Gospel Conversations

by

Sarah Golsby-Smith

Do we need to rethink the traditional ‘eternal torment’ concept of hell? Rev Dr Robin Parry is prominent among a growing number of theologians around the world who are convinced the answer is ‘Yes’—and who claim furthermore that far from being heretical, this move will only lead us to a more coherent orthodoxy. This is not a new idea. Many significant Christian leaders in the early church embraced the belief in a final, universal restoration (an apokatastasis), believing it to be the teaching of the Bible. Robin argues that there are good reasons to agree with them.

At Gospel Conversations we believe that we need to get this hot topic off the ‘heresy’ list and back onto the discussion table. There is arguably no part of the modern Christian gospel that provides as great a stumbling block to faith as the ‘eternal torment’ version of ‘hell’. No Christian really likes this doctrine, yet we often feel compelled to believe it as an article of faith. But should we? ‍

https://youtu.be/desgPtN97mI

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Episodes from this series

Gwen Harwood's poetry - a way of knowing God

Coleridge: transformation through participation

Gerard Manley Hopkins: Inscape & the Glory of God Copy

Sarah Golsby-Smith

Sarah is a teacher, literary critic, and educational pioneer. She is currently Director of Teaching and Learning at a major Sydney school. Sarah brings literature to life and makes it shine light a light into everyday lives. She catches the undercurrents of meaning that lie beneath the surface of great texts—and she does the same with the texts of the bible.

Tony Golsby-Smith

Tony has been the original architect of Gospel Conversations—rather like the conductor of an orchestra—in which his role as the conductor is to attract musicians who are better than he is. In many ways, Gospel Conversations is a journey of exploration shared by Tony and his good friends.