Definition

Noun: 1. A theological doctrine: The belief that all human beings will ultimately be saved or reconciled to God, regardless of their actions or beliefs during life. 2. (Philosophy) A universal quality or character: The quality of being universal in applicability, nature, or scope.

Usage

• Theological Context: "Universalism" is primarily used in religious and theological discussions to denote the belief in universal salvation.
• Philosophical/General Context: It can describe a principle or idea intended to apply to all cases or situations.

Examples

• Theological:
  • His belief in universalism gave him hope for the fate of all souls.
  • The debate between eternal punishment and universalism is ancient.
• Philosophical/General:
  • The universalism of human rights is a foundational principle of the United Nations.
  • Critics questioned the universalism of the proposed ethical framework.

Advanced Usage

• "Christian Universalism": A specific tradition within Christianity that holds to the doctrine of universal reconciliation.
  • Christian Universalism argues that Christ's redemption is ultimately effective for all.
• "Moral universalism": The ethical position that some system of ethics applies universally to all similarly situated individuals.
  • Moral universalism is often contrasted with moral relativism.

Variants and Related Words

• Universalist (noun): A person who believes in universalism, especially theological universalism.
  • As a Universalist, she preached a message of hope for all.
• Universalist (adjective): Of or relating to universalism.
  • The church follows a Universalist theology.
• Universality (noun): The quality of involving or being shared by all people or things in the world or in a particular group.
  • The universality of certain emotions connects all humanity.

Synonyms

• Universal salvation: (Theological) The doctrine that all will be saved.
• Catholicity: (General) The quality of being universal; wide-ranging inclusiveness.
• Cosmopolitanism: (Philosophical) The ideology that all human beings belong to a single community.

Antonyms

• Particularism: Exclusive attachment to one's own group, party, or nation.
• Exclusivism: The doctrine that only one particular religion or belief system is true.
• Eternal damnation: (Theological) The concept of perpetual punishment for sin, opposed to universalism.

Noun

1. the theological doctrine that all people will eventually be saved