Universalism is the doctrine that all persons will eventually be saved through coming to know God and the good as such. I believe this doctrine is a self-evident truth to all rational and moral persons. There are, however, two competing doctrines that seek to undermine universalism. The first is annihilationism, which says that God intends to completely annihilate persons who have rejected him, out of existence, forever. The second is eternal conscious torment, which says that God has created a state of affairs where persons are consciously tortured, forever. God makes no pardon, even if one desperately repents and undergoes a change of heart. In both scenarios, persons are eternally separated from God. The former being a bit more charitable yet still egregious, and the latter being downright malevolent and tyrannical.
In writing this article, I was intrigued by the wise and amicable Logan Barone, who shared his sentiments about universalism on Facebook. Barone writes:
“If the god you believe in commands us to love and bless our enemies unconditionally but then turns around and tortures his enemies for all of eternity, you don’t believe in the crucified Christ (the logos expressed) who forgives his persecutors while hanging on a tree, you believe in a narcissistic mythological pagan deity who resides on Mount Olympus.” — Logan Barone, February 7, 2023
