If I may ask, why were you banned from CARM? They do take a Calvinist position. And are HOSTILE to any form of Universalism. Even one that views hell as temporary. Where if I ever became a convince universalist…and not just a hopeful one…is the position I would take. I don’t see the purpose, of going on a site - that’s openly hostile, to any type of universalism. However, on a neutral site, that’s at least open to hearing both positions - it would be an interesting idea.
I tend to ask questions like this. Is a person still trying to have, a relationship with Christ? Are they still trying to live a moral life? Are they trying to follow the gospel, and helping the poor and needy? Do they still repent of any “apparent” wrong and ask for forgiveness? Etc.? Or do they think that Christ has done everything? And there’s nothing to be done - on their part?
In the end, it’s NOT who has the most brilliant mind. Whether that’s Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, Martin Luther, etc. It’s how we attempt to implement, what the Gospels and Christ - are telling us. Take something and run with it.
For me:
It’s Orthodoxy in communication with Rome, incorporating some elements - into the Anglican tradition.
Embracing some contemplation and healing elements, of the Wisdom Tradition. That finds its epitome in Christ.
It’s NOT always the logicians, that win the art of persuasion - but the marketers. As Steve Roller said today - in his newsletter:
People ask me all the time, what’s the difference between writers and copywriters?
I could write a book about this, but in a nutshell:
Writers write to inform, educate, entertain.
Copywriters do that, too. They also write to persuade.
Their words instill hope, confidence, new possibilities. They write to get people to buy things, sure. But they’re also geniuses when it comes to getting people to imagine things they hadn’t thought of before, explore those things, and quite possibly, partake in them.
I leave everyone with a cartoon or two, from sunilbali.com/2018/03/almost-as-big-as-beyonce/