A few years ago, a strange thing happened to me: I decided to write a book about hell. The name I landed on was Decoding Gehenna: Hell and the Afterlife in the West.
When I started writing, I was a recent ex-missionary, weighing up where exactly I fell on the broad spectrum of Christianity. Sometime during the course of my endeavour, I suppose I became some sort of agnostic-slash-atheist.
Regardless of my religious affiliation, however, one thing stayed the same: my fascination with the topic of hell and with its connection to ‘the West’. The historical swings and roundabouts that saw the concept persist so fiercely in the Western imagination; the colourful stories of those who played their parts along the way; the insights that this grand narrative gives into present-day Western culture — these are things that continue to intrigue me.
I am also keenly aware of those for whom hell is not a matter of mere curiosity — those who puzzle or even agonise over the afterlife, all while seeking to remain loyal to their religious scriptures, traditions, and communities. In my own journey of faith, I found myself asking all-too-familiar questions:
‘Is hell in the Bible?’
‘Did Jesus and the first Christians believe in hell? What about others throughout history?’
‘Does any version of hell really make logical sense?‘
… and so on. Often, though, I was left frustrated and disappointed by the sources I turned to (regardless of whether they were ‘conservative’, ‘liberal’, or anything in between). Nowhere did I find what I was searching for: a book that was robust and comprehensive, while still remaining accessible and entertaining; a book that chronicled ancient, medieval, and modern history, examined the complex literature of the Old and New Testaments, and gave consideration to logical analysis; and, finally, a book that was not tied down to any preexisting viewpoint on the subject.
And, well, here we are. Around 70,000 words, twelve chapters, and 200+ primary and secondary sources later, I find myself within touching distance of bringing my project into reality: the first book, and maybe even the last, that any person will ever need to read about hell; a book for the devout and the curious alike.
Of course, much is left to do between now and a potential publication date; in the meantime, I invite you to stay in touch as I post updates and sneak-peek book excerpts!
