Universalism is the philosophical and theological concept that some ideas have universal application or applicability.
A belief in one fundamental truth is another important tenet in universalism. The living truth is seen as more far-reaching than the national, cultural, or religious boundaries or interpretations of that one truth. A community that calls itself universalist may emphasize the universal principles of most religions, and accept others in an inclusive manner.
Universalism can also mean the pursuit of unification of all human beings across geographic and other boundaries under universal values, or the application of universalist constructs, such as human rights or international law.
Christian universalism refers to the idea that every human will eventually receive salvation in a religious or spiritual sense, a concept also referred to as universal reconciliation.Otis Ainsworth Skinner (1807-1861), A Series of Sermons in Defense of the Doctrine of Universal Salvation, Page 209, It is not part of mainline Christian doctrine either Catholic or Protestant. "Repentance is a means by which all men are brought into the enjoyment of religion, and we do expect any man will be saved while he continues in sin. However, Unitarian Universalism holds a universal salvation, because is, "we expect all men will repent."
Philosophy Philosophical universalism In philosophy, universality is the idea that universal facts exist and can be discovered, as opposed to relativism, which asserts that all facts are relative to one's perspective.
Moral universalism
Moral universalism (also called moral objectivism or universal morality) is the meta-ethical position that some systems of ethics apply universally. That system is inclusive of all individuals, According to Immanuel Kant and Richard Mervyn Hare...moral imperatives must be regarded as equally binding on everyone. regardless of culture, race, sex, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or any other distinguishing feature. Moral universalism is opposed to moral nihilism and moral relativism. However, not all forms of moral universalism are absolutist, nor do they necessarily value monism. Many forms of universalism, such as utilitarianism, are non-absolutist. Other forms such as those theorized by Isaiah Berlin, may value pluralist ideals.
Religion
Baháʼí Faith
In the teachings of the Baháʼí Faith, a single God has sent all the historic founders of the world religions in a process of progressive revelation. As a result, the major world religions are seen as divine in origin and are continuous in their purpose. In this view, there is unity among the founders of world religions, but each revelation brings a more advanced set of teachings in human history and none are syncretic. In addition, the Baháʼí teachings acknowledge that in every country and every people God has always revealed the divine purpose via messengers and prophets, masters and sages since time immemorial.
Within this universal view, the unity of humanity is one of the central teachings of the Baháʼí Faith. The Baháʼí teachings state that since all humans have been created in the image of God, God does not make any distinction between people with regard to race, colour or religion. Thus, because all humans have been created equal, they all require equal opportunities and treatment. Hence the Baháʼí view promotes the unity of humanity, and that people's vision should be world-embracing and that people should love the whole world rather than just their nation.
The teaching, however, does not equate unity with uniformity; instead the Baháʼí writings advocate the principle of unity in diversity where the variety in the human race is valued. Operating on a worldwide basis this cooperative view of the peoples and nations of the planet culminates in a vision of the practicality of the progression in world affairs towards, and the inevitability of, world peace.
Buddhism The term Universalism has been applied to different aspects of Buddhist thought by different modern authors.
The idea of universal salvation is key to the Mahayana school of Buddhism. A common feature of Mahayana Buddhism is the idea that all living beings have Buddha nature and thus all beings can aspire to become bodhisattvas, beings who are on the path to Buddhahood. This capacity is seen as something that all beings in the universe have.Takahatake, Takamichi (2006). Young Man Shinran: A Reappraisal of Shinran's Life, p. 36. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. This idea has been termed "bodhisattva universalism" by the Buddhist studies scholar Jan Nattier.C. V. Jones (2020). The Buddhist Self: On Tathāgatagarbha and Ātman. p. 204. University of Hawaii Press.
The idea of universal Buddha nature has been interpreted in various ways in Buddhism, from the idea that all living beings have Buddha nature and thus can become Buddhas to the idea that because all beings have Buddha nature, all beings will definitely become Buddhas. Some forms of East Asian Mahayana Buddhism even extended the Buddha nature theory to plants and insentient phenomena. Some thinkers (such as Kukai) even promote the idea that the entire universe is the Buddha's body.Chung, Paul S (2008). Martin Luther and Buddhism: Aesthetics of Suffering, Second Edition, pp. 373-375. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
The Lotus Sutra, an influential Mahayana scripture, is often seen as promoting the universality of Buddhahood, the Buddha's teaching as well as the equality of all living beings.Reeves, Gene (2010). The Stories of the Lotus Sutra. Simon and Schuster.Steven Heine (2015). Dōgen and Sōtō Zen. p. 65. Oxford University Press. Mahayana Buddhism also promotes a universal compassion towards all sentient beings and sees all beings as equally deserving of compassion.Travagnin, Stefania (2016). Religion and Media in China: Insights and Case Studies from the Mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong, p. 124. Taylor & Francis.Kristin Beise Kiblinger (2017). Buddhist Inclusivism: Attitudes Towards Religious Others, Routledge. The doctrine of the One Vehicle (which states that all Buddhist paths lead to Buddhahood) is also often seen as a universalist doctrine.
Adherents to Pure Land Buddhism point to Amitabha Buddha as a Universal Savior. According to the Pure Land Sutras (scriptures), before becoming a Buddha Amitabha vowed that he would save all beings and according to some Pure Land authors, all beings will be eventually saved through the work of Amida Buddha. As such, Pure Land Buddhism is often seen as an expression of a Buddhist universalism that compares to Christian universalism.Pan-chiu Lai, "Barth and Universal Salvation, A Mahayana Buddhist Perspective" in Martha L. Moore-Keish, Christian T. Collins Winn. Karl Barth and Comparative Theology. Fordham Univ Press, Aug 6, 2019. This comparison has also been commented on by Christian theologians like Karl Barth.
Chinese Buddhism developed a form of Buddhist universalism which saw Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism as different aspects of a single universal truth.F Harold Smith. The Buddhist Way of Life: Its Philosophy and History. Routledge, 2013.
In Western Buddhism, the term Universalism may also refer to an nonsectarian and eclectic form of Buddhism which emphasizes ecumenism among the different Buddhism schools.Emily Sigalow (2022). American JewBu: Jews, Buddhists, and Religious Change, p. 45. Princeton University Press. US clergyman Julius A. Goldwater was one Buddhist figure who promoted a modern kind of Buddhist Universalism. For Goldwater, Buddhism transcends local contexts and culture, and his practice grew increasingly eclectic over time. Goldwater established the nonsectarian Buddhist Brotherhood of America which focused on ecumenical and nonsectarian Buddhism while also drawing on Protestant vocabulary and ideas.Emily Sigalow (2022). American JewBu: Jews, Buddhists, and Religious Change, p. 46. Princeton University Press.
The desire to develop a more universalist and nonsectarian form of Buddhism was also shared by some modernist Japanese Buddhist authors, including the influential D.T. Suzuki.Duncan Ryuken Williams, Tomoe Moriya. Issei Buddhism in the Americas, pp. 85, 123. University of Illinois Press, 2010.
Christianity
In Christianity, universalism generally refers to the doctrine of universal reconciliation, according to which all people will ultimately be saved and reconciled to God. Christian universalists have differed in their understanding of post-mortem punishment, with some accepting a temporary or remedial form of punishment while rejecting eternal damnation. They point to historical evidence showing that many early fathers of the church were universalistsSee Ramelli, The Christian Doctrine of Apokatastasis, and A Larger Hope. and attribute the origin of the idea of hell as eternal punishment to mistranslation. They also appeal to many texts of Scripture to argue that the concept of eternal hell is not biblically or historically supported either in Judaism or early Christianity.
Universalism developed into an organized Christian movement in North America during the eighteenth century. Among its early proponents were John Murray, Elhanan Winchester and Hosea Ballou. Universalist churches later formed the Universalist Church of America, which merged with the American Unitarian Association in 1961 to form the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Universalists cite numerous biblical passages which reference the salvation of all beings (such as Jesus' words in John 12:31-32, and Paul's words in Romans 5:18-19). In addition, they argue that an eternal hell is both unjust and contrary to the nature and attributes of a loving God.
The beliefs of Christian universalism are generally compatible with the essentials of Christianity, as they do not contradict any of the central affirmations summarized in the Nicene Creed.Gregory MacDonald, The Evangelical Universalist, 175-176. More specifically, universalists often emphasize the following teachings: God is the loving Parent of all people (see Love of God). Jesus Christ reveals the nature and character of God, and is the spiritual leader of humankind. Humankind is created with an immortal soul, which death can not end—or a mortal soul that shall be resurrected and preserved by God. A soul which God will not wholly destroy. Sin has negative consequences for the sinner either in this life or the afterlife. All of God's punishments for sin are corrective and remedial. None of such punishments will last forever, or result in the permanent destruction of a soul. Some Christian universalists believe in the idea of a Purgatorial Hell, or a temporary place of purification that some must undergo before their entrance into Heaven.
In 1899 the Universalist General Convention, later called the Universalist Church of America, adopted the Five Principles: the belief in God, Jesus Christ, the immortality of the human soul, the reality of sin and universal reconciliation.
History
Universalist writers such as George T. Knight have claimed that Universalism was a widely held view among theologians in Early Christianity. (Vol. 12). These included such important figures such as Alexandrian scholar Origen as well as Clement of Alexandria, a Christian theologian. Origen and Clement both included the existence of a non-eternal Hell in their teachings. Hell was remedial, in that it was a place one went to purge one's sins before entering into Heaven.