Grace Saves All: Christianity and Universal Salvation Ep. 212 Dr. Michael Morelli on Jacques Ellul and Universal Salvation (plus a great debate/conversation about whether Universal Salvation is necessary!)
Oct 31, 2025
Dr. Michael Morelli, an expert in theology and ethics, shares insights on Jacques Ellul’s impact on universal salvation and modernity. He discusses Ellul's critique of technology shaped by WWII, his theological evolution influenced by Barth and Kierkegaard, and the tensions in Calvinism. Topics include the mystery of divine foreknowledge, the nature of hope in universal salvation, and the ethical implications behind it. Morelli highlights parental metaphors for God and the significance of divine self-limitation, leading to a hopeful vision of restoration.
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Ellul’s Sociology Shapes His Theology
- Jacques Ellul connected critique of modern technology with a theological response rooted in Christian ethics and hope.
- His sociology of dehumanizing forces informed his later theological turn toward universal salvation.
First Encounter: Media Studies To Ellul
- Michael Morelli first met Ellul through a communications program steeped in media ecology and critical theory.
- That early exposure felt like a veil lifting and shaped his hermeneutic for modernity.
WWII Trauma Deepened Ellul’s Suspicion
- Ellul’s experience of WWII and Vichy France sharpened his suspicion of mass movements and propaganda.
- That historical pain pushed him toward theological reflection on hope and human worth.
