Primitive Baptist Universalist

The "No-Hellers" of Appalachia

The Primitive Baptist Universalists (PBU) are Christian Universalist congregations located primarily in the central Appalachian region of the United States. They are popularly known as "No-Hellers" due to their belief that there is no Hell per se, but that Hell is actually experienced in this life.

There is some, although scant, suggestion that Universalist as a Christian belief arrived in Appalachian America through the migration of both Scots and Scot-Irish migrations. Many of the migrants were non-conformist (non-subscribing) Presbyterians, many of whom held to the Universalist belief. Although they did not split as a denomination away from other Primitive Baptists until 1924, the Primitive Baptist Universalists (PBUs) have been theologically distinct as Universalists since at least the early 1800s.

For the "No-Hellers ...

(1) Christ's atonement was for all humanity, and at Resurrection all humanity will be reunited with Christ for an eternity in Heaven.

(2) Hell is a factor of the temporal world, where temporal sins will be punished by an increased separation from God.

(3) Satan is an entity solely of the temporal world, existing only as "natural man" warring against "spiritual man."

(4) Sin, punishment, and death are factors only of the temporal world, thus ceasing to exist after Resurrection, and sin is punished in the temporal world by a separation from God. Although there is a segment of the PBU who hold to some sort of remedial punishment in heaven.

(5) The joy of righteousness is its own reward, so retribution and reward are needed only for the here and now.

(6) As Calvinists they hold that "the elect" are those chosen by God to be PBU ministers.

An excellent source of information about the PBU can be found in the book, In the Hands of A Happy God by Howard Dorgan [My Review (External Link)] and in Here I am Again Lord by Adda Leah Davis [My Review (External Link)]



[Blurb may be updated as new information comes to light.]