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Vexen Crabtree's Live Journal - Universalism
Sociology, Theology, Anti-Religion and Exploration: Forcing Humanity Forwards
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hellbot13 From: [info]hellbot13 Date: September 22nd, 2002 09:09 am (UTC) (Link)

*sigh*

I can't believe your brain fits in your head!!! I think I'm in love!!! lol
From: dieeiervonsatan Date: September 22nd, 2002 01:20 pm (UTC) (Link)
Hi, I'm curious and I thought I'd ask... did I see you two weeks ago (on saturday) outside London Arena before a Korn show? Either it was you or someone who looked remarkably like you.

Oh and your essay was really interesting to read.
vexen From: [info]vexen Date: September 22nd, 2002 02:13 pm (UTC) (Link)
No, last weekend I stayed at my girlfriends house and didn't go anywhere! And I've never been to a Korn concert, although I'd like to one day.
From: dieeiervonsatan Date: September 23rd, 2002 12:28 pm (UTC) (Link)

Re:

I think it was saturday sept 7th.

... Well I really enjoyed the concert and I was especially happy when they played "One" by Metallica. Well, only a part of it. And I was front row too. And I got caked in food and coke and water because there was a huge food fight! And they had lots and lots of glitter falling down from the ceiling at the end.

And I'm sure that's more than you care to know about. I'm still getting over how good it was even though it was 2 weeks ago!
empiress From: [info]empiress Date: November 13th, 2002 10:20 am (UTC) (Link)
A very good synopsis of and arguments for universalism! Thanks.
vexen From: [info]vexen Date: November 13th, 2002 11:08 am (UTC) (Link)

Thanks :-)

I have 25K of text notes on the original essay that is behind this one and the parables ones, which is a compelte scriptural and philosophical presentation of pro-universalism. As I got stuck and bogged down in endless (and disorganized...) notes, I produced 2 complete essays from existing notes (which are the 2 you just commented on) and have left the final part (a pure scripture based one) until later. I haven't been "doing" Christianity for a few monthes, but I'll return to this epic task at some point and will probably need your help or comments because it's a bit out-of-my-rights and depth to write such text!

Part of my notes consists of some quotes from yourself, at the moment there are some really quite big Empiress-quotes that it almost looks like a tribute essay! There is a big chance I'm going to release a "Sociological factors of Universalism" essay which contains these (hopefully further clarifying/simplifying the remaining Scripture-Alone argument for universalism).

Apologies (as usual) for the lengthy reply, I just had a coffee :-)
From: (Anonymous) Date: November 4th, 2003 10:12 am (UTC) (Link)

Why your arguments for universalism are invalid...

There was no use of Scripture.
vexen From: [info]vexen Date: November 4th, 2003 10:41 am (UTC) (Link)

Re: Why your arguments for universalism are invalid...

The arguments are valid.

You didn't say WHICH scripture you think would be valid. The Koran? I-Ching? Hebrew scriptures? As you sound like a moron, I'll guess you meant Christian scipture as not many other people are so arrogant.

Relying on Scripture is limited, confused, wrong, short-sighted, illogical, irrational, stupid, closed minded and wont get you anywhere.

HOWEVER, here is some scripture for you

http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/christianity_vineyard.html

From: (Anonymous) Date: May 15th, 2007 08:26 pm (UTC) (Link)

Re: Why your arguments for universalism are invalid...

have you ever READ the quran? because i assure you that it has been proven over and over again to be the word of truth. scientific evidence for once.
http://www.sultan.org/articles/QScience.html
go on to this webpage and you will have all the evidence needed
thankyou
peace
wasalaam
From: (Anonymous) Date: December 2nd, 2003 05:54 pm (UTC) (Link)

Great Universalist Arguments

Although I came to Universalism through different reasoning (based on that fact that since no one has is really able to "choose" to accept Christ, and he is in fact a loving God, then he must save all people), I like your arguments as well, and they certainly will be more effective againts those numerous free-choicers. I do have one question to follow up all of this praise. I haven't read enough of your articles to know what faith if any to subscribe to (although my guess is agnostic), but I was wondering, upon the assumption that there is a God, what his intent would have been in putting us on earth (also assuming a determined world).
alynna_serenity From: [info]alynna_serenity Date: June 1st, 2004 03:39 pm (UTC) (Link)

I finally read your essay about "Universalism"

Yay! ... good points you've made (along with Empiress's help).

Hmmm, and reading your essay has brought something to mind:

***you should see "What Dreams May Come"***

the movie touches many of the same points your essay has stated ~but~ the story is a bit different

... well, people do stay in a state of hell because it is nigh impossible for them to escape their prison. So, the movie proposes that the best bet for people to be released from hell is for them to be made to realize the confinement of their prison. Well, how about this analogy for you to think about:

There is a steel box that someone (wonderfully) is kept in by illusions he or she suffers...
...yet the person doesn't realize he or she is imprisoned because he or she is deceived or blind, deaf, and dumb to the fetters that tie him or her down. So, the steel box is a place where the person sleeps in, which is a place he or she is unaware of to know it as a prison.

Hmmm, with this analogy in mind, a person imprisoned in hell is best released by compassion which comes in from the outside. So, you could attribute this to being "god's saving grace".

Well, I'm --funny enough to say-- a Roman Catholic but a Buddhist by discipline. And I agree with Shinran Shonen (founder of Shin Buddhism) to say that I'm in no place to judge who goes to hell and who doesn't. Instead I best think I'm going to hell if ever I am so prideful to think I'm specially loved by god because I'm a Christian, or by whatever other elitist title I may tote.

And believe me when I say I get into fights with fellow Christians because some of them are damned presumptuous to assume that by the "Bible alone" --or by their special relationship with Jesus Christ-- they are specially superior to Atheists, people from other religions, animals, and even plants. Well, if ever I agreed with that devil dribble, I'll be sure to not rest easy because a wonderful deceased Buddhist monk I've come to know during his lifetime and admire for his compassion will be in hell because he isn't in the right religion to get the right to go into heaven. And if ever I has hard-hearted enough to be in a Christian *clique* (or simply be part of "Jesus and Pals" ~or~ "The Christian Crew") then I'll be doing evil by viewing nonChristians as inferior/cheaper/and disposable to the likes of myself.

Honestly, I walked away from the Church (that being Christianity altogether) because I got sick to know that someone had to be favoured in order to get into heaven. I walked away from the Church when I was 11-years-old but then I came back when I was 22 because of nearly life-destroying experiences. Now I subscribe to Universalism but I also think that EVERYONE will first go to hell or be put into detention for being very naughty until they are enlightened by divine grace. So, I believe that I'll be damned lucky to first go to heaven. And basically, I believe that people are naughty students while god (the divine) is the patient teacher. Which means regardless of good intentions (following the saying: "good intentions pave the way to hell"), and the other snobbery (enspousing the idea of the moral/and the good life) that people think will earn them the right to avoid hell, I believe everyone is going to hell until they are proven to be enlightened enough to go to heaven.

I really use this pessimism of mine to not be pushed around by Jehovah's Witnesses, people damning me to hell, and other twits who think they can sell me indulgences (a right) for me to get into heaven. So, I believe everyone first dies, end up in hell, and then *-by that humility-* people are saved by divine compassion. Overall, I'm a Cranky Catholic with a Buddhist inkling. [And believe me when I say that all Catholics subscribe to believe that they don't know if they're saved (allowed to go into heaven) immediately at the day of their judgment (or after they're DEAD).]

Well...

The End.
alynna_serenity From: [info]alynna_serenity Date: June 1st, 2004 04:06 pm (UTC) (Link)

...and am I omnipotent enough to silence all argument to what I believe in?

The answer is NO!

... and people everywhere should bugger off (heh heh heh :D)

Well, I just don't care if someone argues with me. Which means, I basically expect to be picked at and I know my points can't parry all attacks.

I am limited but with a good understanding to be wise.

Well, I have points to make but I can't cover myself (to guard my argument and beliefs) everywhere at once. Yet I don't die easily, and "what doesn't kill me only makes me stronger" (something like a bacteria, which becomes resistant to antibiotics).

Anyway, Vexen, I respect how you have a high profile in toting things that some people disdain. I respect your fortress-mentality when you're under attack. And I think I'm a bit like you, in that I have inner-peace. Well honestly, nobody can break me down because it's been proven that I don't die easily.
From: (Anonymous) Date: October 25th, 2004 07:46 am (UTC) (Link)

A Huge "Thank you!"

I have had similar ideas but could not put them into words. You, though, have wonderfully combined the right words with logic in a way that has helped many people. I don't want to believe that only people who know Jesus will be saved. I have struggled much in the last few weeks, but your website has brought much needed peace. Thank you!

Michelle
From: (Anonymous) Date: July 25th, 2007 06:34 pm (UTC) (Link)

Re: A Huge "Thank you!"

Hi! I agree with you on alot of things.God has just shown me that we are all completely innocent.Found the loop hole.All of our spirits (hearts) are broken.The symptoms of that are the same as for post-traumatic stress disorder.Equals=helpless,hopeless,depressed,angry,hateful,resentful,revengeful,low self-esteem,self destructive additions(see how everybody fits under this?)Jesus said in Mat.22:37-40 that the 10 commandments=Love God,your neighbor and yourself.You need a good working heart to love,and all of ours are somewhat damaged.Some are completely dead.Took another to break our heart=we are innocent of all charges.Last June I reread Adam and Eve.After the apple bit they also had some of these symptoms=hiding,afraid,self-conscious(put on fig leaves),and they started blaming everyone else.This is the curse of mankind.We "catch" it from each other.Some "cruel" person comes along and breaks our heart,then we are now a carrier,and break other people's hearts.For 19 years I've been waiting for the end of this world.I believe this is it.The system.Our beliefs are the only thing keeping us back from World Peace=Heaven on Earth! The cure is to see all this. Your conscience clears,spirit starts mending,and you start getting back the "fruits of the spirit"=Love,joy,peace,temperance,etc.Gal.5:22 You have to get yourself better first,then you'll see the innocence of others. After a few months I noticed how I was sure defending others.I wondered what was going on with that? Answer?My heart was starting to work again. I think Jesus said in Luke that you cannot see the kingdom of God unless you are born again. Before the apple God told Adam and Eve that the day they ate from that tree, they would surely die.They spiritually died that day.Looks like this all is a resurrection.Spiritual one. Anyway God did help me with all of this.Five years ago my husband died.Then I set out to help a heroin addict.God then told me "you are not the bad person this world has made you out to be".I then became extremely paranoid thinking that there was a conspiracy against me.The police sent me to a nuthouse to get evaluated.I got out ,but I'd left reality. I thought I was in Hell to fight the Devil,and most everyone was on his side.For three years I was stuck in spiritul wacko world.When I saw this truth,that my spirit broke when I was 7,I finally got released from that place.Adam and Eve covers everybody.I wish you all the best!Love Gayle (imagine not being mad at anybody anymore.I'm almost there)
From: (Anonymous) Date: November 24th, 2004 03:05 pm (UTC) (Link)

Universalism