Year: 2003
Type: article
Abstract: Murray defends the traditional doctrine of hell by arguing directly against its chief competitor, universalism.Universalism, says Murray, comes in "naIve" and "sophisticated" forms.Murray poses two arguments against naIve universalism before focusing on sophisticated universalism, which is his real target.He proceeds in this fashion because he thinks that his arguments against sophisticated universalism is more easily motivated against naIve universalism, and once their force is clearly seen in the naIve case it will be more clearly seen in the sophisticated.In this essay, I argue that Murray's arguments against naIve universalism have no force whatsoever. Naive U1liversalismAccording to naIve universalism, says Michael Murray, "upon death all persons are instantly transformed by God in such a way that they fully desire communion with God and are thus fit for enjoying the beatific vision forever".! This, however, is only a species of the genus.Another species has it that human organisms tum to dust and ashes not long after their deaths, and go out of existence for a very long time; but, on the Great Day, they are resurrected, at which time they are judged for their earthly lives and then instantly transformed by God so that they fully desire communion with Him and are thus fit for enjoying the beatific vision forever.Yet another species is that, upon death, human souls are released from their bodies and "sleep" for a very long time; but, on the Great Day, they are awakened and reunited with their resurrected bodies, judged for their earthly lives, and then instantly transformed by God so that they fully desire communion with Him and are thus fit for enjoying the beatific vision forever.And there are many other species besides.What is essential to the genus is the thesis that, after death, God will instantaneously transform all persons in such a way that they fully desire communion with God and are thus fit for enjoying the beatific vision forever.It is not essential that the instantaneous transformation occur upon death, contrary to what Murray says.This divine post-mortem instantaneous transformation thesis, as we might
Source: Faith and Philosophy
Authors: Daniel Howard-Snyder, The Society of Christian Philosophers
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1977514274