Universalism Booth, Pt. 3 / Jordan Daniel Wood / Catholic Universalism
Apr 16, 2024
auto_awesome
Jordan Daniel Wood, a PhD in historical theology, discusses Catholic Universalism and his journey towards embracing Christian universalism, challenging traditional teachings. The conversation explores the nuances of universalism within Catholicism, the importance of hope in praying for universal salvation, and the historical perspective on universalism in early Church Fathers. The episode also touches on David Bentley Hart's influence on Christian universalism and the emotional significance of the doctrine of hell.
Early church fathers like Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Gregory of Nyssa embraced universalist perspectives.
Different contemporary views on universalism are represented by Balthasar's hopeful approach and MacDonald's dogmatic stance.
The theological framework of Anselm presents a confident universalism, departing from Augustine's antagonism towards universalism.
Deep dives
Various Views on Universalism in Church History
Throughout church history, there have been divergent views on universalism. Clement of Alexandria and Origen in the second and third centuries respectively held universalist perspectives, while Gregory of Nyssa is seen as an indisputable Universalist in the third century. Later figures like Maximus the Confessor, St. Isaac of Nineveh, and even Athanasius of Alexandria have had aspects of their writings interpreted as promoting universalist ideas.
Comparing Hans Urs von Balthasar and George MacDonald's Universalist Views
Hans Urs von Balthasar and George MacDonald represent distinct perspectives on universalism. Balthasar is viewed as a hopeful universalist who encourages hope for the salvation of all while cautioning against claiming certainty on the outcome. On the other hand, George MacDonald embodies a more dogmatic universalism where he expresses a strong confidence in God's ultimate reconciliation of all beings.
Personal Position on Universalism Influenced by George MacDonald
In the spectrum between Balthasar's hopeful approach and MacDonald's dogmatic stance on universalism, my leanings align more with George MacDonald's view. I resonate with MacDonald's emphasis on the certainty of God's love and ultimate reconciliation of all beings while recognizing the need for incorporating theological arguments into a systematic framework.
Contextualizing Universalist Themes in Early Church Fathers' Writings
The writings of early Church Fathers such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, Maximus the Confessor, and St. Isaac of Nineveh reflect universalist themes. These figures offered diverse perspectives on topics related to salvation and divine judgment, contributing to the ongoing discourse on universalism throughout church history.
Early Church Perspectives on Universalism
The early church had a spectrum of views on universalism, ranging from clear universalists like Origen to those who were more universalist-leaning but not explicit like St. Augustine. Influential figures like Ambrose of Milan and St. Jerome showed openness to universalism at certain points. The prevalence of universalism varied across different regions and traditions within the early church, with influences from Greek thinkers and interpretations of local traditions.
Augustine, Anselm, and Contemporary Theological Developments
The podcast discusses the theological developments attributed to Augustine in Latin churches, particularly regarding the antagonism towards universalism. Michel Corbin's work on Augustine and Anselm highlights a return to the harmony between human freedom and divine grace, emphasizing Anselm's departure from Augustine's positions. Corbin's analysis suggests a confident universalism in Anselm's theological framework, addressing theological tensions present in the Western Christian tradition.
The Universalism Booth is a series of interviews on Christian universalism, exploring several different angles from which the theological position is taken up. The interviewees range widely in their approaches to universalism, represented roughly as evangelical, existential, and Catholic.
Jordan Daniel Wood earned his PhD in historical theology from Boston College in 2019 and published a book with University of Notre Dame Press, The Whole Mystery of Christ: Creation as Incarnation in Maximus Confessor (2022). He was just recently appointed as Assistant Professor of Theology at Belmont University, to begin August 2024, but spent the past three years as a stay-at home dad of four.
* For more universalism content, see our two-part series on the topic with David Artman:
*The Theology Mill and Wipf and Stock Publishers would like to thank Luca Di Alessandro for making their song “A Celestial Keyboard” available for use as the podcast’s transition music. Link to license: https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
