I'm glad we don't; although I don't think there's anything in UU history (and especially the second U's) that prevents us. Afterall, Chicago's Second Universalist was known as Church of the Redeemer.
Wikipedia tells me,
In Christian theology, Jesus is sometimes referred to as a Redeemer. This refers to the salvation he is believed to have accomplished, and is based on the metaphor of redemption, or "buying back". Although the New Testament does not use the title "Redeemer", the word "redemption" is used in several of Paul's letters. Leon Morris says that "Paul uses the concept of redemption primarily to speak of the saving significance of the death of Christ."[1] The English word redemption means 'repurchase' or 'buy back', and in the Old Testament referred to the ransom of slaves (Exodus 21:8).[2] In the New Testament the redemption word group is used to refer both to deliverance from sin and freedom from captivity.[3]Salvation talk doesn't really work for me. Universal salvation's universality made it a bit irrelevant. If we all get it, fine, what else is to be said?
The concept of the redeemer is used in the Book of Ruth to refer to the kinsman-redeemer, and in the Book of Isaiah to refer to God, the "Redeemer of Israel".
Many Christian churches are named "Redeemer", such as Redeemer Presbyterian Church (New York City) and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem.
We're stuck with our nature, character, and actions and live our lives best we can in my view, keeping Kennedy's words in mind: With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.
A clean conscience all we can expect.
History will certainly judge.
Blessed or not what's done our own true work. No window open to redeem what's done.
Anyways, this topic comes up again in the group, what say you?
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