Rob Bell

Bell is the son of U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell, who was appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan.[https://books.google.com/books?id=rjBUYGbUiQwC&dq=robert+holmes+bell+reagan&pg=PA277 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}}{{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}}

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.{{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}} Bell received his bachelor's degree from Wheaton{{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}} and also earned a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.{{Cite news |title=What ever happened to Rob Bell, the pastor who questioned the gates of hell? - The Washington Post |newspaper=The Washington Post |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}}

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."New International Version [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:23;&version=31; Acts 17:23 ]

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.The Charleston Post and Courier [https://archive.today/20130124234441/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2482&dat=20060723&id=-pVIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sAkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3650,3577229 Michigan pastor takes message to new places]{{Full citation needed|date=August 2012}} As of March 2011, Sunday attendance numbered between 8,000 and 10,000.{{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}} His teachings at Mars Hill inspired the popular "Love Wins" bumper sticker, and the congregation freely distributed these stickers after services.{{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}}

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.Grand Rapids Press [http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/03/mars_hill_bible_church_pastor.html Profile: Mars Hill Bible Church pastor Rob Bell]

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.7 Cultural Mountains, [http://www.7culturalmountains.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4338&view=post&articleid=50-Most-Influential-Christians-In-America&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0 The 50 Most Influential Christians in America] {{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 }}

On September 22, 2011, Bell announced his resignation from Mars Hill Church to start "a spiritual talk show in Los Angeles".{{Cite web |last1=Gr |first1=Charley Honey | 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}} 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.{{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}}

In July 2012, Bell held his first major event since leaving Mars Hill, speaking at the Viper Room night club in Los Angeles.{{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}} 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."{{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}}

Bell was the featured speaker in NOOMA, a series of short films.{{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}} 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).{{Citation needed|date=January 2022|reason=The music should be sourced.}}

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."{{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 }}

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.{{Cite web |title=Rob Bell on Sex, God, and Sex Gods | Wittenburg Door |url=https://www.wittenburgdoor.com/interview/rob-bell.html |website=www.wittenburgdoor.com |accessdate=January 2, 2022}}

Bell's second book, titled Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality, was released in 2007.{{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}} In June 2007, Bell toured the United Kingdom and Ireland with a series called Calling All Peacemakers.{{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}}{{better source needed|date=February 2020}} 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."{{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}}

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.{{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}}

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.{{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=Deadline Hollywood}} 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.{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}}{{Cite web |title=That Show Rob Bell and Carlton Cuse Have Been Working on |url=http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4199143752/efblike |website=Eventbrite}}

Bell hosts a podcast called The Robcast. He is the only host, but is regularly joined by guests.{{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)}} 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.{{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}} It was called the best religion and spirituality podcast of 2015 on iTunes.{{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 }} Juliana Chan Erikson of the World Magazine, questioned the direction that podcasts like the Robcast steers their audiences.{{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 }}

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." [http://www.beliefnet.com/story/173/story_17301_2.html 'Velvet Elvis' Author Encourages Exploration of Doubts], Beliefnet

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.{{Cite news |last=Meacham |first= Jon |date=April 14, 2011 |title=Cover: No Hell? Pastor Rob Bell Angers Evangelicals |work = 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}}{{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}}{{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 | work = Christianity Today}} 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 [the universalist view], and there are many, one has to admit that it is fitting, proper, and Christian to long for it." {{Citation |title= Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and Every Person Who Ever Lived|page=111}}

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.{{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}}{{Cite web |date= March 24, 2011 |title= 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 | work = Baptist Press news}} Other religious leaders, such as Brian McLaren,{{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}}{{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}} Greg 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}} and Eugene Peterson{{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 }}{{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=Church Leaders}}{{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}} 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 [Bell's] "case for living with mystery rather than demanding certitude."{{Cite web|url= https://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/03/24/general-us-rel-hell-no_8372485.html|title=Rel hell no |website=Forbes }}{{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}} Some evangelicals argued that this "uncertainty" is incompatible with Scripture,{{Cite web |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}} while others say that the book is simply promoting overdue conversation about some traditional interpretations of Scripture.{{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}}{{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/}} 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.{{Cite news |date= March 19, 2011 |title=Rob Bell punches back against claims of heresy |publisher=CNN | work = Belief Blog |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}}{{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= Google | work = YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

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... [Gay people] 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."{{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}} 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."{{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}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Rob Bell returns in 'The Heretic': New film follows former pastor's 'revolution' |date=January 25, 2018 | work = Christianity today |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}}

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.{{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}}

• {{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=California

| publisher=BackHouse Books

| year=2023}}

• {{cite book

| title=Book Two: There's Only One Noon Yeah

| series=Where'd You Park Your Spaceship?: An Interplanetary Tale of Love, Loss, and Bread

| location=California

| publisher=BackHouse Books

| year=2024}}

• {{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}}

• {{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}}

• {{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}}

• {{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}}

• {{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}}

• {{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}}

• {{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}}

• 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.

{{Reflist}}

{{wikiquote}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Rob}}

Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American Christian clergy

Category:21st-century American male writers

Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers

Category:21st-century evangelicals

Category:American Evangelical writers

Category:American male non-fiction writers

Category:American religious writers

Category:Clergy from Grand Rapids, Michigan

Category:Fuller Theological Seminary alumni

Category:Missional Christianity

Category:Wheaton College (Illinois) alumni

Category:Writers from Grand Rapids, Michigan