Origen speculated that reincarnation might be a reality. He toyed with universalism, suggesting that all human beings—and even the devil and all his demons—might eventually find salvation. Being an extremely influential teacher (whose morals were never questioned, even if his beliefs were), Origen’s writings were widely circulated. Christian authorities feared that these might undermine Christian belief, so in the year 543 a church council declared some of his beliefs to be heretical.