Well, there's no gain saying that the doctrine of Hell-burning with fire had for
centuries now been taught virtually in all
main stream religions especially Christaindom.However judging from the dust raised from its fundamental controversies in the 20th
centuries many once adherents had began to questions its truthfulness and trustworthiness as a basic Christian and biblical doctrine.In the light of this, one begins to be in awe at how this doctrine came to take its roots if such teaching was never heard of all the written and documented life and teachings of Jesus during his time on earth. "Apocalypse of Peter(2nd Century C.E) was the first Christian work well after the time of Jesus Christ and his apostles, to describe the punishment and tortures of sinners in Hell," states the French Encyclopedia Universalis.Among the early church fathers, however, there was a heated debate over hell. Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Tetullian, and Cyprian believed that hell was a fiery place. Origen and Theologian Gregory of Nyssa thought of hell as a place of separation from God - of
spiritual suffering. Augustine of Hippo, on the other hand, held that suffering in hell was both spiritual and sensory – a view that gained acceptance. "By the fifth Century, the stern doctrine that sinners will have no second chance after this life and that the fire which will devour them will never be quenched was everywhere paramount," wrote Professor J.N.D Kelly. In the 16th Century, such Protestant reformers as Martin Luther and John Calvin understood the fiery torment of hell as figurative i.e of spending eternity separated from God. However, the idea of hell as a place of torment returned in the following two centuries. Protestants preacher Jonathan Edward used to strike fear in the hearts of 18th Century colonial Americans with graphic portrayals of hell. Shortly thereafter, though the flames of hell began to flicker and fade. 20thCentury was nearly the death of Hell, "states US News & World Report. The above is a clear indication that the doctrine of Hell fire is nothing but a human dogma engineered to strike fear into people in other to subjugate them into whatever was the will of the propagators of it! It's not a Biblical doctrine nor divine of origin. Moreover, there's no literal Biblical reference to Hell fire as been propagated, only death without hope of resurrection is the biblical punishment of sinners.Should anyone still be threatened by it? John 5:28-9, Acts 24:15. ROM 6;23