Start Date
14-12-2022 12:05 PM
Description
In the Catholic Church, hell is a reality that is generally understood as two things: eternal separation from God, and a self-inflicted outcome (rather than something that can be initiated by God). But for centuries, the possibility of a human having the freedom to choose a life apart from God that warrants eternal damnation has been questioned by philosophers and theologians alike. Among the arguments that have challenged the traditional understanding of hell in Catholicism, one seems particularly attractive: universalism, the belief that all souls will eventually be saved. Universalist arguments are, in part, based upon the notion that we cannot freely choose hell. In a research paper, I plan to assess the strength of universalism by examining the arguments for and against universalism with a focus on the term “free will.” I will first establish free will as positive freedom in relation to God, then I will evaluate these arguments by identifying inconsistencies in the use of “free will.” I expect the argument for universalism to be somewhat inconsistent, which will prevent me from rejecting the notion of hell as eternal, self-inflicted separation from God. However, I believe that universalism will still meaningfully challenge the Catholic notion of hell.
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Fire and Free Will: An Evaluation of Damnation through the Lens of Universalism
In the Catholic Church, hell is a reality that is generally understood as two things: eternal separation from God, and a self-inflicted outcome (rather than something that can be initiated by God). But for centuries, the possibility of a human having the freedom to choose a life apart from God that warrants eternal damnation has been questioned by philosophers and theologians alike. Among the arguments that have challenged the traditional understanding of hell in Catholicism, one seems particularly attractive: universalism, the belief that all souls will eventually be saved. Universalist arguments are, in part, based upon the notion that we cannot freely choose hell. In a research paper, I plan to assess the strength of universalism by examining the arguments for and against universalism with a focus on the term “free will.” I will first establish free will as positive freedom in relation to God, then I will evaluate these arguments by identifying inconsistencies in the use of “free will.” I expect the argument for universalism to be somewhat inconsistent, which will prevent me from rejecting the notion of hell as eternal, self-inflicted separation from God. However, I believe that universalism will still meaningfully challenge the Catholic notion of hell.
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Mentor: Dr. Mark Aloysius