The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

VI. Taylor—Thumbnail History of Rejecters of Innate Immortality

DANIEL T. TAYLOR (d. 1899), ⁴ in his The Immortality of the Soul, Not a Doctrine Universally Believed (c. 1870), gave a multum in parvo sketch of the historical development of the controversy over the Conditional Immortality question. Gleaned and brought together from other investigators, it traces tersely the leading witnesses to Conditionalism scattered over the centuries of the Christian Era-men who have “held to the soul’s mortality, the sleep in death, and have also denied the doctrine of eternal, conscious torment in a future world.” ⁵ As the ground has been covered again and again, we simply list Taylor’s witness, by groups, across the centuries. CFF2 657.2

1. FIRST THE EARLY CHURCH, THEN THE MEDIEVAL WITNESS

Taylor shows how Justin Martyr, Tatian, and Irenaeus sustained the Conditionalist position in the Early Church. Then he noted the Arabian Christians (c. 230), Methodius, Arnobius, Athanasius, and Hilary. In each case Taylor gives the essence of their Conditionalist positions. ⁶ Next he cites fifteen early Restorationist churchmen (beginning with Origen) who were “Deniers of Endless Misery,” ⁷ as held by the majority. CFF2 657.3

After showing how Gregory the Great (c. 590) complains that some still held to the unconscious sleep of the dead, Taylor next deals with medieval rabbi Maimonides, and Arabian philosopher Averroes (1106), schoolman Robert Pullus, and certain professors in the University of Paris (c. 1270) who asserted the mortality of man and denied Eternal Torment for the wicked. Then he cites schoolman John Pick, and philosopher Peter Pomponatius, charged with denying the immortality of the soul. ⁸ The essence of their views is also given. ⁹ CFF2 658.1

2. REFORMATION AND POST-REFORMATION CHAMPIONS

Next comes Protestant Reformer Martin Luther, holding the sleep of the dead.” ¹⁰ Later follow John Locke (d. 1704), John Whitefoot, R. Overton, Samuel Richardson, John Milton, Archbishop Tillotson, F. W. Stosch of Germany, Peter Bayle, Henry Dodwell, Isaac Watts, Bishop Warburton, J. N. Scott, C. L. de Villette, Bishop Law, Samuel Bourn, E. J. C. Walter, Eberhard, Berrow [sic], Priestley, Taylor, Clarke, and Marsom. ¹¹ Data and teaching of each are given. CFF2 658.2

3. THE GREAT NINETEENTH-CENTURY EXPANSION

And for the nineteenth century Taylor names Timothy Kendrick, Robert Forsyth, Elias Smith, Aaron Bancroft, J. Sellon, John Thomas, Calvin French, Reginald Courtenay, T. C. Cowan, J. H. Pearce, H. H. Dobney, George Stows, Edward White, J. P. Ham, Sir James Stephen, Moncrieff, McCullow, Chandler, Schultz, C. F. Hudson, John Foster, Bishop Whately, and Samuel Minton ¹² — referring to some of them as “giant minds.” And he speaks of widespread current discussion in various Conditionalist periodicals, hundreds of clergymen, and one hundred thousand adherents. ¹³ CFF2 658.3

It is an impressive list—one of several produced just about this time, all attempting to trace the historical line across the centuries. The indisputable fact is that these all spring from the indelible records of history, available to all who search for them. One list checks against the other, and thus balances and rounds it out. Each played its part. Taylor, though brief, and touching only the leading characters, was nevertheless quite accurate and discerning. There was increasing consciousness of historical antecedents. These men constantly denied the charge that they were innovators. They were, instead, continuators. CFF2 658.4