The Christian Doctrine of Hell

"The Christian Doctrine of Hell" by J. M. (Joseph Mazzini) Wheeler is a thought-provoking exploration of hell as a religious idea. It was written in the late 1800's. The book looks closely at what it means to believe in punishment that never ends, calling it as one of the scariest ideas ever imagined. Wheeler thinks that believing in hell can be damaging, and that people who are easily upset are hurt most by it. He questions whether the Bible really teaches that hell is real, but does point out Bible verses that seem to say it is, while noting that the belief in hell has changed over time. He shines a light on the damage that fear-based beliefs can inflict upon society promoting intolerance and fueling persecution. He suggests that the idea of hell is a key element in the Christian faith, without which the religion would fail.