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Universalism and Religions: Quaker Universalist Reader #2
Edited by Patricia A. Williams

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: What is Universalism?
Quaker Universalism in a World Religious Setting by Paul Alan Laughlin
A Theology of Quaker Universalism by Ralph Hetherington
The Need for Universalism by Phillip Hills
What Universalism Is Not by Richard Allen
The Quaker/Unitarian Universalist Connection by Chris Buice
Open Letter from the Religious Society of Friends, Quakers, in Norway by Hans Eirik Aarek (sign), Clerk, Norway Yearly Meeting; Erik Cleven (N), by Karin Ern (S), Mogens Clausen (DK), Universalism Conference Epistle Committee

Chapter 2: What Is Universal?
Is the God of the Bible Ever Universal? by Eric M Thompson
The Spiritual Reach of the Human Mind by James Hemming
The Interior Life and the Universal by Lorna M Marsden
A View of Quaker Universalism by Rhoda Gilman
A Unifying Theology by Ihsan Rasmy
Universal Salvation? by Anne Ashworth
Autonomy and the Teaching of Jesus by John R Lickorish
A Universalist Ethic? by Ben Vincent

Chapter 3: Universalism and Quakerism
Universal WHAT? by Lynne Phillips
Robert Barclay, Theologian of Quaker Universalism by Chuck Fager
The Quakers and the Christian Myth by Lorna M Marsden
Universalism in Search of a Dynamic by Ralph Hetherington
Response to Letter to a Universalist by Alex Gero
Thoughts Stimulated by Alex Gero by Marti Matthews

Chapter 4: Universalism and Christianity
A Talk Given at Yearly Meeting in London by Ralph Hetherington
The Authenticity of Liberal Quakerism by Chuck Fager
Quaker Universalism and Anti-Universalism by Alex Gero
Universalism and Me by H Otto Dahlke
A Unifying Influence in the Society of Friends: Quakers and Christ by Alec Davison
Are You a Yeshuan? by Kingdon W Swayne
Is There an “Alternative Christianity”? by William Kriebel
Christian or Not? by Caroline Series
A Quaker Universalist Looks at Christmas by Elizabeth Béguin

Chapter 5: Universalism and Nonchristian Religions
Universalism and Inter-Faith by Norman Richardson
The Universal Nature of Jesus’ Teaching by Jim McDowell
Quaker Spirit and Buddhist Practice by Rhoda R Gilman
Light from the East by Jim McDowell
Pacifism in World Religions: A Hindu-Quaker Link by Edward Owen
Our Universal Religions by Ihsan Rasmy
Why Not Join the Unitarians? by Robin Alpern
A Great People To Be Gathered by Robinson Jones
Godless for God’s Sake: Demystifying Mysticism by David Boulton
Theological Diversity within Twin Cities Meeting by Twin Cities
Walk Cheerfully—in Japan by Anne Ashworth
Out of a Single Fire: Sikhs and Quakers by Dharam Singh

From the Introduction
Universalism has been an integral aspect of Quakerism since the seventeenth century. From its beginning, Quakerism challenged both Protestantism and Catholicism by proclaiming the universality of a Divine Light. The Light shown in every person, Quakerism declared, regardless of religion, race, sex, nationality, or moral behavior. The ubiquity of the Light constituted Quakerism’s universalism.

Today, the common definition of universalism is different. Today universalism implies eventual salvation for every person. The early Quakers rejected this kind of universalism, for they saw many reject the Light within them. A secondary meaning of universalism today is that all religions have valuable insights to offer, an idea the early Quakers accepted. Another understanding is that the major religions have much in common, especially a universal ethic. Still another is the hope that one universal religion will develop. Both these latter ideas arose too recently to have been addressed by the early Quakers.

The first chapter, What Is Universalism? is about the concept of universalism—is it about universal salvation, a universal Light, or what? The second, What Is Universal? is about the quest for human universals: do we have a common spirituality, say, or a common set of morals, or common basis of religion? The last three chapters look at universalism and religion, specifically Quakerism (an unconventional form of Christianity), a more orthodox Christianity, and finally non-Christian religions. . . .

by Patricia A. Williams