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{{short description|American author and pastor}}
{{Unreferenced|date=February 2007}}
{{other people||Robert Bell (disambiguation)}}
: ''For the baseball player, see ].''
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{{Use American English|date=February 2021}}
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{{Infobox person
]; Photograph: Virgil Vaduva]]
| name = Robert Holmes Bell Jr.
| image = Bell EIS Tour.jpg
| caption = Bell on "Everything is Spiritual" tour in 2016
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|08|23}}
| alma_mater = ] (] 1992) <br> ] (] 1995)


| known_for = Founding ]
'''Robert "Rob" Bell''' (born ] ]) is an ], ] speaker, and the founding ] of ] located in ]. He is also the featured speaker in the first series of spiritual ] called ]. Bell and his wife, Kristen, have two boys and live in ].
| father = ]
| honours = ] (2011)
}}


'''Robert Holmes Bell Jr.''' (born August 23, 1970) is an American author, speaker, playwright, musician and former pastor. Bell founded ] in ], and pastored it until 2012. Under his leadership, Mars Hill was one of the fastest-growing churches in America.
== Biography ==
===Education and calling===
Bell, son of Judge ], nominated by ] to the federal judiciary and publicly confirmed by the ], grew up in a traditional Christian environment.


Bell is also the author of the '']'' bestseller ''Love Wins'' and the writer and narrator of a series of spiritual ]s called ]. In 2011, '']'' named Bell on its list of the ]. He has since become a freelance writer and speaker appearing on various talk shows and national speaking tours on topics related to spirituality and leadership. He also hosts a popular podcast called ''The Robcast.'' In 2018, a documentary about Bell called ''The Heretic'' was released.
In ], Rob Bell explains his vision of the Christian life. "The challenge," he says "is to live with great passion and conviction, remaining open and flexible, aware that this life is not the last painting."


==Biography==
Rob later decided to attend ] without knowing what he wanted to study. While at Wheaton, Bell, along with friends Dave Houk, Brian Erickson, Steve Huber, and Chris Fall formed the indie rock band, _ton bundle, which was reminiscent of bands like ] and ]. Wheaton College was also where Bell met his wife, Kristen, whom he married a few years later. The band _ton bundle started to gain some local fame and was even asked to perform at some large events, however when Rob was struck with a head injury, these plans fell through. He tells this story in an interview with a member of the band ]'s ] ().
===Early life and education===
Bell is the son of U.S. District Judge ], who was appointed to the ] by ].<ref> ABC-CLIO (July 12, 2007) {{ISBN|978-1-85109-702-9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 13, 2011 |title=Profile: U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell |url=http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/02/profile_us_district_court_judg.html |access-date=August 15, 2013 |publisher=Mlive.com}}</ref>


After graduating from High School, Bell attended ]. While at Wheaton, he formed an alternative rock band called Ton Bundle and taught water skiing at a Christian camp. At camp, he was asked to fill in as a replacement preacher.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=November 18, 2012 |title=The Hell-Raiser |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/11/26/the-hell-raiser-3 |magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref> Bell received his bachelor's degree from Wheaton<ref>{{Cite web |last=Funk |first=Tim |date=July 14, 2017 |title=Christians too often 'massacre, misquote' Bible to make political points, says Rob Bell |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article161227883.html |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=The Charlotte Observer}}</ref> and also earned a ] degree from ] in ].<ref>{{Cite news |title=What ever happened to Rob Bell, the pastor who questioned the gates of hell? - The Washington Post |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/what-ever-happened-to-rob-bell-the-pastor-who-questioned-the-gates-of-hell/2014/12/02/1fceb466-7a50-11e4-8241-8cc0a3670239_story.html}}</ref>
Later he formed the band ''''']''''' and put out 2 CDs from 1995 to 1997; the first was a self-titled disk and the second was titled ''Via De La Shekel''. When asked what style of music they played, Rob would respond with
"Northern Gospel!" which later became a name of a song on the second album. Even after ''Big Fil'' stopped performing, Rob continued with 2 more projects by the name of ''Uno Dos Tres Communications volume 1 and 2'' which both had a similar sound as Big Fil musically.


===Mars Hill Bible Church===
Bell received his bachelor's degree in 1992 from Wheaton and worked a job teaching waterskiing in the summers at Wheaton College's Honey Rock Camp making only thirty dollars a week. During this time, Bell offered to teach a message to the camp counselors after no preacher could be found. Rob says the Spirit impelled him to accept the responsibility and taught a message about "rest".
Bell and his wife moved from California to Grand Rapids to be close to family and on invitation to study under pastor ]. He handled many of the preaching duties for the Saturday Night service at Calvary Church. Bell announced that he would be branching out on his own to start a new kind of community and would name it "Mars Hill" after the Greek site where the apostle Paul said: "For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you."<ref>New International Version </ref>


In February 1999, Bell founded ], with the church originally meeting in a school gym in ]. Within a year the church was given a shopping mall in ], and purchased the surrounding land. In July 2000 the 3,500 "grey chair" facility opened its doors. As of 2005, an estimated 11,000 people attended the two "gatherings" on Sundays at 9 and 11 AM.<ref>The Charleston Post and Courier </ref>{{Full citation needed|date=August 2012}} As of March 2011, Sunday attendance numbered between 8,000 and 10,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Courtesy photo |date=March 15, 2011 |title=Rob Bell, Christian rock star, meets Sammy Hagar, real rock star, on Good Morning America set |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/03/rob_bell_christian_rock_star_m.html |access-date=August 15, 2013 |publisher=Mlive.com}}</ref> His teachings at Mars Hill inspired the popular "Love Wins" bumper sticker, and the congregation freely distributed these stickers after services.<ref name="myst">{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2004 |title=The Emergent Mystique |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/011/12.36.html |access-date=May 30, 2009 |publisher=Christianity Today}}</ref>
He believes that God led him to teaching at this moment. In preparation for his message, Rob nervously walked through the woods of the camp, he says he felt the presence of God and heard his words(not in an audible voice but inner words) saying, "teach this book, and I will take care of the rest". Bell was approached by several people each of them telling him that he needed to pursue teaching as a career.


In order to maintain balance in his life, Bell maintained his Fridays as a personal sabbath, where he did not allow contact by electronic means, and had all pastoral duties transferred to other Mars Hill pastors.<ref>Grand Rapids Press </ref>
Bell moved to ] to pursue this calling and received an ] from ]. Bell claims that he never really got good grades in preaching class because he always tried new and innovative ways to communicate his ideas. During his time at Fuller he was a youth intern at Lake Avenue Church where he attended. He did, however, occasionally attend Christian Assembly in ] which led to he and his wife asking questions in the direction of what a new kind of church could look like.


In the January 2007 issue of the magazine ''TheChurchReport.com'', Bell was named No. 10 in its list of "The 50 Most Influential Christians in America" as chosen by their readers and online visitors.<ref>7 Cultural Mountains, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711065902/http://www.7culturalmountains.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4338&view=post&articleid=50-Most-Influential-Christians-In-America&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0 |date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref>
In the January 2007 issue of the magazine
''TheChurchReport.com'', Bell was named #10 in their list of "The 50 Most Influential Christians in America" as chosen by their readers and online visitors ().


On September 22, 2011, Bell announced his resignation from Mars Hill Church to start "a spiritual talk show in Los Angeles".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gr |first1=Charley Honey &#124; The |last2=Press |first2=Rapids |date=March 8, 2013 |title=Rob Bell talks about why he really left Mars Hill |url=https://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/2013/03/rob_bell_talks_about_why_he_re.html |website=mlive}}</ref> Bell's 2011 book, ''Love Wins'', had caused controversy within evangelical circles because of its teachings about hell; that controversy caused thousands to leave Mars Hill and also led to Bell's departure.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rob Bell reveals: 'Love Wins' caused congregation to leave, led to resignation |url=https://christiantoday.com.au/news/rob-bell-reveals-love-wins-caused-congregation-to-leave-led-to-resignation.html |website=christiantoday.com.au}}</ref>
===Founding Mars Hill===
Bell and his wife moved from California to Grand Rapids to be close to family and also based on an invitation to study under acclaimed pastor ]. He handled many of the preaching duties for the Saturday Night service at Calvary Church. Bell announced to Calvary that he would be branching out on his own to start a new kind of community and he would call it "Mars Hill" after the Greek site where the apostle Paul told a group that "God does not reside in temples made of human hands."{{Fact|date=February 2007}}Acts 7:48


In July 2012, Bell held his first major event since leaving Mars Hill, speaking at the ] night club in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 26, 2012 |title=Rob Bell's 'Love Wins' Out In Paperback, As Pastor Celebrates At The Viper Room (VIDEO) |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/rob-bell-love-wins_n_1704604.html |access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref> Bell has hosted conferences and workshops in Laguna Beach for "leaders, teachers, preachers, entrepreneurs, artists, pastors—anyone whose work involves creating something and then turning it loose in the world."<ref name="ROB BELL">{{Cite web |title=2DAYS WITH ROB BELL OCTOBER EVENTS |url=https://www.robbell.com/2days-with-rob-bell-october-events/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002232737/https://www.robbell.com/2days-with-rob-bell-october-events/ |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |access-date=January 25, 2013}}</ref>
In February 1999, Bell founded ], with the church originally meeting in a school gym in ]. Within a year the church was given a shopping mall in ] and purchased the surrounding land. In July 2000 the 3,500 "grey chair" facility opened its doors. ], over 10,000 people attend the three "gatherings" on Sundays.


===Other Projects=== ===Other projects===
====Pre-Mars Hill departure====
Rob Bell is the featured speaker in the first series of ]s - a series of short films that explore questions that might arise as a person explores the Christian faith. The title of the videos, "NOOMA", is an English variation of the Greek word "pneuma" which means wind or spirit.


Bell was the featured speaker in ], a series of short films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Anugrah |title=Rob Bell's 'NOOMA' Videos Now an App |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/rob-bells-nooma-videos-now-an-app.html |website=The Christian Post |date=July 31, 2011 |accessdate=January 2, 2022}}</ref> The title of the video series, "NOOMA", is an English representation of the Greek word ''pneuma'', which means breath or spirit. All the videos feature the teachings of Bell accompanied by music written and sung by local independent artists (with the exception of '']''{{'}}s music, which was licensed for the NOOMA DVD ''Lump'').{{Citation needed|date=January 2022|reason=The music should be sourced.}}
In February and March of 2007 Bell hosted a SEX GOD tour on six university campuses (UofM, UK, UW, CAL, UCLA, Northern) to promote his book. The tour functioned more as a time for engaging questions and conversation. Questions ranged from Old Testament codes to homosexuality to what should we do with the word "evangelical". Each night ended with the showing of NOOMA number 15 entitled "YOU".


In August 2005, ] published Bell's first book, ''Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith''. ''Velvet Elvis'' is for people who are, in Bell's words, "fascinated with ], but can't do the standard Christian package". His second book, titled '']: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality'', was released in March 2007. In August 2005, ] published Bell's first book, ''Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith'', which is, according to the official online summary, "for the millions of people who are fascinated by Jesus, but can't do the standard Christian package. In his debut book, Bell explores a new understanding of the Christian faith."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review: Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob |url=http://www.barnabasministry.com/review-velvetelvis-bell.html |access-date=July 10, 2015 |website=barnabasministry.com |archive-date=November 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129231253/http://www.barnabasministry.com/review-velvetelvis-bell.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>


His ''Everything is Spiritual'' national speaking tour launched on ] ] in ] drawing sold-out crowds in cities across North America. The proceeds from ticket sales were used to support ], an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping people escape the poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation. A tour of the United Kingdom is planned for the summer of 2007. This tour will be available on DVD winter of 2006/2007 according to publicist Karen Campbell. Bell's ''Everything is Spiritual'' national speaking tour launched on June 30, 2006, in ]. The proceeds from ticket sales were used to support ], an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping people escape the ] and ] caused by living without ] and ].<ref name="door">{{Cite web |title=Rob Bell on Sex, God, and Sex Gods &#124; Wittenburg Door |url=https://www.wittenburgdoor.com/interview/rob-bell.html |website=www.wittenburgdoor.com |accessdate=January 2, 2022}}</ref>


Bell's second book, titled ''Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality'', was released in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Rob |title=Sex God Publisher: Zondervan |url=https://www.amazon.com/Sex-God-Publisher-Rob-Bell/dp/B004WN9C3M |via=Amazon |accessdate=January 2, 2022}}</ref> In June 2007, Bell toured the United Kingdom and Ireland with a series called ''Calling All Peacemakers''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calling All Peacemakers Tour |url=http://www.callingallpeacemakers.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207002743/http://www.callingallpeacemakers.com/ |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |access-date=November 16, 2008}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=February 2020}} Bell launched another speaking tour in 2007, —"The Gods Aren't Angry", which provided a narrative defense of ] through faith and not works.<ref name="door" />
=== Criticisms ===


Bell's 2009 project, ''Drops Like Stars,'' explores the links between creativity and suffering. ''Drops Like Stars'' was an international tour and a book, initially handwritten by Bell, with photographs. Bell looks at the creativity, empathy, new connections, and growth that can spring from suffering. When asked in an interview how he had become interested in suffering, Bell replied that as a pastor he had seen some of the most poignant moments of people's lives. At the same time he was lecturing on creativity and realized, "There was a connection between these two halves of my life – all these connections between suffering and art-making."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paulson, Michael |date=September 26, 2009 |title=Rob Bell on faith, suffering, and Christians |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2009/09/rob_bell.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001153053/https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2009/09/rob_bell.html |archive-date=October 1, 2009 |access-date=November 25, 2020}}</ref>
While Rob Bell has never claimed an association with the movement, Bell's critics often associate him with the ] movement, pointing out that Bell teaches that the church should embrace mystery and doubt rather than certainty. In his writings, he prefers to view the Bible as one of many possible sources of truth and he points out that many different religious traditions can be useful in finding a path to God. “This is not just the same old message with new methods. We’re rediscovering Christianity as an Eastern religion, as a way of life.” His teaching is often characterized as postmodern, he does not believe that all the answers can be found in "Scripture alone." 'Brickianity' is the term he uses to describe churches that emphasize doctrine. He writes that doctrines should be more like springs, helping people jump joyfully toward God. Some conservative Christians have claimed that Bell's teaching of the gospel as described in the book ''Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith'' is flawed and compromises many essential Christian doctrines along with the basic message of the gospel.


====Post-Mars Hill departure====
Immediately following the release of his book ''Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith'', some evangelicals criticized some comments made in the book, especially those focused on the virgin birth of Jesus and the concept of the Trinity:
In September 2013 Bell was interviewed by ] for her '']'' television show. Bell's book, ''What We Talk About When We Talk About God'', was also listed as the first recommended book that month in Oprah's "Book of the Month" club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2013 |title=Rob Bell Speaks With Oprah Winfrey on 'Super Soul Sunday' |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/rob-bell-speaks-with-oprah-winfrey-on-super-soul-sunday-105312/ |access-date=September 27, 2013 |publisher=Christianpost.com}}</ref>


===Television===
''"What if tomorrow someone digs up definitive proof that Jesus had a real, earthly, biological father named Larry, and archaeologists find Larry's tomb and do DNA samples and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the virgin birth was really just a bit of mythologizing the Gospel writers threw in to appeal to the followers of the Mithra and Dionysian religious cults that were hugely popular at the time of Jesus, whose gods had virgin births? But what if as you study the origin of the word virgin, you discover that the word virgin in the gospel of Matthew actually comes from the book of Isaiah, and then you find out that in the Hebrew language at that time, the word virgin could mean several things. And what if you discover that in the first century being "born of a virgin" also referred to a child whose mother became pregnant the first time she had intercourse?"'' (Velvet Elvis, p. 26)
Beginning in 2011, ] television announced production of a new television drama, ''Stronger'', co-written by Bell and ], the executive producer of the television series '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=September 30, 2011 |title=ABC Buys Spiritual Drama From 'Lost' Exec Producer Carlton Cuse And Pastor Rob Bell |url=https://deadline.com/2011/09/abc-buys-spiritual-drama-from-lost-exec-producer-carlton-cuse-and-pastor-rob-bell-177917/ |access-date=August 15, 2013 |publisher=]}}</ref> The show, based loosely on Bell's life and his unpublished novel-turned-pilot-script, would follow the life of Tom Stronger, a musician on a spiritual journey.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2011 |title=Rob Bell, TV star? Pastor writing ABC drama based on his life, reports say |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/09/rob_bell_tv_star_pastor_writin.html |access-date=August 15, 2013 |publisher=MLive.com}}</ref> Ultimately, Bell and Cuse were unable to get approval to shoot a pilot for ''Stronger''.{{cn|date=January 2022}}


Bell and Cuse have moved on to another project described as a "faith-inflected talk show" presented by Bell. Two tapings of the proposed show were filmed in September 2012 in a warehouse in Los Angeles' art district in order to put together a reel for network executives.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sanneh |first=Kelefa |date=November 26, 2012 |title=The Hell-Raiser: A megachurch pastor's search for a more forgiving faith |magazine=The New Yorker |page=65}}</ref> At the time, they were referenced as either ''That One Show Rob Bell and Carlton Cuse Have Been Working On'', or ''The September Shows'' for short.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Rob |date=September 11, 2012 |title=friends in LA - we are doing another show tonight. we'll have a standby line starting at 7 at 826 E. 3rd St. |url=https://twitter.com/realrobbell/status/245610785240408064}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Rob |date=September 10, 2012 |title=show tonight in LA. we will have some spaces reserved for walk ups starting at 7 at 826 E. 3rd St. |url=https://twitter.com/realrobbell/status/245240023430086656}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=That Show Rob Bell and Carlton Cuse Have Been Working on |url=http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4199143752/efblike |website=Eventbrite}}</ref>
However residing on only the next page (p. 27) Rob comments on how, "I affirm the historic Christian faith, which includes the virgin birth and the trinity". Many claim that the outrage over these words only further the point that Rob was trying to make. {{Fact|date=February 2007}} That if we question our faith, for some people it can crumble. (p. 26) Commenting on the outrage on stage at ] a very candid Bell informed the congregation on how "reporters can use little sections of anything to twist what I say" and how those who haven't read the book have no basis of argument.


===Podcast===
Some evangelicals see these words as heretical and neo-liberal. Rev. Casey Freswick, in an article entitled ''Postmodern Liberalism: Repainting a Non-Christian Faith'', commented:
Bell hosts a podcast called ''The Robcast''. He is the only host, but is regularly joined by guests.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dibdin |first=Emma |date=June 21, 2019 |title=8 Podcasts for the Spiritual Searcher (Published 2019) |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/arts/spirituality-podcasts.html |access-date=February 2, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |quote=While he’s generally piloting the podcast solo, Bell is occasionally joined by a celebrity guest (Pete Holmes of HBO’s “Crashing” is a regular)}}</ref> Bell believes that "churches and denominations are waning" and that the medium of podcasting provides freedom to learn and grow spiritually without the hindrances of institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2019 |title=Are podcasts replacing church for some believers? |url=https://baptistnews.com/article/are-podcasts-replacing-church-for-some-believers/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |website=Baptist News Global}}</ref> It was called the best religion and spirituality podcast of 2015 on iTunes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicole Anderson Cobb |title=When Faith Speaks: An interview with global thought leader Rob Bell : Culture : Smile Politely |url=https://smilepolitely.com/culture/when_faith_speaks_an_interview_with_global_thought_leader_rob_bell/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |website=smilepolitely.com|date=September 26, 2019 }}</ref> Juliana Chan Erikson of the ''World Magazine'', questioned the direction that podcasts like the Robcast steers their audiences.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erikson |first=Juliana Chan |title=Listen and consider - WORLD |url=https://world.wng.org/2019/04/listen_and_consider |access-date=February 2, 2021 |website=world.wng.org |archive-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416225808/https://world.wng.org/2019/04/listen_and_consider |url-status=dead }}</ref>
''"Rob Bell's position is the repainting of historic liberal theology"'' ().


==Beliefs==
An online ministry testing Bell's doctrine against God's Word (understood as being the ]) is '''Pastor Ken Silva's Apprising Ministries'''. Filled with a plethora of free information, Apprising Ministries reveals Bell's individual rendition of ] as yet another culture pleasing product of ]. Silva's ministry concludes that Bell is ] in his teaching because his ministry is aimed at reinventing the message of the gospel in a manner which ''"'''contradicts those believers''' who have asked Jesus to forgive their sins and be their Lord and Savior."'' Bell, per Silva's site, promotes ''"Christ-following''" as an alternative to orthodox Christianity, having '''nothing''' to do with individual acknowledgment and repentance of sin with a coinciding acceptance of ] as Savior.
In his writings, Bell says, "I affirm the truth anywhere in any religious system, in any worldview. If it's true, it belongs to God."<ref>Beliefnet </ref>


Bell's 2011 book, ''Love Wins'', caused a major controversy within the ] community. The controversy was the subject of a ] cover story and a featured article in '']''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meacham |first=Jon |date=April 14, 2011 |title=Cover: No Hell? Pastor Rob Bell Angers Evangelicals |publisher=TIME |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2065289,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=August 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715224513/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2065289,00.html |archive-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Eckholm |first=Eric |date=March 4, 2011 |title=Pastor Stirs Wrath With His Views on Old Questions |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/05/us/05bell.html?_r=0}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Heaven, Hell, and Rob Bell: Putting the Pastor in Context |date=March 2, 2011 |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/marchweb-only/rob-bell-universalism.html |access-date=August 15, 2013 |publisher=Christianity Today}}</ref> In the book, Bell states that "It's been clearly communicated to many that this belief (in hell as eternal, conscious torment) is a central truth of the Christian faith and to reject it is, in essence, to reject Jesus. This is misguided and toxic and ultimately subverts the contagious spread of Jesus' message of love, peace, forgiveness and joy that our world desperately needs to hear." In this book, Bell outlines a number of views of hell, including ]. Though he does not choose any one view as his own, he states "Whatever objections a person may have of , and there are many, one has to admit that it is fitting, proper, and Christian to long for it."<ref> {{Citation |title=Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and Every Person Who Ever Lived|page=111}}</ref>
=== Partial response to criticism ===
In a ] article entitled ''The Next Billy Graham?'', Bell says of his critics:


The book was criticized by numerous conservative evangelical figures (in particular, some ] leaders), such as ], ], and ], with Mohler saying that the book was "theologically disastrous" for not rejecting universalism.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Meacham |first=Jon |date=April 14, 2011 |title=Pastor Rob Bell: What if Hell Doesn't Exist? |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2065080,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=May 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416091000/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2065080,00.html |archive-date=April 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2011 |title=Baptist Press -NEWS BRIEFS: David Platt weighs in on Rob Bell controversy; Colo. civil unions advance – News with a Christian Perspective |url=http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=34909 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508015900/http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=34909 |archive-date=May 8, 2011 |access-date=August 15, 2013 |publisher=Bpnews.net}}</ref> Other religious leaders, such as ],<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLaren |first=Brian |title=Rob Bell – Giving Us All A Wonderful Opportunity |url=http://brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/rob-bell-giving-us-all-a-wonderf.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015610/http://brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/rob-bell-giving-us-all-a-wonderf.html |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=January 24, 2017 |website=Brian McLaren}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McLaren |first=Brian |date=March 16, 2011 |title=Will "Love Wins" Win? We're early in the first inning... |url=http://brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/challenging-three-cherished-evan.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326022929/http://brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/challenging-three-cherished-evan.html |archive-date=March 26, 2011 |access-date=January 24, 2017 |website=Brian McLaren}}</ref> ]<ref name="Boyd">{{Cite web |last=Boyd |first=Greg |date=March 4, 2011 |title=Rob Bell is NOT a Universalist (and I actually read "Love Wins") |url=http://reknew.org/2011/03/rob-bell-is-not-a-universalist-and-i-actually-read-love-wins/ |access-date=January 24, 2017 |website=ReKnew}}</ref> and ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Randle |first=Daniel |date=March 18, 2011 |title=Why Eugene Peterson is Wrong on Rob Bell and Love Wins (Among Other Things) |url=https://danielrandle.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-eugene-peterson-is-wrong-on-rob.html |access-date=January 23, 2017 |website=Christ and Culture |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202065831/https://danielrandle.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-eugene-peterson-is-wrong-on-rob.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Dalrymple 2011">{{Cite web |last=Dalrymple |first=Timothy |date=March 21, 2011 |title=Eugene Peterson: Would Jesus Condemn Rob Bell? |url=http://churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/149653-eugene-peterson-would-jesus-condemn-rob-bell.html |access-date=January 23, 2017 |website=ChurchLeaders.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Mark |date=March 17, 2011 |title=Eugene Peterson defends Rob Bell and endorses his book… |url=https://nearemmaus.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/eugene-peterson-defends-rob-bell-and-endorses-his-book/ |access-date=January 23, 2017 |website=Near Emmaus}}</ref> defended Bell's views. Bell denies that he is a universalist and says that he does not embrace any particular view but argues that Christians should leave room for uncertainty on the matter. As ] stated, ''Love Wins'' presents "case for living with mystery rather than demanding certitude."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/03/24/general-us-rel-hell-no_8372485.html|title=Forbes.com|website=] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Meacham |first=Jon |date=April 14, 2011 |title=Pastor Rob Bell: What if Hell Doesn't Exist? |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2065080,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416091000/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2065080,00.html |archive-date=April 16, 2011}}</ref> Some evangelicals argued that this "uncertainty" is incompatible with Scripture,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grand Rapids Press File Photo |date=March 4, 2011 |title=Release date of Rob Bell's new book moved up after online buzz erupts |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/03/release_date_of_rob_bells_new.html |access-date=August 15, 2013 |publisher=MLive.com}}</ref> while others say that the book is simply promoting overdue conversation about some traditional interpretations of Scripture.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=John |date=March 18, 2011 |title=What Happened to Heaven and Is Gandhi There? |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703818204576206470219029478?mod=googlenews_wsj}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Beam |first=Alex |date=March 18, 2011 |title=A heck of a theological debate |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2011/03/18/alex_beam_provides_an_update_on_a_heck_of_a_theological_debate/}}</ref> In the book, Bell also questions "evacuation theology" which has Christians focused on getting to heaven, instead of focusing on God's renewal and transformation of this world. Bell argues that Jesus (and the wider Jewish tradition of which he was a part) focused on God's ongoing restoration of this world, not getting individuals to heaven.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 19, 2011 |title=Rob Bell punches back against claims of heresy – CNN Belief Blog – CNN.com Blogs |publisher=Religion.blogs.cnn.com |url=http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/19/rob-bell-punches-back-against-claims-of-heresy/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102064946/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/19/rob-bell-punches-back-against-claims-of-heresy/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 2, 2013 |access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2011 |title=Heaven and Hell: Pastor Rob Bell Extended Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zBXuRIQ3gg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/4zBXuRIQ3gg |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |access-date=August 15, 2013 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
''"When people say that the authority of Scripture or the centrality of Jesus is in question, actually it's their social, economic and political system that has been built in the name of Jesus that's being threatened," Bell says. "Generally lurking below some of the more venomous, vitriolic criticism is somebody who's created a facade that's not working."


At his ] appearance in July 2012, Bell took a question from an audience member concerned about the church's acceptance of gay members. Said Bell, "Some people are gay, and you're our brothers and you're our sisters, and we love you. We love you... are passionate disciples of Jesus just like I'm trying to be, so let's all get together and try to do something about the truly big problems in our world."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Almendrala |first=Anna |date=July 26, 2012 |title=Rob Bell's 'Love Wins' Out In Paperback, As Pastor Celebrates At The Viper Room |work=The Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/rob-bell-love-wins_n_1704604.html |access-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref> On March 17, 2013, in an interview at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Bell said, "I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and a woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man...And I think the ship has sailed. This is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are."<ref name="mlive.com">{{Cite web |title=Hear Rob Bell support same-sex marriage, say Evangelicals need to 'repent' |date=March 18, 2013 |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/03/hear_rob_bell_support_same-sex.html |access-date=August 15, 2013 |publisher=MLive.com}}</ref>
'"But I love everybody and you're next!" he says, giggling. "That's how I respond to criticism"' ().


In March 2013, Bell expressed frustration with the state of conservative evangelicalism, calling it "a very narrow, politically intertwined, culturally ghettoized Evangelical subculture." He says that Evangelicals have "turned away lots of people" from the church by talking about God in ways that "don't actually shape people into more loving, compassionate people," adding that Evangelicals "have supported policies and ways of viewing the world that are actually destructive, and we've done it in the name of God and we need to repent."<ref name="mlive.com" />
== Trivia ==
* Bell's college band ] wrote a song titled "Velvet Elvis", based upon the same velvet Elvis painting that he used in his first book ''Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith.'' (see '']'')
* He has (]) been the teacher in 15 ]s.
* Rob Bell is a fan of the Icelandic band '']''; he used their song ''Takk'' in his ] tour. The band '']'''s music was licensed for the Nooma called Lump. The music used in the Nooma's is written and sung by independent artists. There is a soundtrack album featuring the music of the first 10 Noomas available at () under Nooma Stuff.
* He affectionately calls the city in which he lives (]) "G-Rap".
* Despite their theological differences, Rob says that he has utmost respect for ]. Rob has been tagged by some in the press as "the next ]" ().
* His teachings inspired the popular '''Love Wins''' bumper sticker, ] even gives these stickers away after services ().
* His church grew from 2,000 people, in two years to 10,000 regular attending people. Estimates now clock the traffic at over 11,000 per week ().
* While at Wheaton College, Rob roomed with ] of ].
* Bell is an avid fan of former South African president ]. He frequently sports Nelson Mandela shirts on-stage at Mars Hill. In an interview, Bell stated, "the people who really move us, like Nelson Mandela ... at the end of the day have this innocence."


In 2018, a documentary about Bell called ''The Heretic'' was released.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rob Bell returns in 'The Heretic': New film follows former pastor's 'revolution' |date=January 25, 2018 |url=https://www.christiantoday.com/article/rob-bell-returns-in-the-heretic-new-film-follows-former-pastors-revolution/124644.htm |access-date=October 3, 2018}}</ref>
== Books by Rob Bell ==
*''Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith'' (Zondervan, 2005) ISBN 0-310-26345-X
*''Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality'' (Zondervan, 2007) ISBN 0-310-26346-8


==Awards and recognition==
== External links ==
In June 2011, Bell was named by '']'' as one of the "2011 ]", the magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 21, 2011 |title=The 2011 Time 100 |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066460,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425094024/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066460,00.html |archive-date=April 25, 2011}}</ref>
*


==Publications==
===Articles and Resources===
===Novels===
*
* {{cite book
*
| title=Millones Cajones: A Novel
*
| year=2015}}
*
* {{cite book
*
| title=Book One: Welcome to Firdus
*
| series=Where'd You Park Your Spaceship?: An Interplanetary Tale of Love, Loss, and Bread
| location=
| publisher=BackHouse Books
| year=2023}}


===Plays===
]

]
* {{cite book
]
| title=What's a Knucka?: A Play
]
| location=
| publisher=BackHouse Books
| year=2022}}
* {{cite book
| title=We'll Get Back to You: A Play
| location=
| publisher=BackHouse Books
| year=2022}}

===Sole-authored books===

* {{cite book
| title=Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith
| location=Grand Rapids
| publisher=Zondervan
| year=2005}}
* {{cite book
| title=Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality
| location=Grand Rapids
| publisher=Zondervan
| year=2007}}
* {{cite book
| title=Drops Like Stars: A Few Thoughts on Creativity and Suffering
| location=Grand Rapids
| publisher=Zondervan
| year=2010}}
* {{cite book
| editor=David Vanderveen
| title=Love wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived
| location=San Francisco
| publisher=HarperOne
| year=2011}}
* {{cite book
| title=Love Wins: Enhanced Edition
| location=New York
| publisher=Collins
| year=2012}}
* {{cite book
| title=Love Wins: For Teens
| location=New York
| publisher=HarperCollins
| year=2013}}
* {{cite book
| title=What We Talk About When We Talk About God: Finding a New Faith for the Twenty-First Century
| location=Glasgow
| publisher=William Collins
| year=2014}}
* {{cite book
| title=How to Be Here: A Guide to Creating a Life Worth Living
| location=San Francisco
| publisher=HarperOne
| year=2017}}
* {{cite book
| title=What is the Bible? How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything
| location=San Francisco
| publisher=HarperOne
| year=2017}}
* {{cite book
| title=Everything is Spiritual: Who We Are and What We're Doing Here
| location=New York
| publisher=St Martin's Essentials
| year=2020}}

===Co-authored books===

* {{cite book
| author1=Rob Bell
| author2=Don Golden
| title=Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile
| location=Grand Rapids
| publisher=Zondervan
| year=2008}}
* {{cite book
| author1=Rob Bell
| author2=Kristen Bell
| title=The Zimzum of Love: A New Way of Understanding Marriage
| location=San Francisco
| publisher=HarperOne
| year=2014}}

===Studyguides===

* {{cite book
| title=Collection 001: Book 001-004
| series=Nooma
| location=Grand Rapids
| publisher=Zondervan
| year=2010}}
* {{cite book
| title=Collection 002: Book 005-008
| series=Nooma
| location=Grand Rapids
| publisher=Zondervan
| year=2010}}
* {{cite book
| editor=David Vanderveen
| title=The Love Wins Companion: A Study Guide For Those Who Want to God Deeper
| location=New York
| publisher=HarperCollins
| year=2012}}

===Anthologies===

* {{cite book
| title=The Rob Bell Reader: Selection from Love Wins, Velvet Elvis, Sex God, Drops like Stars, and Jesus Wants to Save Christians
| location=New York
| publisher=HarperCollins
| year=2012}}
* {{cite book
| title=Love Wins and The Love Wins Companion
| location=New York
| publisher=HarperCollins
| year=2013}}
* {{cite book
| title=The Complete Rob Bell: His Seven Bestselling Books, All in One Place
| location=New York
| publisher=HarperCollins
| year=2013}}

===DVDs===

*{{cite AV media
| date = 2006
| title = Everything is Spiritual
| trans-title = 2006 Tour Film}}
*{{cite AV media
| date = 2008
| title = The God's Aren't Angry
| trans-title = Tour Film}}
*{{cite AV media
| date = 2010
| title = Drops Like Stars
| trans-title = Tour Film}}
*{{cite AV media
| date = 2016
| title = Everything is Spiritual
| trans-title = 2016 Tour Film}}

===Audio Series===

*{{cite AV media
| date =
| title = Find Me a Straight River
| trans-title = A 3 hour audiobook on fear and failure}}
*{{cite AV media
| date =
| title = Handling Your Fire: Passion, Burnout, Routines and Resilience
| trans-title = 6 hour audiobook}}
*{{cite AV media
| date =
| title = Grabbin' the Bag: A Few Thoughts on Money
| trans-title = 3 hour audiobook}}
*{{cite AV media
| date =
| title = Something to Write
| trans-title = 4 hour audio}}
*{{cite AV media
| date =
| title = The Holy Shift Tour}}
*{{cite AV media
| date =
| title = Launching Rockets: 17 Observations on Being a Parent}}
*{{cite AV media
| date =
| title = Something to Say
| trans-title = 7 hour audio}}
*{{cite AV media
| date =
| title = Blood, Guts & Fire: The Gospel According to Leviticus}}
*{{cite AV media
| people = Rob Bell and Richard Rohr
| date = 2015
| title = In the Beginning
| trans-title = Six hours with Rob Bell and Richard Rohr on reclaiming the original Christian narrative
| type = Lecture
| language = English
| url = https://music.apple.com/us/album/in-the-beginning-six-hours-with-rob-bell-and-richard/965597931}}

==See also==
* ]
* Wellman Jr, J. K. (2012). ''Rob Bell and a New American Christianity''. Abingdon Press.
* Willey, R. D. (2019). Shifting the sacred: Rob Bell and the postconservative evangelical turn. ''Critical Research on Religion'', ''7''(1), 80-99.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{Official website}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Rob}}
]
]
]
]
]
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Latest revision as of 14:27, 18 December 2024

American author and pastor For other people with the same name, see Robert Bell (disambiguation).

Robert Holmes Bell Jr.
Bell on "Everything is Spiritual" tour in 2016
Born (1970-08-23) August 23, 1970 (age 54)
Alma materWheaton College (B.A. 1992)
Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div. 1995)
Known forFounding Mars Hill Bible Church
FatherRobert Holmes Bell
HonoursTime 100 (2011)

Robert Holmes Bell Jr. (born August 23, 1970) is an American author, speaker, playwright, musician and former pastor. Bell founded Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, and pastored it until 2012. Under his leadership, Mars Hill was one of the fastest-growing churches in America.

Bell is also the author of the New York Times bestseller Love Wins and the writer and narrator of a series of spiritual short films called NOOMA. In 2011, Time named Bell on its list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. He has since become a freelance writer and speaker appearing on various talk shows and national speaking tours on topics related to spirituality and leadership. He also hosts a popular podcast called The Robcast. In 2018, a documentary about Bell called The Heretic was released.

Biography

Early life and education

Bell is the son of U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell, who was appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan.

After graduating from High School, Bell attended Wheaton College, Illinois. While at Wheaton, he formed an alternative rock band called Ton Bundle and taught water skiing at a Christian camp. At camp, he was asked to fill in as a replacement preacher. Bell received his bachelor's degree from Wheaton and also earned a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

Mars Hill Bible Church

Bell and his wife moved from California to Grand Rapids to be close to family and on invitation to study under pastor Ed Dobson. He handled many of the preaching duties for the Saturday Night service at Calvary Church. Bell announced that he would be branching out on his own to start a new kind of community and would name it "Mars Hill" after the Greek site where the apostle Paul said: "For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you."

In February 1999, Bell founded Mars Hill Bible Church, with the church originally meeting in a school gym in Wyoming, Michigan. Within a year the church was given a shopping mall in Grandville, Michigan, and purchased the surrounding land. In July 2000 the 3,500 "grey chair" facility opened its doors. As of 2005, an estimated 11,000 people attended the two "gatherings" on Sundays at 9 and 11 AM. As of March 2011, Sunday attendance numbered between 8,000 and 10,000. His teachings at Mars Hill inspired the popular "Love Wins" bumper sticker, and the congregation freely distributed these stickers after services.

In order to maintain balance in his life, Bell maintained his Fridays as a personal sabbath, where he did not allow contact by electronic means, and had all pastoral duties transferred to other Mars Hill pastors.

In the January 2007 issue of the magazine TheChurchReport.com, Bell was named No. 10 in its list of "The 50 Most Influential Christians in America" as chosen by their readers and online visitors.

On September 22, 2011, Bell announced his resignation from Mars Hill Church to start "a spiritual talk show in Los Angeles". Bell's 2011 book, Love Wins, had caused controversy within evangelical circles because of its teachings about hell; that controversy caused thousands to leave Mars Hill and also led to Bell's departure.

In July 2012, Bell held his first major event since leaving Mars Hill, speaking at the Viper Room night club in Los Angeles. Bell has hosted conferences and workshops in Laguna Beach for "leaders, teachers, preachers, entrepreneurs, artists, pastors—anyone whose work involves creating something and then turning it loose in the world."

Other projects

Pre-Mars Hill departure

Bell was the featured speaker in NOOMA, a series of short films. The title of the video series, "NOOMA", is an English representation of the Greek word pneuma, which means breath or spirit. All the videos feature the teachings of Bell accompanied by music written and sung by local independent artists (with the exception of The Album Leaf's music, which was licensed for the NOOMA DVD Lump).

In August 2005, Zondervan Publishing published Bell's first book, Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith, which is, according to the official online summary, "for the millions of people who are fascinated by Jesus, but can't do the standard Christian package. In his debut book, Bell explores a new understanding of the Christian faith."

Bell's Everything is Spiritual national speaking tour launched on June 30, 2006, in Chicago. The proceeds from ticket sales were used to support WaterAid, an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping people escape the poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation.

Bell's second book, titled Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality, was released in 2007. In June 2007, Bell toured the United Kingdom and Ireland with a series called Calling All Peacemakers. Bell launched another speaking tour in 2007, —"The Gods Aren't Angry", which provided a narrative defense of justification through faith and not works.

Bell's 2009 project, Drops Like Stars, explores the links between creativity and suffering. Drops Like Stars was an international tour and a book, initially handwritten by Bell, with photographs. Bell looks at the creativity, empathy, new connections, and growth that can spring from suffering. When asked in an interview how he had become interested in suffering, Bell replied that as a pastor he had seen some of the most poignant moments of people's lives. At the same time he was lecturing on creativity and realized, "There was a connection between these two halves of my life – all these connections between suffering and art-making."

Post-Mars Hill departure

In September 2013 Bell was interviewed by Oprah for her Super Soul Sunday television show. Bell's book, What We Talk About When We Talk About God, was also listed as the first recommended book that month in Oprah's "Book of the Month" club.

Television

Beginning in 2011, ABC television announced production of a new television drama, Stronger, co-written by Bell and Carlton Cuse, the executive producer of the television series Lost. The show, based loosely on Bell's life and his unpublished novel-turned-pilot-script, would follow the life of Tom Stronger, a musician on a spiritual journey. Ultimately, Bell and Cuse were unable to get approval to shoot a pilot for Stronger.

Bell and Cuse have moved on to another project described as a "faith-inflected talk show" presented by Bell. Two tapings of the proposed show were filmed in September 2012 in a warehouse in Los Angeles' art district in order to put together a reel for network executives. At the time, they were referenced as either That One Show Rob Bell and Carlton Cuse Have Been Working On, or The September Shows for short.

Podcast

Bell hosts a podcast called The Robcast. He is the only host, but is regularly joined by guests. Bell believes that "churches and denominations are waning" and that the medium of podcasting provides freedom to learn and grow spiritually without the hindrances of institutions. It was called the best religion and spirituality podcast of 2015 on iTunes. Juliana Chan Erikson of the World Magazine, questioned the direction that podcasts like the Robcast steers their audiences.

Beliefs

In his writings, Bell says, "I affirm the truth anywhere in any religious system, in any worldview. If it's true, it belongs to God."

Bell's 2011 book, Love Wins, caused a major controversy within the evangelical community. The controversy was the subject of a Time magazine cover story and a featured article in The New York Times. In the book, Bell states that "It's been clearly communicated to many that this belief (in hell as eternal, conscious torment) is a central truth of the Christian faith and to reject it is, in essence, to reject Jesus. This is misguided and toxic and ultimately subverts the contagious spread of Jesus' message of love, peace, forgiveness and joy that our world desperately needs to hear." In this book, Bell outlines a number of views of hell, including universal reconciliation. Though he does not choose any one view as his own, he states "Whatever objections a person may have of , and there are many, one has to admit that it is fitting, proper, and Christian to long for it."

The book was criticized by numerous conservative evangelical figures (in particular, some reformed church leaders), such as Albert Mohler, John Piper, and David Platt, with Mohler saying that the book was "theologically disastrous" for not rejecting universalism. Other religious leaders, such as Brian McLaren, Greg Boyd and Eugene Peterson defended Bell's views. Bell denies that he is a universalist and says that he does not embrace any particular view but argues that Christians should leave room for uncertainty on the matter. As Jon Meacham stated, Love Wins presents "case for living with mystery rather than demanding certitude." Some evangelicals argued that this "uncertainty" is incompatible with Scripture, while others say that the book is simply promoting overdue conversation about some traditional interpretations of Scripture. In the book, Bell also questions "evacuation theology" which has Christians focused on getting to heaven, instead of focusing on God's renewal and transformation of this world. Bell argues that Jesus (and the wider Jewish tradition of which he was a part) focused on God's ongoing restoration of this world, not getting individuals to heaven.

At his Viper Room appearance in July 2012, Bell took a question from an audience member concerned about the church's acceptance of gay members. Said Bell, "Some people are gay, and you're our brothers and you're our sisters, and we love you. We love you... are passionate disciples of Jesus just like I'm trying to be, so let's all get together and try to do something about the truly big problems in our world." On March 17, 2013, in an interview at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Bell said, "I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and a woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man...And I think the ship has sailed. This is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are."

In March 2013, Bell expressed frustration with the state of conservative evangelicalism, calling it "a very narrow, politically intertwined, culturally ghettoized Evangelical subculture." He says that Evangelicals have "turned away lots of people" from the church by talking about God in ways that "don't actually shape people into more loving, compassionate people," adding that Evangelicals "have supported policies and ways of viewing the world that are actually destructive, and we've done it in the name of God and we need to repent."

In 2018, a documentary about Bell called The Heretic was released.

Awards and recognition

In June 2011, Bell was named by Time Magazine as one of the "2011 Time 100", the magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Publications

Novels

  • Millones Cajones: A Novel. 2015.
  • Book One: Welcome to Firdus. Where'd You Park Your Spaceship?: An Interplanetary Tale of Love, Loss, and Bread. BackHouse Books. 2023.

Plays

  • What's a Knucka?: A Play. BackHouse Books. 2022.
  • We'll Get Back to You: A Play. BackHouse Books. 2022.

Sole-authored books

  • Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 2005.
  • Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 2007.
  • Drops Like Stars: A Few Thoughts on Creativity and Suffering. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 2010.
  • David Vanderveen, ed. (2011). Love wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. San Francisco: HarperOne.
  • Love Wins: Enhanced Edition. New York: Collins. 2012.
  • Love Wins: For Teens. New York: HarperCollins. 2013.
  • What We Talk About When We Talk About God: Finding a New Faith for the Twenty-First Century. Glasgow: William Collins. 2014.
  • How to Be Here: A Guide to Creating a Life Worth Living. San Francisco: HarperOne. 2017.
  • What is the Bible? How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything. San Francisco: HarperOne. 2017.
  • Everything is Spiritual: Who We Are and What We're Doing Here. New York: St Martin's Essentials. 2020.

Co-authored books

  • Rob Bell; Don Golden (2008). Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
  • Rob Bell; Kristen Bell (2014). The Zimzum of Love: A New Way of Understanding Marriage. San Francisco: HarperOne.

Studyguides

  • Collection 001: Book 001-004. Nooma. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 2010.
  • Collection 002: Book 005-008. Nooma. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 2010.
  • David Vanderveen, ed. (2012). The Love Wins Companion: A Study Guide For Those Who Want to God Deeper. New York: HarperCollins.

Anthologies

  • The Rob Bell Reader: Selection from Love Wins, Velvet Elvis, Sex God, Drops like Stars, and Jesus Wants to Save Christians. New York: HarperCollins. 2012.
  • Love Wins and The Love Wins Companion. New York: HarperCollins. 2013.
  • The Complete Rob Bell: His Seven Bestselling Books, All in One Place. New York: HarperCollins. 2013.

DVDs

  • Everything is Spiritual [2006 Tour Film]. 2006.
  • The God's Aren't Angry [Tour Film]. 2008.
  • Drops Like Stars [Tour Film]. 2010.
  • Everything is Spiritual [2016 Tour Film]. 2016.

Audio Series

  • Find Me a Straight River [A 3 hour audiobook on fear and failure].
  • Handling Your Fire: Passion, Burnout, Routines and Resilience [6 hour audiobook].
  • Grabbin' the Bag: A Few Thoughts on Money [3 hour audiobook].
  • Something to Write [4 hour audio].
  • The Holy Shift Tour.
  • Launching Rockets: 17 Observations on Being a Parent.
  • Something to Say [7 hour audio].
  • Blood, Guts & Fire: The Gospel According to Leviticus.
  • Rob Bell and Richard Rohr (2015). In the Beginning [Six hours with Rob Bell and Richard Rohr on reclaiming the original Christian narrative] (Lecture).

See also

  • Religion and spirituality podcast
  • Wellman Jr, J. K. (2012). Rob Bell and a New American Christianity. Abingdon Press.
  • Willey, R. D. (2019). Shifting the sacred: Rob Bell and the postconservative evangelical turn. Critical Research on Religion, 7(1), 80-99.

References

  1. The judicial branch of federal government: people, process, and politics By Charles L. Zelden ABC-CLIO (July 12, 2007) ISBN 978-1-85109-702-9
  2. "Profile: U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell". Mlive.com. February 13, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  3. "The Hell-Raiser". The New Yorker. November 18, 2012.
  4. Funk, Tim (July 14, 2017). "Christians too often 'massacre, misquote' Bible to make political points, says Rob Bell". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  5. "What ever happened to Rob Bell, the pastor who questioned the gates of hell? - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  6. New International Version Acts 17:23
  7. The Charleston Post and Courier Michigan pastor takes message to new places
  8. Courtesy photo (March 15, 2011). "Rob Bell, Christian rock star, meets Sammy Hagar, real rock star, on Good Morning America set". Mlive.com. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  9. "The Emergent Mystique". Christianity Today. November 1, 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
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  11. 7 Cultural Mountains, The 50 Most Influential Christians in America Archived July 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
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  27. Bell, Rob (September 10, 2012). "show tonight in LA. we will have some spaces reserved for walk ups starting at 7 at 826 E. 3rd St".
  28. "That Show Rob Bell and Carlton Cuse Have Been Working on". Eventbrite.
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External links

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