This is a short testimony I came across on YouTube from a woman who grew up in what seems a conservative, fundamental Christian home:
When I was 6 or 7, I burned my hand and it was excruciating. My mother took the opportunity to say, “Imagine if that feeling was all over your entire body? That’s what hell is like FOREVER; it never stops, and that’s why you don’t want to sin.” That was absolutely terrifying to me. I never forgot that lesson. Fear is a very effective tool to make people comply.
Fear, an ineffective motivator for genuine heart change and spiritual growth, is intended to restrain evil actions and people. The concept of eternal Hellfire as a motivation for faith has long been a cornerstone of the Augustinian-Calvinist message. However, this idea warrants careful scrutiny because it fundamentally contradicts the essence of God’s nature as portrayed in Scripture. Love, not fear, should be the foundation of our relationship with God; as John clearly states, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18). A faith rooted in existential dread, particularly that of eternal punishment, distorts our understanding of God and leads to unhealthy spiritual, emotional, and relational consequences.
Hellfire as Motivator
The Gospel is a message of love, not fear. Jesus summarized the Law and the Prophets with the command to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). This is the essence of the true ancient Christian faith—a faith that is not driven by fear but by love.
Love and existential dread are mutually exclusive in the context of a healthy relationship. The Hebrew word for “faith” is also the word for “trust.” The idea that God would use the threat of endless torture in Hellfire as a means to compel us to trust Him is fundamentally flawed—a truly loving parent cannot threaten their child’s life with fire and demand that they love them in return to avoid it. Likewise, if our faith in God is rooted in fear, then it is not truly trusting. You cannot genuinely trust someone you also fear will harm you at the slightest misstep. A faith built on fear of Hellfire is inherently unstable, prone to collapse under its own weight. Existential dread breeds suspicion and anxiety, not the peace and security that trust in God offers:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
Fearing eternal torture in a cosmic fire chamber does not bring rest, gentleness, or lightness. In fact, it produces the exact opposite—it’s fear that burdens us and wears us down. This type of fear is not considered a “healthy fear.”
A Loving Father, Not a Sadistic Tyrant
Imagine someone causing you a ceaseless, excruciatingly painful, and abusive form of physical, mental, and emotional torture. As you beg for them to stop, they ignore you and continue. They even seem to receive some form of satisfaction from it. This is essentially the definition of sadism.
Sadism is typically defined as deriving some sort of pleasure or satisfaction from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others. When considering the concept of eternal punishment or torture—such as the Augustinian-Calvinist doctrine of Hellfire—the infliction of endless suffering without hope of relief or redemption aligns closely with the definition of sadism. A cosmic form of sadism.
Why are kindness, love, grace, empathy, peace, forgiveness, and patience considered godly characteristics? Because they manifest God’s love in tangible ways.
Kindness involves loving others, whether they are sinners or not. Love encompasses offering forgiveness despite ignorance or immaturity. Justice aims for correction and rehabilitation rather than revenge or abuse.
This raises significant philosophical, theological, and moral questions. The notion of a deity who enforces eternal, unending punishment can be problematic, as it conflicts with the attributes of mercy, justice, and love that the Bible often ascribes to God.
Given God’s qualities, why would one believe that God would eternally torture and abuse sinners both physically, mentally, and emotionally? Surely, if these benevolent attributes truly reflect God’s nature, He would be far kinder and more loving than a high school bully, transcending any act of cruelty with compassion and mercy. God is the greatest suitor, able to eventually persuade all of mankind and have us all fall in love with Him.
God wouldn’t continue what Hitler, ISIS, and Hamas had started. He’s not like them. God is not some intimidating, zealous ex-boyfriend who says, “If you don’t love me back, I’ll kill you!” We’ll never convince the world that the God of Christ is their loving Father in heaven with the sadistic, cruel, merciless Hellfire doctrine because not only is it false but also because it portrays Him as a narcissistic, sadistic psychopath tyrant.
The idea that a God of infinite intellect, wisdom, justice, love, and power would not only fail to save but also condemn beings with limited rationality and heightened emotions—traits stemming from their creation—to eternal torment or allow them to damn themselves due to misunderstanding, delusion, pain, fear, and anger, seems more characteristic of a pagan deity than the God revealed through Jesus. The Augustinian-Calvinist concept of Hellfire, perhaps the most horrific notion ever conceived by religious imagination, presents an irrational and spiritually damaging portrayal of existence.
According to New Testament scholar and theologian N.T. Wright:
The vision of God that people have is distorted, and so many people are actually put off the gospel––they just say, “No, that sounds like a bullying God. If there is a God, he can’t really be like that.” When some people talk about the gospel, you’d think that John 3:16 said: “God so hated the world that he killed his only Son.” Sometimes people say: “That picture is important—wrath and sin and hell and all the rest of it, and it’s because God loves us.” But simply adding the word “love” onto the end of that story can actually be even worse. It is like what abusers do when they say, “I love you so much”—it’s hideous.
As a Jew, I am certain that the Jewish community would never accept and adopt this version of a Hitler-like “Jesus,” who perpetually burns in fire 99% of all Jews.
The Psychological Effects of Fear of Hellfire
A healthy parent-child relationship is based on love, security, and trust, not fear of being tortured or killed. When a child fears that any mistake might result in severe or eternal punishment, it warps their understanding of love and justice. Similarly, when believers are taught to be fear-driven, it distorts their understanding of God’s love and justice, leading to a religious faith that is more about self-preservation than genuine love for God and others.
A common attribute in most, if not all, pagan religions is the threat of eternal torture. Fear-based faith often leads to hypocrisy because it prioritizes strict adherence to rules over the underlying principles and virtues these rules aim to foster. This can lead to behaviors where individuals conform externally to the regulations while their internal attitudes and actions may not align with the spiritual and moral essence those laws are supposed to embody.
Furthermore, focusing on external conformity can create a culture of judgment and comparison, where the emphasis shifts from personal spiritual growth to monitoring others’ adherence to the rules—religious judgmentalism. This environment can encourage people to hide their true selves and failings, leading to a disparity between public righteousness and private behavior, which is the essence of hypocrisy.
Belief in Hellfire often leads to stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues because it creates a pervasive and constant existential fear. This fear can manifest in several ways that are detrimental to an individual’s mental and emotional well-being:
- Perpetual Fear and Anxiety: The belief that any mistake or sin could result in eternal torment creates an overwhelming sense of dread. This can lead to chronic anxiety, as individuals may fear they are never good enough or constantly at risk of divine retribution. The uncertainty about whether they are “saved” or have met the necessary conditions to avoid eternal Hellfire often causes significant mental distress.
- Guilt and Shame: When an individual’s understanding of God and the gospel is centered around sinfulness and imperfection, it can result in overwhelming feelings of guilt and shame. Individuals might feel trapped in a cycle of sin and repentance, never feeling fully forgiven or free from the threat of punishment as they are unable to reach perfection. This can erode self-esteem and contribute to feelings of worthlessness or despair.
- Disruption of Relationships: The fear of Hellfire can distort one’s view of relationships, both with God and with others. If individuals believe that love is contingent on perfect behavior or that they must constantly earn God’s favor to avoid Hellfire, it can lead to strained relationships, both spiritually and socially. They may become judgmental of others or isolate themselves out of fear of being influenced by “sinful” behavior, leading to loneliness and social anxiety.
- Development of Mental Health Disorders: Over time, the constant fear of eternal punishment can contribute to the development of mental health disorders, such as depression, generalized anxiety disorder, or scrupulosity (a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder focused on religious or moral issues). The relentless focus on avoiding Hellfire can overshadow other aspects of life, leading to a diminished ability to experience joy, peace, or a sense of purpose.
- Fear of Death: Belief in Hellfire can exacerbate the fear of death, as individuals may be terrified of what awaits them in the afterlife. This fear can become paralyzing, making it difficult for individuals to live fully in the present or to find comfort in their faith.
I believe the doctrine of eternal Hellfire could explain the reason why, sometimes, the more religious someone is, the more detached they are from their emotions—it’s a coping mechanism.
In summary, a fear-based faith is not only theologically unsound but also psychologically damaging. It creates an environment where believers are more concerned with avoiding punishment than with truly loving God and others. In contrast, a faith rooted in love leads to spiritual growth, healthy relationships, and a deeper understanding of God’s true nature:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
The Origin of Fear-Based Religion
If it is true that “there is no fear in love” (1 John 4:18) and “God has not given us a spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7), then it prompts the question: who introduced the daunting doctrine of Hellfire into religion?
When considering the possibility of a figure such as the Devil, it becomes plausible that the idea of eternal Hellfire might be one of his most cunning deceptions and schemes against the people of God. The Devil, as a being with immense experience and knowledge of the human soul, would understand that fear-based belief fundamentally distorts our identity as individuals and society, overshadows humanity’s relationship with God, and ultimately pushes humanity away from the God of Israel. By promoting the idea that God demands nothing but absolute perfection and that any failure may result in eternal torment in Hellfire, the Devil succeeds in painting God in a distorted way once again (as he did in Genesis 3:4), this time as a tyrannical figure rather than a loving Father. Cunningly, he does this from within the church, effectively acting as a theological Trojan Horse.
This theological distortion results in a legalistic view of faith and life, where fearful adherents concentrate on evading punishment instead of fostering loving relationships with God and fellow beings. Twisted theologies have the tendency to affect how people view themselves and others, often leading to a community that is rigid, judgmental, and lacking in grace. Our wise Messiah once instructed us to test teachers by their fruit. If the fruit of pastors and preachers is that many of their followers slowly become cynic, unkind, judgmental, and angry—emulating the characteristics they attribute to their deity—it may indicate their beliefs’ true nature and source.
Remember, the ultimate goal of any theological deception is to keep believers and unbelievers from experiencing the fullness of God’s love and from spreading that love to others. One way, perhaps the primary way Satan is instilling fear in Christians is by making them think that God’s justice demands torturing them forever. By promoting this fear-based belief, Satan achieves several goals.
For instance, when believers operate out of fear, it influences their behavior and interactions with others. Fear breeds insecurity, judgment, and a performance-based mentality. This can lead to a legalistic approach to faith and life, where the emphasis is on following rules, self-comparison with others, and avoiding punishment rather than genuine love, kindness, and compassion. This fosters a rigid, unforgiving community—aka ‘religion.’
Moreover, a fear-based relationship with God can skew the Christian’s perception of all relationships. If we believe that we must earn, maintain, or preserve God’s love or else be eternally tortured, we may start to believe that all love must be earned, leading to dysfunctional relationships characterized by anxiety, control, and conditional acceptance.
In contrast, when believers understand God’s love and grace, it transforms their lives. They become secure in their identity as beloved children of God, which fosters genuine love and compassion towards others—even enemies and sinners—because they see God not as a harsh tyrant but as a loving, forgiving Father whom they seek to emulate. This, in turn, shapes their worldview to be more hopeful, kind, and forgiving.
Thus, Satan’s tactic of promoting fear-based religiosity is ultimately a strategy to keep humanity from experiencing the fullness of God’s love and from spreading it onwards.
I am aware that there are stories and videos online of people who dreamt or allegedly had a supernatural vision of Hellfire and are now preaching it. I’m not sure what—or who—is behind their dreams or “visions,” but I tend to believe it’s an expression of their subconscious fears. I also know that Satan is very active in the supernatural dimension and that the purpose of demons is not to reveal the truth but to confuse, scare, and frighten us. They’ll do whatever it takes so we live in fear, including lying and pretending. Thus, I would take these “dreams and visions” of Hellfire with a large grain of salt.
Throughout biblical accounts, Satan, the chief of demons, is consistently depicted as employing lies and distortion to confuse, scare, cause fear, mislead humanity, and oppose God’s truth. His tactics with Adam and Eve and his attempts to distort the Scriptures with Jesus illustrate his deceptive nature:
For there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44
Satan isn’t lurking to startle you from the shadows beneath your bed. His methods are far more profound. Remember, Satan’s titles, such as “the tempter,” “father of lies,” and “the accuser,” underscore his fundamental role as a deceiver. Given that his ultimate goal is to oppose God, his words and those of his minions can never be trusted. Being the accuser, deceiver, and liar, he would definitely want to make us all believe God wants to burn us forever.
In a comic sense, Satan is like the malevolent older sibling who frightens the younger ones by hissing in their ears, “You must hide, for if Father comes and discovers this, he will surely kill you!” So we hide in fear. We hide “among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8), and we hide behind our self-righteousness, traditions, and religiosity from the One who seeks to cover us and forgive our sins.
The danger in believing anything coming from a demonic source, be it through a seance, a vision, a dream, or any other method, lies in their expertise in deception, honed over millennia. But it doesn’t conclude with the supernatural. Evil also manifests in the ability to transform narratives and appearances within human culture, disguising itself one day as a devout religious figure and the next as a militant atheist. Additionally, demons’ profound understanding of theology and human psychology and their use of sophisticated strategies far exceed human comprehension, making the ability to discern truth a challenging skill to master.
But Wouldn’t People “Backslide” Without Fear?
The argument that Christians would “backslide” into committing terrible acts without the looming threat of eternal torture in fire is not only a bleak view of God but also deeply flawed logically. If such a threat is the only thing keeping someone from wrongdoing, it raises serious questions about the authenticity and depth of their faith. True faith should be motivated by love, compassion, and a desire to do good, not by fear of punishment.
If the only thing stopping you from doing evil to others is the threat of eternal conscious torment, then you’re simply a malevolent person on a leash.
Looking at the example of my Jewish friends, both secular and religious, it’s clear that moral and ethical behavior does not require the fear of eternal damnation. They live according to a strong moral code and values, often sacrificing for the sake of complete strangers without the looming threat of eternal fire. This suggests that morality and ethics can be deeply rooted in values other than existential fear.
The fear-based approach to faith also undermines the very essence of God’s desire for a relationship with His people. Fear can lead to compliance but does not foster heart change, growth, love, trust, or genuine devotion. The God of the Hebrew Scriptures consistently calls His people to love Him and to love one another, grounding their actions in love rather than in existential fear. True faith is not about avoiding punishment; it’s about cultivating love, compassion, and righteousness, as exemplified in the teachings and life of Jesus Christ.
This article was a copy-paste from my new book on hell: HELL: A Jewish Perspective on a Christian Doctrine
