Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form
Andrew Morgan (The Heretic) Rob Bell Sammy Younan

074 | Andrew Morgan (The Heretic)

Posted on February 27, 2018March 5, 2023 By Sammy Younan No Comments on 074 | Andrew Morgan (The Heretic)

My Summer Lair Chapter #74: How You Ever Been Accused Of Heresy?

The penny dropped as I watched The Heretic the Rob Bell documentary directed by Andrew Morgan. The heresy Rob Bell is accused of propagating is basically eliminating hell from classic Christian rhetoric. In his book book Love Wins Bell writes: “It’s been clearly communicated to many that this belief (in hell as conscious, eternal 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.”

Like many I read Love Wins when it was first issued and at the time that idea…the stark rejection of hell I didn’t know how to sort out such a radical idea. So I understood the controversy and why the church was so up in arms over it. (I understood the controversy but I didn’t damn Rob Bell. I’m cool with heresy.)

But I what I clued in watching this doc and revisiting that sky-is-falling-controversy is the book’s title…Love Wins. Meaning that the church as a conservative organization was desperately defending hell as a hallmark of the church. Like think of the church and you should instantly think of hell. Oh.

Rob Bell is saying think of the church and you should instantly think of love. Oh! I was so busy grappling with the book’s concept I missed the meaning of the book.

History confirms we go through this cycle of going too far with an idea; so we overthrow everything and start over. We’ve seen that with civil rights and capitalism and everything else. The problem though is nothing ever just goes away so the side that got overthrown becomes more conservative more entrenched. It doesn’t want to go through that again (it’s the feeling of when you have been dumped and have to go back to being single and finding somebody). So the more history we have the harder it is to push back. Which makes heresy fascinating.

I close this interview with a quote from page 320 of Rob Bell’s latest book What is the Bible?: “Also, you may be kind and gracious and generous, and you still may lose friends. You may be labeled something crazy and untrue. You may find that certain people avoid you. This can be disorienting, to say the least. In those moments, when you are feeling the cold, stiff breeze of loneliness, ask yourself this question: Would I rather go back?

Would you rather be alive and free and open and thrilled with all that is happening in your heart, or would you rather go back to who and how you were before? I didn’t think so. Remember that.”

Andrew Morgan’s response to that quote, to Rob Bell’s 3 year struggle he documented with his cameras (a struggle that existed before the documentary and will continue after the documentary) is powerful: it’s a gut punch. Yes this is a Rob Bell documentary; it’ll clearly be marketed this way. However it really is a documentary about us and our ugly responses to our heretics. It’s not pretty. Hopefully…Rob Bell is right: Love Wins. I can only hope he is right.

We…as a society and as a church…are only as strong as our heretics:

Andrew Morgan @ W • T • F

Host Sammy Younan

Recorded: Monday February 26, 2018 at 3:00 pm

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter so we can have some fun…all the freedom of a heretic!

My Summer Lair, Podcast Tags:Andrew Morgan, Directors, Documentaries, Rob Bell, The Heretic

Post navigation

Previous Post: 073 | Andrew Keen (How To Fix The Future)
Next Post: 075 | Emily Schooley (Life And The Art Of Lying)

More Related Articles

Emily Oberman (Pentagram & DC Entertainment) 077 | Emily Oberman (Pentagram & DC Entertainment) My Summer Lair
250 | Chuck Tatham (Offside: The Harold Ballard Story) My Summer Lair
186 | Shirley Gnome (Quantity Time) My Summer Lair
236 | Rob Freeman (Drop The Needle) My Summer Lair
Jordan Ain’t No Joke Episode 6 (The Last Dance Podcast) Garbage Time - NBA
016 | Liz Knox (Katharine Mulherin Gallery) My Summer Lair

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #SetTheVCR: August 04-10, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    If your Hobby is to Pickup dope TV Recommendations like an American Prince this week's #SetTheVCR is funner than a Clown in a Cornfield.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 28 – August 03, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    From a Red Eye to Area 51 this week’s TV Recommendations will make you put up your Twisted Metal. I dunno what that means, either, though I do know it’s #SetTheVCR time.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 21-27, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    OPEN Happy Gilmore 2 is the TV Pick. TEXT This week’s TV Recommendations range from a Holy War to a Code of Silence. And Happy Gilmore is back…with a (golf) range like that it can only be #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 14-20, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Welcome To The Summer I Turned on The TV enjoying an Apocalypse and many Home Runs. With these recommendations #SetTheVCR is for TV Rif Raf and Amateurs.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 7-13, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    #SetTheVCR is your Institute for TV Recommendations: from Trainwrecks to Jaws I drop it like it's hot!
  • #SetTheVCR: June 30 – July 6, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    New Sandman means new TV dreams for this week to let your Old Guard down and enjoy TV Recommendations just like Sinners. It’s #SetTheVCR so let’s get Lost Together.
  • #SetTheVCR: June 23-29, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Here's a Countdown of TV Recommendations. For those who're Young Werther or those with an Ironheart this is #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: June 16-22, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    TV Recommendations for a Magic Lover you can watch week down by The Waterfront just watch out for Sharks. I'm not a Liar...look it's #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: June 09-15, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Without a TV Guide TV Recommendations can quickly go FUBAR quickly like checking into a Hell Motel. To avoid that Trainwreck #SetTheVCR is your TV Revival.
  • #SetTheVCR June 2–8, 2025 TV recommendations image from My Summer Lair, featuring a retro-style television graphic promoting a weekly pop culture column by podcast host Sammy Younan.
    #SetTheVCR: June 02-08, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Your Presence is required for these TV Recommendations which range from Power Moves to a Resident Alien. #SetTheVCR for Good Night, and Good Luck.
  • Morning Tea: Happy UFO Day 2025!July 2, 2025
    What's popping in popular culture? My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan steeps some seriously serious tea which prompts reflections.
  • Trial By Trailer: The Running Man (A Remake…)July 1, 2025
    Trail By Trailer is judging a book by its cover or in this case...a movie by its trailer. Are you 100% IN or is it a Hard Pass?
  • #CouchWorthy: Barbara Walters: Tell Me EverythingJune 22, 2025
    Exploring the pioneering career of Barbara Walters. Delving into her influential role in broadcast journalism and the challenges women face in achieving success.
  • #CouchWorthy: Bono: Stories of SurrenderMay 29, 2025
    Bono: Stories of Surrender is a vivid reimagining of his one-man stage show Stories of Surrender now streaming on Apple TV.
  • #CouchWorthy: Super Team CanadaMay 16, 2025
    Super Team Canada follows six lesser known and underrated Canadian superheroes, tasked with saving the world.
  • #CouchWorthy: Murderbot: Season 1 May 15, 2025
    Murderbot a private security cyborg hides its acquired autonomy, while completing dangerous assignments is simultaneously drawn to humans.

  • Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    Under-Review: Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    by Sammy Younan
    My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan reviews Batman - Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: OvertureL Volume 1,
  • New Book Alert: California Bear
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Music Was Just Getting Good
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Ascent
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: Fantastic Four by Ryan North Volume 2
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?

Copyright © 2025 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme