As we have seen in the previous parts of this series, the modern, metaphorical view of hell has a weak historical pedigree. Of course, it also has no biblical leg to stand on. 1 For more on the profound weaknesses of the modern, metaphorical view, see “The Many and Varied Problems with the Modern, Metaphorical View of Eternal Conscious Hell“. But church history is the strongest argument that the doctrine of eternal conscious hell has. Therefore, the more it can be shown that the historical view of eternal conscious hell entailed physical torture in (typically) literal fire and God’s retributive wrath and vengeance, across the centuries and across the various traditions within Christendom, the more that any foundation for the more palatable forms of eternal conscious hell lose any appeal whatsoever.
At least annihilationism – and universalism, to be fair – have some notable early church presence. And at least annihilationists don’t pretend to be part of the dominant tradition in the first place.
Continue reading “The Not-So-Traditional View: Does Your Particular Belief About Hell Really Have Church History On Its Side? – Part 5”
| ￪1 | For more on the profound weaknesses of the modern, metaphorical view, see “The Many and Varied Problems with the Modern, Metaphorical View of Eternal Conscious Hell“. |
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