The Purpose of Hell

Tough Questions for Christians: Hell


AZ says that there are three purposes for punishment: a. Correction, b. Deterrent or c. Protection for the rest of society. And so he concludes because hell is after one’s actions, it can’t act as correction, and because not everyone believes in it, it can’t act as a deterrent, and in eternity, protection is not needed.

There are a few things I want to say about this. First of all, there is a fourth category that AZ doesn’t consider and that is punitive justice. In other words, a torturer deserves to suffer because of the suffering they have caused other. Most people in the world hope that Hitler burns in hell, not because he is to be corrected, or because it would stop others from doing the same thing, or for our protection, but simply because he deserves it for causing so many to suffer and die.

Secondly, hell is protection. It is primarily a place of separation, not torture. It is the place people go to be separated from God’s people. It is primarily exile so God’s kingdom can run without problems.

Also, I agree that hell doesn’t act as a good deterrent to those who do not believe in it. It is interesting, however, that Jesus, who talks the most about hell, also doesn’t ever say that hell is for anyone apart from those who believe in God. Hell is, Jesus says, made for Satan, but those who enter into hell are those who act for Satan but claim to be followers of God. It is for “hypocrites, stumbling blocks, and those who refuse God’s law”, which is the law of love (Matt 13:41). But this all seems to indicate that this punishment, this exile, is for those who consider themselves worthy of being in God’s kingdom. So there is the possibility that many people who don’t believe might not be in consideration for hell. Perhaps annihilation is an option?