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Hell Bent

How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love

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Hell Bent

By: Brian Recker
Narrated by: Brian Recker
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Summary
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A former evangelical pastor explains why we can stop worrying about hell and start focusing on love

"If you’ve ever struggled with...the idea of eternal conscious torment, Hell Bent is for you.”—Pete Enns

There is a black hole at the center of Christian spirituality: the doctrine of hell. No matter how hard we try to believe in a loving God, the fear of eternal torment always lurks at the back of our minds, warping our sense of what love means. Worse still, many churches act as if the point of Christianity is not to follow Jesus but to secure a get-out-of-hell-free card—and to “save” everyone you know by converting them to your religion. For many of us, the whole story of Christianity has punishment at the very center. But does the Bible really say we’re going to hell if we don’t do or believe the “right” things?

In this taboo-shattering book, former evangelical pastor Brian Recker takes an honest look at scripture and reveals what has been true all along: Hell isn’t real, and God’s universal love is radically inclusive, in this life and the next. By removing punishment from Christianity's center, Recker boldly reimagines the core questions of faith, such as why Jesus lived and died, and what it means to be “saved.” It’s time to rediscover spirituality as Jesus taught it: loving God, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Whether you’re Christian, exvangelical, or anywhere along a deconstruction journey, Hell Bent is the perfect resource to help you replace fear and church hurt with healing and peace. Afterlife Christian Living Christianity
All stars
Most relevant
An amazing listen. Thank you for writing this. I’m sure I will re listen at least once a year going forward. A true way of looking at going through life like Jesus.

Faith affirming

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I recommend this to anyone anywhere, but in particular any Christians or ex Christians who feel like something is/was off in their faith regarding hell. Wonderful, thought-provoking and healing book that I will come back to. Thank you, Brian.

Wonderful

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Insightful, powerful, deep and informative. Loved it. Grew up with a very similar childhood to yourself as a pastors kid and could relate on such a deep level. Thank you Brian.

Insightful

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Refreshing and crucial topics Christian’s are usually too scared to engage in from an open, humble and teachable heart. Dogma is the enemy of wisdom. This book is loaded with intelligence, perspective and truly Christlike love.

Restorative magic!

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As a follower of Christ who grew up in the Presbyterian tradition, and now goes to a non-denominational (still kinda traditional, at least in the doctrinal sense) church that still does have the penal-substitution idea of the doctrine of Christ embedded in its structure, this book has been a breath of fresh air.

I've personally wrestled with the concept and belief of Hell for quite a long time, and several years ago came to the conclusion that it definitely wasn't a fiery burning torment and was more an eternal separation from God which was chosen by unbelievers. I never even thought that maybe Hell as an afterlife didn't have to be a concept at all. That Hell is here and made by our actions. But, it makes so much sense. The world does seem terribly Hellish at times. Just look at the news.

Brian unpacks this concept of Hell on earth and then the natural extension of how "Heaven" is also not a destination but that what Christ came to do was to bring His Kingdom to us... and that it's about what we do here on earth. He marries it with scripture and a down-to-earth attitude which I must admit drew me in when I first discovered him on socials.

Thank you, Brian for this wonderful book.

Freeing

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