Could it be that the threat of hell is one of the church’s most potent weapons in the attempt to control people? It certainly seemed that way in Louis Theroux’s film on the Phelps family last week. I’ve blogged previously about this church (or should that be cult?) and the way they spew out their hatred of all but themselves but Theroux’s insightful film took the lid off a pretty disturbing set-up.

Central to this church’s message is hell and God’s judgement. This is why they picket funerals and other events – not to share God’s love of all but his hatred of all who is different to them. And the threat of hell always seems to be hovering over the scene.

But it would seem that some members of the Phelps family have been having second thoughts about their relationship with this church and its doctrine and have left. Of course, this is highly threatening to the leadership and it is the threat of hell that is being used to keep other members in line, for leaving the church is portrayed to being akin to choosing death and hell over life. And the fear of hell is a very powerful emotion.

This isn’t a reason for not believing in hell as a place of eternal punishment, of course, but it is a stark reminder of how dangerous a doctrine it can be in the hands of some.