The Primitive Baptist Universalists are

Christian Universalist Christian universalism is a school of Christian theology focused around the doctrine of universal reconciliation – the view that all human beings will ultimately be saved and restored to a right relationship with God. "Christian universalism" ...

congregations located primarily in the central Appalachian region of the United States. They are popularly known as "No-Hellers" due to their belief that there is no Hell ''per se'', but that Hell is actually experienced in this life.

History

Although they did not split as a denomination away from other

Primitive Baptist Primitive Baptists – also known as Hard Shell Baptists, Foot Washing Baptists or Old School Baptists – are conservative Baptists adhering to a degree of Calvinist beliefs who coalesced out of the controversy among Baptists in the early 19th ...

s until 1924, the Primitive Baptist Universalists (PBUs) have been theologically distinct as

Universalists Universalism is the philosophical and theological concept that some ideas have universal application or applicability. A belief in one fundamental truth is another important tenet in universalism. The living truth is seen as more far-reaching th ...

since at least 1907, when the minutes of the Washington District Primitive Baptist Association record a reproval:

Resolved, that whereas, we have been troubled with the doctrine of universalism that we advise the churches that if they have any elders preaching such heresies, or members arguing it, that they admonish them to quit preaching it or talking it, and if they fail to hear them to withdraw fellowship from such, and especially we admonish Hale Creek church to admonish Elder M. L. Compton to refrain from such doctrine.

Recently, there have been several independent congregations develop due to the revival of interest in the unique theological perspective of the Primitive Baptist Universalists. Many of these churches are located in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, and Texas. Holston Primitive Baptist Universalist Church in Rogersville, TN is among the congregations seeking to unite other churches interested in fellowship without formal associations. This fellowship of congregations allows for variations in interpretations, worship practices, and practical matters which impact their local identity. Calvinistic Universalism, simple services, and local outreach is the prevailing theological and practical glue that binds each church to the fellowship.

Theology

Baptist minister and historian Bill Leonard has characterized PBU beliefs as the result of "press ng...

Calvinism Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...

to the ... conclusion that Christ's redemption is so powerful that all will be redeemed." According to Leonard, PBUs believe "It's hell enough down here." Specific tenets of PBU theology include: *

Universal reconciliation In Christian theology, universal reconciliation (also called universal salvation, Christian universalism, or in context simply universalism) is the doctrine that all sinful and alienated human souls—because of divine love and mercy—will ul ...

: Christ's

atonement Atonement (also atoning, to atone) is the concept of a person taking action to correct previous wrongdoing on their part, either through direct action to undo the consequences of that act, equivalent action to do good for others, or some other ...

was for all humanity, and at Resurrection all humanity will be reunited with Christ for an eternity in Heaven. * Hell is a factor of the temporal world, where temporal sins will be punished by an increased separation from God. * Satan is an entity solely of the temporal world, existing only as "natural man" warring against "spiritual man." *

Sin In a religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law. Each culture has its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considered immoral, selfish, s ...

, punishment, and death are factors only of the temporal world, thus ceasing to exist after Resurrection, and sin is punished in the temporal world by a separation from God. * The joy of

righteousness Righteousness is the quality or state of being morally correct and justifiable. It can be considered synonymous with "rightness" or being "upright". It can be found in Indian religions and Abrahamic traditions, among other religions, as a theologi ...

is its own reward, so retribution and reward are needed only for the here and now.

Numbers and structure

Primitive Baptists do not participate in censuses of religious denominations, so there are no solid data on the number of PBUs or other Primitive Baptist groups. Bill Leonard estimated in 2011 that there were 1,000 or fewer PBU adherents in total, concentrated in 20 counties in Appalachia. There are four associations of PBU congregations consisting of a total of thirty-three congregations located in area of northeastern Tennessee,

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...

and

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

, with three PBU fellowships in

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

, one in

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, and Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church in Grayson, Louisiana: * Regular Primitive Baptist Washington District Association * The Three Forks of Powell's River Regular Primitive Baptist Association * Elkhorn Primitive Baptist Association (1st) * Elkhorn Primitive Baptist Association (2nd) * Holston Primitive Baptist Universalist Church

Notable Primitive Baptist Universalists

Ralph Stanley Ralph Edmund Stanley (February 25, 1927 – June 23, 2016) was an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing. Stanley began playing music in 1946, originally with his older brother Carter Stanley as part of ...

, bluegrass musician.

References

{{Universalism footer Christianity in Appalachia Christian groups with universalist beliefs Baptist denominations in North America Calvinist denominations established in the 20th century Religious organizations based in the United States Christian organizations established in 1924 Religion in the Southern United States Primitive Baptists

History

Theology

Numbers and structure

Notable Primitive Baptist Universalists

Further reading

References