Thanks

How will anyone see how loving and kind the One True God is if we don’t lie about YHWH’s character and threaten everyone with Eternal Conscious Torture?!?

You mean to tell me I can live a Godless life spent indulging in all the desires of my flesh and all that I receive as a just reward of my sin is I cease to exist? Sounds like a pretty good deal. Someone tell John the Baptist he can stop preaching repentance and all the stuff about fleeing the wrath to come. For that matter someone tell Jesus he had it wrong too. All that being cast into outer darkness where there is gnashing of teeth… turns out that gnashing teeth don’t exist when one ceases to exist. What of Lazarus and the rich man? What about Isaiah 14:9-15 pretty clear what is happening there. What fruit does this doctrine produce? Answer a reason for me to not worry much about eternity. Flee this doctrine flee the coming wrath of eternal judgment looming over head run to the mercy Jesus provided through his blood.

Listening to the back-catalog now, this is an amazing sustained dive into this particular theological topic. Good stuff!

Might have good content but can’t get post the host sucking in deep breaths right at the mic in the intro. Lots of deep breaths. They’re easily identified for removal, so be kind and spend some time editing them out.

I've really enjoyed the interviews and the response podcasts where they respond to specific traditionalist arguments.

I have listened to Chris on his Theopologetics Podcast and enjoyed his broad range of topics. His level approach to hearing out people he may not agree with is a huge hit for me. I enjoy all of the people I have heard on the Podcast. I can thank you all for my change to Conditionalism . I enjoy a podcast where people can hear differing views and talk in a respectful manner. I wish we had more Christians doing this today. Thanks to the Team at Re-Thinking Hell.

This ministry is the cream of the crop. They are not afraid to engage a difficult topic and have done their research. Also, they are not denying hell, they are sharpening the reality of what is meant but an eternal destruction.

Here is a podcast that takes on the highly controversial topic of Sheol/Hades/Gehena/Hell with both respect and courtesy for all perspectives. A testament to the truth that we don't need to agree on everything in order to get along.

One of the biggest problems I see in the body of Christ today is the lack of scholarly thinking. So many low culture type pastors who preach their view and don't educate their congregations to study it out for themselves nor make them aware that other views do exist. Take several of the commenters on here who gave the podcast a 1 star. Their lack of education and their sensationalist reply to hearing a view that doesn't agree to theirs is a sad display of so much thinking in the church today. Thanks for the podcast. I'd love to hear your educated dialogue on other foundational doctrines, especially Eschatology and Soteriology. Be blessed.

I'm not saying it's heretical ... it's just shameful and embarrassing. The fact that several different views are considered just shows that they're saying "we just don't want to believe the passages that talk about hell being eternal and ECT, so let's try to make something else work".

Thorough, well thought out and very well produced podcast. I love it. Thank you for making it!

I love this podcast bc people should never come to Christ out of fear but of of the desire to follow Him. If a man ask his future wife to marry him and then says, but if you refuse me, I will burn you in my oven. That is not a proposal it is a cruel coercion. Too often our focus on Christ is lost in the fear of hell. Thank you "Rethinking Hell" and thank you Mr Fudge... what a great sacrifice you must have had to make to bring the truth of the scripture out of the hands of Traditionalists. God bless

Thanks to Chris, Graham, Nick and the gang for their important work at Rethinking Hell! Great show and website.

These episodes are really long but will help you understand the diversity of thought on hell and how scripture often conflicts with the traditions of men. Start with the first few episodes and then when looking at the later ones pick the author interviews, they are the best.

This is a well produced and thoughtful discussion and study of sensitive theological issues. Thanks for your time and energy Chris!!

Like so many others, I grew up with the traditional doctrine of hell unquestioned and never even considered the need to question it. I was directed to you guys after hearing about RH on the BadChristian podcast. I literally had no expectations but was immediately struck by the emphasis on exegesis and by the gracious tone of Chris Date. After listening to about 20+ hours of your podcasts I have to say the argument for conditionalism is stronger than any I've heard for traditionalism thus far. I am currently a first year student at Dallas Theological Seminary and I am eager to discover whether or not I will find a better argument for the traditional hell here than what I've heard presented on your shows. A final note, I loved hearing Nick and Allison on recently. You need to have them both on more. As much as I know Chris is trying to open the platform up to other voices in the RH camp, I do think a couple of his repeat guests tend to talk more than they add to the conversation. Nick and Allison were excellent. Concise points that were well thought out and well spoken. You need more guests like that.

As a post-graduate NT student I began looking at the arguments for conditional immortality and was highly intrigued. I have now listened to the first 25 episodes and I appreciate hearing many arguments for and against both positions. It is a great help for thinking through this significant topic.

Very informative and objective. The relevance of this issue is important. Shows the value of good biblical research and interpretation. We all need to be critical thinkers and not just swallow what we’ve been told.

Like many people I adopted the traditional view of Hell without giving it much thought, assuming that it is what the Bible clearly teaches because it has been the majority view throughout most of history. I had heard of annihilationism but had always brushed it off as being unbiblical and emotion-driven. When I came across the Rethinking Hell podcast I at first felt like I was flirting with liberalism and heresy but I was quickly struck by just how strong and scripture-based their arguments for annihilationism actually are. It made me realize that it is possible to be a conservative, reformed christian with a high view of scripture and consistently hold to this "alternate" view of Hell. It also deserves to be mentioned that the hosts always address this topic in a respectful, fair and engaging manner. Highly recommended.

Whether we are lost or redeemed, we were all born with an eternal soul, simply because we were made to live with God forever. Ecclesiastes 3:11 even says that God has put eternity in our hearts. So death in it's fullness is not soul annihilation as Jehovah's Witnesses and some others believe. Death in it's fullness is what the Bible refers to as "the second death" and "the lake of fire" in (Revelation 20:14-15), and this could not possibly be soul annihilation as some teach since it is also called "everlasting fire" in Matthew 25:41. In the same chapter, Jesus made it clear what the alternative to eternal life is when he said "these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:46). Although some believe that the everlasting punishment is soul annihilation, it would only bring confusion to call the punishment "everlasting" if someone is taken out of existence. It could not reasonably be called punishment once they have ceased to exist. And what about those who view suicide as an escape? Soul annihilation would certainly not be ANY kind of punishment for them - it would simply be the escape they are looking for. That is just one of the reasons that I view soul annihilation as a dangerous doctrine, although I do think universalism is even more dangerous. However, even though I think universalism is more dangerous, I also think the soul annihilation doctrine is more deceptive than universalism. And the fact that some of the cults believe in soul annihilation should be a red flag for others who believe it, yet are not cult members. One of my former friends who is not a cult member recently bought into soul annihilation. Even though she is not a cult member, she has now developed a cult mentality after embracing this doctrine, and she even decided to break fellowship with me over it. I shared my concerns with her about it as respecfully as possible, and I made it clear that I was willing to continue having fellowship with her if we had to agree to disagree, but this doctrine seems to have given her a "holier than thou" mindset. Very sad. Many in the church today need to stop taking so much pride in their research and remember what Jesus said in Matthew 18:2-4 and Luke 18:16-17. Otherwise our doctrine may end up being more complicated than it needs to be.

I've only recently begun to re-examine my long-held beliefs about Hell. This podcast has been the leader in helping me discover the biblical view of Hell. This podcast introduced me to Edward Fudge and his work on the subject, for this I'm forever grateful. His works and this podcast provide the most biblically solid, balanced and sane approach to the topic of Hell that I've encountered thus far. Thanks so much!

Great program, but the host needs to sloooowww down. I can hardly keep up.

As someone who is undecided about such things, this podcast is invaluable. The variety of guests, the careful handling of topics and the irenic tone model how Christians ought to behave when discussing doctrine. Well worth your time. --Nick

Do you not know that Jesus spoke more about hell than heaven! He came to warn and save all who would listen about the awful truth of an ever lasting separation from God in hell. That is how severe sin really is before a Holy God! You call yourself Christians yet deny the reality of suffering in hell, as well as Satan not suffering for eternity? You may water down the truth but you will never change it as you promote a lie from the pit of hell yourselves! Be very careful for you are on a very slippery slope, a doctrine of demons. When we all stand before our Creator, none will be without excuse, no not one... I pray for the souls of those promoting this LIE and causing many to stumble. Their blood will be on your hands, repent of your lows before it is too late!

There is a "Reformation" of sorts underway within evangelical Christianity, one that is undeniable and well overdue. This podcast will be an essential tool in propagating a useful, fruitful and well measured dialogue to that end and is aiding nicely, thus far, in giving voice to a thoroughly Biblical viewpoint like conditionalism/annihilationism. Even if one is a member of the traditionalist camp, it is vitally important that we remain open and willing to engage in conversation regarding just what precisely the Scripture does teach regarding the ultimate fate of the unrepentant . I look forward to hearing much more from Chris and the fine folks at "Rethinking Hell".

Although I have justified (in writing!) the traditional doctrine of hell, I have always understood and somewhat empathized with those who feel as though an eternity of suffering seems like an unust punishment for a finite set of sins. As soon as I first heard that one of my favorite theologians, John R. Stott, was open to or supported Annihilationism, I began to seriously study it. I love this podcast, and hang on every new episode. The respectful and careful tone of the participants, as well as their continued reverence for the Word of God and concern for the impact this could have on the body of Christ if not pursued humbly, is tremendous. The participants are high visibility, respected, and knowledgable people from the Evangelical and scholarly communities, and the interviews are professional and well engineered (though I could do without the hard rock theme music) - the screaming of the damned at the beginning is interesting, not sure if it is appropriate or not. I believe that this podcast will be one of the main catalysts towards the replacent of the traditional view with Conditionalism in the next decade, and this change could have a significant impact on the church and evangelism. This could be the most important positive theological shift since the 'rediscovery' of believer's baptism by the Anabaptists. Watch this space, it is going to grow into a wildfire - a consuming fire! Keep up the good work gentlemen.

Just finished part 1/4 and found it to be refreshing in how folks are looking at the evidence and laying aside previous prejudices! (No need to ever be prejudice but let the freeing truth set one and all free!) Waldensisn

This podcast is one of the best I've heard. The interviews are professional, the quality is on par with industry leaders, and the content is critically important in our day. I was challenged to continue rethinking my own views. I love the emphasis on a love for God, His ways, and the Bible. If the integrity and spirit of the first two podcasts is any indication, this will certainly become one of the most influential podcasts online.