Adam’s Reviews > Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived > Status Update

Overall I enjoyed this book a lot, though his writing style left a little to be desired. Still, I don't see the major controversy in it that others have seen.

I like how in this chapter he points out that Jesus's action on the cross and in his resurrection was primarily an impact on the WHOLE world, not just an individually-focused idea like is often communicated in American evangelism.

I'm still following along with it pretty well. I can definitely now see what all the fuss and fighting is about: Rob Bell presents multiple possibilities about what "Hell" might be, but mostly throws out the most popular one - that God is punishing people forever. Instead he offers the idea of people punishing themselves (choice of freewill) or eventually choosing to be reconciled to God, even in the afterlife.

I really enjoyed the third chapter of this book and mostly agreed. He seems very clear on the fact that people are quite messed up, and that it deeply affects themselves and those around them - that they need a savior (Jesus). Rob Bell says there's hell here on earth and hell later. None of this seems like the "universalism" I've heard him accused of in this book.

I used to think people gave this book a hard rap since most of the hype and conflict was based on a "pre-video" before the book was even released (and because of some harsh tweets by some famous pastors). I do have to say that having only finished the introduction so far, I can see why people got so worried about it. I'm hoping Rob Bell takes it somewhere a lot more nuanced before the end.