Once I realized what Christian Universalism actually referred to I wasn’t interested any more.
Originally I did think it meant something like your first bullet point: " * The belief that all roads lead to God."
But of course that isn’t very clear either. I would have preferred to say it was the belief that God can be worshipped by many names and traditions, both within and outside of Christianity.
But if it just comes down to who is entitled go to the “good place” when they die instead of the place of punishment, I just can’t take that seriously.
I think … maybe to be more fair … most who would accept the label “universalist” probably don’t actually take that question seriously either - at least not as typically conceptualized.
Universalism does not emerge in the collected words of Jesus. It can only be cherry picked, interpolated, read in[to] them, extrapolated. Paul too. If there were an intentional ground of infinite, eternal nature, whose intention included the transcendent, it couldn’t not be universalist however.
Not in Christianity – grace is the key. It’s the key in the Old Testament, in the word חֶסֶד (khe-sed)which can be translated all sorts of ways but each revolves around grace; and it;s the key in the New Testament in the word χάρις (KHA-riss), which can also be translated in various ways but they all revolve around grace.
Preaching fear is an aberration – as Paul says, it is the kindness of God that leads to repentance!
I’ve no idea. It can’t be it done just using the the Bible. And there is no basis in nature for it. Actually I did have an idea, and it’s apotropaion. Warding off evil.
How so? How do you know that I know this? Despite my knowing that I know the opposite?
Fear is the key in the crippled one hand clapping of grace. In hearing it when it isn’t there.
It should be in us, of us, of course. It is. Naturally. Given enlightened self interest. The key to grace being gratitude. And I fully understand the need for faith to express both. Meaningless[ness!] can be hard to overcome.
Grace has no key, nor validation. Grace is given freely. How can you fear a God of grace and love?
The fear of God maybe the beginning of wisdom but it is not the completion of it. Wisdom sees past the natural fear and understands that despite His awesome and unlimited Power God does not wield it or enforce it.
God approaches Us. How an He do that if fear comes before Him? He stands at the door and knocks, He does not huff and puff and blow the house down.
If you fear God then you do not know Him.
He calls us children not underlings or slaves, and we call Him Father, not Sir.
(a) Correct.
(b) It’s gracious to be grateful. It’s the secret of happiness.
(c) Correct.
(d) Not my counter. I can’t compute the forgiveness of God. Unless we’re doing it.
(e) Why do you ask?
(f) It’s gracious. You tell me.
(g) Again, not my counter. Love would be gracious and grateful and worth thanking.
(h) see (g) Yes, graciousness, gratitude is its own reward. I own that.