Kerry Howley has read deeply into Huckabee, and is disturbed by what she sees:
If you can get past all the dieting tips and self-congratulatory stories of scrappy-underdog-makes-good, past the narcissism and the naiveté, Huckabee emerges as a relatively consistent Christian universalist. ... The problem with all this lovely universalism is that it comes packaged with a certain moral utopianism, and I’d really rather we didn’t put yet another moral utopian in command of the most powerful military in the history of the universe.
Hard to argue with that last point, at least from my perspective (me, I prefer a Christian particularist who is also given over to a certain moral realism). I look forward, I think, to reading the story she says she's about to publish about Huckabee.
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Rod, what is the difference between a "relatively consistent Christian universalist" and a "a Christian particularist who is also given over to a certain moral realism?"
Rod, what is the difference between a "relatively consistent Christian universalist" and a "a Christian particularist who is also given over to a certain moral realism?"
It's possessing that "tragic sense of life"--the ineffable quality that Rod is forever hoping our elected leaders will have someday, and which they never will. This is the United States of America, and its inhabitants want their representatives to ooze their own felt optimism--it is very deep in national marrow and has changed very little from Puritan New England to Second Great Awakening Tennessee to Ecotopia northern California.
The closest we have ever come to it is Lincoln in his Second Inaugural--but oops, Rod is gravitating towards that brand of paleocon thought where Abe is The Father of All That Is Evil. Musn't look for any wisdom *there*!
Isn't "universalism" the belief that all people may be saved, whereas "particularism" means you're going to Hell unless you specifically express religious belief in Jesus as your personal savior? I don't get why the President of the United States needs to profess either belief. What does this have to do with national policy?
Nor do I see how anyone can argue that Huckabee is a universalist. That would not be congruent with the teachings of his church, would it? Are you saying that Huckabee is a HERETIC?? And that the real problem with him is that he's too LIBERAL in his thinking? Is the meaning of "moral realism" restricted to "willingness to kill the infidel, and certainty that he'll go to Hell once he's dead"? I'd consider "bloodymindedness" a better term for that . . . but either way I don't know why you'd think Huckabee doesn't have it.
I too am confused by the use of "Christian universalist". I do not think that my understanding of this phrase is at all consistent with how it is being used here.
I would identify as a Christian universalist as identified correctly by sig above. If anything that probably means that I would be more hard-nosed since I understand the goal of all life as to attain a state where one can co-exist with God and see all suffering, including time spent in hell as being useful towards that purpose.
(Good things can help to, I'm just pointing out that belief in the eventual universal reconciliation of all things is in no way synonymous with being a pansy.)
I'm guessing the universalist vs particularist thing is intended to convey something else, but I'm not sure what.
it would be Good News if indeed Huck is now a universalist...
that would show some personal growth...
"Are you saying that Huckabee is a HERETIC??"
now there's a thought...
if true...
then that's a sign of a better grasp of Reality...
so he may have the making of a wise president...
that would be a good change...
yes, here's hoping that the heretic wins in 2008...
happy new year faith hope love joy peace to all...
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