Saw this on Abcnews.com
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3356360&page=1

I don’t think that will directly link to the article. In a nutshell, pasor Carlton Pearson, (who in the range of conservative to liberal is hanging out with Pat Robertson) decided to openly question the biblical basis for the doctrine of hell.

I’ve never replied on a website outside Epinoia, but decided to be bold! Here is what I wrote.

I appreciate the range of comments. I am a follower of Jesus and a student of the Bible, Old and New Testament both. As best I have considered this subject, there is room for many views to be explored. Jesus is actually the only person who repeatedly used the term ‘hell’ (James uses it once and “sheol’ in the Older Testament is a place of sleeping or rest). What he was saying was local lingo for ‘gehenna’, Jerusalem’s burning garbage pit, a valley outside the city. In California I might say I am going to ‘the strand’ and I mean the beach. In Jersey I may say I am spending the weekend at ‘the shore’ and I mean the beach.
It sometimes seems that while we recognize in all other forms of literature the use of allegory, symbolism and hyperbole, some do not allow for that in their common understanding of Jesus’ teaching. He himself said clearly that he often spoke in parables to challenge people’s understanding of the meaning of what He was explaining. Occassionally that was because of his concern on how religious authorities might twist it.
To those who follow Jesus, remember our call in the letter to the Ephesians: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Personally, I appreciate the gentleman’s courage in asking the question knowing he would get difficult responses.

Thoughts??