Editor’s Note: The following reflects the opinions of the author.
Religion has always been a touchy subject. From back to the time Jesus Christ lived, to the persecutions of Christianity that followed, the Crusades, the rise of the Catholic Church, the Protestant Reformation and so on, history has illustrated the great conflicts people have about their faith.
This holds true for us in our modern world with the book by Rob Bell titled “Love Wins: A Book about heaven, hell, and the fate of every person who ever lived.”
The title alone is a bold claim on Bell’s part, not to mention the topics and questions he discusses past the cover.
In all honesty, the book really needs to be read front to back several times to formulate a good opinion of it. It’s that intricate of a work, especially if you hold predominantly Christian views. At most, it is a revolutionary writing that should reshape how most people try to spread Christianity and lead people to salvation. At least, it is a thought provoking book that deserves analysis, instead of being instantly written off as misguided, which is what some Christian reviewers have referred to it as.
The main dispute that notable Christians seem to have is that Bell appears to support universalism.
Bell has publicly denied the claim that he is a universalist, though what he does express in his novel seems similar to the views universalists have. Mostly, he explains that he believes the God, who is portrayed in the Bible as an all-powerful being who literally spoke everything into existence, has a unique capacity for love. This love extends past death, past judgment, and ultimately will allow every soul to turn back to belief in God, if given enough time along the infinite expanse of “eternity.”
Aside from the obvious schism this book has created among Christian groups – it is advised to read it yourself before making assumptions about it.
Bell’s writing style is easy to follow, although in broken language on the page. It mirrors how people actually talk to one another in their everyday lives, which is a powerful choice for an author who is writing on a difficult subject, because it allows you to reach a wider audience with much less confusion. Authors can get caught up in their topic and lose sight of the audience from time to time, but with a simplistic approach to writing, that issue is gracefully avoided.
Well done, Rob Bell.
“Love Wins” will definitely challenge you upon reading it, regardless of the beliefs you hold. That’s a healthy occurrence, because it means that you aren’t an oblivious person. To find out what we truly believe, it’s important to know everything that is out there in the world.
Rating: Three out of four stars
Story: BRANDON ALLISON, Intern A&E Reporter