Once Loved Always Loved: The Logic of Apokatastasis

by Andrew Hronich

In this book, Andrew Hronich endeavors to synthesize the many strands of orthodox doctrine into a single ultimate reconciliation. While a great deal of ink has already been spilled on this subject, this book addresses ponderances previously overlooked due to a lack of ecumenical dialogue between the differing streams of Christian tradition. Ancient lights, such as Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, and Clement of Alexandria are given a voice to speak again to the masses, whilst contemporary thinkers, such as Thomas Talbott, David Bentley Hart, and Eric Reitan, are unleashed upon the unwitting world of Christian philosophy. Stagnant tradition has hindered the church from abiding by its historic motto semper reformanda, but with its ecumenical voice, this book calls on Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox adherents alike to acknowledge apokatastasis panton, the salvation of all beings, as the orthodoxy it always has been.

Genres: Religion

636 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2023

Reviews

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love and agree with the theory, and don't regret the money I spent to buy this book new, after listening to some of Hronich's interviews.

But I abandoned this book to a permanent spot on my bookshelf midway through, since there was so little new here to me, with the exception of some creative typos, e.g., the author expects to "shake ends with" [a prominent theologian from history]. The doctrine of apokatastasis surely shook my end—or my view of the End—but when it comes to real people, I'd rather shake hands, Mr Hronich.

Andrew is a better speaker than writer; if you don't want to buy the book, look up some of his interviews, such as on the Love Unrelenting website. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xlaj...).

If you aren't sure whether you want to purchase the book, here are quotes from the introduction to give you a sense of his style (though it's even wordier than this, since I abridged a bit) and perspective:

"I would like to air a concern I have with the rhetoric of this volatile conversation. I have known quite a few folks turned off to universalism from statements made by impassioned universalists taught to fight like Hell against those damned infernalists. ...No matter what objection a non-universalist raises, there will be several universalists in the comments zealously shouting, 'You just don't understand what so-and-so is saying.' ...I sincerely pray this book would prove the exception both in its perspicuous charity and its ecumenical heart. I love universalism because I love people. If I didn't love people, I wouldn't love universalism. However, oftentimes it would appear that certain universalists love simply to be proven right as opposed to loving their neighbor. This is regrettable, and if you have been on the receiving end of a testosterone raging universalist, I offer my most sincere, heartfelt apology. Please do not judge us by our radicals.

"Likewise, I am also beginning to lose patience with non-universalists who argue like online atheists. Such individuals often insist in blog forums, 'There is no evidence for theism!' ...I've heard [non-universalists] rage, 'There is no evidence for universalism!'...I encourage my interlocutors to...clearly identify which premise of the universalist's argument you reject.

..."Raising objections against universalism and thus inferring that it should be rejected is not a wise standard for discerning truth. Rather, one must demonstrate that there are more (or weightier) reasons for the rejection of universalism as opposed to one's own theory. By raising incessant objections, a non-universalist often hopes to oblige his incautious reader to forget that there are infinitely more and stronger objections against his own position.

..."I hope to raise the bar of discourse as well as encourage those of my persuasion not to fall for such diversionary tactics. You have the facts on your side, so pound the facts! They have but the table on their side, so it's unsurprising that they should pound it instead!"

For a more thorough review of this book, I hope you check out Fr Aidan Kimel's Eclectic Orthodoxy blog. (https://afkimel.wordpress.com/essenti....)

I, too, love universalism because I love people. Since finding this doctrine, I can drive into town with joy. He is God's! She will be God's! They cannot see the kingdom now, but someday they will meet the King and He will astonish them with His love. Some days I cannot bear the joy without crying. (But how much better than the years I cried without hope.) The cursing couple in the waiting room; the pompous preacher who worships an institution rather than the Christ; the woman, clearly in pain, snarling at her son...none of these are destined for an endless existence worse than the hell they know now, meted out by a god worse than Hitler.

She—he—they—YOU!—all of us! are once loved, always loved. Let him that is athirst, come.

[Squire Whitney: Hufflepuff Book Reviwer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Once Loved, Always Loved: The Logic of
Apokatastasis shines as the most thorough universalist treatise out there, providing in-depth philosophical, exegetical, and historical arguments—despite falling short of the Magnum Opus that Hronich professedly aimed for. There are a plethora of typos—including a few paragraphs getting repeated word-for-word—and the philosophical content is difficult to follow (coming from someone who mostly followed David Bentley Hart’s book).

Nevertheless, what Hornich has produced as a young college student is remarkable, and I am confident that his craft will improve as he matures. Once Loved Always Loved attains a worthy spot alongside greats work on The Larger Hope.

[Matthew Rumsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent defense of Purgatorial Universalism. Other than some early sections where the author heavily uses symbolic logic to argue complicated philosophical propositions, the book is quite understandable and the arguments are laid out cogently. Admittedly, the Kindle version at least has some spelling/grammar mistakes that were overlooked during editing.

I think this is a great book to add to the already large chorus of Christian Universalist voices. Give it a chance!

[Matthew Adelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and extremely convincing defense of universalism.