In his Opus Magnum "Universalism," philosopher Hans Joas traces origins of moral universalism, but also the seduction of political imperialism, to the transformations of the axial age. Particularly prophetic figures play a significant, yet not so easy to grasp role in the making of deep socio-political transformations. Joas underlines the entanglement of universalism, nonviolent action and the prophetic for deep social transformations. The paper will discuss Joas' analysis from a Christian theological point of view and work out, how the "prophetic" is essential for a theology of nonviolence in our times.