August 23, 2026: “Life on Earth Is Hell Enough” Kelsey D. Atherton, Pulpit Guest

Kelsey D. Atherton’s Universalist grandfather defined his faith as “life on earth is hell enough,” a phrase that unlocked a central contradiction of Kelsey’s own Universalist faith journey: how can he reconcile a belief in universal salvation without believing in any hell worse than what is experienced on earth? His answer is in the world as we live it, one whose horrors need no exaggeration, and one where the holy work of care and repair is in the hands of everyone. What we do here matters, and the existence of suffering on earth is sufficient reason to work to alleviate it. Kelsey D. Atherton has been attending First Unitarian since his preschool days, and is a member of the interim transition team. He met his lovely spouse Alymay in a class talking about Our Whole Lives, and together they’re raising two fifth-generation Universalists, or at least will be once the toddlers can master sharing. He worked for a decade as a military technology journalist, before moving to work advocating for a kinder, more diplomatic, softer world. Music: Lydia Clark.