Why are American Christians Obsessed with Hell?
NT Wright reflects on that very question…
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He almost had me. But in the end what he seems to say is that yes, there is a hell, but you know, its gauche to go on and on about it. (In that proper British way.)
In the end, it sounds like he regards it as the proper answer to an equation. Ho-hum, dreadfully boring and let’s not get carried away with it all. Actually, I find the idea so disturbing and outrageous, I’m with Rob Bell.
Because the trouble, of course, isn’t that you are just so uncouth to let it seep into the conversation all the time — the trouble is it is a terrifying and alienating concept!
Sometimes I wish that evangelicals would pay more attention when they find a subject embarrassing. Maybe another part of their psyches is trying to tell them something. I sense the same thing when some evangelicals talk about women’s roles, for example. They’d really rather move on and talk about other things. Well, maybe there’s a reason.
I agree, actually. Or, you persuaded me. I agree with W that we’re peculiarly fixated on Hell, which is either odd or completely not odd given we’re X’n in the world’s lone superpower. At the same time, the logic of heaven leads to the logic of hell too. It’s not silly or gauche to think about it, either yay or nay. Is God just and are we free to reject God? Those are strong theological assertions. So it is to ask does God triumph in the End? Is the cross a perfect victory over sin? Is God really so unimpressive that even the worst sinner wouldn’t turn to God when facing him? I go back on forth about but its not a silly fascination.