UR versus Religious Pluralism

[Mike_Wise77]

I have read and followed idea's of UR for many years and I wonder how exactly the idea's compliment the idea;'s of religious pluralism. For those not familiar with the term it is simply a belief that God in his great knowledge utilizes all of the worlds religions as ways to reconcile his creation with himself.  Thus the Buddhist is reconciled to God through the elimination of bad karma and so on.

[jabcat]

Hi Mike.  My personal belief is that Jesus is the only way to the Father - everyone and everything else is yet in darkness and will be reconciled when God chooses, according to His plan.  Some now, the ecclesia, that are set aside for the purpose of "helping" bring in the rest later - when every knee bows and every tongue confesses Jesus as Lord - only IN the Holy Spirit.  Some saved as by/passing through (I believe, spiritual) fire - God setting the condition in the Lake of Fire for every person "coming to the end of themself" and every knee bowing.

The scriptures I see as representative of this is as follows;

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.  Jn 14:6

(2 Thes. 2:13-14), "God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation"


2 Thes. 3:2  All men have not faith



2 Thes. 2 - He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.



Isaiah 45:10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.
--
Was it not I, the Lord?

And there is no God apart from me,

a righteous God and a Savior;

there is none but me.

22"Turn to me and be saved,

all you ends of the earth;

for I am God, and there is no other.

23By myself I have sworn,

my mouth has uttered in all integrity

a word that will not be revoked:

Before me every knee will bow;

by me every tongue will swear.

24They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone

are righteousness and strength.'"

All who have raged against him

will come to him and be put to shame.

25But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel

will be found righteous and will exult.

-James.

[WhiteWings]

UR is a bit unclear.
Better would be CUR. The C of guess what... Christian 
That excludes all other religions.

But because I'm a lazy typer I stick to UR 

[jabcat]

That's a good point WW, about the 'C' part of it.

Here's Gary Amirault's (founder/owner Tentmaker) view, and I personally see it very much the same way.  He calls his belief of UR "The Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ".  In the following he s/w compares the view of "Jesus"/Biblical UR to "inclusion"/everybody's already OK/all roads lead to God, etc.

http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/pearsons_doctrine_of_inclusion.htm

[eaglesway]

CCUR

Christ Centered Universal Reconciliation

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
(Eph 1:8-10)

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Php 2:9-11)

 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
(from Col 1:14-20)


And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
(Rev 5:13)


Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
(Rom 11:33-36)


Rev 21:5  And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He *said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

Oh wow do I ever love the word of God. UURRATTJC......
 
Ultimate Universal Reconciliation and Restoration of All Things Through Jesus Christ!!!!
am I going overboard ????   

[Beloved Servant]

Overboard???
There was only ONE window in Noah's Ark!

[eaglesway]

I think I found it!!!!

[Universalist Catholic]

Universal Reconciliation I dont think is a religion, based on the fact that it does not exclude anyone from salvation, or expect you to join a particular denomination in order to be saved.  But most of the churches that dont call themselves religions are more based on a theological outline based on mans ideas which all are expected to believe.  As for religions being Eual, yes they are pretty much equal.  Both mainstream Christianity and non-Christian religions do have a chunk of truth to them, but the religions still are incomplete.  They get trapped in their dogma. 
For Example: Mainstream Christians are correct to believe that Jesus died on the cross for the salvation for the world, and he is the only one who can save.  The problem is that they dont believe that Jesus sacrifice includes everyone, and that we "Reap what we sow".  Modern Christians believe that you follow the right doctrine and the right rules, your good to go, while everyone who was in the wrong church is doomed to hell. 

Eastern Faith are essentially right about the belief that all will eventually be reconciled but will have to endure Judgment.  According to their theology, they are punished and rewarded based on their deeds, but the punishments come to an end.  However they do not recognize a personal figure who came and died for their sins and brings them to salvation. 


Humanism is essentially right about the treatment and value of man.  Lets face it, most world religions have in some way committed autrocities that did injustice to people based on the hierarchy of religion, and beliefs that some were insuperior to others.

[Cardinal]

  And it will continue until they realize Truth is not a set of abstract ideas, but a PERSON, and they get to know Him via His Spirit. Got Truth? Blessings....

[WhiteWings]

Universal Reconciliation I dont think is a religion,

Depends a bit on what you define as a religion. Take a look athe the word "religion" Its a combination of two Latin words and basicly means:
Re-Bind
Re-Connect
(Augustines definition)

Or and alternative view:
- Choose
- Consider carefully
--> Re-Consider.

Isn't UR about all the above and especially the Augustine interpretation?

[eaglesway]

World religions are just that- religions of the world. Religion nailed Jesus to a cross. Religion and truth are not synonyms. Religion is not even a positive word unless it is accompanied by an adjective like "true". Atrocities are common in "the world". "In Christ" the divine nature is the well from which the living water flows. "You shall know them by their fruits."

That's why the term "church" has become so ubiquitous. Just because someone kills, imprisons or excludes someone in "Jesus name", doesnt mean they are a part of the Body of Christ. Some of the greatest devils ever were "Christian leaders" in name -but servants of evil in word & deed. These are no different than the deceived Muslim who murders for Allah. Atrocities are committed by the wicked of "this world"- no matter what they call themselves.