I'm not going to pretend to be a scholar of St. Isaac, but yes, it's remarkably clear that he was a universalist. I don't think the statement "his exact theological position is not clear" can be justified. St. Isaac certainly admits that there are mysteries which remain unknown, but that all shall be saved is not for him one of them.
In a Christian worldview, St. Isaac's statement makes perfect sense. It is intertwined with many mysteries of faith. What first came to my mind though was pity, as Tolkien expresses it in the Lord of the Rings.
What an insightful article. However, prudence is necessary what quoting an obscure Non-Western Saint in the West. In the West we like cut-and-dry facts, and the more poetical East intrigues, but can beguile, the Western Christian mind. It was likely imprudent to include a quote about being merciful to demons. Such a quote tickles the modern fancy, believing man is more merciful than God because of man’s wishful thinking “all will be saved”. Such a modernist lie has devastating corrupting power especially in the young. Lamentably, I have seen first hand this lie, “it is good to be merciful to demons” lodged itself into the vulnerable minds of Catholic elementary school children. The lie’s result is questing the goodness of God.
I'm not going to pretend to be a scholar of St. Isaac, but yes, it's remarkably clear that he was a universalist. I don't think the statement "his exact theological position is not clear" can be justified. St. Isaac certainly admits that there are mysteries which remain unknown, but that all shall be saved is not for him one of them.
Dr. Brock's commentary on the Second Part of the Ascetical Homilies: https://afkimel.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/235764859-st-isaac-the-syrian-and-his-understanding-of-universal-salvation.pdf
In a Christian worldview, St. Isaac's statement makes perfect sense. It is intertwined with many mysteries of faith. What first came to my mind though was pity, as Tolkien expresses it in the Lord of the Rings.
> and why would the Vatican quote it.
Indeed, this is the real question :)
What an insightful article. However, prudence is necessary what quoting an obscure Non-Western Saint in the West. In the West we like cut-and-dry facts, and the more poetical East intrigues, but can beguile, the Western Christian mind. It was likely imprudent to include a quote about being merciful to demons. Such a quote tickles the modern fancy, believing man is more merciful than God because of man’s wishful thinking “all will be saved”. Such a modernist lie has devastating corrupting power especially in the young. Lamentably, I have seen first hand this lie, “it is good to be merciful to demons” lodged itself into the vulnerable minds of Catholic elementary school children. The lie’s result is questing the goodness of God.