The Story of Carlton Pearson

November 29, 2007 on 1:25 pm | In Shout-Outs, TV/Movies/Theatre/Book Reviews |

You might remember this story about the charismatic pastor Carlton Pearson who got slain by the Holy Spirit one night and became a universalist.

I’m preaching on the free and responsible search for truth and meaning this Sunday and listening to his story on This American Life at Panera and trying not to cry. My sermon is called “The Free, Responsible (And Sometimes Shocking) Search for Truth and Meaning.”

I was doing okay not bawling until I hear a recording of Pearson reading some Scripture (I John, 2) to his congregation and when
he says, in a voice full of passionate intensity and love “Listen to this, babies,” I lose it.
Napkins! Napkins!

To think of being named an actual heretic in this day and age. Heart-wrenching.

(It’s a real shame that the reporter doesn’t seem to have the vaguest clue about Universalism — it’s a serious and seriously upsetting omission — when he means Universalists he says “Unitarians” (as in “The Unitarians stopped believing in Hell a long time ago). He also mistakenly reports that the United Church of Christ is “the only denomination that accepts gay marriage.” )

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  1. When the Pope talks like this, I’m not sure Universal salvation such a uniquely UU concept anymore.

    Our local Church historian told me the stories of some of the local, and large, Universalist Churches now long gone, and said he thought they were done in during the 20’s when the mainline stopped preaching fire and brimstone.

    I’m guessing he’s right.

    Comment by Bill Baar — November 29, 2007 #

  2. I loved Carlton even before he converted to Universalism. His conversion just made me respect him more. Hopefully one of these days the UUCF will actually be able to get him for either GA or Revival (we’ve been trying for a while now…it will eventually come to pass).
    [SO glad to hear that, Kim! I was wondering if that had ever been up for discussion. I would LOVE to have him to a UU Christian gathering! - PB]

    And Bill, just thought you would like to know that the Catholic Church has had a long stream of Universalist theologies. Hell has always been a touchy subject in Christendom.

    Comment by Kim Hampton — November 29, 2007 #

  3. I think that Pearson rocks, and have even quoted him in a sermon or two. It’s a shame that more ministers in the Christian persuasion aren’t more open about their own universalism. It’s hard to sit at the death of a good person, watch the destruction of Africa, and see the pain of HIV/AIDS in children and not be a universalist! I really think that many preachers believe it, but would NEVER say it from the pulpit.

    Comment by Lia — November 30, 2007 #

  4. Bill, you can’t take one comment as proving universalism. Heck, the panzerpapa’s latest encyclical isn’t exactly cozy with that view.

    Comment by Patrick McLaughlin — December 1, 2007 #

  5. Patrick… well it was one comment from a Pope…

    …but my experience is Christianity at least in the US doesn’t talk a whole lot about Hell and Damnation that much… Illinois was filled with Universalist Churchs, some big, and they’ve disappeared. It’s speculation, but not unreasonable, to say one reason is the mainline became awfully Universalist sounding… they coopeted them.

    Comment by Bill Baar — December 3, 2007 #

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