Massive controversy between Christians right now: Is Hell eternal punishment?

[coffeeveritas]

The inside track on Christianity is that hell has been a big topic lately. The new Rob Bell book “Love Wins” has everyone talking (including some embarrassingly immature reactions by prominent Christians). The basic gist of the conversation is that Rob Bell said, “hey guys, I think that Jesus really saved everyone, so no one has to spend forever in hell.” The response from of several Christians was, “HERETIC! YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE CHURCH ANYMORE!” This has pretty much been the biggest deal in Christianity in a long time.

So I was wondering if some people who really don’t care about the church either way could give some insight. Read the description of the basic argument of “Love Wins” below and let me know if it sounds better or worse than the “turn or burn” attitude of the traditional crowd. Does it sound better to you? Or at least less harmful? If Christians all believed this would they be generally less unpleasant? Does the argument make more sense to you?

Love wins summary -->

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Rob Bell starts with the basic question, “why would God let people He loves spend forever in hell for things they did or didn’t do in the comparatively small time they spent on Earth?” He argues that heaven and hell are both things that start now. There are people you meet who just genuinely care about everyone and spend their lives helping people, and there are people whose lives spiral out control with addiction until there is nothing left. They are getting a taste of heaven and hell, respectively. The point of life is to become the kind of person that you were truly made to be, the kind of person that could be happy in heaven (a racist would be miserable in heaven, because of diversity). We are actively growing and learning to choose love over hate, and that continues after we die. Depending on our trajectory that will be either heaven or hell, but that is not the end of the story. There is life after life-after-death.
The reason that Christians have traditionally believed that hell is forever is because of the phrase “aion kolazo” in the Greek text which most Christians have traditionally translated as “eternal punishment.” This is a valid translation, technically. The problem is that the word “kolazo” is derived from a word that means “to prune.” The word has the connotation of inflicting some sort of injury with the purpose of making something better. A more accurate translation of the word is “correction.” Also “aion” is often translated “age” or “period of time” rather than “eternal.” So what you get is “age of correction” instead of “eternal punishment.” For the people who have all sorts of pain and darkness in their hearts they are sent to face their dark side. The process of facing your dark side and your past is really hard and painful, so hell is really tough, but ultimately its purpose is healing and reconciliation. After heaven and hell the world is made right, a perfect restored creation with everybody in it. All the hurts and problems from the history of the world are made right, everybody’s happy, and love wins.

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So let me know what you think about this one and I’ll relay the message to the rest of the Christians. Thanks in advance for taking the time, this really interests me!

(I did my best to represent Rob Bell’s argument fairly, but he’s a much better writer than me).

[Minimalist]

I love it when xtians fight among themselves over whose pile of trash smells better.

[coffeeveritas]

I love it when xtians fight among themselves over whose pile of trash smells better.

Haha! I can always expect a concise summary from you Min! It really has been interesting to follow. The first batch of counter-arguments just came out and I'm hoping to pick a few up this week.

[orogenicman]

I think the Catholic church rejected the concept of a physical hell a few years ago (at least I know a lot of priests have).

[Faith No More]

It's noble of him to try and soften up his religion, but Christianity loses the tiny bit of appeal it has without the assurance that your enemies will be tortured for eternity. Why else would Christians be so mad about this?

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I think the Catholic church rejected the concept of a physical hell a few years ago (at least I know a lot of priests have).

That's because most of them know they would be going there.

[fr0d0]

As Rob Bell said there's nothing new about the idea. It dates back at least 1500 years?? (don't quote me on that). After accusing him of lack of reference he does back himself up quite well in the book. I liked the ideas and it made a lot of sense to me. I've never had any doubt that heaven and hell start here. That stands pretty well independently from this.

[Anymouse]

Hell's permanence is a problem for Christians. I'm sure they can go about making hell on earth arguing about it.

However, other than schism and "divide and conquer," I don't see where such an argument makes any difference to either atheists or pagans. Neither of us believe in an evil tormentor or his alleged home; we have evil tormentors right here in real life, and I always thought Hell was a nickname for Cleveland.

[Rwandrall]

If Hell isn't eternal, it's not scary, which means no incentive to keep in line, go to church, etc. It doesn't matter what Jesus or whoever meant, because the clergy people would never allow the fear of Hell to go away. That would kill their business.

[downbeatplumb]

Well the 'no eternal hell' argument does sound less harmfull.
However it is just as wrong as the hell is eternal argument.

As far as I can tell they are argueing over the reality of a fictional construct.
A bit like star trek fans coming to blows over how the warp drive works.

[The Grand Nudger]

LOL< the love wins guy sounds like one of my daughters, what an optimist. If I had to meet my "dark side" I wouldn't be walking away from that encounter. This doesn't surprise anyone does it? Christianity will have to change with it's constituents or die. Any religion that has staying power has done this, eventually becoming understood as a pretty story.