The Merciful-Hearted God: David Bentley Hart [Rebroadcast]

This conversation with David Bentley Hart was our most-downloaded episode of 2020, and we are glad to return to its vital message of hope as the year draws to a close.

We speak with Eastern Orthodox theologian and scholar David Bentley Hart about his recent book, That All Shall Be Saved.

In this challenging book, Hart makes the case that nearly two millennia of dogmatic tradition have misled readers on the crucial matter of universal salvation.

On the basis of the earliest Christian writings, theological tradition, scripture, and logic, Hart argues that if God is the good creator of all, he is the savior of all, without fail. And if he is not the savior of all, the Kingdom is only a dream, and creation something considerably worse than a nightmare. But it is not so. There is no such thing as eternal damnation; all will be saved. With great rhetorical power, wit, and emotional range, Hart offers a new perspective on one of Christianity’s most important themes.

David Bentley Hart is an Eastern Orthodox scholar of religion, and a philosopher, writer, and cultural commentator. His books include The Experience of God and The New Testament.