Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:48 pm
Hello everyone
My story to this point seems to share some common themes with others whose introductions I have read on this thread ...
I have been a Christian for about 32 years, most of that time as an (Arminian) evangelical and am still so (whilst not being very keen on labels), although in recent years I have better appreciated some strengths of other traditions. Like doubtless many others, I initially accepted - reluctantly - belief in hell as everlasting conscious torment, as part of the package of orthodox Christian belief. Then several years ago I reached the view that ECT was unlikely to be true, and switched to annihilationism / conditional immortality, having learnt that such a belief was becoming increasingly accepted as legitimate. I did not give universalism any thought at that time, having understood it not to be a plausible option.
Then last summer I read Rob Bell’s Love Wins, which raised good and interesting questions around 'hell as ECT' vs God’s love, etc, but did not seem to offer many clear answers and made me keen to look into more rigorous theological analysis. So I then read Gregory McDonald / Robin Parry’s The Evangelical Universalist (twice!), Robin Parry and Christopher Partridge’s Universalism? The Current Debate and Thomas Talbott’s The Inescapable Love Of God. From these and other reading I have found the material offered in support of evangelical universalism very mind-opening and encouraging.
I very much hope that universal reconciliation is true and that I will become a Christian/evangelical universalist. Whilst I have found most of the arguments for EU plausible/persuasive, I feel however that there is much I first need to process, in terms of the implications of EU for various aspects of belief and understanding of various passages in the Bible, etc. I therefore feel unable to sign up to EU, as yet, although at the moment I feel nearer to EU than any other position.
Having read some of the posts on this forum, I have been very impressed by the warmth, helpfulness and support shown by members, so am keen to join in. I have some thoughts and questions, etc and plan to post about some of them separately (describing only my current ones would take all night!) in existing or new threads - keeping this post just to an introduction. Hopefully I might be able to offer some thoughts for others as well.
Other background very briefly: Very blessed with wife and 3 children, home and job. Also a small and loving (Church of England) church which takes people as they are (so I don’t foresee a big problem there if I become an EU). Through some traumas over several years - mainly family health related - I have felt sustained by God and his working through others, and learnt much-needed lessons.
Finally, my choice of user name AlSmith (reflecting my full name, Alistair Smith) was perhaps not the best choice – as I see Alex Smith is also a member and frequent poster, which could cause confusion! Alex or an administrator/moderator – please don’t hesitate to let me know if you would like me to re-register with a different user name?
Thanks in anticipation and warmest good wishes
Al
My story to this point seems to share some common themes with others whose introductions I have read on this thread ...
I have been a Christian for about 32 years, most of that time as an (Arminian) evangelical and am still so (whilst not being very keen on labels), although in recent years I have better appreciated some strengths of other traditions. Like doubtless many others, I initially accepted - reluctantly - belief in hell as everlasting conscious torment, as part of the package of orthodox Christian belief. Then several years ago I reached the view that ECT was unlikely to be true, and switched to annihilationism / conditional immortality, having learnt that such a belief was becoming increasingly accepted as legitimate. I did not give universalism any thought at that time, having understood it not to be a plausible option.
Then last summer I read Rob Bell’s Love Wins, which raised good and interesting questions around 'hell as ECT' vs God’s love, etc, but did not seem to offer many clear answers and made me keen to look into more rigorous theological analysis. So I then read Gregory McDonald / Robin Parry’s The Evangelical Universalist (twice!), Robin Parry and Christopher Partridge’s Universalism? The Current Debate and Thomas Talbott’s The Inescapable Love Of God. From these and other reading I have found the material offered in support of evangelical universalism very mind-opening and encouraging.
I very much hope that universal reconciliation is true and that I will become a Christian/evangelical universalist. Whilst I have found most of the arguments for EU plausible/persuasive, I feel however that there is much I first need to process, in terms of the implications of EU for various aspects of belief and understanding of various passages in the Bible, etc. I therefore feel unable to sign up to EU, as yet, although at the moment I feel nearer to EU than any other position.
Having read some of the posts on this forum, I have been very impressed by the warmth, helpfulness and support shown by members, so am keen to join in. I have some thoughts and questions, etc and plan to post about some of them separately (describing only my current ones would take all night!) in existing or new threads - keeping this post just to an introduction. Hopefully I might be able to offer some thoughts for others as well.
Other background very briefly: Very blessed with wife and 3 children, home and job. Also a small and loving (Church of England) church which takes people as they are (so I don’t foresee a big problem there if I become an EU). Through some traumas over several years - mainly family health related - I have felt sustained by God and his working through others, and learnt much-needed lessons.
Finally, my choice of user name AlSmith (reflecting my full name, Alistair Smith) was perhaps not the best choice – as I see Alex Smith is also a member and frequent poster, which could cause confusion! Alex or an administrator/moderator – please don’t hesitate to let me know if you would like me to re-register with a different user name?
Thanks in anticipation and warmest good wishes
Al