What do you think?
Rate this book
Second Thoughts about Hell: Understanding What We Believe
202 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2025
4 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Ronald J. Allen
67 books5 followersRev. Dr. Ronald J. Allen, is Professor of Preaching and Gospels and Letters at Christian Theological Seminary (CTU) in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
A native of Poplar Bluff Missouri and ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Allen has taught at CTU since 1982. He received his PhD from Drew University (1977), MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in New York (1974), and the AB from Phillips University (1971). From 1977 to 1982 he and his spouse, the Reverend Linda McKiernan-Allen, were co-ministers of First Christian Church, Grand Island, Nebraska. Rev. McKiernan-Allen is currently Minister at West Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tipton, Indiana.
In addition to over 100 articles and chapters in books, Allen is the author of more than thirty books.
A native of Poplar Bluff Missouri and ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Allen has taught at CTU since 1982. He received his PhD from Drew University (1977), MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in New York (1974), and the AB from Phillips University (1971). From 1977 to 1982 he and his spouse, the Reverend Linda McKiernan-Allen, were co-ministers of First Christian Church, Grand Island, Nebraska. Rev. McKiernan-Allen is currently Minister at West Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tipton, Indiana.
In addition to over 100 articles and chapters in books, Allen is the author of more than thirty books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 5, 2025
Book Review: Second Thoughts about Hell: Understanding What We Believe by Ronald J. Allen & Robert D. Cornwall
Rating: 4.8/5
Allen and Cornwall’s Second Thoughts about Hell is a masterful theological exploration that balances scholarly rigor with pastoral sensitivity, inviting readers to grapple with one of Christianity’s most contentious doctrines. As someone who has oscillated between fascination and discomfort with the concept of hell, this book felt like a revelatory journey—one that honored complexity without sacrificing clarity.
Strengths & Emotional Resonance
The book’s ecumenical and historical breadth is its crowning achievement. By tracing hell’s evolution from Hebrew Bible imagery to modern debates, the authors dismantle the myth of a monolithic biblical hell. Their treatment of three dominant views—literalism, annihilationism, and universalism—is refreshingly even-handed, allowing each perspective to speak for itself. I was particularly moved by the inclusion of liberation and process theology lenses, which reframe hell as a socio-ethical concern rather than mere abstract dogma.
The interfaith dialogue (Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, and Muslim perspectives) adds rare depth, highlighting how eschatology shapes ethics across traditions. The glossary and study guide transform the book into a communal resource, perfect for seminary classrooms or skeptical parishioners seeking nuance.
Constructive Criticism
While the book excels in breadth, I wished for:
-Deeper engagement with non-Western Christian traditions (e.g., Eastern Orthodox or Global South interpretations).
-More explicit connection to contemporary pastoral challenges, such as preaching hell in a post-traumatic or secularized context.
-Visual aids (timelines or comparative charts) to help readers track theological shifts across eras.
Why This Book Matters
Second Thoughts about Hell is not about easy answers—it’s about asking better questions. Allen and Cornwall’s refusal to proselytize fosters intellectual humility, making this essential reading for:
-Theologians wrestling with doctrinal diversity.
-Skeptics disillusioned by fire-and-brimstone reductionism.
-Pastors navigating congregational divides over salvation.
Thank you to Ingram Publisher Services and Edelweiss for the advance copy. This is the rare academic work that marries erudition with empathy, proving that even hell can be a site of holy curiosity.
Final Verdict:
Research: 5/5 (Exhaustive yet accessible.)
Balance: 5/5 (No straw men here—only thoughtful dialogue.)
Practicality: 4.5/5 (Study guide elevates it beyond theory.)
Originality: 4.5/5 (Synthesizes familiar debates with fresh interfaith insights.)
A must-read for anyone who believes theology should unsettle as much as it comforts.
Rating: 4.8/5
Allen and Cornwall’s Second Thoughts about Hell is a masterful theological exploration that balances scholarly rigor with pastoral sensitivity, inviting readers to grapple with one of Christianity’s most contentious doctrines. As someone who has oscillated between fascination and discomfort with the concept of hell, this book felt like a revelatory journey—one that honored complexity without sacrificing clarity.
Strengths & Emotional Resonance
The book’s ecumenical and historical breadth is its crowning achievement. By tracing hell’s evolution from Hebrew Bible imagery to modern debates, the authors dismantle the myth of a monolithic biblical hell. Their treatment of three dominant views—literalism, annihilationism, and universalism—is refreshingly even-handed, allowing each perspective to speak for itself. I was particularly moved by the inclusion of liberation and process theology lenses, which reframe hell as a socio-ethical concern rather than mere abstract dogma.
The interfaith dialogue (Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, and Muslim perspectives) adds rare depth, highlighting how eschatology shapes ethics across traditions. The glossary and study guide transform the book into a communal resource, perfect for seminary classrooms or skeptical parishioners seeking nuance.
Constructive Criticism
While the book excels in breadth, I wished for:
-Deeper engagement with non-Western Christian traditions (e.g., Eastern Orthodox or Global South interpretations).
-More explicit connection to contemporary pastoral challenges, such as preaching hell in a post-traumatic or secularized context.
-Visual aids (timelines or comparative charts) to help readers track theological shifts across eras.
Why This Book Matters
Second Thoughts about Hell is not about easy answers—it’s about asking better questions. Allen and Cornwall’s refusal to proselytize fosters intellectual humility, making this essential reading for:
-Theologians wrestling with doctrinal diversity.
-Skeptics disillusioned by fire-and-brimstone reductionism.
-Pastors navigating congregational divides over salvation.
Thank you to Ingram Publisher Services and Edelweiss for the advance copy. This is the rare academic work that marries erudition with empathy, proving that even hell can be a site of holy curiosity.
Final Verdict:
Research: 5/5 (Exhaustive yet accessible.)
Balance: 5/5 (No straw men here—only thoughtful dialogue.)
Practicality: 4.5/5 (Study guide elevates it beyond theory.)
Originality: 4.5/5 (Synthesizes familiar debates with fresh interfaith insights.)
A must-read for anyone who believes theology should unsettle as much as it comforts.
September 19, 2025
This is the sequel to Second Thoughts about the Second Coming: Understanding the End Times, Our Future, and Christian Hope, which Ron Allen and I co-authored. In this book, as with the earlier one, Ron and I explore a specific concept/doctrine, this time Hell, which many have questions about. Rather than simply offering one perspective, we sought to offer an overview of a variety of positions, starting with Scripture, so that readers can make an informed decision. We hope that many will find this a useful resource, one that will start to answer questions that are on the hearts and minds of many.
August 12, 2025
When the pandemic took a mental toll, my boss at the time had enforced a rule that we weren’t allowed to talk about our personal perspectives on it. She knew there were some who agreed and others who disagreed and to open the door would foster this messy dialogue and create a toxic workplace.
What I appreciate about these others is that they lay out boundaries and rules within their writing, similar to what my previous boss did, while discussing contentious views they state, “We do not have space to enter into that discussion today. (p. 44)” In that sense, I appreciated the professionalism and direct focus of the authors.
The book is broken up well, first discussing the concept of hell in the old testament, then the new, then going into the early Christian church (Origen, Maximus the Confessor, Aquinas, Augustine) and moves through the early reformation era church theologians (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli) as well as philosophers, writers and preachers of the era (Hobbes, Milton, and Bunyan) really diving into how the idea of hell came about. As we move onto the Age of Enlightenment, we can see the evolution and how these sentiments get solidified (Edwards, Wesley), or even change in the post-war period and the idea of hell as spiritual alienation.
This is the kind of book that I imagine a RELS or PHIL 101 professor would have as a resource because it dives into such immense detail on little things and likes to ask a lot of - “But what about this…?”
For a small book, it surprisingly packs a scholarly punch. The voices discussed, the broad range of both early Christian church and modern theology, even the rich dive into both the Bible and non-canonical texts was fascinating. The book draws no conclusions or assumptions about what the reader knows/believes and does not put the reader in a position to assert beliefs either. The writers present a well-educated and well-versed assessment on the existence of hell and separation from God.
What I appreciate about these others is that they lay out boundaries and rules within their writing, similar to what my previous boss did, while discussing contentious views they state, “We do not have space to enter into that discussion today. (p. 44)” In that sense, I appreciated the professionalism and direct focus of the authors.
The book is broken up well, first discussing the concept of hell in the old testament, then the new, then going into the early Christian church (Origen, Maximus the Confessor, Aquinas, Augustine) and moves through the early reformation era church theologians (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli) as well as philosophers, writers and preachers of the era (Hobbes, Milton, and Bunyan) really diving into how the idea of hell came about. As we move onto the Age of Enlightenment, we can see the evolution and how these sentiments get solidified (Edwards, Wesley), or even change in the post-war period and the idea of hell as spiritual alienation.
This is the kind of book that I imagine a RELS or PHIL 101 professor would have as a resource because it dives into such immense detail on little things and likes to ask a lot of - “But what about this…?”
For a small book, it surprisingly packs a scholarly punch. The voices discussed, the broad range of both early Christian church and modern theology, even the rich dive into both the Bible and non-canonical texts was fascinating. The book draws no conclusions or assumptions about what the reader knows/believes and does not put the reader in a position to assert beliefs either. The writers present a well-educated and well-versed assessment on the existence of hell and separation from God.
December 21, 2025
A thorough, and perhaps too thorough, review of what practically every Christian thinker has thought about hell.
After a genuinely great survey and interpretation of the biblical mentions of hell, the book then devolves into a less well-organized and voluminous survey of theological thought since the early church. These viewpoints aren’t presented in a logically structured manner.
I’m considering using this book as the basis for a church study group on hell, but probably won’t ask participants to read it on their own. I’m afraid it will confuse them.
After a genuinely great survey and interpretation of the biblical mentions of hell, the book then devolves into a less well-organized and voluminous survey of theological thought since the early church. These viewpoints aren’t presented in a logically structured manner.
I’m considering using this book as the basis for a church study group on hell, but probably won’t ask participants to read it on their own. I’m afraid it will confuse them.
November 5, 2025
Very thought provoking. Informative. Learned a few things and reparked a few notions into their original place.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews