To: The Dallas Morning News Religion page
Date: March 12, 2006
Subject: Christian minister who says everybody goes to Heaven
Result: printed

Author's explanatory note:  Carlton Pearson was a well-known Pentecostal preacher teaching fire-and-brimstone Christianity, who "went from hero to zero" after he had a change of heart and decided that everybody is included in God's plan and will go to Heaven – even Satan himself.  There were then a number of angry letters to the editor of the Religion section condemning such a liberal view.  "Wide is the road to destruction," one of them noted.

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Dear Religion Editor,

Like Carlton Pearson, I believe in the principle of God's inclusion of everybody in whatever program He may have. As an infinite being – which means God's being contains everything and everybody – it would not be possible for anything or anybody to be or become separated from Him, as in Hell. For there to be a separate place outside of God would nullify His whole existence, because then He would not be infinite.

However, I agree with those who say that Mr. Pearson's view of inclusion has no place in the Christian religion. Because, like all religions that say "I am chosen by God and you are not," Christianity – speaking of the fervent believers who believe everybody is going to Hell but them – is only for those whose position in the world is so tenuous that they have to gain their "salvation" at the expense of and to the exclusion of others.

Thank you, John Vehon