Apocatastasis

 

The restoration of all things.

A very enticing and optimistic theological concept. Probably more so than any other Christian based concept I've encountered. 

In short, apocatastasis is the idea that God loves ALL of His creation and His subjects so much that at some point He is going to restore it back to a state of grace, wholeness, and perfection.

He sees His creation as too valuable to destroy and knows there is more glory in restoring it than annihilating it. 

Permanent condemnation is unacceptable because of how valuable all consciousness is, being a condensed focal point where the universe can experience itself through and be beared host to by a conscious awareness. Since a mind bears host to existence and reality in general, regardless of the extent of knowledge of a person, within ourselves we inherit the value of the universe in our being because of our isolated awareness of it. On top of that, since we are created in God's image and likeness, we mirror the value of God in our being, albeit to a lesser degree of value.

In a sense, because of these factors, simply put‐if you kill a life, essentially you kill a universe. Or put differently, you kill a life, you kill a reflection of God.

Because these factors give conscious beings unfathomably immense value, the thinking behind apocatastasis is that God essentially is compelled by His love for us and our high value to restore us to a state of grace, wholeness, and goodness.

His love for us is so unstoppable, so powerful, and so relentless that He will stop at nothing to purge out our sins and depravity so He can bring us home in unity with Him. He will invade our hearts and minds and purge out all hate and sin, regardless of how long it takes and what resistence we give Him. We are too valuable to be destroyed indefinitely.

The only necessity of hell would be strictly reparative and corrective, like a cleansing of the spirit and a purge or eradication of any evil and sin that has infected and corrupted our being, instead of a prison for wrongdoers and offenders against God. Such a place would be seen as an injustice to an infinite God with infinite love and grace because hell would be like a trash basket of the worst kind and putting a person there would be like throwing away the most beautiful sapphire in the world into that trash basket

God would see such a place as a place that needs to be invaded and liberated, not maintained as an indefinite place of torment and hate.

Apocatastasis demonstrates God's grace as limitless and God's love as relentless, stopping at nothing until what He wants redeemed and restored is redeemed and restored, even radically claiming that the Devil himself, the great enemy, can and will be restored to goodness and rightness instead of destroyed. The argument is even the devil has that same infinite value mentioned earlier because of his consciousness and sentience. Even destroying him would wipe out a universe, albeit maybe a dark and twisted one, but a universe nonetheless. A radical, and at times considered heretical, theological concept, one that has led its adherents to be persecuted at times for the fear of this thinking and the potential repercussions of it.

The fundamental difference between apocatastasis and mainstream christianity is how it sees sin and evil in people. This vantage point has to see sin and evil as separate from the nature and personhood of a conscious being...like a stain on the being of someone, or an infection of sorts, where as mainstream Christianity sees sin and evil as more of a product of someone's will and choices or tied into their accountability. This view in some ways ties sin and evil more into the nature of someone's being, as if the sin or evil was a fundamental part of a person, or the person becoming their sin and wickedness, as if it were who they were. It is not so much God that does this but people more so have a tendency to see other people's flaws as a part of them instead of separatable things. The problem with the latter way of looking at sin and evil is it fundamentally strips the value of a person to at times almost nothing. Since you see a person as a sinner or as wickedness, you see them as the value of those things, and those things have very low value in the eyes of both people and God, even negative value. 

Even with accountability factored in, reducing a person "to" their sin or "to" their flaws strips that person's value down to the level of their sin's value and the level of their flaw's value.

In a sense, seeing sin and evil as inherent in someone's being or a fundamental part of who they are reduces something of infinite worth into almost no value at all. 

The beauty separating the sin from the sinner, or the flaw from the flawed, as if those things were independent entities, or independent "substances,"is that it retains the infinite worth of the person and treats sin as more of an impurity, an infection, or a stain of sorts. 

This enables the correction and restoration of a sinner or bad person, because it doesn't tie those things into the very being of somebody.

This opens the door wide open for grace, and God's limitless love would have fewer obstacles to restore people if our world opened this door more often.

God's grace is so powerful that it can pull somebody out of hell, and His love is so relentless He probably already has.

Who knows, maybe one day God's infinite grace and relentless love might one day render Hell unnecessary.

Apocatastasis: The Theological Justification for the Ultimate Redemption of All Conscious Beings

Abstract

Apocatastasis, derived from the Greek term for "restoration," posits the eventual reconciliation and salvation of all conscious entities, including the Devil and his angels. This paper explores the theological, philosophical, and moral foundations of this doctrine, arguing that eternal damnation is incompatible with the infinite value of conscious beings and the boundless love of an omnipotent God. By examining scriptural interpretations, early Christian thought, and contemporary theological perspectives, we aim to demonstrate that ultimate redemption aligns with divine justice and mercy.

1. Introduction

The concept of eternal damnation has been a cornerstone of traditional Christian eschatology. However, the doctrine of apocatastasis challenges this view, suggesting that God's redemptive plan encompasses all of creation, including those beings traditionally viewed as irredeemable. This perspective raises profound questions about the nature of divine justice, mercy, and the intrinsic worth of conscious beings.

2. Defining Apocatastasis

Apocatastasis refers to the belief in the ultimate restoration of all things to a state of harmony with God. This doctrine extends beyond universal human salvation to include all conscious entities, asserting that God's redemptive purpose is all-encompassing. The term finds its roots in early Christian theology, notably in the teachings of Origen and Gregory of Nyssa, who envisioned a cosmos fully reconciled to its Creator.

3. The Infinite Value of Conscious Beings

Central to the argument for apocatastasis is the assertion that all conscious beings possess immeasurable worth. This value stems from their capacity for awareness, reflection, and relationship with the divine. As articulated in the referenced blog post, each conscious entity serves as a unique focal point through which the universe experiences itself, reflecting the image of God. To condemn such beings to eternal punishment would negate their intrinsic value and the divine image they bear.

4. The Incompatibility of Eternal Damnation with Divine Justice and Mercy

The notion of eternal punishment raises questions about the nature of God's justice and mercy. If God's love is infinite and His mercy boundless, it follows that His redemptive will would ultimately prevail over sin and rebellion. Eternal damnation, by contrast, suggests a limit to divine mercy and an acceptance of perpetual estrangement between Creator and creation. This paper argues that true justice seeks restoration rather than retribution, aiming to heal and reconcile rather than to punish indefinitely.

5. Scriptural Foundations for Universal Restoration

Several scriptural passages support the concept of universal reconciliation. For instance, Acts 3:21 speaks of the "restoration of all things," and Colossians 1:20 declares that through Christ, God seeks "to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven." These verses suggest a divine plan that encompasses all of creation, aiming for ultimate harmony and unity.

6. Early Christian Perspectives

Early theologians such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa advocated for the eventual restoration of all beings. Origen posited that God's corrective punishments are purgatorial, intended to purify and restore rather than to condemn eternally. Gregory of Nyssa similarly envisioned a final reconciliation where even those who have fallen away will be restored to their original state of communion with God.

7. Addressing Objections

Critics of apocatastasis often argue that it undermines moral responsibility and the seriousness of sin. However, this paper contends that acknowledging the possibility of ultimate redemption does not negate the reality of moral consequences. Instead, it emphasizes the transformative power of divine love, which seeks to redeem and restore rather than to punish perpetually. Furthermore, the concept of free will is preserved, as the process of restoration involves the willing return of the prodigal to the embrace of the Father.

8. The Redemption of the Devil and His Angels

The extension of apocatastasis to include the Devil and his angels is a contentious aspect of the doctrine. However, if all conscious beings possess intrinsic value and God's mercy is truly infinite, it follows that even the most fallen beings are not beyond the reach of divine redemption. This perspective does not diminish the gravity of their rebellion but highlights the boundless scope of God's restorative love.

9. Conclusion

Apocatastasis presents a vision of a cosmos wherein all conscious beings are ultimately restored to harmony with their Creator. This doctrine aligns with the infinite value of conscious entities and the boundless mercy of God, challenging traditional notions of eternal damnation. By embracing the possibility of universal restoration, we affirm a theology rooted in hope, love, and the relentless pursuit of reconciliation.

References

Plovanic, Joshua. "Apocatastasis." A Strong Resilience, June 20, 2023. https://www.astrongresilience.com/2023/06/apocatastasis.html

"Apocatastasis." New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01599a.htm

"Apocatastasis." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocatastasis

"Universal Salvation and the Roman Catholic Church." Tentmaker. https://www.tentmaker.org/articles/universal_salvation_roman_catholic.html

"History, the Fifth Ecumenical Council, and Universal Salvation." Eclectic Orthodoxy, July 19, 2024. https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2024/07/19/history-the-fifth-ecumenical-council-and-universal-salvation/

"The Severity of Universal Salvation." Church Life Journal, November 15, 2024. [https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/the-severity-of-universal-salvation/](https://