Hell Bent - by Brian Recker (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A former evangelical pastor explains why we can stop worrying about hell and start focusing on love

There is a black hole at the center of Christian spirituality: the doctrine of hell. No matter how hard we try to believe in a loving God, the fear of eternal torment always lurks at the back of our minds, warping our sense of what love means. Worse still, many churches act as if the point of Christianity is not to follow Jesus but to secure a get-out-of-hell-free card--and to "save" everyone you know by converting them to your religion. For many of us, the whole story of Christianity has punishment at the very center. But does the Bible really say we're going to hell if we don't do or believe the "right" things?

In this taboo-shattering book, former evangelical pastor Brian Recker takes an honest look at scripture and reveals what has been true all along: Hell isn't real, and God's universal love is radically inclusive, in this life and the next. By removing punishment from Christianity's center, Recker boldly reimagines the core questions of faith, such as why Jesus lived and died, and what it means to be "saved." It's time to rediscover spirituality as Jesus taught it: loving God, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Whether you're Christian, exvangelical, or anywhere along a deconstruction journey, Hell Bent is the perfect resource to help you replace fear and church hurt with healing and peace.

Review Quotes

"Like many of us, Brian Recker grew up in a conservative evangelical family. Like many of us, he had misgivings about what he was taught about hell. Unlike many of us, he had the courage to face his misgivings and to use his biblical training to confront them head-on. The result? This amazing and trustworthy book. Few first-time authors write with such clarity, skill, depth, personal transparency, and emotional impact."
--Brian D. McLaren, author of Faith After Doubt and The Last Voyage

"Hell Bent is one hell of a book, a thoughtful and theological exposé about the toxic relationship between evangelical Christianity and eternal damnation. This book is fire--pun fully intended--a healing balm for anybody who's been burned by American Christianity."
--Matthew Paul Turner, New York Times bestselling children's author

"Hell Bent is a welcome invitation to rediscover a faith practice rooted not in fear but in love, connection, and the holy work of asking questions. Brian Recker gently guides those leaving high-control religion toward a spirituality that honors our wholeness and our deep, often hidden, oneness with God and each other."
--Scott Erickson, author of Say Yes and Honest Advent

"If you've ever struggled with squaring a nonviolent, enemy-loving Jesus with the idea of eternal conscious torment and are looking for a compassionate, kindred spirit, Hell Bent is for you."
--Pete Enns, author of The Bible Tells Me So and host of The Bible for Normal People

"For centuries, Christianity has treated the doctrine of hell like a family secret stored in the attic--we know it's there but prefer not to discuss it openly. In Hell Bent, Brian Recker boldly throws open the attic door, letting in light that's both clarifying and healing."
--Jonathan Merritt, columnist and author of Learning to Speak God from Scratch

"Hell Bent is a heaven-sent corrective to the toxic theologies that paint God as a punitive jerk. I can't wait to put this book in the hands of everyone wanting a faith free from fear."
--Rev. Lizzie McManus-Dail, author of God Didn't Make Us to Hate Us

"Hell Bent is more than just a deconstruction of a problematic doctrine; it's an invitation to discover the rich depth and beauty of Christianity beyond the shadow of eternal punishment."
--Tripp Fuller, host of the Homebrewed Christianity podcast and visiting professor of theology at Luther Seminary

"This book is a game-changer for anyone who has felt that drop in their gut when a kid they love asks them about hell. Hell Bent is an accessible companion as you do the brutal, honest work of holding your theologies up to the Light."
--Mariko Clark, author of The Book of Belonging

"A necessary tool to dismantle one of the most harmful theological cages. Reading Brian is like listening to a friend gently guide you out of hell, stuffing snacks in your pockets as you go."
--Mike Maeshiro, LGBT coach and content creator

About the Author

Brian Recker, M.Div, is a public theologian, speaker, and writer on Christian spirituality without exclusionary dogma. The son of a Baptist preacher and an alum of the fundamentalist Bob Jones University, he spent eight years as an evangelical pastor before deconstructing his faith to find a more inclusive spirituality. He now speaks about following Jesus without fear of hell on his popular Instagram account and his Substack, Beloved. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has four children and a rescue pup named Maev.