Customer Reviews

The Problem of Hell

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Although the price is a little high for approximately 175 pages of text, this book warrants a read for anyone curious about the problem of hell. Furthermore, though written predominately from a Christian perspective this book will be useful to any religion which contains a doctrine of hell.

Kvanvig begins with what he calls the "Strong View" of hell. This Strong View contains four different points: (1) Some people are cosigned to hell; (2) Hell is a place where people exist if cosigned there; (3) Once cosigned to hell, one cannot leave; and (4) the justification for hell is retributive in nature. Kvanvig argues that one should not adopt this view for moral reasons. For on the Strong View every person in hell receives the same punishment and that punishment in infinite in nature. This seems to be unfair (not everyone is equally guilty) and unjust (no sin, if any, deserves infinite punishment). Kvanvig also thinks that the Strong View suffers from being arbitrary. Why did God choose this type of punishment out of all the open ones to him? Why must hell be "constructed" this way?

After objection to the Strong View, Kvanvig moves on to what he calls "simple solutions" which simply deny one of the four aforementioned points. He then critiques annihilation views of hell and "second chance theories" of hell. He spills much ink over attempting to show the universalism position is also faulty. Though I think his argument fails against universalism because I do not agree with his version of possible world actualization.

Eventually, Kvanvig presents his finally critique of the Strong View of hell and the simple solutions--it focuses upon God's justice instead of his love. According to Kvanvig the primary characteristic of God's nature is his love. Yet talk of justice dominates discussions upon hell. So Kvanvig crafts his own interesting and unique view of hell with an attempt to focus it around the love of God, not simply his justice. (I won't spoil the details.)

Personally, I was not entirely convinced by Kvanvig's case and question his understand of what divine love is. That being said, Kvanvig does raise very good arguments and needs to be engaged by anyone holding onto a Strong View of hell. I also felt as if his own view was a little under developed. Perhaps I am wrong and other readers will disagree with me.

Certainly worth reading.

This is an impressive book on the nature of hell. Kvanvig argues that a strong retributivist view of hell is false, and argues instead for an issuant conception of hell, where hell exists because of God's love for us. Kvanvig's basic view is that God values our freedom, and while God could force those who reject God to be in heaven, God would have to violate their freedom to do so. Instead, hell exists for those whose characters are such that they've chosen not to be with God.

Kvanvig is a Christian, and while he sometimes discusses hell from a Christian perspective in the book, he's careful to give a more general discussion that applies to non-Christian theologies as well. The book is well-written and carefully argued; it's really an intellectual delight to read.