Still Relevant

Stanford's Gates of Hell, with potential applicants.

Fordham history professor Scott Bruce believes that Hell is still relevant:

The doctrine still serves Christianity as it has for centuries, as a frightening deterrent to sinful behavior. We still hope that wicked people and corrupt leaders will get their just deserts in the world to come.

Hell may be less useful for controlling human behavior, but does it really exist? Well, the Bible says so. Revelation 21:8:

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

As for me, I am confident about the notion of an afterlife but am not sure about one with doors number 1 and 2. If there is such a bifurcation, let's hope that God is merciful. That's in the Bible, too.