Doug Groothuis on Rob Bell's Love Wins

Dr. Douglas Groothuis gives his thoughts on Rob Bell's controversial best-selling book Love Wins in this interview.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Rob
• Bell
• Hell
• Love
• Wins
• Heaven
• Douglas
• Groothuis
• Salvation
• Postmodernism
• Christianity

[MrHwaynefair]

WAY too much ad hominem! And - quoting the "poster boy" of Evangelical Intellectuals (whom you quote - and whom I love):

“Yet it is, perhaps, idle to speak here of the spirit and letter. There is almost no ‘letter’ in the words of Jesus. Taken by a literalist, He will always prove the most elusive of teachers. Systems cannot keep up with that darting illumination. No less wide a net than a man’s whole heart, nor less fine of mesh than love, will hold the sacred Fish.”

[MrHwaynefair]

Jesus had no footnotes - Jesus had no Hellenistic syllogistic rhetorical approach - He spoke obscurely in many respects - He rarely quoted scripture - He often answered questions with questions - He was and is the "darting light" - hard to capture save with the net of a heart of love.... I didn't particularly like Love Wins - but Dr. Groothuis has no ear for anything that Bell said - for he obviously can't get beyond his own Philosophical categories to feel the angst of Bell's book.....

[xVyKariousx]

1st "Contradiction" - Bell does not deny the existence of hell, he explains exactly what it is. (Sheol, Gehenna, Tartarus)

2nd - Bell does not say we choose hell after death, he says we choose hell while we are right here today

3rd - Bell describes that he doesn't know exactly what punishment will be like, not he doesn't know what Jesus was saying

I would recommend anyone who wants to critique the book read it themselves. I don't agree with everything Bell says, but this guy doesn't do justice

[JWHurwitz]

I felt irritated in the same way by Love Wins. I expected that Bell's glossy videos were just inviting packaging for a real argument that would be presented in his book, but it turns out is gloss all the way down.

[mahoganyrush300]

The book is not a book of theology but a book to inspire debate.

[DougGroothuis]

Please also read my critique of this terrible book in the most recent Christian Research Journal.