Category: Announcements | Rethinking Hell

RH Conference 2019: Full Schedule!

“Hell and the Gospel”

Having held our annual conferences in Houston (2014), Pasadena (2015), London (2016), Auckland (2017), and Dallas–Fort Worth (2018), this year’s sixth annual Rethinking Hell Conference will be held in Enid, Oklahoma at Emmanuel Enid Church on Friday and Saturday, August 16–17, 2019. Gathering under the theme of “Hell and the Gospel”, this will be an occasion for Christians to consider and discuss the nature, duration, and purpose of hell in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians generally agree that the gospel or “good news” is the message of Jesus’ life, substitutionary death, and resurrection, by which he saves sinners and secures eternal life for them. Speakers will explore how this should inform Christians’ understanding of what they have been saved from, and what final punishment or consequences await the unsaved in hell, discussing such questions as:

How essential to the gospel is a correct view of hell?
What is the nature of life and death in light of the gospel?
How is immortality brought to light through the gospel (2 Tim 1:10)?
How does Christ accomplish redemption in his atoning work?
How should the incarnation of God in Jesus inform a Christian view of hell?
What are the implications of the New Heavens and New Earth when it comes to hell?
How do views of hell impact the sharing and defense of the gospel?

If you haven’t registered yet, visit www.rethinkinghellconference.com and sign up today! Continue reading to preview the complete conference schedule of plenary & breakout-session speakers: Continue reading “RH Conference 2019: Full Schedule!” →

Announcements, Conference, Hermeneutics, Podcast, Responses

Episode 117: Hell and Hermeneutics; A Response to Lindsay Brooks—Plus 2019 Conference Announcement!

Rethinking Hell contributor Chris Date responds to clips from a breakout presentation delivered at the 2015 Rethinking Hell Conference by his friend Lindsay Brooks, in which Brooks offers some criticism of conditional immortality on hermeneutical grounds. Also, listen for an important announcement about the upcoming 2019 Rethinking Hell Conference!

Continue reading “Episode 117: Hell and Hermeneutics; A Response to Lindsay Brooks—Plus 2019 Conference Announcement!” →

Announcements, Conference

2018 Conference Announcement: March 9–10, Dallas–Fort Worth

In 2016 and 2017 we took our Rethinking Hell Conferences across the Atlantic to London and across the Pacific to Auckland, respectively. But in 2018, we’re returning to the U.S. to hold our fifth annual Rethinking Hell Conference in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. We’ll be at The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson, Texas on Friday and Saturday, March 9–10, 2018.

Continue reading “2018 Conference Announcement: March 9–10, Dallas–Fort Worth” →

Announcements, Conference

2016 Rethinking Hell Conference Announcement

After the first two Rethinking Hell conferences drew speakers and guests from around the world to Houston in 2014 and Pasadena in 2015, we are excited to take our conference to the world! Announcing the third annual Rethinking Hell Conference, taking place at Highgate International Church in Highgate, London on October 7-8, 2016. Our theme this year will be “Conditional Immortality: Past, Present, Future.”

Continue reading “2016 Rethinking Hell Conference Announcement” →

Announcements, Conference, Universalism

RH Conference 2015: Full Schedule!

With only a few weeks remaining until our second Rethinking Hell conference, taking place at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, we wanted to share the full speaking schedule with you all and invite those who have not already signed up to consider registering at a special discounted price of $50, which we can offer thanks to some funds that have come in to help scholarship registrations (use discount code RH2015 at the checkout page of the registration process at www.rethinkinghellconference.com/2015/).

Here is the updated full speaking & activity schedule for this year’s conference, along with some notes about our plenary & breakout session presenters: Continue reading “RH Conference 2015: Full Schedule!” →

Announcements

Rethinking Hell's Second Book!

In April of 2014, shortly before the inaugural Rethinking Hell conference at the Lanier Theological Library, we published our first book, Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism. A year later, we are excited to announce the upcoming publication of our second book, A Consuming Passion: Essays on Hell and Immortality in Honor of Edward W. Fudge! (Cover design in image at left is indicative only.) Wipf & Stock, who published our first book and the 3rd edition of Edward Fudge’s The Fire That Consumes, has agreed to publish our second book through Pickwick Publications, its most academic imprint.
Continue reading “Rethinking Hell's Second Book!” →

Announcements, Chris Date, Greg Stump, Offers

Celebrating the One Year Anniversary of Rethinking Hell, the Book

It was one year ago today, on April 15, 2014, that our book, Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism, was released by Cascade Books.* We thought that we would take a moment to honor this anniversary with a post reflecting on the process of publication, pointing out some responses to the book, and finally, sharing a special 50% DISCOUNT offer on obtaining this volume directly from us (see end of post for info).

Continue reading “Celebrating the One Year Anniversary of Rethinking Hell, the Book” →

Announcements, Debates, Greg Stump

Hell and #thedress

I want to apologize straightaway for capitalizing on the baffling, yet wearisome global conversation happening around the color of a dress that was buzzing on the web last night (and if you’re reading this months later, I apologize for referencing something that has long been relegated to the dustbin of internet disinterest), but I think that the experience of cognitive dissonance (and indeed questioning of objective reality!) between those people who perceive a white & gold dress and those who obviously see the fabric as blue and black is analogous to what many of us at the Rethinking Hell project have experienced.

I tried (and may have failed) to explain this in my Preface to our book, Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism, but my own obsessive interest in studying the topic of hell (which, I mean, why would ANYONE make this an object of 20 years of study??) comes from a very similar experience to those who see different colors in the dress. How can we be looking at the same thing, but see something completely different? Continue reading “Hell and #thedress” →

Announcements, Conference, Universalism

2015 Rethinking Hell Conference Announcement

After a successful and inspiring first conference in Houston last summer, we are looking forward to the prospect of more conferences both in the US and abroad! We are pleased to now announce the second Rethinking Hell Conference, which will take place at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California from June 18-20, 2015.

Our theme this year will be “Conditional Immortality and the Challenge of Universal Salvation.”

In selecting this theme, Rethinking Hell is promoting dialogue among evangelicals, by bringing our own view of conditional immortality (also called annihilationism), into conversation with universalism. Universalists believe that hell is a place of purification, out of which God will eventually redeem all who are sent there. This view has gained some popular momentum within evangelical communities since the publication of Rob Bell’s best-selling book Love Wins.

As well as the engagement of these two views, our conference will also facilitate a “trialogue” with representatives of the widely-held traditional view of eternal torment.

Continue reading “2015 Rethinking Hell Conference Announcement” →

Announcements, Offers

Order Now! Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism

Our first book, Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism is now available! The best way to get your hands on a copy is still to register for the upcoming and inaugural 2014 Rethinking Hell Conference; you can add the book at a discounted price to your registration, pick your copy up at the conference, and have it signed by some of its editors and contributors. You won’t pay shipping costs, and you can add a discounted copy of Edward Fudge’s The Fire That Consumes, too. Most of all, you’ll help fund the conference! However, if you cannot make it to Houston in July, there are two ways you can order your copy today and have it delivered to you.

Wipf & Stock: First, you can purchase your print copy through our publisher’s online store. The retail price is U.S. $40.00; the normal online price is U.S. $32.00 plus shipping, but for a limited time you may enter the coupon code “perish” at time of checkout to receive a 40% discount off retail, for a total cost of U.S. $24.00 plus shipping. Purchase your copy now! This promotion ends June 12th, 2014!

Amazon: Second, you can order a print copy at Amazon.com for U.S. $31.87 plus shipping. (As of today, Amazon says the book is out of stock, but by next week should be shipping orders.) The Kindle edition will be available in 30 to 60 days, and we’ll announce when it’s available.

Book Depository: Third, bookdepository.com provides print copies with free international shipping!

Be sure to check out the wonderful endorsements/editorial reviews at both websites, and to share this announcement with your friends, family, fellow students, co-workers—with everyone! We’re thrilled and blessed to be able to make this resource available, and we thank you in advance for your support!