This critique of the Christian vision of hell and how it is used in ministry and Christian education challenges one of the most basic concepts in western religion.

Fundamentalist religions are often criticized for attempting to control people through fear. In this timely book, a fundamentalist preacher and pastor of three decades promotes a more reasoned understanding by taking on the Christian fundamentalist view of hell and contesting the validity of a commonly accepted doctrine.

Author Charles Gillihan exhaustively examines a doctrine that is believed by many but truly examined by few, critiquing the Christian vision of hell and its use in ministry and Christian education. He argues that a God of love could never ordain hell, decrying it "the worst lie ever told"—one that prevents many people from understanding the true nature of God and does a disservice to Christianity by keeping people in bondage and fear. This is an exploration of this topic that only a former fundamentalist minister could write and includes a compelling account of his struggle with the doctrine of hell and how he finally came to terms with his true convictions.