Heaven, and will be accepted or rejected based on the ethical quality of their lives.
The Christian Universalist tradition first appeared during the earliest years of Christianity, when the fledgling faith found itself in conflict with the pagan belief systems—and worship of multiple deities—prevalent in the Roman Empire. Rather than drawing a strict and exclusive divide between Christians and the adherents of Roman religious traditions, early officials of the Christian Church elected to prioritize the tenets of scripture that made Christianity accessible to everyone. While these teachings are rooted in the Old Testament of the Bible, they are supported by the authority of the New Testament, particularly in the teachings of Jesus Christ, his Apostles, and the first ministers of the Christian Church.
Bibliography
Allen, Ken. "What Is Christian Universalism?" Auburn University. Auburn University. Web. 25 June 2015. http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/chr-univ.html#unredempt
Culliford, Larry. "Universalist Religions." Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, LLC. 3 May 2011. Web. 25 June 2015. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/spiritual-wisdom-secular-times/201105/universalist-religions
Harris, Mark W. "Unitarian Universalist Origins: Our Historic Faith." Unitarian Universalist Association. Unitarian Universalist Association. Web. 26 June 2015. http://www.uua.org/beliefs/history/our-historic-faith
"History of Unitarian Universalism." Unitarian Universalist Association. Unitarian Universalist Association. Web. 26 June 2015. http://www.uua.org/beliefs/history
"The History of Universalism." The Christian Universalist Association. The Christian Universalist Association. Web. 26 June 2015. http://www.christianuniversalist.org/resources/articles/history-of-universalism/
"UU Beliefs." Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto. Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto. 14 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 June 2015. http://www.uucpa.org/visitors/beliefs.html