de Torquemada's Logic

aTomas de Torquemada (1420-1498) was probably not known to his friends as “TT” or any other nickname for that matter. In fact, he probably had few friends. You see, he was known as “The Grand Inquisitor.” As Grand Inquisitor, his job was to ensure doctrinal orthodoxy by whatever means. In addition to torturing and burning at the stake hundreds of “conversos” (Jews or Muslims who had converted to Catholicism), he supported the Alhambra Degree (1492) which expelled hundreds of Jews and Muslims from Spain. There is no doubt that inquisitors, including de Torquemada, were seeking purity of doctrine, purity of faith and political and ecclesiastical power. However, alongside these less-than holy goals, he also desired the true conversion of those he tortured and burned. Here’s how it worked in his mind. If a person died a true catholic, he or she was spared the torture of hellfire. Hellfire being of much longer duration, was infinitely more severe. Therefore, torture and death in this life were of small consequence in comparison. A person, therefore, taken into custody of the Inquisition rarely had the hope of release; she or he died either in or out of communion of the church. If confession was made, the death was often swifter and more merciful, but death was still the end as it was deemed that the person should die before any recantation could take place. Some of these conversations are recorded in an Inquisitor’s own words in the book The Martyr’s Mirror, a book about the persecution of the Anabaptists under the Inquisition in the 16th century. We are repulsed by the horror of such thought, but is it not still a logical one? Is it not better to suffer a little and enter into bliss than to die and suffer eternal torment? Andrea Yates, who drowned her five children in 2001 (ages six months to seven years) told her prison psychiatrist, Melissa Ferguson, “…her sons were developing improperly. …It was the seventh deadly sin. My children weren't righteous. They stumbled because I was evil. The way I was raising them, they could never be saved. They were doomed to perish in the fires of hell. …they had to die to be saved." Most Christians believe that a child who dies prior to age 12 will be saved automatically since they have not yet reached the “age of accountability,” that is, they have committed no sins of their own. If Ms. Yates believed, then there is again, a certain logic to her actions: Better to die young than to suffer eternally. Though it seems, to this point, that Advocate torture and death to avoid hell, I would like to take this argument into an entirely different direction. Suppose hell didn’t exist? Suddenly the whole logic disappears. No hell, no torture, no drowning of children. But how can this be? The Christian church back to Augustine, believes in hell. The word is even in the Bible. But it isn’t in the Bible. I’m not going to go into all the technical details of translation and Hebrew and Greek words here. Suffice it to say that scripture nowhere uses the equivalent Hebrew or Greek word for an ever-burning torture chamber. (Below are some links to sources of information on this subject.) Scriptures do not even declare annihilation. What they do declare is that all mankind, first, last, best and worst will eventually come to know and love Him who is the Lamb “Who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) When I first understood this glorious Good News, I danced and sang in my spirit (well, as much as a truly introverted recluse can sing and dance). Think of it, is it not the most wonderful news you could possibly imagine? My children, grandchildren, aunts uncles, cousins, nieces nephews, siblings and parents along with everyone I’ve ever known or possibly could know; all mankind will share in that wonder of wonders, an eternity of love, joy and peace with our Lord Jesus Christ, His blessed Father and our constant companion the eternal Spirit. Whether you believe me or not, you must still admit, you’d like it to be true. This is not an attempt to convince you or coerce you into believing as I do. I share this as something so beautiful it’s impossible not to share it. I am aware that it is controversial in the Christian church; I objected to it for most of my life. It is the Good News, the Best of all News promised to Abraham and announced by the angels in glorious song at His birth. Here are a few of the primary scriptures which burst into my awareness and made me a believer in this glorious belief (all scriptures from NASB-used with permission.) The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." John 12:32 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15: 20-22 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:15-22 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1:14-20 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, Titus 2:11 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 3:5, 6 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. 1 Timothy 4:9, 10 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 1 John 2:1, 2 Sources Tomas de Torquemada Wikipedia article: “Tomas de Torquemada” Andrea Yates’ story: Houston Chronicle, February 23, 2002. http://www.chron.com/news/article/Feb-23-Psychiatrist-says-mom-delusional-2103360.php Hell and universal reconciliation: Hope Beyond Hell (Note: This book is the first reading I did on the subject.) http://www. HopeBeyondHell Charles and Paula Slagle http://sigler.org/slagle/ Eric stetson http://www.christian-universalism.com/ Concordant Publishing http://www.concordant.org/ Harold Lovelace http://haroldlovelace.com/ J Preston Eby http://www.kingdombiblestudies.org Sigler Ministries http://sigler.org/ A Tale of Two Twins http://www.sigler.org/slagle/tale_of_twins.htm Tentmaker Ministries http://www.tentmaker.org/ Tom Talbot http://www.sigler.org/slagle/tom_talbot.htm Note: While the sites listed above vary somewhat in emphasis and even on significant details, all of them contend that all mankind will be saved. I do not agree with all of their conclusions, methods, or arguments but I do agree with that primary conclusion. 09.29.12