Universalism

Universalism refers to concepts and issues which are said to be "universal" in appeal —i.e. trancending any existing localizing boundaries. The term may refer to:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• In comparative religion, universalism is the belief that all religions are "equal roads to heaven," although the adherent may be practically limited to choosing only one religious system, or certain aspects of a few religions. Some sects of Hinduism (Smartism, Advaita) are Universal in this sense.
• The name Universalist refers to certain religious denominations of universalism, which as a core principle adhere to standards and rituals which are convergent rather than divergent, often espousing themselves as alternatives to denominations based on dogmatic or factionalized differences.
• A universal religion is one that holds itself true for all people; it thus allows all to join, regardless of ethnicity. In contrast, ethnic religions, like ethnicity itself, can be determined not just by genealogy, but by geography, language, and other social boundaries. In that sense, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism are universal religions. Judaism would be an ethnic religion (although conversions are often allowed). Contrast with Chosen people.
• Universalism is also used as a synonym for moral universalism, as a compromise between moral relativism and moral absolutism.
• Universalism can also mean the wish for a closer union between all people of the world (the emergence of world citizens) and/or the aim of creating common global institutions (democratic globalization)
• In Christianity, Universalism, Universal reconciliation, or universal salvation, is the doctrine that all people will eventually be saved and go to heaven at some point after they are dead. This is based on the belief that a loving God would not submit any person, regardless of their sins, to everlasting torment, but would instead reform them. This is a belief held by some protestant denominations. An extension of this, called "strong universalism," holds that no person, even the greatest sinner, is sent to Hell, and therefore Hell does not need to exist.
• Universalism may be associated with Catholicism, through the etymology of the Greek "katholicos," meaning "universal." The term Catholic originally referred to its "One Church" model as a "universal church," for all to participate.
 
Universalism: See also ►