Universalism: The Masterclass from David Bentley Hart

Summaries of Youtube videos from the book 'That ALL Shall be Saved,' + Bonus video from Jordan Daniel Wood & Larry Chapp

‘That All Shall be Saved’ is one the best and strongest defenses for the ancient tradition of universalism. These videos are a 5-part conversation made free online.

In the spirit of Fulton Sheen, There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate [Universalism], but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive [Universalism] to be.”

If the book is hard-reading (I’ve read it twice, and it is), try watching these 30-minute summaries of David’s core points, and enjoy the Q&A from the Zoom meetings.

I myself started listening to #4, which compelled me to work through the others. Meditation 4 tackles head on the idea that humans are truly free to reject God - once they actually experience him. (It might actually be easiest to start there too.)

Lastly, I’ve included the bonus conversation between two prominent Catholic theologians and universalists, Larry Chapp and Jordan Wood. Their contribution is how to understand the development of doctrine, and how we can embrace boldness and humility with difficult beliefs.

The central takeaway for me is this: for universalists, hell is a definite reality. But we’ve misunderstood it: God’s justice can never be purely punitive, it must always be restorative, because the name of God is Mercy.

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Introduction & Meditation 1

1. Dr. Hart establishes the basic premises of classical theism and the concept of an omnipotent and loving God.

2. He questions whether an all-powerful God would create a world that allows for eternal suffering.

3. Dr. Hart argues that the prevailing belief in eternal torment is not morally intelligible, logically coherent, or biblically warranted.

4. He presents a philosophical argument in his book, "That All Shall Be Saved," that challenges the traditional doctrine.

5. The video explores the history of doctrine and highlights the prevalence of universalism in early Christian figures.

6. Dr. Hart emphasizes the need to shift the burden of proof from universal salvation to eternal torment.

7. The conversation between Dr. Hart and Father Robert Hart addresses the habit of proof-texting and the need to think critically about theological beliefs.

Notable Quotes:

• "Must it be the case that an omnipotent and loving God can only create on terms that allow for eternal suffering?"

• "The prevailing doctrine should be on the defensive, not universal salvation."

• "Years of training to look at theology from texts have disconnected people from self-evident arguments."

• "The habit of starting from the unassailably well-established position hinders open-mindedness."

• "Augustine, brilliant as he was, had to explain away verses that support universal salvation."

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Meditation 2

They emphasize the importance of addressing biblical evidence and doctrine to influence those who reject the idea of apocatastasis. Dr. Hart highlights the significance of studying the original Greek New Testament and Hebrew to understand the true meaning of words like "aonius" and "olam." He also discusses the different interpretations of Gehenna and the language of hell in the Bible.

Notable Quotes:

• "The philosophical, ethical, and moral argument of the first meditation is important, but we also need to address the Bible and doctrine to influence those who reject universal salvation."

• "The Greek New Testament is now considered a secondary source, which is ironic considering its original language."

• "The New International Version of the Bible may not accurately convey the Universalist formulations present in the text."

• "The language of hell in the Bible needs to be disentangled and understood in its original context."

• "Eschatological language used by Jesus is often situated within the lifetimes of his hearers and refers to intra-historical events."

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Meditation 3

1. The paradox of indifference in heaven: Dr. Hart discusses the idea that perfect beatitude in heaven cannot coexist with indifference towards the suffering of others. He challenges the notion that heavenly bliss can be attained without compassion.

2. The impossibility of loving God and neighbor: The hosts explore the inherent difficulties in fulfilling the commandment to love God and neighbor, particularly when confronted with the belief in eternal suffering.

3. Unseeing the contradictions: Dr. Hart draws parallels between the act of unseeing in the novel "The City and the City" and the psychological process of ignoring the contradiction between God's self-outpouring love and the concept of eternal suffering.

4. A child's perspective: Dr. Hart shares an anecdote about a child with Asperger's who immediately recognizes the horror of the concept of hell, highlighting the discordance of the traditional belief.

Notable Quotes:

1. "If we're ever capable of being utterly indifferent to people's suffering, that's a condition of being in hell."

2. "The ethos of Heaven is the same as the hell: everyone for himself, every soul for itself."

3. "The price of heavenly beatitude is that one be rendered an immoral monster."

4. "The first tutelage in this process comes by way of terror."

5. "The arguments in the book are irrefutable; it is internally incoherent to have a Universalist reading of Christianity."

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Meditation 4

1. Father Robert Hart raises the issue of heresy and its connection to the concept of freedom in rejecting God.

2. Dr. Hart explores the theological implications of the claim that rejecting God contradicts Orthodox Christology.

3. The conversation delves into the understanding of human nature and the capacity to reject God in relation to being fully human.

4. Dr. Hart challenges the notion that concrete rejection of God is necessary to be considered fully human, highlighting the foundational principles of Christology.

5. The discussion explores different theological perspectives, including the Calcedonian and Antiochian understanding of prosopic and hypostatic unions.

6. Dr. Hart emphasizes the importance of examining doctrinal pronouncements with impartiality and disinterest to understand their true meaning.

7. The conversation addresses the misuse of the term heresy and its implications in theological debates.

8. Dr. Hart highlights the need for rational arguments rather than resorting to doctrinal pronouncements to strengthen theological beliefs.

Notable Quotes:

• "The notion that you must concretely be able really finally ultimately to reject the will of God in order to be fully human would be a violation of the very most foundational principles of Christology."

• "When people start telling you that you're a heretic or that Orthodoxy says this, even in the Catholic context, it's important to examine the theological and doctrinal uses of words with impartiality."

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Part 5: Conclusion

1. The psychological struggle of believing in eternal hell: Dr. Hart and Father Hart discuss the difficulty of truly believing in eternal damnation, especially when faced with the idea that good people from different faiths may be condemned.

2. Personal experiences with questioning traditional beliefs: Father Hart shares his own journey of wrestling with the concept of eternal hell and how he eventually embraced Universalism.

3. Misrepresentation of the book's arguments: Dr. Hart expresses his frustration with negative reviews that misrepresent the tone and arguments of his book, suggesting a defense mechanism rooted in emotional or psychological factors.

4. The importance of moral intuitions: Dr. Hart emphasizes that his arguments are based on self-evident truths and moral intuitions, supported by scripture and tradition.

5. The evolving understanding of hell: The discussion highlights how our perception of hell has changed over time, with the Free Will defense becoming popular as other interpretations of hell become increasingly repellent.

Notable Quotes:

• "What extraordinary violence we must do both to our reason and to our moral intelligence... to make this horrid notion seem palatable to ourselves."

• "I don't think I make any claims in the book that, on scrupulous reflection, aren't self-evident."

• "We tend to arrive at more considered opinions than earlier generations did on some things."

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Bonus: Larry Chapp & Jordan Wood

Dr. Wood sheds light on the historical context of universalism and its various interpretations throughout church history. They discuss how early Church Fathers like Gregory of Nissa and Maximus the Confessor held universalist views but were hesitant to openly declare them due to concerns about moral laxity. The speakers also delve into the modern perspectives on universalism, including the beliefs of theologian David Bentley Hart. Dr. Wood clarifies misconceptions about Hart's stance on hell and emphasizes the purgative nature of his interpretation. They explore the nuances of universalism, highlighting the importance of understanding it beyond a simple "get out of jail free" concept. The conversation touches on the moral implications of universalism and the potential dangers of prying too deeply into eschatological matters.

Key Points/Highlights:

1. The historical context of universalism in church tradition.

2. The hesitation of early Church Fathers to openly embrace universalism.

3. Modern interpretations of universalism, including David Bentley Hart's beliefs.

4. Clarification of misconceptions about Hart's stance on hell.

5. The purgative nature of hell in Hart's perspective.

6. Understanding universalism beyond a "get out of jail free" concept.

7. Moral implications and concerns about moral laxity.

8. The ‘dangers of prying too deeply’ 'into eschatological matters.

Notable Quotes:

• "After Christ, justice is no more, there's only mercy." - Saint Isaac of Nineveh

• "In the end, you get exactly what you need to be perfect, and that is different for everyone."

• "Universalism isn't about getting a 'get out of jail free' card, but about receiving what you need to be perfected."

• "There is no hell, only purification."

• "The motivation for being morally good is the same as the reason for maintaining your health."

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Bonus 2: Pope Francis Generation on Hell & Universalism

Throughout the video, they reference the teachings of the church, including excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Pope Benedict's encyclical, "Spe Salvi." They highlight the church's belief in the existence of hell, its eternity, and the concept of definitive self-exclusion from God. They emphasize that God desires all to be saved and that there is no predestination to hell.

The conversation also touches on different interpretations of universalism, with references to theologians like Hans Urs von Balthasar and Bishop Robert Barron. They explore the various perspectives within universalism and the nuances of each.

• Exploring Hell and Universalism with Jordan Wood

• The Catholic Church's Teachings on Hell and Universalism

• Understanding Universalism: Exploring Saint Maximus' Perspective

• The Nature of Evil and its Origin: A Christian Perspective

• Theological Speculation on the Narration of Evil and Hell

• God's Creativity and the Paradox of Universalism

• The Possibility of Universal Salvation and God's Love

• The Joy and Terror of God's Love

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Recommended Reading (that I’ve read too)

• "That All Shall Be Saved" by Dr. David Bentley Hart

• "Tradition and Apocalypse" by Dr. David Bentley Hart

• “Destined for Joy” by Alvin F. Kimmel, Jr