Rob bell's new book?

[nightbringer]

Yeah Rob Bell is no anti-Christ he's just fairly dodg'

[Jin-Roh]

I think Barth was a universalist too. I do think we should be on guard a bit more towards Bell because Bell is more popular than Barth, and writes primarily toward a more uneducated audience and thus are more prone to being swayed by him, and apparently he's already demonstrated a lot of sketchy views. Not that he's a bad guy or anything.

Thanks for reminding me about Barth. It has been years since I have [attempted to] read his work, but I remember unversalism was one of the common charges thrown against him. Moltmann sounded like a universalists at times too.

Anyway, Rob Bell does not get a free pass for the following reasons.
1. He appears effeminate
2. He looks like a hipster.
3. He is metrosexual.

These are all incredibly well thought out, carefully nuanced, and wise objections to even bothering to read his book.

[Kevin Wayne]

Anyway, Rob Bell does not get a free pass for the following reasons.
1. He appears effeminate
2. He looks like a hipster.
3. He is metrosexual.

These are all incredibly well thought out, carefully nuanced, and wise objections to even bothering to read his book.

You are being sarcastic, right?

[Xmansmommy]

Thanks for reminding me about Barth. It has been years since I have [attempted to] read his work, but I remember unversalism was one of the common charges thrown against him. Moltmann sounded like a universalists at times too.

Anyway, Rob Bell does not get a free pass for the following reasons.
1. He appears effeminate
2. He looks like a hipster.
3. He is metrosexual.

These are all incredibly well thought out, carefully nuanced, and wise objections to even bothering to read his book.

I was going to comment on these points myself but figured "What do I know? I'm just a chick." I never knew that one's masculinity (or in this case, the perceived lack thereof) influenced how people viewed and objected to, their theology. fwiw, I find him incredibly attractive because of his love for God and others, his tenderness and his sincerity. Not that anyone asked but I figured a female perspective would be nice. LOL!

[Raphael]

Anyway, Rob Bell does not get a free pass for the following reasons.
1. He appears effeminate
2. He looks like a hipster.
3. He is metrosexual.

These are all incredibly well thought out, carefully nuanced, and wise objections to even bothering to read his book.

You are being sarcastic, right?

I was going to comment on these points myself but figured "What do I know? I'm just a chick." I never knew that one's masculinity (or in this case, the perceived lack thereof) influenced how people viewed and objected to, their theology. fwiw, I find him incredibly attractive because of his love for God and others, his tenderness and his sincerity. Not that anyone asked but I figured a female perspective would be nice. LOL!

<Sarcasm>

This is TWeb, Of course physical appearance is a valid criteria for determining the validity of ones position. Why else do you think we don't like Benny Hinn.

This is a fair warning to those sarcastically impaired the preceding text was written in jest.

[Kevin Wayne]

I was overall enthusiastic about the book, but then I saw other quotes from Rob Bell where he makes those sarcastic remarks about the Virgin Birth and implies there's nothing about the Bible that makes it special, it was just voted on by a bunch of Catholics. This I think takes the Spiritual mystery out of it, and sells the process short.

OTOH, if you are going to say that a particular doctrine ABOUT the Bible - which actually isn't in the Bible - is the make or break point of Salvation, then I cannot agree. Both are errors on different sides of extremes. I think insisting on that is just as much Pharisaical as the Circumcision folks Paul was arguing about.

But I digress. The other thing I found out about was a comment in the Wittenberg Door where he parrots NT Wright's view that the parable of the Rich Man and Beggar is more or less about the impending judgment of God on Israel. Not every ding-dong thing relates to AD 70! Anyway, that's one of my personally favorite parables and you just don't walk on it! lol

The book itself was very challenging and I didn't really see Universalism in it so much as just the fact that he camps a lot on the promises that God will renew things and that annoys some people. But they never talk about those verses, they go straight to the parts about sin and judgment, salvation and damnation. So you have to say their theology is lopsided.

A week ago I would have talked about it more enthusiastically, but I'm kinda burnt out on the discussion, and sick of dealing with non-thinking fundamentalist nut-jobs. So in a moment of questionable sanity, I came here. ;-) Looks like Jin-Roh has some stuff worth reading about it, though.

I found my main objections to Rob Bell's views in other statements he made elsewhere besides Love Wins, those made me re-evaluate him.

[Obsidian]

Thanks for reminding me about Barth. It has been years since I have [attempted to] read his work, but I remember unversalism was one of the common charges thrown against him. Moltmann sounded like a universalists at times too.

Anyway, Rob Bell does not get a free pass for the following reasons.
1. He appears effeminate
2. He looks like a hipster.
3. He is metrosexual.

These are all incredibly well thought out, carefully nuanced, and wise objections to even bothering to read his book.

I don't think any of us gives those guys a pass. I think most of us (myself included) just don't know who they are.

[Kevin Wayne]

Here's my pre-book release comments on the controversy. I have yet to write a review since reading it:

http://kevin-wayne.blogspot.com/2011...-response.html

[Thoughtful Monk]

Read "The Last Battle." He explains, via the allegory, that salvation is not necessarily dependant on Christian faith. And this is before a descent into hell. In fact, I think that in the Great Divorce Lewis questions the reality of a literal hell.

Great Divorce happens to be one of my favorite books. One of the characters (I think it was the Bishop character) questions the reality of Hell. A careful reading of the book shows that the two main characters of the narrator (Lewis's standin) and George MacDonald affirm the reality of Hell.

[Jin-Roh]

You are being sarcastic, right?

No, I'm totally serious. It is always best to judge an opinion based on the dress and mannerisms of whoever says them. For instance, feminism is good because Mark Driscoll acts like a jock.

For all interested parties, here is my review of the book.

[Kevin Wayne]

As I stated before, I don't know what to make of the whole controversy over "eternal." It seems like those who argue that since AIWN is applied to God and the Life of believers, it should mean the same thing for those in hell - have the stronger argument. Unless... that idea was never intended to begin with. OR... it could be established that the authors had in mind differing interpretations of the same word used twice in the same sentence.

[Raphael]

Ben Witherington is starting a detailed chapter by chapter review.
First one here: http://www.patheos.com/community/bib...-of-love-wins/

It's a very fair and balanced one. He is negative in his opinion on this chapter. (keep in mind BWIII got a lot of flack for early support of Bell)

[Raphael]

Al Mohler hosted a panel discussion on the book (I haven't watched it yet...only have 3G at home so will watch it tomorrow).

Panelists: Justin Taylor of Crossway Books and blogger at The Gospel Coalition, Denny Burk, dean of Boyce College, and Russell Moore, dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice President for Academic Administration.
video here: http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/03/...and-love-wins/
94 minutes long

[Xmansmommy]

Thanks to Jin-Roh, Kevin and everyone who has posted reviews on the book. And thanks for the links to other's reviews also folks!

[Kevin Wayne]

Al Mohler hosted a panel discussion on the book (I haven't watched it yet...only have 3G at home so will watch it tomorrow).

Panelists: Justin Taylor of Crossway Books and blogger at The Gospel Coalition, Denny Burk, dean of Boyce College, and Russell Moore, dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice President for Academic Administration.
video here: http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/03/...and-love-wins/
94 minutes long

Couldn't watch it. As soon as they tried to use the Gandhi thing against him, I knew it was going to be a biased and unfair discussion.