[f. as prec. Cf. F. universalisme.]
1. The fact or quality of being concerned with or interested in all or a great variety of subjects; universality of knowledge.
c. 1827. Coleridge, in Blackw. Mag. (1882), CXXXI. 119. The all-meaningness and thin-blown bladdery universalisms of the lectures.
1838. New Monthly Mag., LIV. 132. The full-blown facility of modern universalism.
1877. Morley, Crit. Misc., Ser. II. 247. That weak kind of universalism which nullifies some otherwise good men.
2. Theol. The beliefs or special views held by the Universalists; the doctrine of universal salvation or redemption.
1805. J. Spaulding (title), Universalism Confounds and Destroys Itself.
1840. G. S. Faber, Christ’s Disc. Capernaum, 224. A tremendously wide and long enduring Apostasy … is … rhetorically spoken of in terms which literally import Universalism.
1864. J. Donaldson, Crit. Hist. Chr. Lit. & Doctr., I. 37. Heathen Christianity … proclaimed all men alike in God’s sight. Paul was the preacher of this universalism.
1871. Mozley, Univ. Serm., v. (1876), 112. The waves of universalism … cannot possibly shake the seat of distributed power and government.
3. The fact or condition of being universal in character or scope; universality.
1840. T. Gordon, trans. Menzel’s Germ. Lit., III. 288. Poetical Universalism.—Herder.
1882. Athenæum, 14 Oct., 490/1. It is, indeed, somewhat doubtful whether the religion of Rome did not approach universalism almost as much as Islam.
1883. Fairbairn, City of God, III. i. 230. This is … the universalism of Jesus Himself…. He belongs to humanity, not to Israel. Ibid., 240. The universalism of the person has its counterpart in the universalism of the words.
