Best-selling author's 'Love Wins' views on heaven prove divisive
Best-selling author Rob Bell's latest book has sparked a "firestorm," with some Christian stores refusing to stock it due to its controversial view on heaven and hell.
The author of Sex God and presenter of the popular "Nooma" video series discussed Love Wins—which critics say promotes universalism—in an interactive, live streamed event on the eve of the book's release date in March in New York City.
Bell's conversation with Newsweek Senior Editor Lisa Miller at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, which also featured the author answering questions from the audience and Web viewers, drew hundreds to the venue and more than 6,000 people on the Internet.
HarperOne brought forward publication of the book—subtitled "Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived"—from March 29 to March 15 because of interest in the title. Reporting on the "firestorm" surrounding the book, CNN said that the furor centered on concerns that Bell was "heading towards universalism—a dirty word in Christian circles."
In a pre-publication video promoting the book on his Web site, www.robbell.com, Bell asked: "Will only a few, select people make it to heaven and will billions and billions of people burn forever in hell?"
Founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Mich., Bell denied during the live streamed event that he espoused universalism—the belief that all humans end up in heaven and that hell is not a physical place.
"If by universalist we mean love doesn't win and God sort of co-opts the human heart and says, 'Well, you're coming here and you're gonna like it,' that violates the laws of love and love is about freedom," he said. "It's about choice. It's about, do you want to be here? Because that's what would make it heaven."
Bell was also vague when pressed on whether he believes there is a hell. "We see hell on earth all around us all the time," he said. "We actually see lots of people choosing hell. ... We see oppression, we see tyranny, dictators using their power."
Tara Powers—spokesperson for Zondervan, with whom Bell has published four books, including Velvet Elvis, and the "Nooma" series—said that the company had not been offered the opportunity to publish Love Wins, which debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times Hardcover Advice & Miscellaneous best-seller list. "However, if the promotional video for the book accurately reflects its contents, it is highly unlikely that Zondervan would have accepted Love Wins for publication," she added.
Zondervan published Bell's other books and videos "because we believed they were consistent with Zondervan's mission statement and publishing philosophy," Powers said. "We still believe these titles are impactful with their message and positive contribution and intend to continue to publish them."
HarperOne Senior Vice President and Publisher Mark Tauber said
that HarperCollins expected the controversy surrounding Love Wins to help sales.
However, LifeWay Christian Stores would "not offer" the book, according to LifeWay Christian Resources Director of Communications Micah Carter. Family Christian Stores officials declined to comment, but the chain's Web site did not feature Love Wins at pressing time.
Located within 20 miles of Bell's church, Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Mich., ordered almost 500 copies of the book to meet the expected demand. "The proximity alone is sufficient reason to carry a couple of hundred, but now with the increased attention, we anticipate even larger sales," Sue Smith, manager of Baker Book House, said.
"We have a history of strong sales with Rob's books and the Noomas," she added. "We've sold over 500 copies of Sex God, 345 copies of Velvet Elvis and 320 copies of Jesus Wants to Save Christians. These are great sales figures, yet none of these had the Web presence and commotion that Love Wins is bringing."
Berean Christian Stores had not ordered any copies of Love Wins for its 18 locations, according to Director of Merchandising Greg Moore. "However, we have it available in our system for any of our customers that would want to place a special order," he said. "Once our management team has had a chance to read and discuss the book, we will make a decision as to whether that policy will change."
Munce Group President Kirk Blank said that Love Wins "seems to signal a departure from biblical Christianity." Munce Group would not promote the book in any of its catalogs, he said. "As always, stores can carry anything that they chose to."
Parable Group Sales and Marketing Manager Randy Maricle said that Love Wins would not be promoted in any of the marketing group's catalogs. "We are not surprised with the controversy surrounding Love Wins," he said. "Rob Bell has always delivered his message in a very thought-provoking way, and that tends to create debate. … As independent owners, Parable franchise and Parable member stores make their own inventory decisions."
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