Universalists

Universalists are adherents of universalism, a family of views arguing that certain principles, outcomes, or truths are universal in scope. The term is used in religious, philosophical, and ethical contexts to describe beliefs that apply to all people or all of existence, rather than being limited by culture, locale, or circumstance.

In religious usage, universalism most often denotes the belief in universal salvation—the idea that all beings will ultimately be reconciled with the divine and spared eternal punishment. In Christianity it has roots in the early church and gained a formal following in 18th–19th century America with theologians such as Hosea Ballou and the founding Universalist Church of America. In the 20th century this tradition influenced liberal Christianity and played a central role in the formation of the Unitarian Universalist Association through the 1961 merger of the Universalist and Unitarian denominations.

In philosophy and ethics, universalism describes the view that some class of truths, values, or properties holds universally. Moral universalism asserts that objective moral principles apply to all people regardless of culture or context, contrasting with moral relativism. In metaphysics or epistemology, universalism can refer to beliefs about universal propositions, universal time, or universal knowledge that transcends particular situations.

While religious universalism remains a minority position in most faith communities, its influence persists in liberal theology and ecumenical movements. Moral and epistemic forms of universalism continue to be debated within metaethics, metaphysics, and philosophy of religion.

Critics argue that universalist claims may downplay justice, historical particularity, or the significance of personal choice. Proponents respond that universals provide common ground for critique and moral discourse and encourage inclusive, pluralistic engagement.