Rating: 
Summary: For big hearts and expansive imaginations
Review: It is so sad to see some of the prior reviewers clinging so desperately to literalist Christianity and narrow views about God. Is vengeance so dear to them that they require God cast souls to eternal damnation? Most of the world and most of the people who have ever lived were not Christians. What kind of God; or more exact, what man-made definition of God; would throw tens of billions of souls into eternal hell-fire? What does that say about the people who believe this? The Bible, and the very words of Christ, are not nearly so clear on the subject as some would think. Also, each book of the Bible was written with very human, easy-to-pick-out agendas in mind; some quite mean-spirited. What is "hell" and who really places whom there? Admonishments toward Pharisees and other unsavory characters seem to indicate they themselves have separated themselves from God; not God from them. Even so, God is ever much bigger than any human ego. Why wouldn't/couldn't he take such souls back anyway?Proper interpretation of Scripture requires the light of experience. That's where our authors come in. Their thesis is developed out of the light of their experience and they have done a convincing and satisfying job. We all came from God and there is no good reason why we won't return to God. All of us contain the "Inner Light" that founding Quaker, George Fox, wrote about so eloquently; an Inner Light from God and to return to God once we are no more. The authors let their experience open their hearts and let that supreme gift from God, their imaginations, run free to expand their notions of God and to realize that we are indeed all one and we all are of God. Whether or not one judges the authors to have made a satisfactory case will depend on the hardness of our hearts and the limitations of our imaginations. The reviewer who said that this book will sell well with those on the polar extremes of the liberal-conservative spectrum is probably right.
Rating:
Summary: Universalist Treasure
Review: Ken's Guide to Universalist Books-
If Grace Is True: Why God Will Save Every Person
by Philip Gulley and James Mulholland,
2003 Harper San Francisco Before opening the pages of this book, you find yourself impressed by the caliber of the "endorsements" on its back cover --- from Jesus, John the Baptist, St. Paul, and other Universalists --- ancient and modern --- all speaking the language of classic Universalism. You realize that this book is a "must read" for all Universalists. If Grace Is True: Why God Will Save Every Person is written by two Quaker ministers --- friends since seminary --- to describe a spiritual journey that resulted in their belief in Universalism (the idea that God will save ALL --- immediately or eventually). Thoroughly indoctrinated during their childhood in Christian dogma that prescribed some to be saved but most to be damned, both authors grew to embrace what they term the "controversial" and "heretical" view of Universal Salvation. Philip Gulley is the author of a series of Christian fiction set in "Harmony, Indiana". James Mulholland, who also has some Methodist and American Baptist background, is the author of Praying Like Jesus, a book written in response to the "gimme" prayer, the Prayer of Jabez. Interestingly, the authors' transformation did not occur after studying the writings of Universalists who have retained a minority but enduring position within Christianity from the early church fathers to the present. True to the Quaker tradition of heeding your Inner Light (the guiding presence of God within us), they base their views primarily on their own life experiences of God. Within Scripture, they recognize how the perspective of Peter, Paul, and others were changed by their own life experiences. They feel that the God of Jesus continues to be available to those who hear God's voice. One describes a mystical experience he had while in college and states that, "all religious truth is born of intimate experiences of God. Belief and Scripture are the offspring of such experiences". Throughout the book, this sentence repeated: I believe that God will save every person. Examples of grace and hope found in the Bible are interfaced with the authors' own experience of God's Universal love for humankind in all its diversity. They seem especially moved when they learn that a friend who is an exemplary person is homosexual. Their understanding of the grace of God keeps expanding. Citing their own experience of fatherhood, they recall Jesus' teachings about the nature of God as our parent --- the best parent that could ever be. They are convinced that God loves his defiant children as well as his well-behaved ones. They experience God as just, loving, and patient whose purifying fire of love will redeem the ungrateful and the wicked --- even Hitler. (This type of theology is formally known as "Restorative Universalism".) The authors do not deny evil but have faith that, in the end, God will save us all. By affirming their belief in Universalism, Gully and Mulholland are forced to reinterpret some other traditional theological positions. For example, they state that: God will save people who have not known Jesus; God's forgiveness does not require sacrifice but is the choice of God; the cross illustrates the cost of being gracious in an ungracious world; Jesus did not save us from an angry God but revealed the saving grace of God; salvation comes from believing that God loves you unconditionally; God was present in Jesus in the same way God wishes to be present in all of us; Jesus revealed that God is our Savior, and God extends his grace beyond the grave; the resurrection was the triumph of grace. Anyone who has tried to explain Universalism to a mainline or conservative Christian knows the anger that can be aroused when you talk of God's love, grace, and universal forgiveness for all. Once when challenged, one author replied, "Do you really think God would damn you to hell for overestimating his love?" Multiple examples for discussing Universalism with others are provided. The book has two appendices: 1) Universalist Themes and Verses in Scripture and 2) A Short History of Universalism. My only criticism is that the appendix on scripture could have included many more Bible verses that convey the Universalist message, although a nice sampling of Universalist verses is given. This book is enjoyable to read and easy to understand. Its message is clear: Heaven will be populated with people of every persuasion, and God will never be satisfied until every seat is filled at the banquet table. The authors' poignant real-life examples and descriptions of how their own life experiences gradually convinced them of God's Universal restoration make it a treasure. Buy it for yourself, and buy a copy for anyone you know who is curious about Universalism. Originally published in the Universalist Herald, Sept./Oct.,2003, Vol. 154, No. 4
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing... But there are better books out there!
Review: Like one of the reviewers below, I was disappointed when I read this book. I was hoping for biblical support for universal reconciliation, but the authors do not provide it; rather, they discard the idea of infallibility. Moreover, they have adopted what we might call a pluralist form of universalism, which says, "Anything goes." As an evangelical Christian deeply drawn the idea of universal reconciliation, I thought this went too far and could not accept it. Fortunately, a strong (biblical) case can be made for the ultimate reconciliation of all people to God, through the work of Jesus Christ. You just need to look elsewhere. For example, I have greatly appreciated Thomas Talbott's thinking in, "The Inescapable Love of God." You can find a dialogue between Talbott and other scholars in "Universal Salvation? The Current Debate," edited by Robin Parry and Christopher Partridge. The latter book also has a website (www.universalsalvation.net) with a (rather sparse) discussion board and links to other helpful sites/articles. For those of you yearning to believe that God can and will save all people, yet who cannot reject the authority of Scripture and the necessity of Jesus' atoning work, do not give up until you have read other books.
One further note about this book. I sensed that the authors' position stemmed from their personal (unfortunately negative) experiences with the church, rather than solid scholarship. Let me explain. They apparently grew up in quite legalistic, "works-oriented" (to use a rather cliche term) churches that tended to judge and condemn non-Christians. As they began to discover the grace of God and His love for all people, they extrapolated such ideas to mean that He must save all people. While I am drawn to this idea and am being logically convinced of it, their response seems more emotional than rational. It IS possible to believe that we are saved entirely by grace and that God passionately loves all people, without holding to a universalist position. They seem to have reacted so strongly to their upbringing that they forgot about this middle ground; their theological pendulum, as it were, swung all the way to the other extreme. Again, this is not to say that the other extreme is wrong, but I do believe that their arrival at that position was more reactionary than logical.
Rating: 
Summary: theology or ramblings?
Review: Ok, so I read it, and here is what I have to offer. First, if you are a Christian, and believe that Jesus is GOD (i.e. The holy trinity) and that the bible is the THE Word of GOD, then this book will sound more like a pastor's memoirs and chicken soup for the theology soul than a theologically challenging thesis. I was motivated by recommendations such as "This book challenges many long and strongly held beliefs about Christianity." But early and often in the book, Gulley/ Mullholland chooses to dismiss scripture when it goes against his argument. While I give him credit for not trying to twist scripture to mean what he wants it to mean, I give no credit for dismissing it completely. It was at this point that I realized I wasn't reading a thoroughly researched thesis about salvation, I was reading about a pastors feelings.
Especially when he then uses scripture to support his arguments throughout the book. This picking and choosing of verses is not very challenging. The book has several themes that trouble me though. Gulley/ Mullholland makes it sound like every one who doesn't believe in what he believes has to be one or all of the following:
a. A believer in the eternal torture of lost souls by an angry God full of wrath.
b. Someone who believes the only way to salvation is by works.
c. A jealous person who is afraid of universalism because it means people who don't deserve to go to heaven will be there along with us who deserve it.
d. Stubborn bible thumpers who think they have al the answers.
e. A believer who doesn't believe in a loving God. In reality there are many people who don't believe in Universalism, but believe God to be a God of grace, and A God of Love. It's hard to get through this book without feeling like a majority of people aren't being heard. You can believe in death and no ongoing punishment, believe in salvation by grace, not care who is in heaven since it's between God and that person and believe that God is Love without being a Universalist. This book would tell you otherwise. Always one to find something positive, I think this book does well to remind us as christians how rarley we show the grace that has been given to us by our father. It's funny that when I came to know Christ and grace, I really wanted it to be for everyone, I was angry with God for not doing it that way. I have come to find out, based on the word of GOD that GOD is love and not everyone will be in heaven. It'll take more than a hunch to convince me otherwise. That's al this book is...a hunch.
Albeit a well written hunch, which is why I gave it a three stars. God Bless...
Rating:
Summary: Every Christian must read and think about this!
Review: Okay. The big problem with many people in how they approach this book is that they fear that universalism means that "all roads lead to heaven." So, when the authors talk about their belief that God will save every person, they go about it with the mindset that it doesn't matter what people "do" because God will inevitably save all. Okay, stay with me on this. If we believe this as believers, then what is our motivation behind God's grace and love. Is it a "do" philosophy? Is it ultimately up to us to "evangelize" the gospel to death or really preach the true message (love of Christ) to the world in need. I recognize that it is by grace that we have been saved and I realize that faith without works is dead. However, when people (including myself sometimes) respond with the rebuttle, "then why should we evangelize?" if God is going to save all...this really scares me. To these people, like the authors, I feel like we've missed God's love and grace. I wonder if we too are sill one of the lost sheep. If we were in love with God, then we should be infuriated with passion and love for Christ to live out daily no matter how many times we get rejected. I think people fear universalism, the word because they think that be adherring to it, they must live individually, as if there's no point in spreading the love of Christ. Again, if this is the typical "Christian" response, then I question why we call ourselves Christians. If we wish to throw out the love of God when we realize that in due time and in the fullness and power of God through time, He will bring everyone back to his loving arms, then why should we be distraught? This should be great news for us, even though it is hard to resist thinking otherwise. As far as hell, I think it does it exist...for now. BUT, I believe God to be bringing those back to Him who may have ended up in hell too. Death is not the final toll. It isn't for lovers of Christ and it isn't eternally for people who've denied Christ as well. However, there are verses that I've looked at they say, those who deny Christ will be denied after death. But Romans 8:38-39 and that part in Revelation where it says, "One day every tongue will confess you are God and one day every knee will bow," leads me to think like Madeleine L'Engle...it leads me to think that God in his greatness, goodness and perfect Love will be reconciled with all of us eventually. If that is called universalism, then I'm a universalist. I think every Christian should be. However, every Christian does not think this is the definition of universalism. It's a tricky word...that's what's really in question here. (Also, you will not agree with everything said in this book, but aside from this, you cannot dispute the whole book because some of the author's theological beliefs seem to be askewed. I believe in the Trinity, I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, I believe Jesus is God's son, was crucified and rose again and is alive. I believe that Love will ultimately conquer evil. I don't believe it will be that love wins the democratic majority vote. That is the fault of many believers). Thanks guys, for some thought-provoking words.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful book
Review: Philosopher Immanuel Kant once wrote a speech on "What is Enlightenment." Among many things said in the speech, one point he stresses heavily is the need for one to break free of "self-incurred tutelage" to become fully enlightened. Basically he's saying that in order to see the truth, you must question what you know like the back of your hand. After all, if all your life you're only looking through the lens of one perspective, you're missing out on a lot.
This book is for those who desire enlightenment. It is absolutely necessary to read it with an open mind, or else you will get nothing from it, which would be incredibly unfortunate. When I read this book, I couldn't stop thinking that someone had actually managed to put into writing what I always had in my head.
It's a fast read, and it isn't a long book anyway. I definitely suggest that Christians and non-Christians alike read this work.
Rating:
Summary: Just read it
Review: Read this book and then come back and read through all the reviews written here. If you are like me, you will have a new understanding and greater compassion for those offering the most criticism.
This book challenges many long and strongly held beliefs about Christianity. Yet goes on to show, rightfully I believe, that these beliefs survive more on repetition than experience or even sound reasoning or scriptural backing.
The image of a mean, vindictive and often petty God never rang true with me. But until recently, I had found little to support my alternative view of God as 100 percent loving and forgiving. This book and other reviews give me hope that I am not alone and more importantly, not crazy or on my way to Hell.
If you disagree with this book or even the premise all people will be saved, just ask yourself why. As the book points out, too many people are concerned with defending what they believe rather than asking the important question of why they believe what they do. Be honest with yourself and ask why. If you are true to the question, you will be surprised. Yet love, not Hell fire, awaits you on the other side.
Rating: 
Summary: God will save every person?
Review: The authors attempt to set out why they believe in universalism, or why they believe that everyone will be saved. They appear to give two reasons for this belief. The first is apparently based on their interpretations that go against hundreds of years of generally accepted biblical interpretations of the passages that they give. The second, and probably most important, is they just cannot believe God would send anyone to hell! The grace they believe in is universally applied but is not the grace as biblically defined. They state that their "experiences" as the source for their beliefs and imply that the Bible is secondary source. While the authors do not believe in hell or the devil they fail to state why they do not. The authors in expressing their belief that everyone will be saved makes any belief in Jesus redundant. While in the framework of their theology they believe Jesus is an example to be followed, He is not necessary. The authors engage in what many cults and pseudo-Christian cults do. While unable to justify their beliefs on the Bible alone they must appeal to extra-biblical sources and their "experiences" for authentication of their beliefs.
Rating:
Summary: A poor defense of Universalism
Review: The authors of this book have managed to write a seemingly brilliant defense of standard Universalist doctrine, but upon closer examination it becomes clear that this book will only convince those who already agree with the thesis or are very unsure of what they believe. The authors lay out their position on Universalism and Scripture very clearly in the first chapter. It is made clear that the authors believe in this doctrine because they want it to be true. Readers are fed anecdote after anecdote about people the authors think should be in Heaven, despite clear Biblical teachings about the existence of Hell and accountability for sin. The authors go to great pains to explain that where the Bible and their view contradict, it is because the Bible is incorrect and their emotions or perceptions of God are correct. Need I mention the volatility of human emotions or the limited nature of human experience? A more reliable source of doctrine is needed, and I turn to the Bible which the authors dismiss so casually as being contradictory. This book contains many strawman arguments when it discusses traditional Christianity, and rejects the deity of Christ, which is the primary tenet of Christianity. Unlike the Bible, it does not present the whole picture of the God who created us, who is both loving and just, and it detracts from the true nature of Grace: a gift offered to all, but accepted by few. I have met one of the authors, who is incidentally a distant relative of mine, and he is a very nice man, but sadly I feel his beliefs are very flawed.
Rating:
Summary: Life Changing...
Review: This book challenges the hate and fear mongers of organized religion. It's message is bold and courageous, especially in our current state in America. A must read for all.
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