Cassara Ch 8 Universalism Old and New

This chapter is a series of eight documents and Cassara's comments or commentary on each of them.

1.  Barnum Why I am A Universalist
This is commented on in another section.  The only notable new information here is that in Cassara's notes, we are left to assume that not only was Barnum already famous, he was also influential in the Universalist church.

2.  The Social Implications of Universalism
Skinner was the president of Tufts and took the freedom of the soul through reason to be a sign that we must work to bring that same freedom to everyone.  The basis of the social gospel for Universalists is clearly a straight line from their theology.

Very interesting piece here on the way YHWH and Baal both reflected the cultures over which they "ruled" with YHWH being the God of democracy and free association, and Baal being the God of commerce.  Which would you rather worship?

3.  Universalist Social Program of 1917
This is a very socialist sounding program that is economic, social and political and stresses equality and egalitarian.

4.  Which Way, L. B. Fisher, 1921
This is a statement about refusing to publish a dogma.  Very well written.

Interesting quote:
No human word ever has reached or ever will reach finality of meaning.  Each living age always has defined religion in the light of its own experiences, and all ages to come will do the same.

5.  Universalists of Today, J v. Schaik, 1925
In an effort to smooth over the theological difference that spanned Universalism and mainline Protetestantism - mostly the absence of Jesus - this piece was written. Obvious in the writing that the author was trying to go back and mend some bridges, as well as in Cassara's observation was that most of what had caused the separation was in the past already, this work just formalized it.

6.  Humanist Manifesto
I can certainly see how this would have slid right into what I know of then-current Universalist theology and its application.

I just don't get a lot of their "jumps", like, how do you get from ##1 & 2 to #3.  They make it sound like if ##1 & 2 are true, then three, of course is true.  And in #7, why is it that just because the first part is true, then the second part has to be true.

I wish these folks were around so that I could talk to them because as many times as I've read this with as much an open mind as I can muster, I feel myself shutting down every time.

7.  Clinton Lee Scott Radio Transcriptions
Wow, I don't know what to say about these.  These were fantastic.  I think they should be read, or better, acted, verbatim as a sermon one day.  It is interesting that getting on the radio and saying this was somehow notable.   I wonder how many people were listening.  I wonder if these radio tapes are still available to hear this in his own voice.

8.  Touch Not My Lips
Poem basically evoking God not to bore him with ancient wisdom, but rather to let him follow his own.