Abstract

The traditional doctrine of hell has been judged untenable by many persons because it seems to be morally objectionable. This is a difficult problem for orthodox Christians because the doctrine has a secure place in traditional theology and seems to be supported by Scripture. This problem is addressed in this essay by challenging the alleged immorality of the doctrine. ;The first chapter argues that the doctrine can be sincerely believed by morally sensitive persons. Such belief is not always motivated by dubious feelings and attitudes. The next three chapters investigate the doctrine in light of the divine nature, particularly the attributes of perfect knowledge, power, and goodness. Chapter two sketches different views of foreknowledge and shows how these affect the notion of hell. Chapter three examines the claim that if God is perfectly good and all powerful, then all will receive salvation. It is argued that God may not be able to give salvation to all, even though He is omnipotent, because some may freely choose to be separated eternally from Him. It is further shown that both Calvinism and Universalism share a common assumption in holding that God can save anyone He will, and fall into similar confusion in attempting to reconcile this claim with human freedom. Chapter four maintains that at least some traditional views of hell are compatible with a very strong account of divine goodness. Even if all persons are given optimal grace and full opportunity to receive salvation, some may choose damnation. ;The next chapter answers the charge that the choice of damnation is unintelligible because there could be no motivation for such a choice. It is argued that the choice is a coherent one because it involves a deformed sense of satisfaction and we are free to deceive ourselves into thinking hell is better than heaven. The final chapter shows that the view of hell defended in this essay is in essential continuity with classical accounts in holding that it is a place of spiritual, and, perhaps also, physical misery.