Barnum Why I Am a Universalist

Why I Am a Universalist

Key Quotes:  Jesus’ life was not a “clumsy device of vicarious atonement.” "holiness and happiness are inseparably connected" and Conduct is three fourths of life.

I found this dreadfully hard to get through.  I had read it before, years ago and remember really connecting with it, but this time it was like pulling teeth.

I connected with his understanding of eternal life versus immortal life.  His primary point is that human life, rather than the human after life is the foundation of a successful human existence.  He bases this in scripture, stating that the new testament reflected a change from the old.  In the old, there was a lot of talk about righteousness and earthly actions and their earthly reactions (sin/punishment).  But the new testament changed that and its primary message is that now is the time to build a case for yourself in eternal life.

His comment that jumped out at me was that "holiness and happiness are inseparably connected". It's presence here and he way it is presented seem to call it out as a differentiating point, meaning that, like today, critics of Universalism (primarily American Christians) believed then in a hard duality, and one of Barnum's points was to break down that dualism.

He states his case for this with four points:

1.  That God would not have created something that would destroy itself, and if he did, he has the power to stop it from doing so.

2.  That Jesus was not a crude, vicarious blood sacrifice and that this life and teaching were meaningful.

3.  That scripture is meant to put us on a path, like an indicting arrow.  As scripture is about how to live life, than life is 3/4 behavior.

4.  The word of God extends past scripture, into the hearts and minds of many and it is beautiful, not ugly, like Jonathan Edwards.  Instead, he focuses on the redemptive message of Luke 15.

He then quickly address four of the circular logic criticisms leveraged against Universalists by "heterodox" Christians:

1.  We can't know God's will.

2. The question of God's permission of Evil.

3.  That the purpose of life is to serve as an entrance exam into immortal life.

4.  That the sinner can't repent.

And the last argument is that their argument keeps changing to suit their needs, predetermination vacillates.

He ends by posing the question of relative goodness/evil through a conversation with an editor about Judas and his role in Jesus' demise.  

I found myself interested in what his response to the Gospel of Judas would be.