Monthly Archives: September 2019

Why is Presdestination Missing in Action?

Posted on 30 September 2019 by Fr Aidan Kimel

Something is wrong with traditional formulations of the doctrine of divine predestination. For over fifteen hundred years, the theologians of the Church—Origen, St Augustine of Hippo, St John of Damascus, St Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, Luis de Molina, Domingo Báñez, … Continue reading →

Posted in Preaching, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“Abraham used to pursue even passers-by and drag them into his home, whereas the rich man disregarded someone lying in his own doorway”

Posted on 28 September 2019 by Fr Aidan Kimel

It is worthwhile inquiring why the rich man saw Lazarus in the patriarch Abraham’s arms, and not in the company of some other righteous person. The reason is that Abraham was hospitable, and so the sight of Lazarus with Abraham … Continue reading →

Posted in Citations | 2 Comments

“What matters most is the fundamental option of one’s life for God, illumined from the inside, permeated with a feeling of inner meaning, stronger than the fear of sin, futility, void and hopelessness”

Posted on 26 September 2019 by Fr Aidan Kimel

Some of the outstanding theologians and hierarchs of the Christian Churches speak today a language totally different from the one heard during the past centuries. In his conversa­tions with Patriarch Bartholomew I, a French Orthodox theologian, Olivier Clément, summarised his … Continue reading →

Posted in Citations, Eschatology | 7 Comments

“Whoever denies the freedom of coming out from the existential state of Gehenna believes in fact in the ultimate victory of evil over at least a part of God’s creatures”

Posted on 25 September 2019 by Fr Aidan Kimel

In defending human freedom traditional theology assumes that we are able to reject God ultimately and irreversibly. This assumption is one of the foundations of the doctrine on the actual possibility of eternal damnation and the real existence of hell. … Continue reading →

Posted in Eschatology | 3 Comments

“Love could not bear that”

Posted on 24 September 2019 by Fr Aidan Kimel

‪I remember a conversation between him [St Silouan the Athonite] and a certain hermit, who declared with evident satisfaction, ‘God will punish all atheists. They will burn in everlasting fire.’‬ ‪Obviously upset, the Staretz said:‬ ‪‘Tell me, supposing you went … Continue reading →

Posted in Citations | 3 Comments

The Possibility of a Thomistic Universalism: A Review of David Bentley Hart’s ‘That All Shall Be Saved’

Posted on 24 September 2019 by Fr Aidan Kimel

by Taylor Nutter It seems prudent to begin this review of That All Shall Be Saved by following Hart in the confession of my own perspective. That perspective, after all, sets the conditions for the conclusions at which I will … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, David B. Hart, Eschatology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

1 Timothy 2:3-4: will, intend, or desire?

Posted on 23 September 2019 by Fr Aidan Kimel

by David Bentley Hart A quick note on 1 Timothy 2:3-4. It seems that certain captious reviewers of my book—one especially confused reviewer in particular—believe that my translation of these verses, which says that “God intends” the salvation of all, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, David B. Hart | 35 Comments

May Catholics Endorse Universalism?

Posted on 22 September 2019 by Fr Aidan Kimel

by Justin Shaun Coyle, Ph.D. “Hopeful.” That’s what Catholics typically call the eschatology native to Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Dare We Hope “That All Men Be Saved”? Some Catholics, however, find in it only despair. Some few, that is, deny that … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, David B. Hart, Eschatology | 16 Comments