On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 17:46:01 -0500, The Fool <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
<<http://www.j-bradford-delong.net/movable_type/2004-2_archives/000016.htm
l>>
Most Important Court Case Ever?
The Eleven-Year-Old is asking, "What was the most important court case
ever?"
<snip>
3. The Condemnation of Origen by the Second Council of Constantinople:
Origen maintained that Hell was (or would eventually be) empty: after
all, an infinite God with infinite power, infinite mercy, infinite
knowledge, infinite benevolence, and infinite patience must eventually be
able to teach every finite being the way to salvation--even Satan
himself. The condemnation of Origen removed the last possibility that
medieval Christianity--East as well as West--would be a tolerant religion
along the lines of "Big Raft" Buddhism, with a fundamental belief that
we're all going to get to Heaven eventually (although some of us are
ahead of others on the road). It put medieval Christianity firmly on the
side of teaching people that they need to be really, really scared.
Universalism continued long after Origen was condemned.
Gary Denton - Unitarian Universalist Maru
Very few medieval paintings, frescos, and mosaics showing an empty hell...
--
Yours,
Brad DeLong
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