Why I Don't Believe In Hell

[sixpences]

There's been a fair amount of noise on some of the theology/religion-related blogs I read about a new book by Rob Bell called Love Wins. Naturally that is the kind of title that shocks and offends a great many of my co-religionists as it is, let alone the fact that the central subject of Bell's book seems to be questioning the idea that those who

Comments

[amalnahurriyeh]

God's transcendent and cosmic victory over all things crap and terrible.

I love this phrase.

And I generally agree with you, though being less deeply Christian than you. (I...want to explain that statement, but will skip it in fear of tl;dr.) A notion of God that can't include that boundless compassion is simply impossible to hold.

Also thank you for the HERE IS WHAT THE BIBLE ACTUALLY SAYS IDIOTS part at the beginning. That part is shiny.

(But Robot Hell, I'm totally with you.)

[erinya]

Fourthly and probably most importantly, I cannot, cannot, cannot physically stomach the thought that God is less compassionate than me.

This was always my problem with Hell, since I was a kid. I informed my dad that if I were God, I wouldn't have there be a Hell, and how was it possible that I would be a more compassionate God than God?

I don't remember if he ever came up with an answer for this. I think I was a big pain in the ass.

[frey_at_last]

those who die without giving cognitive assent to certain intellectual propositions about Jesus will roast forever in fiery torment, of either a literal or figurative kind.I wasn't aware that this was the doctrine of Hell. Though I assume it's the view he's writing against. It does seem to emerge from a sola fide soteriology where faith = intellectual assent