Movie questions hell as place of eternal torment

He grew up in the mainline United Church of Canada but joined the Mennonite church as teenager. He went to a Mennonite Bible college and spent some time in an interdenominational seminary. He attended several nondenominational evangelical churches before becoming an Anglican.

Miller said he considers himself a sophisticated reader of the Bible but never gave much thought to hell before he edited a book on the subject several years ago.

The controversy surrounding Bell's "Love Wins" helped him frame the debate for the movie and some of the interview subjects are Bell's most significant critics and supporters.

Miller says his film is primarily aimed at a religious audience.

"A growing number of people are increasingly uncomfortable with the notion of a God who calls us to love our enemies but who will one day vanquish his enemies to hell," he said in an interview. "People sense the contradiction but think that the only way to resolve it is to leave Christianity."

"Hellbound?" opens in New York City on Friday.

Online:

www.hellboundthemovie.com