House, Charles (2005) Hosea Ballou’s Universalist Manifesto, U.U WORLD, 5/6 p. 44

Ballou was raised in a Calvinist household. Although popular, Calvinism is probably one of the cruelest orthodoxies to gain power. Calvinism said that all humans are fully depraved, however as a gift to humanity about 1% will go to heaven and 99% will be tortured in hell. That means no one really will reunite with family and loved ones and that most of humanity was born to die a terrible death even if they were extremely virtuous. Thus, nearly all people including the most honorable will die and be eternally tortured.

How could such theology gain credence? Nearly all Calvinist secretly held that they in a small flash had a sign from God that they would be saved. Calvin’s disciples extended that to include material success. Thus, Calvin revisionism was but one factor in the rise of capitalism. Not only did God endow one with success and property in this life, but would bless them in the next.

Others theologies of the world were kinder. Some said if you became born again your chances were dramatically improved. Also last rites and changing one’s life around to the common good were stairways to heaven. Reincarnation was also another stepping stone.

Beyond the complexities of his theology, Ballot preached a 180 degree turn. Universal salvation was open to all and one immediately went to heaven. Thus, there ain’t no hell of which the conservative would reply the hell there ain’t.

Contemporary Universalists in the Christian wing of Universalism (in the Unitarian-Universalists church.) have revised Ballou. They return to the early founder of the Universalisms church that maintained most folks go to heaven based on motive and behavior. However, the very wicked go to hell pay for their sins and then rise to heaven. Thus in death, the very evil slowly move toward the light of God. Thus, some day people like Adolph Hitler will after many many years in perdition will rise to meet God.

Research into death and near death experience indicate that some fairly unpleasant people see hell and call out for help and find a light with a spirit there to help them find their way to God.

In the Hegelian struggle of ideas, Ballou took the exact anti-thesis of Calvinism and said life was hard enough so that Universalism or Anti-Calvinism was not a just god either. No one was punished regardless of their evil unto others. Today Trinitarian and Unitarian Universalists hold out hope that one can redeem themselves in this life and for others that paying for their sins will bring them to the light of God. For some of this perspective, reincarnation is also thought to be a possibility for some to become teachers in this life.
On the whole, Universalism is not the dominant portion of Christianity. Orthodoxy is powerful now in many world religions.

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