In a theistic universe, the “ought”--which simply means good;; “ought not” meaning evil--is fundamental to all reality. So now we will enter into a discussion of the nature of the “ought not” in a theistic universe--and for the word “ought not” we shall use the term flaw.

That there is flaw in the cosmos is clear. Less philosophic theists usually say evil is due to humanity’s rebellion, or the devil, or something along these lines. Thus we have dire life--and evil in life, evil which is a flaw in the world and cosmos; a flaw due to things like humanity’s rebellion, or the devil and his fallen angels, and so on. The flaw can never be pushed up to the tier of a flaw in God--for God is, quite simply, the one categorically supreme being; and he cannot have any flaw and remain God.

So we must push the flaw in the cosmos back down to a lower tier than God himself. If there is a God, there is no flaw in God; therefore the flaw in the cosmos must begin at a lower level than in the person of God.

So this is what we must conclude: that though there may be flaw in the cosmos, there cannot be categorical flaw in the cosmos. There may be relative flaw, or secondary flaw, or emergent flaw, or flaw with any tier of reality not-primary, not-ultimate, being subject to redemption from higher up; but there can never be the opposite of these. There can never be absolute, primary, ultimate, or completely irredeemable flaw in the cosmos; for otherwise, if we allow an ultimate flaw in things, we allow flaw in God.

So what if there were really no categorical salvation possible? What if, after all is said and done, we humans have not even a chance, not even a possibility, of utter, complete, and absolute redemption? What if there really is no categorical salvation?

I would hold that--since we are speaking of ultimates, and absolutes, and the primary level of things when we speak of categorical salvation--I would hold that if there were no categorical salvation possible, this would be a flaw in the ultimate nature of things; and thus a flaw in God. And if there is a flaw in God, this is not God at all; and there is, in that case, no God, but at best a Demiurge. So we who would believe in God, we who would hold that he exists, must also hold that there is categorical salvation; that each man and woman is given at least an opportunity to attain to it, and a real possibility of its realization. Otherwise we would have to hold that God created the cosmos for sake of sentient beings, but offered to none of them anything but an inferior, imperfect destiny, ultimately irredeemable. If this were so, there is a flaw absolute, eternal, and forever not redeemed in the cosmos: this would mean a flaw in creation at its most fundamental roots, and therefore a flaw in God.