In his controversial text,

dare we hope that all men be saved?

Hans-Herz van Balthazar argues

that since it is impossible to know who,

if anyone is damned,

oughtn't we reserve the hope that all are saved, in fact?

Though von Balthazar grounds his viewpoint

in Christian charity,

a similar, though secular optimism,

dominated much of modernity, from

Rousseau to Marx. Freud's damning portrayal of human nature, Darwin's reappraisal of human

origins, and two world wars may have shattered the received optimism in many respects, but this

optimism stubbornly persists in our modern culture.

Just look at the Facebook posts in response to the death of a loved one.

He's in a better place.

She is smiling down on you from heaven.

He is united with his dear wife in the presence of the angels.

Okay, that was a grandpa.

Everyone we assume is saved.

In response to the media treatment surrounding the death of Hugh Hefner, Dr. Pecknold at COA jokingly tweeted, quote, student studying von Balthazar takes a break to read Dalwitz

Hugh Hefner Oven. Slowly slides, dare we hope, back onto the shelf. End quote.

This was tweeted on September 30th.

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