Hi, everyone!

[Kate]

Hi, everyone!

My name is Kate, I am new here, but far from new to universalism.  I come from a conservative Catholic and Evangelical Protestant upbringing-- I like to joke I inherited twice the guilt. ;)  During my early teens, I stumbled onto heavy Calvinist thought and biblical literalism, and I remained in terrible angst and fear until I began college and finally gathered up the courage to research universal restoration.  The resources at Tentmaker were great, and I also received so much kind instruction and comfort from those on the Evangelical Universalist forum, which was my first true exploration into UR.

Nowadays, I mainly talk with a wonderful group of Universalist and peace-church Christians on Facebook, where we generally refrain from formal discussion and debate about UR.  However, I have recently endeavored to re-read Scripture  without the intense fear I held a decade earlier, and I am looking for more in-depth discussion.  I am struggling to get away from the fundamentalist mindset that still tugs at my conscience whenever I read Scripture, and I must admit I am very afraid to find some words lurking in the Bible that unequivocally disprove the hope of universal salvation in Christ.

So I will surely be asking a lot of questions here.:) I would still call myself a convinced Universalist, because I deeply believe UR must lie at the heart of God, who is Love.  Nonetheless, I am looking more deeply into specifics, with some trepidation but even greater hope.:)

Looking forward to meeting you all. :)
In the Light,

Kate

[eaglesway]

Welcome Kate! Our discussions sometimes run far afield, but I think you will find fellowship and plenty of info here, were we all stand together upon the biblical foundation of the salvation of all.

"Behold, I am making all things new!"

[jabcat]

Welcome.  Be blessed.

[Psalm91:4]

 :icon_flower:   Hi there Kate.  :)

Welcome!    :dsunny:

[Lazarus Short]

Welcome to the Tent!  Remember that Genesis 1:1 fails to state that God made hell, and John 1:3 implies that if God did't make hell, then no one else did either.  Soooooo, where ya gonna go?  Heaven!  :declare:

[ed]

Hi Kate!

:welcome:

[Abigail]

Hi Kate!
Good to have you here!
I'm also a newbie and I struggle with the same things you do concerning Bible reading.
I trust you'll be blessed by the fellowship and wisdom found at the forum.
:girlheart:

[rosered]

Hi Kate  , welcome
  I too recall the nagging doubts   of UR  , when I first heard  , You mean God will save everyone !" 
but , but , but   what about ,,,,  many questions ......
I know when we read the Word of God   , there is the letter of the law that kills and than there is the Spirit of the law that makes alive
  We  have though Jesus Christ cross  being the  works of faith to  determine  , by discerning     between the two   natures and mindsets

of what lives and what does die  within us  all  ....

Gods Holy Spirit teaches us this when we begin to trust in God only for our answers , he just settles    it and  gives a peace that  seems to destroy those doubts

and the more you ask , seek and knock the more the scriptures open up    for more of His gifts of   saving grace  shown to us   by  the Love of God  for His creation

May you also find his  holy pure  peace        :HeartThrob:

[Tom]

Welcome Kate. I think it would help if you read this translation.

http://concordant.org/online/index.html

[Dandelion]

So I will surely be asking a lot of questions here.:) I would still call myself a convinced Universalist, because I deeply believe UR must lie at the heart of God, who is Love.  Nonetheless, I am looking more deeply into specifics, with some trepidation but even greater hope.:)

Looking forward to meeting you all. :)
In the Light,

Kate

Hi Kate!

Your entire note was beautifully spoken. I especially like these last lines.

I am a new 'convert' to UR myself, from a very conservative RC and now my conservative, but definitely non-legalistic, and more open-minded Lutheran background. 

Anyway, I am new on this website, as well, but I find it very friendly and supportive. I think it is a great idea to have moderators, to help keep everyone on common ground.

I hope you enjoy this website, at least as much as I do.

Be blessed to be a blessing!

:welcome:    :hiya:

[CHB]

Hi Kate,

I have been a UR believer for about 40 years and I am still learning things.   :girlheart:

Welcome  :dsunny:

CHB

[micah7:9]

 :welcome: :hithere: